Lucian the half-elf got up from the ground as sparks of electricity ran through his clothes from the blow he received from the Skin Hunter.
"(Those bastards got away… They took Ebony… But why? They didn't even take the summoning scroll for the spirit horse)"
The elf thought as he walked toward the place where he had been ambushed alongside his companion, but no matter how much he searched with his eyes, he found no tracks indicating where they had taken the girl.
However, after checking carefully, he found a couple of silver coins Ebony had been carrying, this was enough to search for his friend.
"(Whatever those idiots want with her, I have to find her before nightfall, this hexagon also has undead like the previous one)"
At that moment Lucian slammed his palms together forcefully while the silver coin remained on the ground as a magic circle began to glow around him.
{{Forest Magic: Summoning: Leaf Hound}}
Suddenly the nearby grass that had once been withered turned green and tore itself from the earth, beginning to swirl until it formed the shape of a small dog in front of Lucian.
"Search," Lucian said coldly, and the dog made of fresh grass began to sniff the coin and follow its owner's trail.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, deeper inside the forest among the dry trees, Ebony began to regain consciousness and open her eyes.
She was in the middle of a hunters' camp, their tents were rustic and made of hides with white bones as part of their decorations.
Ebony tried to move her body, but she found herself tied to a massive log with red ropes that emitted magical essence.
"Hey what the hell! Why am I here? You're supposed to be spirit bandits, or magical stuff I guess, what the hell do you want with me?" the blonde girl asked as she tried to break free from her restraints.
At that moment her captors began to come out of the tents, each wearing masks made from different animal skulls.
When they all gathered around Ebony, the leader of the hunters appeared, a woman dressed in white bear pelts just like her long braided hair, she wore a bear skull as a mask with a red symbol in the middle of the skull.
"Hey, we just wanted to pass through, there was no reason to take it this far you damn maniacs!" Ebony said with a furious glare, but just as she was thinking about how to escape, something unexpected happened.
The hunters' chief removed the bone mask and revealed her beautiful face, her features were sharp but a massive scar ran across her right cheek.
When Ebony saw the beauty in front of her, she blushed slightly and raised an eyebrow, beginning to examine the body of the girl before her, who wore nothing but a fur bikini and whose large chest stood out clearly.
The woman began moving one hand, forming signs, and when she finished, a reddish gas began to emanate from her palm until it formed a mouth attached to it.
{{Spiritual Magic: Spirit's Lips}}
"Dear guest, welcome to my tribe, the Rekkart. I appreciate your patience, I hope you like this place because it will be your home from now on," said a sweet voice coming from the mouth made of gas.
"Sweetheart, I don't plan on staying, I've got urgent business, and while I appreciate the offer, very tempting by the way, I'd rather go back to the arrogant elf you almost killed," Ebony replied with a serious look.
The hunter leader, with a cold irritated gaze, looked at her companions and nodded toward the blonde in a silent command.
They began moving quickly and efficiently, bringing cut logs, each with a greenish color, as if the wood fibers had been dyed.
"(Shamans, always so mysterious, even in my other life when I ran into them it was annoying trying to understand their damn side quests)" Ebony thought as she began searching for her heavy shield with her eyes.
However, after an order from the leader, the rest of the hunters started stacking the green logs around Ebony.
At that moment another hunter arrived from the forest with a lit torch, ready to ignite the logs and burn the tied blonde alive, who upon understanding her situation began struggling desperately to free herself.
"(These psychos are going to burn me like a witch! Damn it! Where's that big-eared idiot when you need him?!) Hey you damn idiots, what do you think you're doing?!" the blonde shouted.
"Easy, easy, don't get worked up, it won't hurt, we're just going to free you from your prison," said the mouth formed from red vapor in the leader's palm.
"I don't know what prison you're talking about, but let's calm down okay? There's no need to do this…" At that moment Ebony sensed a life approaching, it was Lucian who had followed the hunters' trail.
When Ebony saw the elf hidden among the trees, she couldn't help but smile, but he, seeing the number of enemies, a total of 24 hunters including the leader, had to stop and think.
The blonde began making gestures with her mouth trying to ask for help, but the elf signaled with his palm for her to calm down and then showed five fingers, indicating she had to wait 5 minutes.
The furious blonde frowned as she understood Lucian's signals, but without waiting any longer he disappeared from the place.
"(Stupid elf… You better save me, you bastard) Okay… Before you burn me, could you at least explain what this madness is about… Please?" Ebony said with a kind smile and sweat of worry running down her forehead.
"I suppose it wouldn't be so bad to do that… But it's a lot of work, better to finish it and then I'll explain, I'm sure you'll thank us, little spirit," said the leader as she tilted her head, giving the order to light the logs.
"Hey hey hey, I'm not a spirit, what are you talking about?" Ebony said worriedly, then watched as the fire began to slowly spread through the logs beneath her feet.
"Don't worry, you're just confused from inhabiting a body that isn't yours, after the ritual I promise everything will be much clearer for you, little spirit," said the sweet voice coming from the leader's palm.
"Inhabiting another body? (Shit, these lunatics know I'm a Visitor, luckily we're not in any kingdom… But this is dangerous, they won't listen to me)" Ebony thought as she felt the temperature on her legs slowly rising.
"(Oh God… Someone help me, anyone!)" the blonde thought as she tried blowing at the fire at her feet, attempting to put out the flames.
However at that moment the sound of boots approaching the area was heard, then a hooded figure entered the scene.
The leader and the rest of the hunters immediately turned around as their bodies tensed into a combat stance, as if their instincts were warning them of imminent danger.
"Interesting, a group of shamans in this hexagon, I didn't know you were still alive, well whatever, if you give me the necklace I promise to leave peacefully without wiping out your poor tribe," the mysterious guest said as he removed his hood.
Beneath that black cloak he revealed black hair and pale skin, with pointed ears and ruby-red eyes. That man was a dark elf.