Looking at the map I saw that I had to pass again through the Behemoth Ranch, so I grabbed my sword and headed there once more. I didn't want to use the bonfire: I still needed to kill more monsters to level up, because I had almost no souls left. My bag was so light that it seemed to mock me with every step.
Walking through the sacred forest I returned to the place where before I had seen that wooden stand and the little fairy who was playing in the distance. However, this time the stand was not alone. Inside it, arranging some shiny glass bottles, was the bird-woman that I had saved on that occasion.
She, upon seeing me, greeted me with a warm smile that seemed to illuminate even the dark mist of the forest.
—Ah, hello, knight. Did you come here too?
—Of course —I replied while approaching—. This place is too safe, besides it's perfect to rest when one is exhausted… but tell me, what are you doing?
She laughed softly, moving a couple of feathers that she had on her neck as if they were a natural necklace.
—What am I doing? Well look… this is a soul bank.
I blinked a couple of times.
—Your stand… is a soul bank?
—Yes, exactly —she said proudly—. If you're afraid of losing your souls, you can entrust them to me. I'll take good care of them. Maybe, who knows, in the middle of your journey you lose them… so you can leave them here without worry. Trust me, I won't let you down.
I crossed my arms. The idea was logical… and also tempting.
—Well, okay. I don't think you're a bad person, after all you… well, you helped me. So look, I'll leave all my souls. They are a total of one hundred and fifty.
—Ohh, perfect —she said with joy while extending her feathered hands—. Right now I store them. Please, come by for them when you can. Haha! I'll take care of them as if they were mine.
When handing her the souls that I had left, I felt a strange sensation of relief, as if I had taken a weight off my shoulders. After saying goodbye to her, I entered again into the Behemoth Ranch, ready to explore once more in search of enemies and experience.
I advanced through the silent grasslands for a good while. The air had a particular smell here: old grass and humidity, mixed with something metallic, as if the environment itself remembered the battles that had been fought in this site.
Before crossing the second bridge —the one that was near the place where I had saved Goose— I heard the crunch of branches under my boots. The forest seemed to observe each of my movements, as if it evaluated me. I knew that at any moment a new monster could appear, stronger, stranger or hungrier than the previous ones.
When passing between two twisted trees, I entered what seemed like a small enclosed forest, a space denser and darker than the rest. Here the mist was thicker, almost solid. I walked slowly, attentive to any noise, until reaching a small house barely visible among the fog.
The paint was worn, the windows broken and the door hung from a rusty hinge, but even so there was something… welcoming about it. Next to it, nailed to a trunk, there was a small wooden sign:
"World famous animal band.
Bremen Musicians, premiere performance.
Whoever you are, please visit."
The message was as absurd as intriguing. Without thinking more, I pushed the door and entered the house.
Inside reigned a smell of old dust, straw and humidity. My eyes took a few seconds to get used to the dimness. When they did, I saw something that made me frown.
Four animals were singing.
A cat. A rooster. A dog. And on top of a huge table, as if it were an improvised stage, a donkey was directing them with theatrical movements.
The three on the floor imitated his rhythm, following a "beat" that only they seemed to understand.
They continued singing without realizing my presence. Maybe the mist had already driven them crazy, maybe the song was the only thing that kept them sane… or perhaps it was their way of scaring away what inhabited the corners of the forest.
But when a few seconds passed and I didn't leave, the donkey finally saw me. His eyes opened too wide, as if inside them a spark of pure madness had ignited. He alerted the other three with a distorted bray, and immediately all of them lunged to attack me.
I didn't think: I acted.
I drew my sword and channeled the magic. The edge glowed with a reddish glow before releasing a powerful Dragon Quake. A brutal roar burst from the blade, shaking the rotten walls of the house. The attack left the four animals totally stunned, staggering like trembling shadows.
I took advantage of the opening. I ran towards them and hit them all at once, cutting bodies, severing heads, giving them a quick and painless death. It wasn't their fault to be crazy. It was the fault of the damn fog.
When they fell, the bodies dissolved into motes of light, leaving behind a Fairy Tale: The Bremen Town Musicians. I picked it up and carefully stored it in my bag.
I explored the small house. In a corner, almost hidden among broken boxes, there was a wooden chest.
I opened it carefully and inside I found a sorcery book with the title Omnistrike.
Upon touching it, a current of knowledge made its way into my mind: steps, movements, magical patterns. In a matter of seconds I knew how to use it.
I stored the book, took a deep breath and left the house.
I continued exploring among twisted trees and moss-covered rocks until reaching a huge corral. The smell was very strong, a mixture of hay, humidity and milk.
In the center, slowly moving its tail, there was an immense creature that looked like a cow, although its skin had gray spots and its eyes shone with an almost human serenity.
Around it there were piles of empty bottles. I supposed that the ancient inhabitants had passed by here to stock up… or perhaps someone else.
I approached calmly. The creature looked at me, but did not react aggressively. So I took a few bottles and began to milk it. The sound of the liquid falling into the glass was strangely relaxing. I filled about thirty bottles, enough for the road.
Next to the creature there were also minerals of different colors and shines. I collected them and stored them in my bag, thinking that they might be useful later.
With the supplies ready, I set off again.
I decided to explore the route that I had not checked when I defeated the huge werewolf. I remembered well that combat: the earth trembling under its steps, the beast roaring, my blows clashing against its skin hard as stone.
That part of the forest was full of huge holes in the ground, like wounds opened by ancient explosions or falls of giant creatures.
I advanced carefully, jumping cracks and dodging protruding roots. The mist became thicker with each step, and the air became colder. My breath formed small clouds.
And then I saw it.
Between two pillars of eroded stone, guarded by leaning shadows like watchful figures, was the entrance to an immense mine. Dark. Ancient. Breathing a silence that seemed too heavy to be natural.
On the map it appeared with a clear name:
Jacob's Mine.