The journey to the Whispering Forest was neither long nor dangerous.
After barely an hour of walking, they could see the massive trees that formed the legendary forest.
They had finally arrived.
With courage and conviction, they took their first steps into this uncharted land.
The first thing they noticed was the lack of light.
The trees were so tall and their canopies so dense hardly any sunlight could peer through, drowning the forest in perpetual gloom.
Ancient roots and thorny undergrowth covered the paths, turning every step into a challenge and showing just how primal and untouched the forest was.
Yugo felt uneasy as he marched on.
He could feel thousands of eyes in the dark, watching his every move and remining him he was the intruder here.
As touched one of the great old roots, he felt the bark was strangely grey and withered.
Once he had a closer look, a creeping realization came to his mind.
It wasn’t just the lack of light.
The entire forest was dead and grey, just like the monsters who attacked the village.
He glanced over at Amalia.
If he found this unsettling, he couldn’t imagine how it must be for her.
Unfortunately for him, he was right.
Ever since Amalia entered the forest, she felt a cloying despair all around her.
Every tree she touched was hollow and completely devoid of any life-energy.
It was as if the forest’s soul had been ripped away.
What have happened here?
she pondered as she looked around.
What kind of curse could have done something like this?
Yugo was not the only one to see Amalia’s distress.
Evangelyne walked up to her and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“If you need to rest, just say it.
I can’t imagine how terrible this place must feel for you.”
Amalia closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
“I’m fine, Eva.
If I want to save the village and this forest, I have to be brave.”
The only one to not feel uneasy was Percedal, who just felt extremely bord.
No matter how much they walked, the local monsters didn’t bothered to show up and attack them.
To kill some time, he unsheathed Rubilax and slashed at imaginary enemies around him.
When that was too boring, he loudly complained to anyone who could hear him.
“Are we there yet?
I swear, I feel like we’re walking in circles.”
“Would you do everyone a favor and shut up, Iop-brain?” Amalia snapped.
“I’m doing everything I can to guide the group, and all you’re doing is playing around with your stupid sword.”
“Actually, the Iop might be on to something,” Evangelyne interrupted and pointed at a tree a few steps away.
“Look at that tree.
It’s got one of Percedal’s sword marks…
just like the one we saw a while ago.”
Amalia stopped in her tracks.
“Eva, you’re right.
We are walking in circles”, she scratched her chin in worry – “That’s not good at all…
Something in this place must be messing with my magic.”
“And is there anything you can do about it?” Ruel groaned.
“Walking so much is killing my old knees.”
Amalia took a deep breath and nodded.
“No need to worry.
I have one last trick up my sleeve.”
After those words, she opened her bag and pulled out a small doll made of woven cloth and leaves with emanated high levels of magic.
She set it on the ground, clasped her hands and spoke an incantation in the Sadida tongue.
“Guide us to the heart of the forest, little guardian.
Show us the root of this corruption.”
Suddenly, the doll’s eyes lit up with a green light and it began walking on its own.
With each step, small white flowers bloomed in its wake which marked a clear path through the forest.
“Problem solved,” Amalia explained.
“If we follow my doll, we’ll find the source of the curse.
Easy-peasy, right?”
“Finally, a step in the right direction!” Ruel rubbed his hands with glee.
“And speaking of direction, I’ve had an idea.
Listen up, boys and girls.
I’ve though of a combat formation that could save our lives out here.”
The group fell silent.
“At the vanguard, we need someone brave…
someone willing to charge into danger without thinking.
And there’s no doubt that someone is you, Dally.”
“I won’t let you down, good sir!” the Iop thumped his chest.
“Sir Percival of Sadlygrove is ready for action!”
“In the center, we’ll have Yugo, Amalia, and myself.
Sorry to say that, but you two are the weakest in fight and your powers work best at mid-range.
I’ll be there to provide cover and keep the group together.”
“That sounds so boring, Ruel,” Yugo crossed his arms in annoyance, “I’d rather to be in the front with Dally.
Just look at what I can do!”
Yugo immediately started opening multiple portals and jumping from one to another in an attempt to impress the old man.
But the old Enutrof’s just watched in silence, arms crossed and a serious look on his face.
I see you’ve got your spirit back, little Yugo…
Ruel thought.
But you’re not ready yet.
I made a promise to Alibert, and as a true Enutrof I could never break it.
“Your skills are impressive, young man, but fancy footwork won’t save you in the front.
You’re still inexperienced, and as the son of my best friend, it’s my duty to look after you.
Trust me, your portals will be far more useful if you work together with the rest of the team.
Especially considering Eva’s talent, don’t you think.”
Yugo dropped his gaze and sighed.
“Fine…
I’ll stay in the center like you said.”
“That leaves the rear guard.
