'What is happening now,'
Akamir thought, leaning back on the wooden sofa as he looked at the woman in front of him.
His crimson eyes shifted to Zia, who brought some snacks and placed them on the table between them.
"So." Akamir began, looking at Maria. "What is Princess Inara's personal knight doing in such an odd place?"
Maria didn't even glance at the snacks, her eyes solely on him.
"How long have you been here?" she asked, an odd question that made him tilt his head.
"We arrived yesterday," Akamir replied, his voice calm. "Why do you ask?"
Maria finally moved, crossing her legs elegantly as she leaned back slightly, studying him.
"I will say it only once," she said, her voice firm. "Get out of this place."
Akamir tilted his head in confusion. "Why should I?"
"Because if you stay here any longer," she said in a low, sharp voice, "you won't be able to leave."
'What is this bullshit.'
Akamir felt annoyance creeping under his skin.
It had only been a day since he came to this place and too many things were happening.
Taking in a deep breath, he controlled himself.
"Tell me why," Akamir asked, leaning forward. "Give me a reason for me to leave a place my family owns."
Maria frowned at his question.
Akamir waited for her answer, but she remained silent.
"I think you've wasted enough of my time," Akamir said, getting up from his seat. "You can go now—"
"Princess Inara received information from her family," Maria interrupted, making him halt.
"The Lythanis Kingdom has found a way to navigate the Forest of Death."
"..."
Akamir looked down at her without a word.
Under his cold, emotionless gaze, even an experienced knight like Maria felt uneasy.
"I know it sounds impossible," she said, trying to explain herself. "But there's a high chance it might be true."
"Even if it's true... what does that have to do with me?"
"Their path would lead them to this town," she replied, staring into his eyes. "If you stay, you might become collateral."
Akamir chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"How are they even able to move in the woods?"
"I don't know."
"Do they have a way to fight against whatever is in the forest?"
"I don't know."
Akamir let out a sigh.
'Things are really becoming a pain in the ass.'
"Is Princess Inara anywhere close?" Akamir asked, looking at her.
Maria shook her head. "She is in the capital."
'She is lying.'
Akamir could tell that at a glance.
'Inara is most probably somewhere close.'
"Tell the princess that I am grateful for her consideration," Akamir replied, turning to walk away. "But I would like to stay here."
"B-but—."
"Zia, show her the way out."
"Yes, young master," Zia replied, bowing in his direction.
Akamir moved back to his room as he looked around the place.
'We still have most of the sunlight.'
From what he had heard so far, whatever curse the Witch of End had placed on this area only took effect at night.
During the daytime, it was safe to move around.
'I should take a look around the place.'
Even though he planned to make a draft of the teleportation portal, things had changed now.
'If Lythanis Kingdom is trying to invade the place then they must have a way.'
Taking in a deep breath, Akamir controlled himself.
There wasn't any need for panicking; nothing had changed for him.
Not yet.
Picking all the things that may be necessary for the day, Akamir moved out of the room.
Saying his goodbye and giving Zia her task, Akamir started to move towards the forest.
As Akamir made his way towards the edge of the town, the streets seemed eerily quiet.
'This place is always like this.'
He clicked his tongue as he looked up towards the church.
Even now, he felt like someone or something was watching him from there.
Akamir stared at the place for a while before he ignored it.
Finally, he reached the backdoor of the town's wall that separated the forest.
'....'
It was only now that he noticed the marking on the walls.
It was the same one he saw in the church, a lady holding a lamp with strange words written on her.
'What a pain.'
Taking in a deep breath, Akamir opened the door as he stepped into the forest.
'This... looks amazing.'
Akamir looked around the forest scenery, taking in the beauty of the place.
Unlike what its name suggests, the entire forest was filled with greenery with little.
The sound of birds chirping felt like a melody in his ears.
Akamir started to move further into the forest while using the sun as a compass.
The deeper Akamir went into the forest, the quieter it became.
The trees grew thicker, their twisting branches blotting out patches of the afternoon sun.
Strange flowers bloomed by the roots, some in colors he had never seen before, glowing faintly.
Still, Akamir walked calmly, his senses sharp but unhurried.
He marked the trees with a small carving knife as he moved, just in case the forest decided to play tricks on his sense of direction.
'So far, nothing strange...'
Akamir thought, glancing at the marks he left behind.
But just as he turned the corner of a large fallen tree, he paused.
There, embedded into the ground like a forgotten monument, stood a broken statue.
It was a woman with hollow eyes, holding the same lamp he'd seen marked on the church walls.
Moss covered most of her face, and cracks split through her body like veins.
Akamir approached carefully.
At the base of the statue, words were carved in the old language—a script he barely recognized.
'...A prayer?'
He knelt down, brushing aside dirt and leaves. As he read, the temperature around him dropped slightly.
"Fairies consume the faithless."
A sudden rustle made him turn sharply, his hand instinctively reaching toward the sword at his waist.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then, out of the thickets, a small creature stumbled out—a deer, its fur unusually pale, almost white.
Its wide eyes locked onto Akamir—and for a fleeting second, he thought he saw a flash of intelligence in them.
The deer tilted its head.
Akamir tilted his in return.
'...Cute.'
He lowered his guard slightly.
The deer took a hesitant step toward him... then another... then, suddenly, its body twitched unnaturally.
Akamir's instincts screamed danger.
Without hesitation, he leapt back just as the deer's head split open like a blooming flower, revealing rows of sharp, crystalline teeth where its face should have been.
SNAP!
The creature lunged at where Akamir had stood, missing by mere inches.
Landing smoothly, Akamir clicked his tongue in irritation.
"So much for a peaceful walk."
The deer-creature snarled, its voice no longer that of an animal but something broken and wrong.
From the corners of the forest, other sounds answered it.
More and more creatures started to rush towards Akamir in an instant.
"Huff..."
Taking in a deep breath, Akamir took out his sword.
Tens of creatures now encircled him from all directions.
A thought flashed in Akamir's mind.
'I wonder if they are edible.'
Screech!!!