Chapter 1 [The man named Dylan]

   ‘As I said, we are close to our destination so please stay still.’ said Brian

   ‘I was just asking! You don't need to be rude.’

   ‘This is the 513th time you have asked that question… this week.’

   ‘Why you-’   ‘Cut it out you two.’ The calm reasoned voice of Dylan spoke out.

   ‘Haha. Feisty aren’t ya kids.’ The carriage driver said while laughing. ‘That's good. That's good. Youngins such as yourselves should be full of energy.’

   The group had been travelling via this gentleman’s carriage for a few weeks now. And for some reason the driver seemed to be the only one enjoying this situation.

   Dylan leaned against the side and gave out an exhausted sigh. Their party consisted of the tall, barbarian, brawler Brian; the short, petite, support mage Clara and the swordsman Dylan himself. And he had been stuck in the carriage with Clara and Brian for all this time, too much time, and though they were good friends, their constant bickering was beginning to drive him insane.

   Just then, as if sent as a divine gift to his sanity, the driver said to him.

‘No need to look so down young man. We have almost reached our destination. Why, you can see the clearing right ahead.’

   He was right. In front of them the forest was starting to thin until it disappeared leaving an open clearing and one small wooden wall in the middle that protected a small little town.

   They had finally reached their destination. The furthest frontier, the goal of the most daring pioneers, the newest colony, Solstun.

   The carriage now travelled through the clearing and approached the back gate of the town. Like most new towns, it was protected using a circular wooden barricade and a ditch. Beyond the wall there was a small clearing to give a good view on any approaching animals. The town has two gates on opposite sides and ironically the gate through which most people first approach the town is called the back gate. In a pioneer town, the front gate is always the one that is aimed at the unknown.

   As the carriage entered through the back gate the driver shared some nice words with people there. He was regular to this town after all. Trading, delivering food and supplies and bringing in new pioneers was just part of his routine but for the other three this could be considered the most important day of his life.

   He parked the carriage in front of the well in the middle of the town where the other three started to disembark.

   ‘We are finally here!’ said Clara with a smile on her face while excitedly jumping off the carriage.

   ‘Well, it has been fun kids but here is where we say goodbye.’

   ‘Thank you mister for everything’   

 ‘Eh. Don’t mention it. Now have fun and beware of the witch’

    ‘Are you still on about that campfire story?’

   He laughed a little and then with a sudden ominous shift in tone he said, ‘That is not just a story. It is reality. Many young men have been lured into the dangerous forest by that witch. They are attracted by her angel-like face and clothes. I hear that she is always spotless despite living in this dense forest. So many have nearly died and god knows how many actually did. Poisonous animals in the forest avoid her and if you are smart you will avoid her too.’

   With that the man rode off to sell his wares to the craftsmen in the town.   Well The group was unsure how to take the parting words of the old man but at last they collectively agreed that the witch of Novaria was just a cautionary tale among pioneers. With that settled they focused on the town itself.

   Despite its lofty titles among pioneers, it was still just a series of wooden houses erected haphazardly. Most were probably erected within a day. The town square building and a few craftsman and herbalist shops were the only structures that even pretended to have any sort order to them and even those would probably need to be demolished and rebuilt once the town grew bigger.

  ‘It seems like they have built more wooden houses than we expected,’ Clara noted. ‘Where are our loggings anyway? I am so very tired.’

  ‘Are you ever not tired, Miss?’ Brian asked with an emotionless voice.

  ‘Don’t you start, mister.’

  ‘Yeah, don’t start Brian. We have had a long journey. She deserves some rest.’ Dylan said, cutting the argument short. 

 ‘Ok. Yes, we should probably rest up a bit,’ said Bryan.’Let us go to the town hall and find out where our loggings are.’

  ‘You two go ahead. I will look around a bit then head back’ said Dylan

  ‘Why, don't you want to rest up as well?’ ‘And continue being a third wheel between you two, no thanks.’, Dylan replied.

  ‘Huh, what does that mean?’, Brian asked 

   ’Don’t play dumb and besides, I want to scope out the area before our first expedition.’ Dylan said.

  ‘Ok, but be careful of the witch.’ Clara said.

   ‘Don’t you start as well.’ 

   ‘Brian let's go already. I want to lie down on a warm bed right now.’ Clara said while dragging a very confused Brian with her.

  With that the friends parted ways.While Brian and Clara were going to town hall, Dylan noted to himself that Clara didn’t even try to deny that he was being a third wheel. 

   Novaria was a new continent discovered about seven decades ago. Ever since that day it had been a race to see who could unearth the most secrets and make a name for themselves. Pioneers like Dylan and his party would travel in search of adventures and riches.

