Stranded - Chapter 10

Millas woods was home to odd flora and fauna, with strange creatures romping around. From the apex predators such as Runebears and Thunderboars, to the more elusive Trapsnakes. Sato found this out the hard way as he mistaken one of those snakes to a tree’s bark, and he stepped on them, only to be hung upside down by the snake’s coiling and yanking him up. As the snake attempted to bite into his torso, Sasha unleashed wind blades, severing the snake just in time before it managed to inject a lethal dose onto its prey.

“Oof! Th-thanks…”

Sato held onto the hand Sasha offered to him and stumbled to stand up. Sasha then patted him down, pulling back his sleeves, as if to check on him.

“It- it’s alright, Lady Sasha-”

“I have to make sure.”

After the thorough inspection, Sasha let out a sigh of relief and resumed the scavenging. Or to be more accurate, this scavenging session was mainly her teaching Sato what fruits and herbs to collect.

“Here, pick this one, Frail One.”

“I see.”

Sato plucked the flower as Sasha instructed, when he felt a chilling sensation. His head snapped towards the direction of the sensation. There is nothing, except for the small elusive creatures running on the trees. Sasha tilted her head questioningly, Sato only shrugged and moved on.

The chilling sensation subsided as soon as the pair left the area to continue the scavenging. Sato and Sasha chatted amicably, or rather, it was Sasha teaching him new words of the fruits and herbs they were gathering. And soon, the shadow casted by the trees were fading, signalling the end of the day. The pair got ready to head back, until Sato felt it again, the chilling sensation he has sensed earlier. This time, it was even more acute, as if someone was pouring a cup of ice water on his back, the sensation trickling and running downwards his spine. Sato shuddered and held tightly onto his spear, and slowly turned towards the source, he could feel his sweats running and sticking his jinbei on his back. Sasha noticed the strange change in her companion and looked at him quizzically.

As Sato turned towards the source, the sensation caressed his face and his front instead of his back, he could feel himself cringing. Sasha turned to the direction that Sato was facing, and together, they could see a soft, blueish hue illuminating the trees nearby. Sato inched closer, his spear readied, with Sasha trailing curiously behind him. Sato could feel the small branches and pebbles crunching under his feet, the dry sounds of the crushed textures reverberated as loud as his heartbeats. The soft light stood steady and still in its spot between the trees, acting almost like a beacon in a storm. The sensation now felt like Sato was rubbing his face repeatedly on an ice lake. It was unbearable. Sasha could see Sato’s jaw tightening, his footsteps growing slower and slower. Until they were just a tree away from the source. Sato could make out the silhouette of something beast-like. He stepped closer. Readied his spear. And he peeked at the source.

It was a strange creature resembling a stag, with a glowing body of light blue, as if it was fuelled by the light of the stars. Sato could feel the tension leaving his body along with the sensation, with Sasha’s giggle ringing out nearby. The stag-like creature stared at the pair for a good while, its gaze gentle and unwavering. It snorted, and treaded serenely, refusing to break its gaze at the pair. Sato and Sasha stared at the creature curiously, with Sato half-expecting Sasha to explain the creature to him. But she was as fascinated at the creature as he was, her eyes teeming with curiosity. The creature snorted again, and finally decided to move on to whatever destination it had in mind, as it calmly galloped pass its curious spectators, and its light slowly and steadily moving away from the pair.

“Were you scared, Frail One?”

Sasha mimicked the action of peek-a-boo to Sato and giggled. Sato could feel his face heating up, from both embarrassment and Sasha’s cuteness, the latter being firmly denied in his heart.

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OOOOOHHHhohohohohohohoo!!! To think my gamble has paid off! I have finally found him. My little seedling of despair! My cute destructive bud!! O what great fortune! To find you even with one of the Heaven’s Children! Bless me and my great, great patience! I was so afraid when I could not find you, but to think you were living with them! O what great fortune, what a great jolly day! My, I can not wait to see you bloom, as I water you with my blessings, my fortune! And what a great jolly day! As I have brought you playmates! I hope you will have a great time! Heheheh… my cute little bud…

—–

Sato and Sasha stood and watched the soft light of the creatures blending in and illuminating its way, until it was gone. The pair decided to finally head back, with Sasha taking the lead. The sunlight has then dyed the surroundings with a soft, red hue, signalling the incoming curtains of night. However, as the pair was treading back, they heard loud ruffling noises coming from the trees and bushes nearby. Human’s voices could be heard on top of those loud noises, the tone of the voices panicky. Sato and Sasha looked at each other, and without a word, ran towards the noise to offer their help. The pair arrived at the source of the noise, to see two hooded figures heaving and breathing heavily, both of them leaning on a nearby tree. A strong breeze suddenly blew by and shook the trees, blowing away the hoods of the humanoid figures. Before Sato’s eyes were a pair of young man and woman, with the handsome man sporting beautiful green eyes and brow hair, and the gorgeous woman bearing silver hair and blue eyes. Underneath their hood and cape was fine armoury, with the woman holding a whip and a sword on her waist. The man came unarmed.

—–

“Huff… Huff… Clarisse, look at where your bright idea has taken us to. Now not only have we lost the Starlight Stag, but we are also lost in this accursed forest!”

Ordovis heaved and complained, expecting a sharp rebuttal like always. However, he was met with silence. Confused, he looked at his companion, only to find her looking at something ahead of them, her mouth agape.

Ordovis turned to the source that was drawing Clarisse’s gaze, and his heart jumped to his mouth. Before him and his companion stood a pair of young man and woman. The woman had dark skin with strange white hair and red eyes, wearing exotic clothing and two bags slung over her shoulder. But what caught Ordovis’ attention the most was the man.

“Black-haired, with thick eyebrows, and fair skinned…”

Ordovis whispered the words that have been haunting the council for so long.

“The Starlight Stag really led people to their true destiny…”