ARC 1 :- RETRO ANOMALY, Ch6

SAGA:- JOURNEY TO SUN RISE

ARC 1 :- RETRO ANOMALY

Chapter:-006

------>The land of Natteflusks

All six of them crossed the tracks as finally a deep, lush forest was within reach of their eyes. Tress were uneven, some were as high as coconuts trees and some were just two folds higher than humans.

All trees had algae on their trunk's, green patterns from their top to bottom. Some trees had big bold trunks, some had thinner.

The grass was on average around the half length of their knees to feet.

There were long vines coming from top canopies, underbrushes, moss, something mix of fern and brambles. Some roots were coming out of the ground. Ivies were climbing the trees and the soil was dark and wet.

Some leaves had crimson edges, some were jade green. As we crunched last dry grass in our reach, we entered the forest.

"We are on right track just don't be separated, if anyone sees any talking being tell me or Myale." Lan ordered everyone nodded.

Zarita's horns were making much noises as they were being touched by several leaves. A thorn gave a slight cut at Zarita's leg so she used a system-provided band-aid, in colour of light pink. It felt a little fashionable so she kept it.

Zarita wore a big belt with a golden connector-icon at a little side than the centre on waist. She wore thigh-high fluffy leg warmers with the system clothings. Gunbo was shocked to see clothes appearing on her out of thin air but didn't reacted as trees were enclosing slowly.

Hein was holding tight on his crown to not either let it fall or be tangled in veins, or branches.

Zarita's tight black crop top was shining in subtle leaking of sunlight through leaves and branches.

Her oversized bomber jacket was cream coloured and sleeves were oversized.

Myale's tight clothing was effective in this environment as Scyures was using "Lush walker" ability to pass through veins without being touched.

Lan leading the way finally saw darkness.

The area was enclosing as the trees felt like coming together. Zarita flapped her cow like ears and curled her cow like pink tail over her one leg. Her cotton candy pink twin pony tail had collected many leaves on them.

Finally, a slight orange light was visible to Lan, he gave a sign to move faster, the area came into a circle-open area deep within the forest.

They saw a way made of soft leaves with square bushes on both sides going long forward like a trail. Lanterns were on them and a big walnut shell was laying in the middle.

Zarita came on a side removing leaves from her hair, Gunbo was stunned by her changing appearance, Hein was breaking leaves and stuffing them in the holes of crown to make a leaf crown out of playfulness. Myale was cooling her face with cold with emerging from her hand. Scyures was looking at the walnut shell with Lan.

"As much as I know that is a person." Lan said.

"But it isn't moving." Scyures replied.

"Is he dead?" Scyures asked, poking that shell with a fragile stick.

"I don't think so. As much as I remember, he is a patrolling guard here." Lan stopped scyures from poking him.

"They are known as the Natteflusks. Tribal people you know?" Lan looked behind everyone was busy at their task.

"Is he might be sleeping on his duty?" Scyures gave a evil smile.

[Ability "Scary evil" is activated.]

This ability grants the user to make scary roars like wild animals.

Scyures narrowed the distance between him and the natteflusk.

He sticked his lips on the shell and growled.

RAWRRRR!

The natteflusk jumped up and bonked scyures with his stick as the stick reflected, he knocked out himself. He fell on ground and slept again.

Scyures was rubbing his head of pain and others were looking at thar folk deadpan.

Then slowly the folk stood up, leaned his weight on the stick and said.

"Welcome travellers. I am Gaf-fu~ the patrolling guard of this village. I think you-fu~ are here for the artifact, right?" He was wearing clothes made out of straw and paper light wood. A straw hat hanging on his back.

And a lantern hanging from his walnut shell hat.

"Uh..yes? Why did you jump now?" Lan asked.

"It is a way of welcoming fu~." Gaffu looked at scyures.

"You got scared right?" Lan leaned in.

