The Land from the West

A bright light struck her eyes. The day is blinding, they have overslept, maybe because of the effect of the poison in their body. She woke up first with her vision seemed blurry. She looked around. Everything were fine in her eyes until she had noticed something odd.

"Where is Alex?", she asked as she was looking around. Dylan and Zico were still on the ground sleeping soundly so she has to do some force to wake them so she woke up Dylan that was nearest to her.

"Hey, wake up."

Dylan opened his eyes hesitantly, unsure of what he was hearing. His sight is unclear, he thought he was still in a dream so he closes his eyes again. A slap woke him up on his feet that made him stood up from his sleep.

"I told you, to look out for our supplies! How come we're all asleep? I thought someone is on the watch."

Etana told him in a loud voice that reached Zico.

"I was feeling sleepy", as Zico was rubbing his eyes.

"Fine. We don't have any in our hands. Let us go in the forest. Maybe we can find him there."

Everything were gone except for the ashes from the firewood and the pouch that clings to Etana. The forest is still foggy inside but they have to take the risk. Beasts might be lurking everywhere so they have to be careful. They could have just left the forest and find their way out.

For a moment, they have forgotten the danger the forest may bring because of the thought of finding Alex from last night. They cannot leave the forest unarmed. They need weapons.

They scattered in different directions unafraid of what might come ahead of them. Etana on the other hand, bravely entered the forest. They must find Alex that is currently missing until she heard a sound from afar that is similar from what she had heard last night.

From her distance, she can see Alex chasing small clever beasts running together with their supplies. The beasts were in group, there were a lot of them. They had a sound that is worn and broken down by hard use. They are kind of hairless, green in color, long ears, and skinny in size. Their eyes are bright-red that separates them from a normal creature. A beast.

"These clever beasts, give that back!", as he jumps on a tree from one branch to another. It was like a thin air he vanishes upon every jumps

It was her first time seeing someone jumping on a tree without breaking a branch. She is starting to believe that perhaps he had survived from many beasts. He could be of help if he is with them along their journey.

A flash of wind passed in front of her. Dylan and Zico happen to pass her meeting each other going to only one direction. They were chasing the same beast. She was sure she had seen them passing but maybe they had not seen her at all.

Etana chased after them. She is lagging behind. Somehow, she cannot move her body well. Her pouch is starting to drag her down. She can see a golden light shining from the inside of her pouch. She blinked for a moment but her bag shone nothing. She was in a hurry. Maybe, she was seeing things again.

From a distance, she can see the three halted. She went to Alex that was currently in full silence. The tension is heavy. Their surroundings were somehow in pitch black that is difficult for the sunlight to enter. They have just made it to deepest part of the forest.

"Tsk. It could be a lot of them."

Etana looked to the direction where he was looking. It was dark until she can see bright crimson dots appearing in any direction, the numbers are increasing endlessly. Calmly, she looked everywhere to see that they were already surrounded.

"You, get ready. You have to run." Alex looked at Dylan and Zico. He nodded telling them he is in charge.

"At the count of 3.."

"Wait, what do I do?" Etana asked.

Alex continued the counting ignoring her, "1... 2... 3! Go!"

Without knowing what is happening, she ran behind them as planned. The other three followed guarding her back.

"Why do we have to run?"

"They are goblins."

While they were running for an escape, Alex was looking behind them to check. They somehow have to find a temporary safe to better make his plans. He was calm despite of the danger they are into. Killing hundreds of beast never wavered him to back off.

"Wear your cloak and hide yourself. Smidget, come with her. Guard her at all cost! Never separate from us."

"Who did you call smidget!"

"You, straight face come with me. Guard my back. I have a plan."

He untied a cloth bag and swung it releasing dust particles in the air to temporarily cover them. He then picked up a tiny round fruit from everywhere and crashed every piece. He did it like he knew the forest for a long time. He threw it at any directions. They were watching looking confused on how it will turn out. Just a few seconds of waiting, it released a fragrant smell.

"Cover your nose!" He shouted.

He rummaged his hands on the ground and grabbed whatever hard twig he could get. Silently, they looked around to prepare for a sudden attack.

"You, straight face, get your weapons."

A sudden fall on the ground was heard then followed by a continuous number of fall. The dust started to ease clearing their surroundings. The beasts were already laying on the ground sound asleep. They looked at them one by one inspecting each one on sight to double check. They could be safe by now but they have to be sure.

"These creatures are sly. They rob women's body", as Alex was flipping the goblins facing him. They had a smiling face, maybe they were having a good dream. He picked up an axe from a beast's hand. Without thinking twice, he swiftly bring the axe back down chopping the goblin's neck separating its head from the body.

His eyes were unfazed. He seemed to get used to it. Though they know they were being helped by Alex but Etana sees a vicious man in front of her. She can feel that Alex is a dangerous man.

The three were looking at him chopping each goblin unconscious that they were being killed one by one. Dylan followed. They continuously did the thing until no goblins were seen with their heads still attached.

Smell of blood started to circulate their surroundings that made Zico unable to tolerate. Etana was walking passed the corpse finding their supplies.

"Zico! Catch!", as she throws a weapon to him.

"We have to get out of here. There could be more of them hiding", Alex suggested.

