Mistral Forest

✧ ✦ ✧

I found myself nearly nodding off to sleep, listening to the sound of our wagon rumbling along the path south through the ever-gloomy Mistral Forest. Despite it being early in the morning, the canopy overheard made the forest floor seem much darker than it actually was.

Distant forest animals cried out, and a light wind rustled the leaves around us. It was a bit creepy, if I had to pick one word to describe it.

I sat in the same cabin with Shion, and Zero remained up front with the reins. In a large caravan of people making the trip, our carriage was somewhere towards the back-middle of the train ahead of the supply wagons. A few of the more important figures such as the other four of the Institute’s council of five were in the front few carriages, in contrast.

If they were non-combatants this strategy wouldn’t make much sense, but since they also happened to be some of the strongest mages and fighters in the entire kingdom, they elected to spearhead the operation through some of the most dangerous territory in the eastern half of the continent. Guildmaster Milton had decided to ride horseback behind us along with a few trusted mercenaries, bringing up the back of our formation.

“Remind me again why we’re crossing through Mistral Forest to get to Ember when we could’ve just stayed in Redrook to host this thing.” Zero asked, snapping the reins gently. “I don’t like it out here, not one bit.”

“Don’t be a baby, Zero.” Shion wore a sleep mask, sitting adjacent to me with her arms and legs crossed. “Are you really that afraid of some monsters? You just fought a fifty meter tall turtle, some kobolds and wolves should be nothing for a big strong man like yourself.”

“I’m not! It’s just…” Zero sighed. “I heard from some of the other adventurers that some cult was operating out here, and a couple of pilgrims were skinned alive… Gives me the creeps just thinking about it, you know?”

“If you think anything with half a brain would attack such a concentration of Redrook’s strongest warriors, cult or no cult, you’re letting fear cloud your judgement. Tell him, Ren-kun.” Shion said, waiting for me to agree with her. “Ummm, Ren-kun? Are you doing alright?”

“Oh, me? Yeah, I’m doing just fine...” I couldn’t help but mentally check out as Shion and Zero bickered, a rather common occurrence since I met them. “I was actually wondering the same. About why we’re going all this way, and why the Princess didn’t tag along for something so important.”

If I was getting replaced at my job, I’d want to make sure the person replacing me could do the work properly, assuming I didn’t just want the place to burn down behind me.

To think though, I hadn’t seen her at all since shit hit the fan, and the events were promptly undone. Ultimately, as to not cause her any undue stress, she wasn’t told about the plot against her life since it didn’t end up happening. I kept replaying her dying words to me though.

“The Kingdom in danger… please….”

She was pointing at something, or someone, behind me… Though I was too busy getting arrested to see what.

“Being candid, until a new ruler is chosen, attempts on her life will only continue to grow in frequency.” Shion said. “It’s best she stays in Redrook under the protective custody of the Royal Garrison, and Captain Grimwick for now.”

“And you’re sure that’s a good idea?” I asked, feeling doubtful. “There was something really fishy about how they weren’t anywhere to be found to prevent the princess from being killed, but they sure as hell arrived just in time to arrest me for it.”

“I agree, of course, I haven’t ruled out some sort of collusion.” Shion said. “However, the fact that she’s even still alive right now is proof that she was never the main focus. Without being able to pin the crime on you, the forces at work against us have lost interest in that avenue. But that doesn’t mean they won’t come at us from another angle.”

“I was afraid you might say that.“ I groaned. “But why are folks going out of their way to kill the royal family in the first place? I get the feeling that they haven’t held real political power for a while.”

”It’s a blame game, Ren-kun. You’ve seen firsthand how things are in places like Beggar’s Alley. People are desperate for change, especially those at the bottom of the societal ladder.” Shion sighed deeply. “When her father, King Dante, disappeared, the people all but assumed he had abandoned them. This outraged many, many people.”

“Sins of the father…” I muttered to myself, narrowing my gaze. “Poor kid didn’t have a chance to lead a normal life, did she?”

“It also coincided with the first wave of otherworlders, and the problems that followed.” She continued. “The royal family quickly fell out of favor, and even if the “Prince Nou” everyone knows is beloved by many, it doesn’t change how people felt. The starving and downtrodden don’t forget, nothing gets forgiven.”

Ain’t that the truth.

“As for why the event is being held in Ember, the local lord by the name of Mikail Starkraven has agreed to facilitate the talks in his mansion estate, but I don’t know much about him besides that he’s rich.” Shion explained. “Headmaster Argo and Guildmaster Milton may be good friends, but Redrook is still split into distinct factions supporting their ideal candidates for rule.”

“It’s like sports teams, Partner.” Zero chimed in, sensing his moment. “Everybody’s got a favorite to root for. The adventurers all want to see Milton up there on the throne, and the Institute would love someone from the council to be appointed. The royalists, they’d probably put up somebody like… Captain Grimwick, I guess?”

“Captain Dimwit as king, now there’s a scary thought.” I scoffed. “But what’s he gonna do when the bastard finds out this meeting is happening without him, I wonder?”

Milton had decided to push things along without the Captain for some reason that he didn’t bother to disclose. You wouldn’t get any complaints out of me, however. The farther away I was from that guy, the better, as far as I was concerned. I wasn’t sure letting bygones be bygones was possible for me, given that he was prepared to take my head for nothing.

