6 - Dreams Monster

I open my eyes slowly, the sunlight filtering through the leaves piercing my eyes, forcing me to close them. I turn my head, Aela is still sleeping beside me. 

I pushed myself up from the damp ground, and used my magic to wash my face, the cold water cleared my mind, then set off to gather the firewood. 

I walked between the trees, picking up dry bunches from the ground. We've been camping like this for weeks now, since north of Valdiora is uninhabited, monsters have been living here for a while. 

After gathering firewood, I went back holding them to our campsite and lit the fire, preparing our meal. 

Aela has been preparing our food the whole time, but it's okay to try it from time to time, that's why I'm ready today for cooking. 

I put in some vegetables, then I should wait, some spices. And done! 

I peer into the pot, this might be my best cooking attempt. I smiled proudly and glanced over at Aela who is waking up, it must be the food smell. 

"What's this disgusting smell?" she murmurs, rubbing her eyes.

She raised her head, staring at me and the pot beside me. Then her face twisted in horror. 

"What did you do?!" she screamed. 

"Cooking soup, want some?" 

I lifted the lid, but then she immediately covered her nose. Maybe I need to not cook again... 

"Rei, both of us have our own roles. So please, never cook again!" She smiles while eating, a suffering smile. 

After eating, we continued walking through the forest to the north. I raise my eyes, a village appears in the distance. 

"It's rare to find a village out here" I commented. 

"It must be an abandoned village" we walked toward it. 

We entered the village and as expected, it's empty. We walked through the silent streets. Then, the door of one house made a whistling sound. 

I turned my head, and an old man looked at us with caution. 

"Are you travelers?" he asked from a distance. 

"Yes, are you one of the villages?"

"Yes, but few of us still live here" he nodded toward the rest of the houses. 

"It's okay, we’ll take care of the monsters" she smiles confidently. 

"R- really?! Thank you so much" he's voice trembles but it's full of gratitude, as some others begin to appear from the other houses, echoing their thanks. 

"Be careful" they said, watching us walking away. 

"We’ll end this soon" as expected from one of the strongest mages. 

We walked for a while, and some trolls, in their massive green hulks, blocked our path then walked toward us. I summoned my staff, and so Aela did.

I shot the troll on the right and Aela did both on the left, Their massive build collapsed. But then others start to come, as we continue defeating them. 

"Finally, we're done" I pant, lean on my staff. 

"Let's keep walking, maybe there are more monsters hiding there."

We continued walking, as thick fog began to creep in, and soon it filled the air completely, swallowing the trees around us. 

"Aela?" 

I turn my face, there’s no one. I rub my eye. I need to sleep... 

I open my eyes slowly, the sunset light filters through the place. An old couple stands by their cottage door, looking at me warmly. 

"Thank you for helping me and my grandson" he thanked me. 

"Enter the cottage, young mage” the old woman entered. 

When I entered the cottage, a soup aroma was everywhere. I turn my gaze, a table is set for four. 

"Sit there" the woman gestured, then I did as the family members did. 

"Thank you for helping me" the kid said between the spoonfuls. 

"No need, I did it out of curiosity" I said while starting to eat the hot soup. 

"Tell us about your adventures, young mage.”

“Yes, I want to hear!” the kid cheered. 

I started narrating all my journey stories, the funny moments, the exhaustive and also the crazy ones. All of them are looking and listening to me. 

"They all have golden houses, even the forks was golden" I rested my head on my hand, trying to remember "oh... the Blue Forest, it has blue shiny irises, but I feel like I've forgotten something" 

An elf? Why am I traveling with an elf? My head throbs. I opened my eyes and as I expected, they began to disappear. And the faggy view begins to reappear. 

"Aela?" I called out, stumbling forward. 

I look around, trying to find her shadow, then my foot meets something soft.

"Ah" she moaned in a weird way. 

I bend down and hold her, she's sleeping, it must be the fog. I need to carry her out of it, stumbling through mist. 

"Vinerius..." she whispered in her sleep. 

After a while of walking, and using the magical compass to determine the direction of the south, I finally got us out of the fog. I eased her onto the gnarled tree trunk and stepped back, taking a moment to catch my breath. 

This fog is made by a monster, so you can't remove it without killing the small monster hiding within. The fog makes the prey fall asleep, then the monster feeds on it with no effort. Dreams Monster. 

"My head... " she opens her eyes slowly, resting her head against her palm. 

"No worries, we got out of the fog" I helped her to get up. 

"Oh... the Dreams Monster attacked us?" She asked, confused. 

"Yes, let's go back now" we walked toward the previous village. 

I kept glancing at her walking beside me. Her playful glint had vanished and instead, a terrifying look was in her eyes as she kept thinking while walking through the trees. 

After we reached the village, the people there gathered and thanked us and let us sleep in a small cottage that night, then they offered us a stew. The next morning, we were ready to continue our journey, we walked away as the villagers waved us off.