Side Story 2 (Pt.2)
(This story is the continuation of Side Story 2)
“Bristle… I’m sorry. You got hurt because of me. “ Yggdra tearfully looked at the monster pup that was licking the burn on his left back leg. The remorse was ever present in her beautiful green eyes. If she acted much faster the moment Black snatched the device, the monster pup wouldn’t have been injured.
The monster pup, Bristle was injured when the purple-robed man used a lightning-type spell to unceremoniously attack the one who stole the Locator, a device used to locate Yggdra’s main body. As the purple-robed man attacked indiscriminately without a proper target, Bristle only received a light injury. Still, it was the first time that the pup received any injury as such he could not help but whine in pain.
“It’s not big sister’s fault. It was those bad guys. If they didn’t come then there’s no need for big sister to act at all.” Bristle never blamed Yggdra for his injuries as he was fully aware who was really at fault. Just like what Bristle said, if those intruders didn’t come to look for trouble then the tree spirit wound’t have to act and nothing would have happened.
“Black… I’m very sorry.”
Although Bristle didn’t blame the tree spirit, Yggdra still couldn’t stop the feeling of guilt. This was especially true considering that it was Chaos who asked her to allow Black and Bristle to live near her. Moreover, Bristle was only a few months old. For a tree spirit like her, Bristle was just a small sapling – weak and must therefore be protected. Yggdra believed that Black must be mad at her for Bristle’s injury.
Of course this couldn’t be further from the truth. Black never blamed the young tree spirit for her child’s injury. On the other hand, Black believed that this was a good lesson for the rowdy Bristle. Now that the pup knew what it felt to be injured, he would be more careful in the future.
“No need to apologize. This kind of things couldn’t be controlled. Beside, none of these was your fault as my son’s injury was due to his carelessness.” Black looked at the tree spirit with gentle eyes and assured her that she’s no blaming her for Bristle’s injury. “Also, this would serve as a good lesson for him – that carelessness could put his and that of other’s lives in danger.
“I understand. But still… it doesn’t change the fact that Bristle received his injury because he wanted to help me. If those humans still choose to return despite my warning… then I won’t show mercy.”
Yggdra understood that although she’s not really at fault for what had happened, she was indirectly related to it. If not for the fact that the three people came looking for her then Bristle wouldn’t have been injured.
Black simply nodded her head at the tree spirit’s reply. She could tell that no matter what she do or say, the tree spirit Yggdra would still blame herself for what happened to Bristle.
“Yggdra… those people… do you know who they were?” Black asked after contemplating a bit.
Hearing Black’s question, Yggdra though for a while before answering, “I don’t know much about them but the intrusion earlier wasn’t a first for them. If I recall correctly, they had tried to intrude to my home thrice if we include the one earlier.”
“During the first intrusion, I didn’t look much into it as people would often venture inside the forest in the hope of getting one of my branches. On their second attempt, I grew curios about them and secretly listened to their conversation before sending them out. They didn’t reveal much information but I did hear them mentioned a god of the void, The Sect of the Void, and other things I couldn’t comprehend.”
“The god of the void… and Sect of the Void?”
Black and Bristle (who was quietly listening to their conversation) had question marks floating on their heads. Since Black rarely deals with humans, and Bristle being just a pup, they have no idea what those phrases represent. Of course if Rennel was here, she would surely be shock!
The Sect of the Void…
A sect filled with lunatics that believed in the god of the void. These people believed that the only way to reach true enlightenment was to surrender themselves to the god of the void. For them, everything started with the void and would therefore, end with the void.
The members of the sect were so zealous of their beliefs that they’re willing to do anything even sacrificing their own lives just to bring the void into the world. Moreover, the members of the sect seemed to be searching for something, and were trying to capture powerful creatures such as a monster king.
Or maybe it’s not the creature themselves that they wanted but something the creatures possesses?
“Yeah… I have no idea what those things were but something tells me that it’s nothing good…”
Black and Yggdra don’t know what the good of void or the Sect of the Void was but they got a feeling that those three were not good people. The fact that they didn’t hesitate to use lethal force against them was enough for Yggdra to label them as such.
****
“What are supposed to do now? Without the Locator, finding the core of the maze would be next to impossible.” asked the woman wearing glasses.
“No idea…” the purple-robed man could only spat out a sigh. Although he acted quickly back then, the device was still stolen right before their noses. Right now he was angrier that he was made a fool of rather than the fact that the Locator was stolen.
The man wearing a black fur jacket looked at his companions with dissatisfaction. “We can’t fail here…” he reminded.
“We know but what else can we do? It’s not easy to find another branch from that tree. You should know the price that we have to pay just to get that one branch.” the woman replied.
“It certainly wasn’t easy… Many of our brothers and sisters were lost just to get that thing from that bastard.” The purple-robed man shuddered as he recalls the battle with the original owner of the branch.
The three people; the two men and the woman were indeed members, or acolytes of the Sect of the Void. Several years now they had been trying to find the location of the mysterious tree that gifted several of its branches to the “worthy.”
