After leaving Grand Priest Darius' study, I searched for Kaya and asked her if she would be willing to stay in the area to deal with the Church of the Sun in our stead. To my surprise, she agreed. When she saw my puzzled look, she grinned.
"I love messing with those self important blowhards," Kaya said. "However, I always have to hold back to avoid tarnishing Lord Tempest's name. Getting a justification like this is a dream come true for me."
Fair enough.
With that dealt with, I just needed to hear back from my parents about a potential base for our group. Afterwards, we would head to Mirkvale Forest to deal with the Order of the Infernal Star base located there.
Speaking of which, I checked in with Leroy and Cally, to see how far their research into the area had come along. To my delighted surprise, they were done. While there was still plenty they could look up, they had learned everything needed for our purposes.
So, with this in mind, I called a group meeting. We met in the room with the gods' relationship board, which had become our go-to gathering spot. Light from the morning sun streamed in through the windows.
Despite the last minute nature of this meeting, Leroy and Cally prepared a little presentation, which suggested they had a lot of material to work with. They even brought a board used for holding visual references, and set it up next to the gods' relationship board.
The rest of us waited while Leroy and Cally finished their preparations. I sat in a chair with Anna in my lap, while Lord Dominic sat next to us with Kiki standing behind him. Our two newest members sat off to the side. Priest Jaime wore an annoyed expression on his face, while Priestess Natille looked around the room with interest. The gods' relationship board, in particular, caught her attention.
"Why are we here?" Priest Jaime asked. "What is the purpose of this meeting?"
I gave him a sideways glance. While I was willing to give this guy a chance, he was starting to get on my nerves. Then again, I doubt I made the best first impression on him by missing out on a feast that I had prepared. Even so, did he have to be such a sourpuss?
"Simple," I said, keeping my tone polite. "We're here to discuss our next destination. I assume both of you have been told about our mission?"
Priestess Natille nodded her head with an excited expression on her face.
"Yes! My teacher said we're going to save the world!"
Priest Jaime rolled his eyes.
"Yes," he said in a skeptical tone. "My mother said as much as well. She said that the gods showed all of you a vision of an apocalyptic future and chose you to prevent it from happening."
Well, from a certain point of view, that wasn't inaccurate.
"Close enough," I said. "Our goal is to stop an invasion from the Infernal Lands. Ideally, we want to prevent it altogether. However, if that isn't possible, we want to prepare Lumina for the oncoming storm." I bared my teeth at them in a smile. "If we fail, it'll mean the destruction of our world."
Priest Jaime eyed me with disbelief, while Priestess Natille looked worried. I gestured to the board that Leroy and Cally set up.
"The ones responsible for the invasion are a group of demon worshipers who call themselves the Order of the Infernal Star," I said. "One of their bases is located within Mirkvale Forest. Leroy and Cally have spent the past few days researching the area, so we'll be better prepared when we head there ourselves."
"Is this information reliable?" Priest Jaime asked.
Cally paused her preparations and narrowed her eyes at him.
"Excuse me?" she asked, a dangerous edge to her voice. "Are you doubting my academic capabilities?"
Leroy glared at Priest Jaime. The latter raised his hands in a placating gesture.
"I didn't mean to question you, Lady Calla," Priest Jaime said. "I mean, do we know for sure that there is an enemy base in Mirkvale Forest?" He gave me a sideways glance. "Does that information come from a reliable source?"
This prick.
"That depends," I said, baring my teeth at him in a smile. "Do you consider Lord Tempest a reliable source?"
Priest Jaime looked like he just swallowed a lemon and didn't respond.
"Do you have a problem with me, Priest Jaime?" I asked. "Your actions and your words suggest as much. If so, voice your doubts now. The sooner we get that out of the way, the sooner we can move on. I don't want to keep putting up with this nonsense."
Priest Jaime clenched his jaw, before visibly forcing himself to relax.
"Yes, I do," he said. "Aside from the feud between our respective gods, I don't understand why you are here." He gestured to Anna, Leroy, and Cally. "These three were chosen by the gods." He nodded to Lord Dominic. "As for him, I've heard about his genius in artificing." He narrowed his eyes at me. "However, what about you? There's nothing special about you. So I repeat, why are you here?"