This spot is the ideal for someone specialized in long-range attacks and with a sharp eye…”
But before he could finish, Evangelyne had already taken her position. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
She had her bow ready and her expression was cold and focused.
At least someone here knows what’ they’re doing, Ruel thought.
I’m sure that young woman has had an interesting life.
“…Well, since you clearly don’t need an explanation, I’d say my work here is done.
Take formation and get moving.
Who knows when we’ll be attacked.”
The group obeyed and resumed their march.
To their surprise, the path to the heart of the forest was too easy.
There were no major obstacles, no monster attacks…
and not even any more strange spells.
Only silence and withered trees.
Now that they had a moment of quiet, Amalia approached Ruel.
“I don’t mean to bother you, but it seems you have quite a lot of experience dealing with situations like this.
Were you an adventurer or something?”
Ruel let out a short laugh.
“Adventurer, bounty hunter, criminal…” he reminisced.
“I’ve been called many names in my long life.
I’ve spent more than fifty years traveling all over the world looking for treasure, fighting dangerous monsters…
those really were my golden years…”
“Fifty years?” Amalia shouted in surprise.
“And you’re still going on adventures?
Sir, with all due respect, aren’t you worried about your health at such an old age?”
Her questions got a sly grin out of the old man.
“Don’t worry about me.
I’m remarkably healthy for my age.
And hey, there’s no need to call me “sir”.
That makes me feel too old.
Anyway, as I was saying, in the old days I was even called the best bounty hunter in the world…
until a bad job in Brakmar led to an early and unfortunate retirement.
Since then, I’ve done some side hustles here and there, but compared to my glory days they’re nothing to be proud about.”
“Wow, I can’t believe you’ve been to Brakmar” Amalia asked.
“I’ve heard a lot of rumors about that city.
Is it really as dangerous as they claim?”
“It’s even worse,” Ruel replied with a grunt.
“I’ve worked there for years, and whatever stories you’ve heard don’t do it justice.
It’s filled to the brim with violent, demon-worshipping savages who would kill for even copper Kamas.
I remember when it used to be nothing more than an insignificant dump and now it’s causing trouble for the whole world.”
Wait a moment, Amalia thought, frowning.
Brakmar joined the Council of the Twelve nearly a century ago.
If Ruel worked there before that…
how old is this man, really?
Before Amalia could keep asking, Yugo interrupted with another question.
“And how did you become a bounty hunter?
Sounds like a pretty exciting job.”
Ruel let out a heavy sigh and shook his head.
“I wouldn’t recommend it, kid.
Your father made a right call by opening the tavern.
After twelve years, he’s earned way more than me without having to risk his neck.
I’d say he’s been the real winner.”
“I’m not going to work at the tavern!,” Yugo shot back.
“Ever since I first heard your stories, I knew that adventure was my calling.
I want to travel the world, fight evil, and become someone the world will remember.
Emelka’s such a small and boring place compared to the entire world.”
“Well said, Yugo!” Percedal exclaimed and clapped him on the back.
“Those words are fit for a true knight.
I’m sure you will achieve great things out there and become a legend!”
Those corny words just made Ruel click his tounge.
“You kids don’t know what you’re talking about.
An adventurer’s life is nothing but hardship, danger, and disappointment.
Nobody talks about the nights you go hungry, the betrayals, the wounds that never heal.
If you don’t listen to me now, you’ll regret it when you’re old and broke.
Or dead.”
But Yugo was barely listening.
Full of excitement, he kept talking with Percedal, who started telling one of his many exaggerated tales of heroism.
Ruel sighed.
I tried.
I just hope this path doesn’t bring him too much pain.
Amalia’s doll guided kept guiding them until, at last, it stopped in a vast clearing deep in the forest.
The princess gently picked it up and tucked it into her backpack before turning to the others.
“We’re here,” she announced.
“This is the heart of the forest.
Here lies the source of all the corruption.”
When the group entered the clearing, they saw within it tree so tall it dwarfed the rest of the forest.
Its branches could touch the sky while its roots were bigger than even Ruel.
Unfortunately, like like the rest of the forest, its bark was gray and devoid of life.
As they looked around the clearing, cold sweat began to run down Amalia’s back.
She could sense something ancient and powerful was watching them.
Suddenly, the silence shattered with a deafening roar.
“Who are you, and what are you doing here, outsiders!”
The group froze in fear.
Their eyes swept the clearing, searching for the source.
Eva was the first to notice that the great tree almost looked like it had a face.
It had two holes that resembled empty eyes and it had a deep, almost semi-circular crack which looked like a gaping mouth.
Suddenly, the crack moved and another roar echoed through the clearing.
“I am the Great Whisperer, guardian of this forest and protector of all life within it.
This is no place for intruders.
If you have come with ill intent…
you will pay the price for your transgression.”