It was believed that the branches that belong to the mysterious tree possessed powerful magic and whoever has a branch in his or her possession was destined for greatness as long as they don’t die early. This was not actually some hearsay or rumor as the original owners of those branches did indeed have their names written in history. Some were known as heroes, others became rulers.
Even the last owner of the branch that the locator was made of was a very difficult foe to defeat. A lot of sacrifices were needed just to get that branch. It was for this reason that three of them could not return without anything to show for it.
Look for another branch? Easier said than done…
“That’s why we must succeed. Only by getting to the tree could we answer to our lost brothers and sisters, and justify our losses back then” answered the man wearing black-furred jacket.
Although the three people have the will, they knew far better than anyone that going into the forest unprepared would be a fool’s work. It wasn’t the first time that these three people attempted to find the tree. Including this one, they had attempted it thrice already.
Without similar device like the Locator, the chance of getting to the core of the maze would be next to impossible. What’s more… all three of them heard the warning from either the guardian of the tree or the tree itself.
If they really attempted to enter the maze like forest without proper preparation and tools, they might find themselves lost forever. Although all three of them were more than willing to give up their lives for their sect, they don’t want to lose their lives to something that didn’t benefit the void.
Oh how they envied the brothers and sisters who had entered the void. Although what they’re doing now was for the void, it would not benefit their organization if they lost their lives without accomplishing what they sought out to do in this place.
“Should we ask the envoy’s help?” the purple-robed man finally broke the silence.
“The envoy… you couldn’t be talking about his Excellency, could you?” the woman’s eyes widened after his colleague brought the name of the envoy.
The Envoy of the Void… One of the lucky few within the sect that manages to successfully touched the void. Each envoy can be considered the elites of their organization, and rightly so as they were not only powerful but rare.
And currently, there’s an envoy in Blizzard city. As long as they ask the envoy’s help then it’s possible to see through the illusions within the Forest of Mazes. That said, asking the envoy’s help was no easy matter. To successfully ask the envoy’s help, then they must pay a high price.
“We might have to give the envoy 70% of what we’re supposed to get on this venture. Honestly, I’m very hesitant doing this. We’ve worked for years to get this far… so giving up most of the reward to someone else doesn’t sit well with me…” said the woman wearing glasses. She could not help it. They had sacrificed a lot for this mission, and yet someone else would get most of the fruits of their labor.
“It’s not like we have a choice. The organization is getting impatient. Why do you think that the envoy is in the city right now? A coincidence? No, I don’t think so.” the purple-robed man could only grit his teeth in defeat. After failing their mission several times, their sect is beginning to put pressure on them.
“Right. So instead of losing everything we should just be content with what we could get. In my opinion, 30% is still better than nothing. Once our position in the sect improved then we don’t have to resort to this humiliating method of asking someone for help. As long as we rise on ranks then it would be others that’ll be looking for our assistance.” the stern man wearing black furred jacket explained with a cold glint in his eyes.
The three looked at each other’s eyes before nodding. They had made their decision.
****
“So this is the infamous Mazes of Trees?”
A man wearing clothes in weird assortment of colors stared at the entrance of the forest in marvel. Basically, the man looks a lot like a jester in the way he dressed. Despite this though, none of the people present dared to belittle him, nor they try to laugh at him. On the contrary, the three people deferred him, fearful of the man even.
After all, this man was Conrad, one of the sect’s Envoys of the Void.
“Yes sir… it’s exactly as you surmised,” the man wearing black-furred jacket answered in a humble tone.
“Hmm… I see. I see.”
A lazy smile could be seen on the envoy’s face. The envoy didn’t look at the three people with him and simply stared at the forest. Not long after the smile on his face widened and he started waving his hand in a friendly manner.
“Sir, sir Envoy? What are you doing, sir?”
The man wearing the black furred jacket, as well as the purple robed man, and the woman wearing glasses stared at the envoy’s strange action. One of them; the man wearing the furred jacket couldn’t help but ask what he was doing.
The envoy turned around towards the three and spoke, “Nothing much. I’m just greeting the naughty spirit peeping at us.” he answered with a joyful expression.
A spirit!
The word spirit sends alarm bells ringing on the three acolytes’ heads. If a spirit was really involved in the defense of the forest then things would become more complicated.
“Sir… do you mean to say that the mysterious tree developed a spirit.” the man with furred jacket asked. The three acolytes were not stupid. They knew that spirits could form in places with overabundance of mana. Considering that the whole forest itself was incredibly large and very mysterious, it’s not surprising if there are places within that are overflowing with mana.
“No wonder… Sir, what are we going to do now?”
“Oh… nothing will change. I’ll enter the forest with you three, solve the illusion and the maze, and then get to the mysterious tree and receive my reward.”
Despite knowing that the mysterious tree had developed a spirit, the envoy was still very confident. It was as if the spirit was no cause for concern. This could only mean two things: One the envoy was a fool, or two, he was very confident of his abilities. The three acolytes believed that the envoy was the latter rather than the former.
The envoy of the void, Conrad, looked at the three acolytes and spoke in a cheery tone. “Well then… Shall we begin the hunt?”
****
To be continued…
Previous Chapters: https://read.cash/@beastion