I snorted.
"Do I need to be special in order to save the world?" I asked. "Lumina is my home. The people I love live here." Most of them at least. "However, if you need a reason, here's one. I'm a transmigrator, one with a fair amount of experience fighting demons. You could say that the gods brought me here for this exact purpose. Does that satisfy you, Priest Jaime?"
This was an outright lie, but I didn't think the gods would mind. At the very least, Priest Jaime seemed satisfied.
"It does, Lord Gabriel," he said. "And I apologize for my rudeness. However, in my defense, you didn't leave the best impression on me last night." He glanced at Anna. "A part of me thought you were just a hanger-on."
Did… Did he just call me a boy toy?
"I can see why you would think so, Priest Jaime," Anna said in an amused tone. "My Gabriel is quite beautiful."
I rolled my eyes at her and grinned. The two of us looked into each other's eyes. Just then, Cally cleared her throat and interrupted the moment.
"If you're all done now," she said in a sardonic voice. "Leroy and I are ready to begin."
Anna and I looked away from each other and focused on the presentation. Everyone else followed suit. It looked like Cally would be the main speaker, with Leroy acting as her assistant.
"Mirkvale Forest is a massive valley which takes up half the Mirkvale region," Cally began, pointing to a map pinned to the board depicting the Mirkvale region. "The other half is taken up by the Giant's Spine."
The Giant's Spine was a mountain range that ran for several hundred miles. It consisted of tall, steep mountains made of white stone, thus the name. However, some believed it was actually the spine of a giant that died long ago. It was impossible to know for sure. In a world of gods and magic, every myth and legend contained some truth to them.
On a side note, the Valley of the Lost, home of the Solarian Imperial Academy, was located within the Giant's Spine.
"As the name suggests," Cally continued. "Mirkvale Forest is a place clouded in perpetual gloom. Not only that, but it is infested with all kinds of monsters, making it one of the most dangerous places in the Solarian Empire. Some of you are familiar with my home, the Icefall region. The monsters in Mirkvale Forest are an order of magnitude stronger. Tier Threes and Fours are common. There have also been sightings of Tier Five monsters, though these are thankfully rare."
My mood grew grimmer and grimmer as Cally spoke.
"You think the Order of the Infernal Star is turning these monsters into fiends?" I asked. "Like they did in the Icefall region?"
Cally made a so-so gesture.
"It's possible." She narrowed her eyes at me. "However, wait until I'm done with the presentation before asking questions."
I mimed locking my mouth and throwing away the key. Cally rolled her eyes before continuing with her presentation.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"What sets Mirkvale Forest apart, other than the monsters and the gloom, is the abundance of magical plants and herbs. The place is a treasure trove of rare alchemical reagents and crafting materials. This, in addition to the monsters themselves, makes it a popular destination for adventurers."
Oh? That meant that Adventurers Guild, aka the Martial Arts Alliance, had a strong presence in the area. Perhaps we could ask Anna's clan for help. They wielded a lot of influence within the Marital Arts Alliance. Not only that, Anna's father was the alliance's leader.
Plus, this gave us the perfect cover to search Mirkvale Forest for the enemy's base. We could just pretend to be adventurers.
"The monsters in Mirkvale Forest are also unique," Cally continued. "Most monsters are beasts or animals of some kind. Inferno beasts, stone tusk boars, three-horned chargers, etc. However, the ones in Mirkvale Forest are all plants." She gestured to Leroy, who pinned an illustration to the board. "The most dangerous of which are briar maidens."
The illustration depicted a monster that looked like a beautiful naked human woman. However, her skin was green, her hair was made of rose petals, and she gazed out cold, predatory eyes. Four thorny vines protruded from her back, like tentacles.
The moment I saw the illustration, I felt a visceral reaction, one difficult to describe. It felt like a combination of fear, lust, pain, and sorrow. However, these words paled in comparison to the actual sensation. I found it difficult to breathe. It felt as if I had been stabbed in the heart.
No, that was too mild.