"No I didn't fu~"

"Stop that stereotypical fu~ After every sentence. It's just in your name. You know what? You can't trick me in your tourism marketing." Lan gave him a glare.

"Ok..don't tell anyone please." Guffu whispered.

"So, about the artifact!?" Zarita came forward.

"Who are you?" Scyures asked.

Zarita landed a killing blow over Scyures's face as he blacked out.

"That bastard deserves it." Zarita gritted her teeth.

"O ho ho. The artifact. The ar ti fa ct. Le t me te ll you a ll a story." Guffu leaned on his stick more as if he was a old guy.

"I hate fakes. You aren't a old Nutfolk. If you did any bizarre act again. I'll break your shell." Zarita threatened him.

"Actually I am. I am. I-" Zarita kicked Guffu into the bushes as Lan's eyes widened. Myale caught guffu before the impact as scyures held Zarita by her horns, also he woke up.

Then they talked a bit and guffu lead them through the way of enclosed forest but a clean straight path way with nothing but lanterns here and there.

"The artifact is indeed in this village fe~" Guffu locked his hand behind, his body mostly covered under that walnut big shell.

"Wasn't it fu~ before than fe~?" Lan pointed out.

"I did say fu~."

"No you didn't."

"What were you saying about the artifact Mister?" Myale asked from back.

"It is in the village but, A monster is in possession of it."

"A monster? What kind of monster?" Scyures asked.

"Is it a big bulky bear?" Zarita asked, the crown was hanging from her horns as Hein was tired to carry it. Hein was walking with Zarita while tightening his grip on her socks.

"It's an anomaly. We call him "The thin anomaly."

"Anomaly ? Does he exhibit unnatural effects? Thin I assume he might be a long handed monkey." Lan asked.

"No one fully remembers him, he comes every night and kidnaps one of us. So, to maintain our liberty we choose the oldest ones one by one be sacrificed while youngs find warriors to...save us. Fu~"

"How does he look like? And by warrior you mean plank ?" Lan asked.

No response came as Lanmyth looked here and there, the rubbing leaves against each other were creating a comforting contrast, the humming of birds the little coldness, cooling body. The subtle heat from lanterns, the crunching sound of half dry leaves used to make this path.

The fresh oxygen soothing our noses. It gives a sense of deja vu.

"Exactly." Guffu said.

"What do you mean?" Lan asked, others were following them with normal pace. Myale was listening to the conversation, Hein was carried by Zarita on her back. Gunbo was dragging the heavy swords.

"How far is it?" Gunbo gave a cry.

"Just move your legs until you can." Scyures was floating on a small cloud summoned by his system.

"Can't you give me a ride too?" Gunbo asked.

"Rexy! Can't you summon one for me too?" Zarita asked.

"Nope. Not happening, it's part of your training Gunbo. As for Zarita, ask your system to do it." Scyures let out a evil snicker.

"From whatever we know, that is a faceless man, his face is always covered in darkness." Guffu described.

"Man? Hmm.. is he a human?" Lan interrogated.

"He's closest to be called a human. But he is thin and slender, long body, taller then anyone here, an elongated silhouette."

Myale and Lan were listening closely.

"When he moves, it's smooth as if air is passing but..something feels off."

"What feels off?" Myale asked as slowly the subtle humming of leaves were clear as crystal and breeze were running over their skin, peeling their feelings.

The little warmth of lanterns were keeping their skin in shape.

"It feels the air near him is creaking, or...distorting."

"He has purplish aura, things around him feels weightless as if we are in a dream."

Myale was interested, she stepped on Lan's boot from behind draping it in mud from behind.

Lan gritted his teeth as Myale rubbed it off with a small giggle.

"We don't exactly know how he looks since we observed that the moment we look away from him, we start to forget his appearance but we have drawn him on papers since we've seen him multiple time."

''It's in the village you can see it."

....

They walked through it finally reaching the end point.

"Nnssssss!" Lanmyth inhaled deeply.