The Sunless Forest

Will had mixed feelings in his mind. He laid on a cloth blanket, the only thing separating him from the cold cave floor, and stared at the ceiling. On one hand, everyone told him he had won that fight. He managed to land a blow on the Blade Princess and knock her out. But, she was crying. It didn’t feel good to hit someone who was sobbing, especially someone as pretty as her. She went too far, yes, but it still made him feel guilty. Will rolled over, gingerly touching the side where his rib had been shattered with his fingers. The High Priestess had healed it. It was strange. Usually when Mina would heal his wounds, he would still feel sore for a couple of days. This time though, it was like it never broke in the first place, save for a very small feeling of itchiness that erupted from the rib from time to time.

“You awake, Will?” Alan asked.

“Yeah,” answered, turning over.

Alan was by the fire, tending to the last fleeting embers. The little flames wicked against the fragile twigs, sending flickering shadows against Alan’s somber face. Nearby, Mina tossed and turned in her sleeping bag. She had a troubled look on her face.

“Can’t sleep?” Alan questioned as Will walked over, joining him by the fire.

Will didn’t answer, instead staring into the flames.

“She almost killed you, you know,” Alan comforted.

“Yeah, I know,” Will answered, almost looking like he had to convince himself. “She was crying.”

“Yeah, she was,” Alan chuckled, poking at the fire with a twig.

Neither spoke for nearly a minute, occupying themselves with the crackling embers.

“I had this idea that all S ranks were like Kagan,” Will stared. “Lying, sadistic bastards that thought they could do no wrong. But, seeing her, I don’t know. Don’t get me wrong, she was pretentious, selfish, and self-righteous, but seeing her down like that, it was like kicking a puppy, or a sad little girl. It didn’t feel very Ricard-like.”

“Well, half the adventurer’s guild now considers you a hero,” Alan whistled. “Probably going to be some good business for us in the future,” He grinned.

“Always about the money, you should just take Mina’s blessing,” Will laughed.

“Wish I had it,” Alan responded. “You know, last year, when you told forced us to come to the big city, I had a lot of doubt. Poor countryside kids like us, making it as adventurers. Thought you were crazy.”

“And?” Will raised an eyebrow.

“You are,” Alan stated. “But, you’re our friend. Mina and I couldn’t live with ourselves if you died. Even though thanks to you, we’re in debt and sleeping on a cold cave floor.”

“Sorry,” Will apologized.

“Don’t be,” Alan shrugged. “Seeing you out there yesterday, doing what you do, being Will. Well, seeing that, it reminded us two that it isn’t all bad. Being an adventurer, that is.”

“Sugar tarts…” Mina bellowed, turning over in her sleep.

Will and Alan laughed.

“What are you guys talking about… it’s so early…” Mina groaned, sitting up in her sleeping bag.

She kept herself tucked in, looking like a large caterpillar with only her sleepy face peeking out.

“We’re almost to the Sunless Forest,” Alan noted, reaching into his pocket and producing a piece of wood. “Dungeon oak. Even a bit as small as this will pay for a meal.”

“Ah, you cheated,” Mina gasped. “You already went to the forest!”

“Yeah, last night. It was a bit too dark to see, and honestly I almost died to a demon plant,” Alan grinned. “But had to check it out.”

Many adventurers wore time dials. These special devices were able to indicate whether it was day or night when they were deep in the dungeon. They glowed a deep green during the daytime, and dark purple at night. Of course, Will’s party couldn’t afford one, but Ren’s party did each have one. With “Daylight” hours indicated, the whole dungeon town began to stir.

“Won’t really need these in the Sunless Forest,” Ren stated, greeting the trio as they got ready for the day.

“Why’s that?” Will asked.

“You’ll see,” Ren grinned.

The dungeon town had repacked itself with surprising speed, no doubt practiced from a dozen expeditions before. Soon, it was the cargo train again, wagons pulled by horses, donkeys, and the occasional ground dragon. Will’s party stood by the rest of the supporting adventurers as the vanguard set out. Will spotted her pushing her through the crowd. Crimson hair flowing behind her in a ponytail, she was wearing her silver armor, her blade hanging from her waist. Her expression was blank. It appeared her nose was healed. She pressed forward, her stride dignified, her maid following closely behind her.

“Can we really trust her to scout ahead?” An adventurer whispered.

“She lost to a nobody,” another said. “Bet she’ll start crying again when she comes face to face with a boss,” he laughed.