"I thought these beasts will vanish in the air like the other one we fought in the labyrinth."

"That's probably a beast summoned by a witch", Alex replied as he was checking each pouch in every goblins, maybe he could get something they might use for a trade. Goblins are a sly. They like to steal anything that shines. They must have gold in their possession.

"A witch?"

"Yes, you probably killed a beast summoned by a black magic. Only a witch can summon them."

"Alex, what is the nearest place we could go to from here?" Etana cut off the conversation to save for later. Their escape from the forest needs urgency.

"The land from the west. It has no name when I got there before."

"Dylan, I found your bow", as she throws it to Dylan.

"Thank you, Princess."

"Can we make it there before the night comes?"

"We still have time to make it there before dusk."

"Get ready, we have to go now."

"All of you be attentive. We cannot afford another catastrophe to happen", Etana started equipping her daggers back to its place.

"We have to hurry."

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The place is as dry as a weathered bone. The air has no trace of moisture. They have arrived to the place that knew nothing of a modern qualities. The town is silent. People were looking at them secretly confused on who they could be. People were wearing a ragged cloth that is the same as the clothing of Alex. She looked at Alex that was walking continuously. He knows the place clearly.

People were watching them from inside their houses afraid who are the foreigners that have come in their land.

"May I ask?" Etana approached an old man that was sitting outside his house. But because they are new to the new people, the old man responded in fear and hurriedly hid himself inside his house.

"What is happening with these people?"

"I'll tell you when we get to an inn to stay for the night", Alex responded.

Inside their houses, people followed the group of Etana with their eyes. Alex just walked, he kind of knew the place so all they have to do is to follow. Finally, he stopped in front of an old inn.

"Greg! Open up!"

They were standing for almost a minute without a receiving a response. Etana that was watching him thought that maybe the house is empty since it looked like no one is occupying the inn for a long time. Suddenly, a bang coming from the house made Alex smirk. The door opened surpising them with a tall build middle-aged man standing in front of them.

"Alex! You're here again, young lad!" The man welcomed him with a slap on his back. It sounded really hard. He noticed Etana and the two other men a little confused.

"Who are these people?" The man walked towards them carefully inspecting them.

"They got lost in the forest so I saved them."

"What? Lost?"

"Calm down, Zico."

Etana that kind of understood the situation, she bowed to pay some respect.

"Sorry to intrude you. Yes, that ragged cloth man found us in the forest. We're looking for a place to stay for the night. If you might allow us."

"Hmm... Who is this woman?" Greg asked as he was pointing to Etana.

Etana raised her head to speak but she was shut by Alex through his stare.

"I don't know. Let's go. Take us to our rooms."

"You never change, young lad."

The stairs created a creaking sound each step they take. The floor is made of wood, an old wood that is weaken by time. They were careful everytime, just a sudden weight stuck up in one place can make it collapse at any moment.

They reached the top of the house with an empty wall. They looked there wondering what will they be doing with an empty wall. Silently, Greg murmured an incantation they cannot tell the language then the wall started to change its appearance, the old image they have seen faded slowly changing to a wood. It image looked magical but it released scent of woods. The has a door, an old door that is olden by time.

"How'd you do that?" Etana asked in a calm way. He hid her awe upon seeing something for the first time.

"Black magic."

Despite of witnessing magic for the first time, Dylan and Zico were behind watching everything. They had everything watched but they kept their awe in themselves.

From the outside, the door looked like weak that can be easily opened but Greg did a lot of things to unlock it. They can see that he creates illusionary to fool burglars misleading them. Greg opened the door to the room releasing a metal substance in the air. It is a storage of weapons. From spear to swords and armored suits. They can see metals sparkled, they can see that it all looked like new ones.

Etana did not skipped any details in the room. A metal shone from her peripheral vision turning her attention to it. She had seen a different figure that is yet unfamiliar to her. It is a thin long cylinder metal with a rounded handle at the edge. She reached for what she thought is a handle and felt its weight.

"That's a rifle, miss."

Etana turned to her back to see Greg. He took the rifle and faced towards a different direction. He brought the rifle up to his head acting like he is aiming for something.

"Aim at yout target and then boom."

He then placed the rifle back to its place and redirected Etana to a collection of swords.

"Perhaps, you might be needing a weapon?" Greg asked.

Hesitantly, Etana replied a yes for her mind is still on the rifle. While looking for a weapon, she had seen a sword to her liking. It is small in size and looked light. She went for it made slashes in the air until she had gotten used to its weight through numbers of swings.

Zico hurriedly went to her amazed on how she did it.

"You looked good on that, princess!"

Etana then swung her sword for the last time then sheathe it in.

"I like this."

"If you can offer me a gold then you can take that."

Without thinking twice, Etana opened her pouch and pulled a purse. She nicely threw it to Greg releasing ping tones. He smirked for a second seemed like it was a good catch. He can already tell that inside the purse are gold.

She looked at Dylan and Zico that were still testing the weapons in the shop.

"You two, choose your weapons already."

An arrow suddenly passed through the wall aiming on the other side of the wall that alarmed them.

Greg went to the arrow and pulled it.

"How can an arrow get in here?" Alex asked.

"This inn is protected with black magic."

Greg slid his hand along its shaft and carefully touched the arrowhead feeling an aura of black magic in it.