This sensation felt as if it came from the very depths of my soul. It was so strong that it affected Aurora, who attempted to comfort me through our bond. However, her attempts had little effect.
A part of me noticed that Anna stiffened in my arms. However, I was too distracted by my own reaction to pay much attention to her.
A noise buzzed in my ears, bringing me back to the present. I realized it was Cally, who had continued speaking. I forced myself to start paying attention. At the same time, I tried to reassure Aurora as well. However, I didn't know how effective I was.
"-use their appearance to lure humans in and trap them," she said. "Afterwards, they drain their victims dry until they're empty husks." Her expression hardened. "However, make no mistake. While briar maidens prefer hunting this way, they are Tier Four monsters. They are more than capable of fighting."
Cally looked around the room.
"Now, some of you might wonder why briar maidens are the most dangerous monsters in Mirkvale Forest if they're just at Tier Four. This is because they're the juvenile forms of briar matrons, which are Tier Five monsters."
Leroy pinned another illustration to the board. This one depicted an older, matronly woman. She had her hair tied up in a simple bun and wore commoner clothing. Nothing about her stood out. Women like her existed all over the Solarian Empire.
"Wait a moment," Priest Jaime said. "That doesn't make sense. How are briar maidens the most dangerous threat in Mirkvale Forest if they're the juvenile forms of briar matrons? Shouldn't it be the latter then?"
Cally shook her head.
"No because briar matrons don't stay in Mirkvale Forets," she said. "Unlike briar maidens, briar matrons can disguise themselves as human. They infiltrate human settlements in order to hunt. In this regard, they are similar to succubi. However, unlike succubi, they aren't shapeshifters. They only have one human form. They are also easier to detect, since they bleed sap instead of blood." She paused. "This is often a bad idea, since they give up on stealth by that point and go on a rampage. As Tier Five monsters, they are capable of causing considerable destruction. Thankfully, they're also much rarer than briar maidens."
Cally clapped her hand together and looked around the room.
"With that, our presentation is over," she said. "Leroy and I have compiled a list of the most common dangers within Mirkvale Forest, which we'll hand out later. For now, we are open to questions."
No one said anything at first. I didn't know about anyone else, but I was still reeling from my reaction to seeing the illustration of the briar maiden.
"Um," Lord Dominic said. "While we're at Mirkvale Forest, can we collect some crafting materials? I have ideas for enchanted items I could make for our group."
Cally shrugged.
"I don't see why not," she said. "We might as well. Kill two birds with one stone and all that." She looked around. "Anyone else?"
Priest Jaime cleared his throat. I looked over at him. His face was flushed and he sat there with his legs crossed.
"These briar maidens," he said, his voice a little unsteady. "What is the best way to deal with them? Let women fight them?"
Cally shook her head.
"No. They emit some kind of entrancing scent that affects all humans. Men. Women. It doesn't matter. They'll prey on anyone."
"Are they intelligent?" Priest Natille asked.
Cally paused before answering.
"Yes, though it depends on their maturity," she said. "The youngest run on instinct, while the oldest have intelligence on par with humans. This is another reason why they're the most dangerous monsters in Mirkvale Forest."
"In that case, is it possible to talk with them?" Priestess Natille asked. "Maybe we don't have to fight them."
Cally shook her head.
"No," she said. "They're monsters who view humans as little more than prey. To them, we're just food. Nothing more, nothing less." She paused. "That said, there are stories of people talking with briar maidens. However, it almost never ends well." She shook her head. "If you want something even more far-fetched, there are even stories of briar maidens falling in love with humans, and vice versa. However, that's just a fantasy, one I don't understand. Who would fall in love with a monster that wants to eat them?"
"It's not as rare as you might think," Kiki said, speaking up for the first time since this meeting began. "briar maidens are beautiful and dangerous, which many find alluring."
Cally snorted.
"Those people are fools," she said. "I'd rather find someone solid, reliable, and mild-mannered."
Leroy perked up at this, though no one else seemed to notice.
"What do you think, Lord Gabriel?" Kiki asked in an amused tone. "Given your heritage, you're the closest thing we have to an expert when it comes to human relations with non-humans."