The tree’s branches creaked ominously, and in the distance, countless footsteps began to rumble through the trees.
Eva tensed and slid a hand to her bow.
But Amalia, rather than preparing for battle, stepped forward and raised her hands.
“That thing might attack you!”
The Sadida ignored her pleas and continued walking towards the tree.
Now that she was close, she looked up at the Great Whisperer and spoke in a clear, calm voice.
“Oh, wise guardian, you have nothing to fear.
We’re not enemies, but rather we’ve come here to heal this forest.”
The group stayed on alert and raise their weapons, unsure of what was about to happen.
Then, the tree’s eyes settled on Amalia and something changed within them.
Thick black sap began to flow from its hollow eyes, almost resembling tears.
The guardian then lowered one of its colossal branches with great care, brushing Amalia as if trying to recognize her.
Its voice softened and was now full of deep sorrow.
“Leaf…
Is that you, my Leaf?”
Amalia stood perfectly still, allowing the branch to envelop her and raise her to the sky, placing her at a point she could meet the old tree’s gaze.
She knew this was the moment to earn its trust.
“Oh, Great Whisperer, what happened to you?
This land feels so rotten and corrupted, and I want to free it from its curse.
Tell me how we can help.”
The tree fell silent, as though her words had reopened a wound too deep to bear.
As it stayed silent, Amalia could feel a wave of emotion flow over her: sorrow, helplessness, hatred…
they all combined in a deep and dark corruption which infected the tree.
And then, in a trembling voice, the Great Whisperer began its tale.
“This forest…
was once a paradise.
The trees were green, birds would sing, and life flowed through every corner.”
It paused as sap began to flow thicker from its eyes.
“But everything changed…
when that outsider arrived.”
Its voice now became full of hated.
“At first, I let him as I would any traveler.
But he took advantage my hospitality…
and began to feed off this land like a parasite.
He came with a horde of metal monsters that devoured life in their wake, leaving this forest empty and dead.”
A violent crack ran through its trunk.
“I tried to stop him, but…
he was too strong.
His dark magic made him invincible, and his iron heart had no mercy or goodness within him.”
Its voice began to crack, as he remembered a terrible tragedy.
“And then…
my little Leaf…
”
It couldn’t continue.
The entire forest began to shudder as if every tree was grieving.
“…I thought she was gone forever.
But, here she is.
Alive once more…”
Amalia listened, her chest tight with pain.
She couldn’t imagine how someone could be that cruel.
But, as she locked eyes with the tree, she knew it was not right to give it such false hope.
She had to tell it the truth.
“Great Whisperer…
there’s something I have to tell you.
I…
I’m not Leaf.
My name is Amalia Sher…”
Suddenly, the air stood still.
The tree’s eyes, once filled with melancholy, began to blaze with fury as its bark-face contorted into a mask of primal rage.
“You are not Leaf!?”
Its roar shook the clearing once more.
“How dare you deceive me?!
How dare you impersonate my beloved Leaf?!”
Amalia barely had time to react.
The guardian lashed the branch that held her and hurled her to the straight to the ground, making her scream in terror.
The Great Whisperer was now little more than a wounded beast consumed by despair and rage.
And now, all it could see were enemies.
While Amalia was talking with the tree, the rest of the group stood still, trying to make sense of what was happening.
For Percedal, the situation was unbearably boring.
Finally, his patience snapped.
“Hey, does anyone understand what the heck is going on?
All they’re doing is talk, talk, talk, and it looks like we’re not even going to have a chance to fight.”
“That’s not something to complain about,” Ruel replied.
“If Amalia solves this without violence, I’ll be more than happy.”
“Could you two please shut up for a second?” Evangelyne interrupted.
“I’m trying to listen.”
The moment she said those words, her eyes began to glow with golden light.
Before Ruel could ask what was happening, the Cra shouted with fierce determination and took off toward the Great Tree.
“Get ready to fight!”
Mere seconds later, Amalia let out a harrowing scream which echoed through the forest.
In horror, they watched as the Great Tree brutally flung her from its colossal branch and threw her towards the ground.
Evangelyne reacted in a fraction of a second.
She launched herself forward at full speed and caught Amalia in midair, saving her from the impact.
While both girls would fall to the ground, they were little more than dazed.
Suddenly, with a roar that shook the earth, the Great Tree raised its branches and shouted with a thundering voice.
“These intruders have dared to deceive me!
My children, go forth and ATTACK!
This was quite an exciting sequence of chapters.
It’s had battles, character moments and soon an even greater fight to come.
While it is mostly adapted from the original series, as you’ve probably noticed I’ve made certain moments significantly darker (even though I keep many gags and try to keep things light).
My personal philosophy is similar to Eichiro Oda from One Piece where I seek to mix both fun moments with genuinely dark ones in order to create a powerful contrast and make both moments hit harder.