The cry of seagulls and the crash of waves against the seawalls stirred Lucius from sleep. The scent of salt and the cool sea breeze filled the room. Yet, despite the peaceful morning, his face held a gaunt, weary look.
"I can't wait for this fetch quest to finally be over," he muttered, pushing himself upright. He crossed the room to the window, gazing out at the ocean. Sunlight spilled across the water, scattering into shimmering golds and silvers that danced with each swell of the tide. For a moment, the sight softened his mood.
"Well," he sighed, stretching the stiffness from his shoulders, "at least waking up to this view isn't so bad."
He cleaned himself up, splashing water on his face and running a hand through his hair before heading to the dining area. There, Olivia and Flavian were already seated at the table.
"Good morning, everyone," Lucius greeted as he pulled out a chair and sat.
"Morning," they replied in unison, but something was off. Olivia sat stiff, her gaze distant, like she was only half-present.
"Olivia, what's wrong?" Lucius asked, leaning slightly toward her.
"She won't say," Flavian answered, glancing at him. "I already asked. She refuses to talk about it."
"Is that a fact?" Lucius said, tone sharpening as his eyes returned to Olivia. He set his elbows on the table, clasped his hands, and fixed her with a look that allowed no escape.
"I'll ask one final time," he said firmly. "What's wrong, Olivia. No excuses, only answers."
Olivia's lips pressed into a thin line. For a moment, she mumbled something under her breath, then let out a long, frustrated sigh.
"Fine," she said, throwing up her hands slightly. "I would've told you eventually, but I haven't even processed it myself yet, so let me just… come out with it."
She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, then spoke in a quieter tone.
"Last night, I had a dream… of something calling to me."
"Calling you?" Flavian asked, scepticism curling around his words.
"Yes," Olivia admitted, her brows knitting. "Outlandish, I know. But it felt real. Like something reaching out, pulling at me from… a forest. A shrouded one, full of blue-speckled flowers, some of them with these purple, spiraling designs. I couldn't make out what was calling me, but I could feel it."
Lucius frowned. "Do you at least recognize the forest?"
"No," Olivia said, shaking her head, her tone perplexed, almost troubled.
A voice cut in from across the room.
"Oh, the answer's obvious," Madra said as she set down a basket of warm bread on the table. "What you just described is the very forest I explicitly warned you to avoid."
Bodroy followed behind her, carrying a steaming pot of stew. He placed it on the table with a dull thud, then looked at Olivia with a calculating gaze.
"I take it," Bodroy said slowly, "you've got a connection or maybe even potential for a beast contract bond?"
"Yeah, she's got a strong affinity for beast taming," Flavian answered.
"Well, that would perfectly explain the dream you had, you poor thing," Madra said as she sat down, sympathy softening her otherwise sharp tone.
"What do you mean by that?" Lucius asked, his brow furrowing.
"It means," Bodroy said as he tore a chunk of bread from a loaf, "it was no coincidence you had that dream last night. Something in that cursed forest is calling to her, and that's all the more reason for you three to stay away from it."
"That forest…" Olivia leaned forward, curiosity flashing in her eyes despite the warning. "It doesn't sound like any normal forest. What exactly is wrong with it?"
Madra let out a quiet, humorless laugh. "The better question, child, is what isn't wrong with it." She rested her elbows on the table, her tone turning grim. "That forest is the scar left by a battle between two maguses, one an Earth mage, the other a Nature mage. I suspect one of them wielded Darkness as a secondary element, because after they unleashed their Ascent Spells, that twisted grove is what remained."
"Ascent Spells?" Lucius asked, stunned. "Wait, you mean both of them used theirs?"
"Yes," Madra replied with a solemn nod. "Both."
"One minute an open field, the next a land forever changed that created that damed forrest forever a curse to this area," Madra said.
The trio exchanged glances, wide-eyed and silent for a long moment.
"I can't believe something like that happened out here," Flavian muttered. "Just… how long ago was this?"
"Almost a hundred years," Bodroy answered, his tone steady, like a man reciting a well-worn truth.
Flavian let out a quiet "Oh," the weight of the revelation pressing against his chest.
Madra leaned in slightly, her gaze fixed on Olivia now. "That forest is a breeding ground for Spirit Beasts. It's crawling with bizarre, dangerous phenomena, some of which are beyond what even maguses care to meddle with. I have no doubt some spirit beast in there is trying to lure you in."
She pointed a finger, her voice hardening. "Remember this, girl: Spirit Beasts can make powerful mounts, weapons, or allies, but the same is true for how dangerous they are. Don't be fooled. The call you're feeling? That's not kindness. That's the forest baiting the hook."
"And it may very well be a dead end for you, so be careful," Madra said, returning her attention to her meal.
The rest of breakfast passed in quiet thought. When they finished eating, the trio thanked their hosts and left the inn, mentioning they would return later in the evening.
"So," Flavian said as they stepped out into the crisp morning air, "we've been warned multiple times in the last twenty-four hours not to go any further north. How exactly are we supposed to find what we're looking for if we can't even go there?"
"First," Lucius replied, adjusting the strap of his satchel, "we get a feel for the area around it. If it's truly as dangerous as they say, we'll need to plan carefully, maybe even arrange to fly or sail in to avoid the land routes entirely."
Both Flavian and Olivia nodded in agreement, their expressions set with quiet determination.