“I wish Lord Kagan or Lord Markus would take the lead,” An elf girl whispered. “I just don’t feel confident in her at all.”

Natalia pressed forward. If she heard their comments, she didn’t show it. She soon disappeared beyond the mouth of the cave, diving deep into the Sunless Forest.

“Woah,” Mina gasped in wonder as they entered the forest some hours later.

The Sunless Forest was actually quite bright. Despite being underground, something similar to sunlight came from above the trees, easily lighting their path as they navigated. Dungeon firs and Dungeon oak grew abundantly here, the colossal trees ancient and tall, reaching high above. They grew so tall that it was almost impossible to see the canopy of most of them. Beyond the trees, the forest itself reverberated with life. Birds danced between the branches, singing their songs as they plucked at berries and insects. Butterflies fluttered, covered in mysterious patterns of iridescent colors. Rodents dashed between the jutting roots, taking peeks at the passing caravan as they moved through precut paths.

“I can’t believe we’re underground,” Will said.

“Wasn’t this clear when I was looking around last night,” Alan commented.

They walked by the torn wagon. The dwarven merchant, Buckstone, whistled an old toon as he directed his trusty donkey.

“My favorite part of the dungeon,” Buckstone said. “Nice and clear, no nasty dark caves.”

“I thought dwarves liked caves,” Anissa teased, her cat ears twitching as she listened to the songs of the overhead birds.

“That is a stereotype,” Buckstone growled. “Just because most dwarves are born underground doesn’t mean we all like it.”

“We’re underground anyway,” Dan interrupted.

“Well, yes,” Buckstone conceded, scratching his beard. “I suppose we are.”

“Make sure to keep an eye out,” Anissa said, swinging over to where Will was walking. “The spike in danger from here and the caves is pretty significant. A lot of dangerous monsters.”

“Don’t you have a blessing that warns you of danger?” Alan asked.

“Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t watch your own back,” Anissa replied.

“I’m not too worried,” Ren laughed, placing an arm around Will. “We got Will with us. First he beat a red slime, and then he beat the Blade Princess. I bet we’d be all right even if we came face to face with a dragon.”

“That’s right!” Anissa laughed. “I’d love to see Will try to beat one of those up, even a baby one!”

“Will the hero!” Ren patted Will on the back.

Will just laughed, his face showing just a tinge of red.

“Down below is the Frozen Wastes, right?” Will asked, trying to change the subject.

“Yeah,” Ren nodded. “If you take the normal route. It’s the Frozen Wastes, then the Windful Deserts, then the Vast Sea. No one’s been across the sea for nearly half a century, though.”

“Aye,” Buckstone nodded. “Been a while, hasn’t it? It’s nearly impossible to cross, given its size.”

“But they say this new route might lead to the sea, correct?” Mina asked.

“Possibly,” Ren said, before turning to Dan. “You all right? You’re speaking less than usual, even for you. Plus, you have a look on your face that worries me.”

“Had a bad premonition,” Dan said, eyes darting between Ren and the canopy.

“Bad dream?” Alan asked.

“That’s not good,” Ren stopped, turning to look at Anissa.

“Why’s that?” Will asked.

“Dan’s got the skill of Premonition. Occasionally he’ll see things in his dreams that tell us how our day is going to go. If he says, it’s a bad omen…”

“Something bad is going to happen,” Mina finished.

Anissa suddenly crouched, her ears pricking up. She pointed somewhere in the thicket. The party stopped, readying their weapons. Something moved, shaking up brush. Will caught glimpse of a tiny figure, scattering away deeper into the forest.

“Goblin scout,” Ren clicked his tongue. “Not good. They know where we are. If they’re brave enough to get this close, they’re either desperate, or they have the numbers to overwhelm us.”

“Bad omen,” Anissa hissed, still crouching down and scanning the treeline.

“Maybe,” Dan replied.

“Woah!” Buckstone yelped, forcing his donkey to stop.

The caravan had suddenly ground to a halt. Disgruntled merchants hopped off their wagons, trying to peek towards the front, trying to find what the hold up is.

“What happened? Goblins?” Will asked, readying his sword.

A few merchants suddenly hopped back into their wagons, emerging moments later with a red flag. Buckstone too reached down under his seat, lifting the red flag so that the carts behind him could see.

“What’s that mean?” Alan asked Buckstone.

“We’re turning around,” he said, shaking his head. “Something happened. Emergency, we're going back to the surface.”