Chapter 85: Forest Encounter

Chapter 85: Forest Encounter "So tell me again," Captain Nari said, wincing as she adjusted her position against the large oak tree, "how exactly did you find us?" The forest around them had settled into predawn stillness, the first hints of morning light barely visible through the dense canopy. Their small campfire cast dancing shadows across Mika’s face as she applied a salve to Seril’s wounded leg. "You’re quite difficult to miss," Mika replied with a smirk, her fingers working with practiced precision. "Sound carries in these forests, especially the sounds of collapsing ravines and dying horses. Honestly, I’m surprised the entire kingdom didn’t hear you blundering about." Nari’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. "We were at least half a day’s ride from any established path. No patrol would have been in the area by chance." Mika finished bandaging Seril’s wound and wiped her hands on a cloth before facing Nari directly, an arrogant tilt to her chin. "Perhaps we should be clear with each other, Captain. You’re nowhere near Thornvale territory, but that creature that pursued you—the one that, by your own account, shouldn’t exist—caught my attention. Did you really expect to go unnoticed? I could track a mouse through these woods blindfolded." "We expected to reach Thornvale eventually," Nari countered. "But we’re clearly still days away from your kingdom’s borders." "Things change," Mika said with a casual shrug, tossing another small branch onto the fire. "I go where I please, borders be damned. And unusual occurrences," she gestured vaguely at their surroundings, "tend to draw my attention." Seril, who had remained silent during their exchange, finally spoke up. "The creature nearly killed us." "And would have, if not for my impeccable timing," Mika boasted, eyes gleaming in the firelight. "We heard a massive sound, like thunder but sharper. Our scouts reported unusual elemental disturbances in this region for the past week. When we detected your sound manipulation, Captain Seril, we followed it to its source." "And found us about to be killed by that... thing," Nari finished for her. "Convenient timing." Mika’s expression hardened, though her posture remained relaxed, almost bored. "Is suspicion the standard response for life-saving intervention in Vylonia, Captain? Perhaps next time I’ll let the creature finish what it started." Nari held Mika’s gaze for a long moment before her shoulders relaxed slightly. "No. Forgiveness for my caution. Our mission is too important to take chances." "Then perhaps you could share the details of this vitally important message from Queen Elizabeth?" Mika pressed, leaning forward with exaggerated interest. "The one worth risking your lives to deliver?" "I can’t," Nari said firmly. "Not until I’m certain of who I’m speaking with." Mika laughed, the sound sharp and challenging in the somber forest. "Fair enough. Though I’m not sure what proof I could offer that would satisfy you. My reputation usually precedes me." "Tell me about Thornvale," Nari suggested. "Something only someone from your kingdom would know." An odd expression flickered across Mika’s face—something between pain and fondness. "What would you like to know? The way the central plaza changes colors with the seasons? How the training fields are arranged in concentric circles to represent the flow of elements?" She tapped her dagger hilt impatiently. "Or perhaps you’d like to hear about the people?" Nari nodded slowly. "Tell me about your people." Mika’s gaze shifted to the fire, her normally guarded expression becoming wistful despite her efforts to maintain her cocky demeanor. "I could tell you about many, but there’s one who matters most right now. Her name is Viva." "Your partner?" Seril asked. Mika scoffed. "In many ways. My best friend. The only one who can keep up with me on missions." A shadow crossed her face. "She’s missing now. Has been for days." "I’m sorry to hear that," Nari said, genuine sympathy in her voice. "Save your sympathy," Mika snapped, though her eyes betrayed her concern. "Viva is an illusion user. The best in Thornvale after me. She can create images so real you’d swear you could touch them, feel their warmth." A small laugh escaped her. "She has this ridiculous cat—a mangy orange thing she found half-dead in an alley. That beast has eaten my dinner more times than I can count." "You chase a cat?" Seril asked, unable to hide her amusement at the image of the fierce warrior pursuing a feline. "Every time," Mika admitted with a self-deprecating smile before quickly reasserting her confident air. "And Viva just laughs. She has this laugh that..." She trailed off, collecting herself. "Anyway, that cat is as sneaky as she is. One minute my food is there, the next it’s gone, and all I can hear is Viva’s laughter from the other room." Nari studied Mika as she spoke, noting the way tension seemed to leave the warrior’s body when she talked about her friend. "She sounds special," Nari offered quietly. "She is," Mika agreed, her voice dropping to almost a whisper before she caught herself and straightened her shoulders. "She’s impossible. Infuriating. The most unorganized person I’ve ever met—her clothes are constantly