   They had met in Tallen, a port town and the current de facto capital of this new land, a month ago and after becoming quick friends had collectively decided to try their luck by moving to one of the furthest frontiers in the new world. It seemed like a good idea back then but he had regretted it ever since. The bumpy road, the constant movement, the occasional attacks by bandits and beasts and last but certainly not the least his so called friends.

   Their endless arguments were almost as annoying as the fact that Clara had the most obvious crush on Brian despite the fact that there was such a handsome man named Dylan just there. And the only one braindead enough to not realize it was Brian himself.

  Dylan let out an audible sigh as he looked at the barren roads leading to one of the gates into the forest. This place was so different from his hometown. There were no bustling bazaars, no shops, no children or busy families, no beggars on the streets, only ambitious pioneers looking to make a name for themselves.

  It was common knowledge that further out a pioneer village was the more dangerous it was. But with that danger came promises of untold riches. If he could just make a name for himself here then maybe finally…

  ‘Ouch! I am so sorry I didn't mean to bump into you’ Dylan had barely felt anything when a high pitched voice started apologizing to him profusely. 

   There in front of him stood an absolutely stunning woman. She had an angelic face with blond hair, blue eyes. She was wearing a flowing white frock with a belt around her waist to carry a small bag. And most striking of all there wasn't a single spot of imperfection on her to the point that it looked like she was sparkling.

   ‘I am so so sorry about that. I wasn't looking and I just…’ the woman began.   ‘Ah, don't worry about it. I barely even felt it.’ he replied truthfully.

   ‘Still, I should have been more careful, mister…’ She trailed off while staring at his face.

   ‘The name is Dylan.’

   ‘Ah! You must be new here. Where are you from? I am Millie by the way.’

   ‘Nice to meet you Millie. I am from Chrolen in the kingdom of Veloniya’

   ‘Chrolen! You are from the capital? Are you like some sort of royalty?’

   ‘We were fairly well off but I wouldn't go that far.’

   ‘How come you are here then? I thought only poor people from the outskirts came to try their luck here.’

   ‘I have something that I am searching for here. Think of it as a call of destiny’.

   ‘Oh really. Must be quite important if you are willing to throw away a life in the capital to come here. Can you tell me what it is?’

   ‘I am afraid I can't.’

   While he talked elegantly about his “call of destiny” like a hero on a mission, his inner mind was anything but elegant.

   ‘OH MY GOD!! OH MY GOD!!! IT'S HAPPENING! IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING! I CAN GET MYSELF A GIRLFRIEND!!’

   The man named Dylan was the son of a humble tradesman from Zaria, the old continent. While his life there wasn't exactly luxurious, it was still comfortable. And it would have been perfect except for one thing. The man by the name of Dylan had never felt the loving touch of a woman. Was it because of his shyness or was it just bad luck? No one knows but what we do know is that this man’s first solution to that problem was to throw away everything and move some 10000 km from his home in search of a soul mate instead of trying to go on a single date. This should tell us something about the frankly unhinged abomination that is the psyche of the man named Dylan.

   And now let us return to the longest conversation this man has had with a woman that he thinks he has a chance with, maybe, possibly .

   ‘Anyway you looked like you were going somewhere’ said Millie

   ‘Oh! I was just going to look around the surroundings. You know, get a lay of the land before our first expedition.’

   ‘Can I tag along?’ Millie asked excitedly.

   ‘Sure.’ Dylan said without even thinking.

   With that Millie and Dylan started heading for the forest. After crossing the gate , they came upon the open clearing before the start of the forest. The forests here were different from the ones back home. They were thicker, darker, wetter and altogether more oppressive and twisted.

   ‘So, umm. Why are you here?’ Dylan asked.

   ‘uh, you know. Just wanted to enjoy some good company..’ Millie replied.

   ‘Oh, really. Well umm I am flattered but I meant why did you come to soustun.’

   ‘Oh right, of course. Well let’s just say it was my dream.’

   ‘You came here for your dreams as well?’

   ‘Yeah, that's the only reason anyone comes to this place. Say, are you strong?’

   Dylan looking flustered said,’ of course, I am strong. You are looking at a big strong hero in the making.’

   What we just saw is what we call in the business ‘lying through your teeth’. The man named Dylan lies in terms of fighting ability somewhere between a dying old alpaca and your average city clerk on the less flattering side. The fact that he hasn't yet taken a hint points to a prodigal level of stupidity.

   ‘Oh my really!’ Millie said without a hint of sarcasm. ‘Well, I have been looking for a hero.’

   Did this girl actually just buy the nonsense he spouted? Was she really that stupid? But maybe that is exactly the level of gullibility one would need to fall for the man named Dylan.

   He suddenly realized that the conversation had gone quite well on count of her not pointing out his bullshit. This could actually go somewhere. Just think of the possibility.

