Isla and Arthur talked for a minute or so while the others waited for them. They couldn’t hear what they were saying to each other but they could see the looks on their faces and it only made them even more confused.
Arthur looked a little taken aback the entire time as he listened to Isla. It was as if he heard something that he didn’t expect and yet couldn’t fully grasp. Then, they saw him reply to Isla. The two went back and forth for a few moments before Arthur nodded his head.
The two then walked back to the group as if nothing happened.
“Are you done?” Emmy asked.
“Yes, we are done.” Arthur nodded and turned to look at Finlay and Serko. “So, I assume both of you know how to fight?” He asked.
“Mmm, we can fight. We also have our own weapons.”
“Hmm, like what?”
“We have all kinds of weapons. They aren’t very strong but they do the job.” Finlay replied.
“Ok, get the ones you can use the best,” Arthur said. “Also, wear some armor if you have any.”
“Understood!”
The two then ran away somewhere, vanishing very quickly. That was when Arthur finally turned to the others. “Listen, guys. I will have to be frank with all of you. The situation can get very very bad when we leave this place.” He said.
“…”
“The fog outside is a problem… A very bad problem. There is a very huge chance we might get separated because of the lack of vision and the weird nature of this place. When that happens, each one of us will be on their own. So, the only thing we can do is continue in the direction where the fog grows thicker. Finlay and Serko said that the deeper they went, the more the fog started pushing them back, not allowing them to move beyond a certain point. However, that also means it is trying to protect something.”
Everybody was already aware of what Arthur was saying. But, he wanted to make sure that they were all ready mentally for what could happen.
“No matter what you see, and no matter what happens, try to keep moving forward unless you are very certain that it could mean your death. Are we on the same page?”
“Yeah, I have no problem with that.”
“I also have no problem.”
Danny didn’t reply as he simply looked away. Arthur didn’t bother to ask him as he knew that he wouldn’t really answer. Instead, he looked at Isla. His eyes flashed with a weird glint before he looked away.
“Let’s go then.” He walked away as he said.
***
Several minutes later, the group stood in front of the house’s door looking at the two kids with stupified looks.
“When I said an armor… I certainly didn’t expect this.” Arthur muttered as examined their appearances.
The two dwarves were now clad in heavy, almost medieval-looking armor made out of iron and wood. Their heads were hidden under thick helmets which made them appear almost intimidating. They carried a sword, a dagger, and a mace all made out of polished iron and wood.
Arthur didn’t even know how they were able to move with such heavy armor and weaponry on their bodies.
“We are making sure to be very ready,” Serko replied as he lifted the visor, revealing his eyes.
“… Well, if that’s how it is. Lead the way.” Arthur smiled as he extended his hand.
With that, the two dwarves moved down the stairs and into the forest, followed by Arthur and the others. The necklaces they were wearing made an instant and profound change in how they perceived the environment around them. Not only were they able to see clearer now with the 30% effect, but also their senses had undergone a deep change.
The world was now far clearer and the feeling of suffocating claustrophobia dissipated a little. However, now that they could see better, they could perceive how the forest looked around them and it was not very pleasant.
“How did this place turn somehow even scarier now that I can see better?” Emmy asked. “I’m getting even more chills now.”
“Don’t let it get to your head. It’s just some trees and fog.” Herculia replied.
“Stay focused guys. We aren’t safe here.” Danny commented as he walked near Isla.
The tension in the air was palpable, making even the smallest sounds the forest made even more nerve-wracking. So, to make themselves feel calmer, they talked amongst each other.
“Did you map this forest, Finlay?” Isla asked one of the dwarves.
“… No, we didn’t. We memorized most of the areas we visited. Making a map would’ve been a waste of time.”
“A map would always be useful. But, it seems you have no problem with navigating this place so it might be useless after all.” She muttered. ‘To memorize such a place to an extent where you can move through it freely… These two are still hiding a lot of things.’
The more Isla looked at the two kids, the more intrigued she was about their true identity. She had only known them for an hour or so, and their real identity is still shrouded in mystery as far as she is concerned.
The trip was slow but still very peaceful. The fog grew slowly thicker around them and the lack of visibility increased slowly. However, nothing attacked them or moved around them. The entire forest was devoid of all noises.
However, for some reason, nobody could feel relaxed. In fact, as the fog grew thicker, the unease increased too. The air felt colder and the trees around them started appearing in more unnerving shapes. Their branches loomed above their heads like devilish arms, trying to reach down and grab them.
Their massive trunks looked like shrouded giant monsters. It felt like they were about to move and attack them.
About 45 minutes later, the two dwarves stopped out of nowhere, making everyone immediately halt.
“This is… This is where things started getting… weird. Please, be careful.”
“So, beyond this point, the forest will start acting up?” Arthur asked.
“Mm, also, we don’t know much about anything past this point. So, please take everything we say with a pinch of salt because we aren’t completely sure about what we will see.”
“…”
Everyone tensed up visibly as they nodded their heads. Slowly, they pulled their weapons out and prepared themselves for what was about to happen.
With that, the two dwarves turned around and started walking again, a lot slower than before. The others followed suit and the group continued their journey.
However, almost the moment they took the tenth step, they all felt something. A wave of energy hit them in the head out of nowhere, pushing them all back. The wave wasn’t particularly strong or harmful, but it was strong enough to make everyone jump back.
“What was that?”
“Did you feel it too?”
“Yeah… Something pushed my head back.” Herculia rubbed his forehead, unable to understand what he felt.
“… That’s the forest… Pushing us back.” Isla replied and looked around her.
“Don’t stop, we need to get to where it doesn’t want us to go.” Arthur declared as he started walking again, fighting the wave of energy that hit him again.
The others saw Arthur’s lack of hesitance and welled up the courage to move after him. The waves pushed against them constantly. They could luckily resist against them and keep their speed, but it was a very disturbing feeling.
As they walked, the waves slightly increased in intensity merely a minute or so later. Then, it increased again another minute after that. The fog increased in thickness, looking almost like floating cotton.
“Is everyone still here?” Isla asked as she looked around her, counting their numbers.
“We’re all here.”
“Keep your pace!”
Putting his hand against his face, Arthur fought the raging waves of energy with pure strength. ‘This forest really doesn’t like us. I can feel it in the air.’
The repulsion wasn’t simply mere waves, even the fog and the trees around them seemed to shake. The entire forest was reacting to their trespassing and that only made Arthur even more nervous.
However, never did he expect to see what he was about to see. Something that was not only going to shock him… But it was also going to make him question Divinity Online as a game.
A//N: Don’t forget to give the book some golden tickets for good luck! :3