slipping off her shoulders because she never ties her tunics properly." A fond smile played across her lips. "But she’s also the most loyal friend I’ve ever had. When we’re on missions together, I never worry about watching my back, because I know she’s there." "And now she’s gone," Seril said softly. Mika’s expression hardened instantly. "Yes. She disappeared three days ago. No trace, no message." Her eyes locked with Nari’s. "So while I understand your caution, Captain, I hope you understand mine as well. I need to know if your message has anything to do with her disappearance." Nari was silent for a long moment, weighing her options. Finally, she nodded. "Queen Elizabeth entered the dreams of someone called the Veilwalker. She saw him being taken prisoner by a being called the First Eternal." Mika’s breath caught audibly. "The Veilwalker," she muttered, her eyes darkening with recognition. "He was captured on his way back to the Moonlight Kingdom after a ceremony in Thornvale. Viva went with him." "So you already knew?" Seril asked. "We knew he was missing," Mika replied with an impatient wave of her hand. "We’ve been searching since he left Thornvale. A message from the Moonlight Kingdom arrived, stating he never returned. What we didn’t know was who took him." "The First Eternal," Nari stated. "I’ve never heard of this being before now," Mika admitted, her expression grim. "But if it’s powerful enough to capture the Veilwalker..." She didn’t finish the thought. "Well, it’s very real," Nari said grimly. "And apparently capable of controlling elements that should be impossible for a single being to wield." "Like that creature that attacked you," Mika surmised, spinning her dagger between her fingers with casual expertise. "What exactly was it? I’ve never seen anything like it, and I’ve seen plenty." Seril exchanged a glance with her captain before responding. "We don’t know. It had a humanoid form, but moved like water. Silver hair, and it could manipulate the water element with terrifying skill." "Silver hair?" Mika’s head snapped up, her eyes suddenly intense. "Was it long? Flowing like liquid?" "Yes," Nari confirmed, watching Mika carefully. "Why? Does that mean something to you?" Mika’s face had gone pale, her cocky demeanor momentarily forgotten. "Viva has silver hair. It’s her most distinctive feature." A heavy silence fell over the small camp. "You think..." Seril began hesitantly. "You think that creature could have been your friend?" "No," Mika said firmly, though her voice trembled slightly. "That’s impossible. Viva is an illusion user. She can’t manipulate water." She stood abruptly, pacing the small clearing with predatory grace. "The creature that attacked us shouldn’t exist at all," Nari pointed out gently. "If this First Eternal is as ancient and powerful as Queen Elizabeth believes, perhaps it can... change people." "No," Mika snapped, her voice sharp with denial. "I refuse to believe that. Viva would never..." She stopped, struggling to maintain her composure. "If that thing was Viva, she would have recognized me when we encountered it. She would have shown some sign." "Unless she couldn’t," Seril suggested quietly. "Unless whatever happened to her took away that ability." Mika turned away, her shoulders rigid with tension. "We need to get moving at first light. If the First Eternal has taken the Veilwalker and possibly Viva, then we have no time to waste." Her voice regained its commanding edge. Nari watched the Thornvale warrior with newfound understanding. "You’re not taking us to Thornvale at all, are you?" Mika turned back, her expression carefully guarded once more. "No. We’re nowhere near Thornvale, and heading there would be a waste of time. We’re headed to the Moonlight Kingdom." She lifted her chin defiantly. "That’s where we need to go." "The Moonlight Kingdom?" Seril exclaimed in surprise. "But our orders were specifically to deliver the message to Thornvale." "Plans change when circumstances do," Mika replied with a dismissive wave. "Trust me, if you want your message to reach those who need to hear it most, the Moonlight Palace is where we need to go. Unless you think you can make it there alive without me." "And why should we trust you?" Nari asked, though her tone lacked the earlier suspicion. Mika was quiet for a moment, her gaze drifting to the dying embers of their fire before she reasserted her confident posture. "Because I want to find Viva just as desperately as you want to deliver your message. And I suspect, Captain Nari, that those two goals may be more connected than either of us initially thought." Nari considered this, then slowly nodded. "Very well. At dawn, we ride for the Moonlight Kingdom." "Good choice," Mika said with a smirk, though genuine relief flickered in her eyes. "You won’t regret it." As the first true rays of sunlight began to filter through the trees, Mika moved away from the campfire, standing at the edge of their small clearing. Her hand instinctively went to the dagger at her hip—the twin to Viva’s own. "I’ll find you," she whispered to the morning air, too quiet for the others to hear, her usual swagger momentarily abandoned. "Whatever happened to you, whatever you’ve become... I’ll find a way to bring you back."