I didn't answer right away. While I heard the question, I wasn't in a good state of mind. Effects from seeing the illustration of the briar maiden still lingered.
"Gabriel?" Cally asked, frowning. "What's wrong? You look a little pale." She glanced at Anna. "In fact, you both do. You aren't sick, are you?"
I took a deep breath to regain my composure, with limited success. However, I recovered enough to speak at least.
"I'm fine," I said, lying through my teeth. "Just feeling a little under the weather."
Cally's frown deepened.
"Shall I take a look at you?" she asked.
"Let me!" Priestess Natille said in a perky voice. "I'm a healer too! I want to start contributing!"
I waved them off.
"No need," I said. "I just need some fresh air." I looked at Anna. "What about you?"
Anna didn't respond right away.
"My love?"
That earned a reaction. Anna jolted in place, almost falling off my lap. She sucked in a breath, as if waking up from a nightmare.
"Fresh air sounds good," she said, her tone odd.
Her reaction worried me. I picked her up in a princess carry and headed towards the door.
"We'll be outside," I said. "Stay here. No need to follow us."
Everyone looked at us with varying degrees of worry, except for Priest Jaime. He watched us leave with a confused expression on his face. Leroy started to follow, but I caught his eye and shook my head. He seemed hesitant, but stepped back.
With Anna in my arms, I left the room and headed towards the rear yard. The entire time, she felt tense. Thankfully, she started to relax once we made it outside. She wasn't the only one. I was wound up as well, though I hadn't realized until now. The air felt cool rather than cold, and the sunshine felt soothing.
"I'm fine," Anna said, her tone still odd. "You can put me down now."
"Well I'm not fine," I said. "So let me hold you a little while longer."
Anna looked at me. The confusion and fear in her eyes mirrored my own. After a moment, she nodded and leaned into my embrace, resting her head on my shoulder. Her warm breath tickled my neck. This helped distract me from the sensation I felt earlier.
"So," I said, hoping to further distract myself. "What was with your reaction earlier? You went still when you saw the illustration of the briar maiden."
"I could say the same about you," Anna said, still speaking in that odd tone of hers. "I felt you stiffen the moment Leroy revealed the illustration." She snorted. "This included a certain part of your anatomy."
I blinked in surprise.
"Really?" I asked.
Anna nodded.
"I hadn't noticed," I said, frowning.
Neither one of us said a thing for the next several moments.
"This isn't a coincidence, is it?" I asked. "The two of us having such strong reactions to a mere illustration?"
"It could be," Anna said. "However, I doubt it." She paused. "Though, it depends. What did you feel when you saw the illustration?"
I took a moment to articulate my thoughts.
"I don't know if I can put it into words," I said. "Pain and sorrow mixed with longing and lust come close, but not quite. It's strange. I don't think there is even a word for what I felt. What about you?"
"Something similar," Anna said. "However, I also felt a deep, profound loss. It was as if someone ripped out my heart, leaving behind a gaping wound."
That sounded far worse than what I went through. Then again, this didn't seem like the sort of thing that could be compared. Everyone went through their own experiences.
"Do you have any idea why we felt the way we felt?" I asked. "I never heard of a briar maiden before, let alone seen one. However, something about the illustration felt familiar to me."
This was something I hadn't realized until I started thinking back on it. When I saw the illustration of the briar maiden, I felt a sense of intimacy.
"It felt familiar to me too," Anna said. "Though I don't know why either."
I heaved out a breath.
"This is frustrating," I said. "Regardless of the cause, we need to look into this. My intuition is telling me that it's important, even though I don't know how yet."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Anna asked. "What if we end up discovering something we wished we hadn't?"
I shook my head.
"No, I'm not sure it's a good idea. However, we won't know until we try. If we leave this alone, it could come back to haunt us."
"Well, it's a good thing we're heading out to Mirkvale Forest soon. I doubt we'll get many answers before then."
I nodded in agreement.
"Until then, please keep holding me," Anna said. "I don't want to be alone right now. I lied earlier when I said I was fine."
I tightened my hold on her.
With that, the two of us stayed out there for a long while, mired in uncertainty and unease.