2.12 The Forest of Endless Trees - Part 2

"Hey Billy, have you ever seen a fairy?" I asked, looking towards Billy.

It was our third day of traveling together so I thought it was about time I introduced Lucy to them.

Marina and Princess Eliane were preparing dinner while Princess Anna and Arica were discussing something. When I asked what they were discussing they replied with, "It's a secret".

"I haven't met one, but I have heard tales about them. Like how they show perverted illusions and lure men into their trap," replied Billy.

"No, we don't. That's a lie," said Lucy coming out of Marina's hair.

"Woah!" said Billy when he saw Lucy. He then went near her and took a closer look saying, "Isn't she a bit too small though? And weren't fairy supposed to shine at night?"

"We fairies have always been like this. And, I am not shining because I was hiding my presence. I can shine like this whenever I want," said Lucy in an annoyed tone and started shining.

Drake, who was cooking his food nearby, looked towards Lucy but he didn't say anything and went back to cooking.

'What an odd guy.'

Billy put his hand behind his head and said, "Oh sorry sorry. But what are you doing here with this bunch?" with a smile.

"I am their guide and mentor," replied Lucy in a proud tone while folding her hands.

"Lucy, I forgot to ask you something. You said you lived in the pond for over a century so when was it that you lived near the Labyrinth?" asked Princess Eliane who was stirring the stew.

"I am not sure, maybe a millennium or two ago," replied Lucy in a casual tone.

'What!'

Everyone except Princess Eliane looked surprised. Even Arica and Princess Anna looked towards us in surprise.

"Well, it's nothing unexpected. Fairies live way longer than even us elves," said Princess Eliane when she saw our surprised faces.

"If you don't mind me asking, how old are you Eliane?" said Princess Anna.

"I don't mind, I am 96," said Princess Eliane in a casual tone.

'What! That's almost 80 more than I expected!'

"Y-you look a bit younger for your age," I said to hide my surprise when she looked towards me.

"No, actually I look a bit older for my age. Most of the other elves around my age look as big as Emma," replied Princess Eliane.

"Oh well, you are an elf after all. But hey Lucy, you said you lived around these parts so long ago. Do you even remember the way to that place now?" said Princess Anna after a sigh.

"Y-yes, I am not sure where all these trees came from, but I d-definitely know where it is," replied Lucy.

'She definitely has no idea. I am glad we found Drake and Billy.'

As we were talking, dinner was ready. After dinner, Billy hung his hammock in the nearby trees and slept there.

It's not like I didn't invite him, but he refused to sleep in the tent saying, "I don't want to disturb you guys."

Drake didn't even use a hammock. He just collected dry leaves and slept over them. If it was winter that option would have been better but in summer, it's a bit hard that way considering the noise leaves make every time you turn around.

"Honey, let's go in," said Arica looking towards me with a smile.

Arica and I then went inside our camp. I was too tired, so I fell asleep quickly.

----

The next morning, we started our journey early. If everything went as planned, we would reach the labyrinth by the evening.

"It is strange that we haven't come across any monsters until now," said Billy who was riding in his horse.

"Yeah, strange," I replied from the driver's seat.

Flare's presence was enough to scare many monsters from coming near us. Even wild animals from here on out could sense mana so they could feel Flare's presence.

'Well, she is a divine summon after all.' As I was thinking that Flare contacted me telepathically.

[Master, there are two ogres nearby. These creatures are too dumb to even be scared, I will keep them distracted while you pass by.]

[Okay, thank you.]

On the way, I was learning how to hunt and butcher animals from Billy. A sword wasn't exactly an ideal weapon for hunting, so I was learning how to hunt using knives and stones. With physical enhancement, stones could be thrown at great speed.

There weren't many obstacles on the way thanks to Flare. Because of that, we arrived at the bottom of the hill, where the entrance to the labyrinth was, in the evening.

The entrance to the labyrinth looked like a cave. There was something engraved on the rock in front of the entrance. When I looked closer, it said: 'The door to immortality leads to death if you are not the chosen ones.'

"Chosen ones? How do you know who the chosen ones are?" asked Princess Anna.

"It's probably a riddle," replied Princess Eliane looking towards Princess Anna.

That was a probability but considering that no one came out of the labyrinth alive, this was probably a warning that people engraved.

"I think we will only find out after we go in. But before that," I paused there and took a long breath in and said, "We need to rest properly tonight, we will only be going in in the afternoon tomorrow."

"Look at Nara being a leader," said Arica teasing me.

'well, I just said what Ronald would say in this situation.'

"He is right, we all should take a break tonight. We don't know what awaits us in there, we must be prepared," said Billy in a serious tone. He was staring at the entrance of the labyrinth, this place probably brought back his bad memories.

[Flare, how does it look from the up?]

[Master, I can't sense much from inside. It feels like the place itself exists in a different space, but one thing is for sure, the whole place is alive.]

[You mean the labyrinth itself is a creature or something.]

[No, it feels like the labyrinth has the will of its own.]

[That's strange. Let me ask Zagan if he knows anything about the place later. Please keep an eye on things from above.]

After this conversation with Flare, we set our tent outside the labyrinth for the night. Later that night, I tried contacting Zagan telepathically.

[Hey Zagan, can you hear me?]

[Hey kid, what's up.]

[I wanted to ask if you know anything about the labyrinth.]

[I don't know about the place, but someone I met once called it her home.]

[Okay, can you tell me who that is?]

[I only met her once, so I don't know. But even though her aura was suppressed back then, her presence itself was enough to give me chills.]

Next Chapter: The Chosen One