“I seriously doubt the entire caravan of important figures leaving town escaped his notice, to say nothing of all the hired hands and equipment, but worrying about his next move isn’t going to help with ours.” Shion made a good point. “We have our reasons for being here, let’s do what we can to support my master, and your boss. And hope trouble doesn’t find us again.”

“Right, that’s not a flag or anything.” Zero muttered.

“I’m not a superstitious woman, Zero, you know this.”

“Oh, do I? That little dreamcatcher hanging over your mirror says otherwise, Shion-tan.”

“That’s just a keepsake from family, you buffoon! You’re lucky you’re riding shotgun right now, or I’d—”

“—And what about the lucky rabbit’s foot then, huh? And don’t think I didn’t see the horseshoe or those four-leaf clovers either, missy.”

“I own no such things!”

“Riiiight…”

“You’re unbelievable sometimes, you know that??”

I chuckled at the two of them picking up right where they left off. But on the topic of the ideal candidate for rule…

I’d probably recommend my boss. Rich, poor, human, demi-human, he treats everyone with the same respect.

Shion would probably recommend someone from the Institute, if I had to guess. The council left ahead of us before I got to meet any of them, so I knew little about their leadership aptitude, but the time for that would come soon enough. It seemed like we’d be supporting characters this time around with so many other strong figures attending.

I was perfectly content with that, however. It’s not like I was raring to fight, but then again…

“Miss Shion!”

“Speak of him, and he shall appear.”

We heard the gallop of a horse approaching the wagon, and we lifted back the curtain to greet Milton who had ridden alongside us. His steed was a white stallion with a grey mane, and green eyes. It was like I was looking at another doppelgänger.

“Guildmaster, how are things looking out there?” Shion took off her sleep mask, and set it aside. “It’s a little darker than expected.”

“Indeed, our scouts’ initial reports were inaccurate, the forest’s miasma appears to be getting thicker with each passing hour.” Milton looked ahead. “We don’t have a lead as to the source yet, but it would seem there might be an issue with the Mistral Wards after all.”

“Mistral Wards?” I repeated.

“Due several miles west of here on the shores of Mistral Lake is a village by the name of Treewalk. Three colossal elder trees serve as wards that maintain a protective field around the forest.” Shion explained. “It reduces, but not entirely eliminates, the threat of monsters. However, we’re not going that way. Last I heard, a group of adventurers was tasked to check on the status of their village elders.”

“Correct again, Miss Shion. I have some of my finest men handling things, but we need not worry about that for now. Getting to Ember and back in one piece takes full priority, and every available hand we’ve got.”

“Any bogeys so far?” Zero asked.

“None yet, but look alive you three, with a field of dark magic like this we don’t know what will be drawn in as a result, or when.” Milton warned. “I’m going to advise the front of the caravan to be on the lookout as well, make sure you protect this young lady, you hear?”

“Fufufu, despite how I look, I’m much older than you are, Guildmaster.” Shion chuckled. “But I appreciate the concern.”

“Even so. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” The Guildmaster gave me a quick wink before speeding away. “Hiyah!”

“…”

Now what was THAT all about?

I glanced at Shion. She stared out the window, her hand clutching the sill tightly. She was, of course, without mana after using it all up in our last fight. She awaited a recharge from her master who shared the same magic affinity. I think I understood Milton’s unspoken message to me, after all.

She’s not rescuing us two this time.

It was up to Zero and I to pull our weight, more so in my case, and to make sure Shion gets through this whole trip without so much as a scratch.

“What in the— What are those, up ahead?” Zero pointed out a few wooden posts ahead of us on the side of the road. As we got closer a deep sense of unease settled in. “Pikes…”

Blood-covered, and protruding from the ground in jagged lines, several dozen pikes stood facing us on both sides of the road.

“Sheesh, what happened out here??” I muttered.

I have a bad feeling about this.

Suddenly the wagons stopped. The horses all whinnied in unison, shifting around nervously. My hand hovered over my dagger’s sheath.

“Hey, what’s going on, you guys up there know!?” Zero cupped his hands to his mouth, calling out to the wagon directly ahead of us.

“We don’t, sorry!” A small group of adventurers called back. ”Probably a downed tree or something!”

“…”

I scanned the treeline, feeling uneasy, and then I saw something strange. A floating mask, like a stage performer's. It was only there for a second, smiling at me, but then it disappeared.

“Yo, Zero, did you see—??” Leaning out the window a bit, I stopped mid-sentence as I felt a trembling hand clutching my sleeve.

Shion maintained her stoic expression, but I could tell the environment had her shaken. I nodded to myself.

“What was that, partner?”

“Ah… You know what, I must’ve been seeing things…” I replied, giving the spot where I saw the mask one last wary glance.

“Oh, okay then...”

After a few tense moments the wagons began inching forward again. It was an anticlimax, after all. It was times like these when I expected a hidden enemy to jump out, and attack, but what Shion said was probably true. Attacking this many fighters was as good as suicide.

“Not long now, everyone, only two more hours to Ember!” Milton slowed to the back of the line, barking out to us all as we rolled past.

“Can’t wait to try the local brew!” Zero exhaled, the mood lightening slightly. “Better yet, I wonder if there’s anybody there who can outdrink yours truly.”

“Just don’t overdo it, Zero. I don’t want to have to bail you out of trouble.”

“Do I ever?”

The tension from before had faded, as well as the miasma, as we approached Zen’s Southern Jewel along the Opal Gulf. However, I just couldn’t get the sight of that mask—nor the blood-stained pikes—from my head.

In fact, it sort of reminded me of a bad dream I once had…