   Dylan then proceeded to daydream about said possibility to an excruciating degree. Out of sympathy, let's just say he suddenly realized that he had been completely lost in his embarrassingly detailed fantasies for a good time now and had ignored the subject of said fantasies for all that time.

   Dylan, trying to break the silence, said, ‘Do you have a map?’

   ‘Why?’

   ‘Cuz I keep getting lost in your eyes.’   There was an excruciating silence.

   ‘God damnit!’ Dylan thought. ‘I knew that wouldn’t work.’

   ‘Oh, th-thank you.’ she said, blushing a little.

   Dylan’s mouth flew open but no words came out. We can't blame him after all this is around the point where the girls start looking for an excuse to leave him be. In order to cool his head he looked away from her and tried to focus on the scenery.

He had in his poor excuse of an attempt in flirting had forgotten to look around his surroundings. Even this relatively thin portion of the forest was twisted unlike anything back home. And the sunlight was nearly non-existent through the canopy.

   ‘You know I just realised something.’ said Dylan  

   ‘What is it’ said Millie

   ‘I think we came into the forest a little too deep’ said Dylan.

   ‘Well, maybe you are right.’

   ‘I have heard that there are many dangerous and poisonous creatures in these forests. We are lucky that we haven't seen any so far. It might be dangerous to stay here any longer.’

   ‘You are right but I am not alone here. I have you. You are a big strong hero, aren't you?'

   ‘Of course I am!’ He said puffing his chest 

   Then suddenly there was a loud crack.    ‘What was that?’ Millie said

   ‘Come close.’ Dylan said cautiously, drawing his sword.

   Millie came close to Dylan hiding behind his back. This would be the best moment of his life if not for the fact that there was definitely something sinister lurking around. He was frantically looking around to find this monster and then he saw it. It was hiding behind a tree, but its dark shadow was definitely there.

   This was bad. He had talked a big game and now he would have to stand by it. His legs were shaking violently and he wanted to run and scream like a little girl but he had to walk towards this … thing and show how brave he was.

   Steeling his nerves he approached the tree where the creature was hiding. He took a deep breath, tightened his grip on his sword and lunged in front of the tree to see the most adorable pair of eyes gazing at him through sparkly eyes on little hairy body. The creature was only about half his size and he couldn't really make out anything other than its cute beady little eyes as the rest of its body was hidden by the shadow of the tree.

   It is almost sad that someone could be scared this much by a cute thing like that.Dylan straightened his back, cleared his throat and called out to Millie with a stupid grin,’ false alarm. it's just a little creature, nothing scary…’

   Just as he was saying that, a long thin arm with giant claws grabbed his forehead like it was a toddler’s.

   Dylan slowly moved his eyes back to the shadow where he had seen those cute eyes. The arm had emerged from the shadows there. And now that he looked the previously small shadow was now lifting itself in the air. It's thin hairy body now standing on long stilts like legs. Its arms equally thin were the same as the ones that were grabbing him. Its hair only went up to his shoulders atop which was a round hairless face like that of a monstrous turtle. Where its eyes should be there were two sunken dark holes. The creature now stood at twice the height of Dylan. All the while those cute beady little eyes stared at him from way back down in the knees.

   Dylan let out a scream and started flailing around like a baby. All pretense of masculinity had left him.

   ‘That is a Kawaii eye. The eyes on its knees are its weak spot. Just strike them.’ Millie said.

   Ladies and gentlemen, here is something you should know about the man named Dylan, previously it was stated that he was about as strong as a dying old alpaca. That is not due to any physical weakness or lack of talent that he has. In fact, he does have the potential of being a decent warrior with the right training. No, the reason he is so weak is because the man named Dylan is unequivocally an absolute coward. 

   So when Dylan heard it all his brain could process was that he could run away. The creature was still looking at him like a curious toy. But when his flailing started being aimed towards its eyes it let go in surprise. The moment his feet touched the ground the man ran away at top speed. His speed would have been considered impressive if he wasn't running away like a coward right past Millie.

   Millie couldn't even process what she just saw.

   ‘Wait, no. Don't run. You are supposed to be a brave hero aren't you. Don't abandon me. No come back. NO. COME BACK.’ Millie cried.

   The creature slowly meandered towards her as its long lanky body moved towards her. Millie seemed to not take notice as the creature hovered over her. Its arms ready to grab her.

   ‘Oh! Just shut it! You overgrown ape!’ Millie yelled as her arm flew backwards and struck it on its face. 

   The creature violently flew several feet backwards and crashed into a tree. In this new world there are many creatures and people to be careful of. But out of everything the one that even the animals of the forest know to avoid is known as Millie, the witch of Novaria.