43.- The bait of The forest

The group of adventurers paused in a clearing of the Veridian Forest, surrounded by the remains of the flying vipers, their black scales still smoldering from the previous night's battle. The air was thick with tension, mingled with the metallic scent of blood and a sharp tang of ozone that stung the throat—a lingering echo of the chaos that had ravaged these lands a century ago. Dry leaves crunched beneath their boots, stirred by a cold breeze that whispered through the twisted trees, their branches casting shadows that danced like claws on the damp ground. Though they had emerged victorious, a silent unease weighed on them—a premonition that something far more dangerous than the creatures they'd faced was lurking in the darkness.

Eliana, the mage in a blue robe, knelt beside one of the viper corpses, her eyes glowing faintly under the pale dawn light filtering through the dense canopy. She extended a hand, closing her eyes as she focused her energy. A soft golden glow emanated from her fingers, tracing invisible lines in the air—the "Vital Flow" technique, honed over years of study, which allowed her to track the residual energy of creatures. A subtle but persistent vibration coursed through her palm, as if the vipers' essence still pulsed, guiding her toward its source. A fleeting image flashed through her mind: a colossal oak, its roots buried deep in the earth, and a dark presence watching them from afar.

"These vipers weren't here by chance," Eliana murmured, opening her eyes. Her voice was steady, but a trace of worry crept into it. "Something sent them. They're following a Vital Flow trail that leads underground."

Thalric, the warrior in silver armor, furrowed his brow, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword with a force that betrayed his outward calm. "Underground? A hidden entrance?"

Eliana nodded, standing up and pointing to a path covered in gnarled roots and moss that disappeared into the trees. "Yes. And it's not just a cave. These creatures are connected to something bigger… something powerful. The trail leads that way."

Kael, the young scout, only seventeen years old, swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly around his crossbow. "What if it's a trap?" His voice was a nervous whisper, his dark eyes searching for reassurance from his companions. He had dreamed of adventures since he was a child, but the reality of danger hit him harder than he'd expected.

Thalric shot him a stern look, his armor creaking as he turned. "If it's a trap, we'll be ready. We're not returning to Eldoria empty-handed. This is what we came to investigate—for the glory of the kingdom."

"Besides," added Mael, the veteran scout, with a crooked smile that revealed the long scar on his cheek, "those vipers didn't seem smart enough to set up an elaborate trap. They were just following orders." His tone was light, but his eyes scanned the forest with the caution of someone who had survived too many expeditions.

Anya, the thief with feline movements, twirled a dagger between her fingers, her sharp gaze cutting through the gloom. "Then let's move," she said, her voice low but firm. "If someone wants us dead, they'd better give us a decent fight."

With a collective nod, the group resumed their march, venturing deeper into the forest. The atmosphere shifted quickly—the air grew colder and damper, heavy with the scent of wet earth and a faint hint of sulfur. The torches they carried cast a feeble light, creating shadows that seemed to stalk them from the twisted trunks. The crunch of leaves under their feet and the howl of the wind through the branches formed an eerie melody that sent shivers down their spines.

The path led them to a spot where the vegetation parted, revealing a colossal oak, its trunk covered in vines and moss, concealing a stone-carved entrance etched with glowing runes. It was larger than any tree they'd ever seen, its dark bark speckled with grayish lichen that pulsed faintly under the dim light, as if breathing. The gnarled branches stretched toward the sky, forming a canopy that smothered the dawn, and a chilling draft emanated from the crack at its base.

"This is it," Eliana said, cautiously touching a rune. The blue glow beneath her fingers intensified, and a deep groan echoed from within. "This is the entrance."

Thalric drew his sword, the metal gleaming under the torchlight. "Open it," he ordered, his voice as sharp as his blade.

With a combined effort, Anya and Mael pulled back the vines while Thalric and Kael pushed the carved stone aside. The entrance groaned as it gave way, revealing a dark corridor that plunged into the depths of the earth—the underground Enchanted Forest. A cold, damp breeze surged forth, smelling of ancient stone, dust, and an indescribable undertone that made the hairs on their necks stand on end.

"For the glory of Eldoria," Thalric muttered to himself, taking a deep breath before leading the descent, his armor echoing in the silence.

The group descended cautiously down the corridor, their boots muffled by a thin layer of dust coating the stone floor. The torches cast a faint light, barely enough to illuminate the giant cobwebs hanging from the ceiling and the sleeping bats that fluttered in the darkness. The walls were covered in black vines that pulsed with a greenish glow, and bioluminescent flowers sprouted from the cracks, exhaling a sickly-sweet perfume that clouded the mind.

"This place is alive," Anya murmured, running her gloved fingers along the walls, her voice tinged with suspicion. "I don't like it."

Thalric nodded, his gaze fixed on the passageway. "Keep your eyes peeled. This place is full of traps—we felt it from above."

As if in response to his words, the floor beneath Mael creaked faintly. Before he could react, a spear shot up from the stone, its sharp tip grazing his cloak. Anya shoved him out of the way just in time, and the weapon embedded itself in the ground with a dull thud. "Watch out!" she shouted, her breathing rapid as Mael regained his balance.

Kael stumbled back, his crossbow shaking in his hands. "This is insane!" he gasped, but Thalric silenced him with a harsh glare.

"Breathe, kid," Mael said, adjusting his dagger with a tense smile. "Just traps—we've seen worse."

Eliana closed her eyes, focusing on the Vital Flow emanating from the surroundings. "I can feel the connections," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Follow my steps exactly—there are pressure plates hidden under the moss."

Guided by the mage, they moved in a single file, avoiding the spots marked by her magic. The corridor narrowed, forcing them to navigate carefully between the vines that seemed to reach for them. Shadows on the walls shifted, confusing their steps—subtle illusions that made Kael stumble, only to be steadied by Anya with a frustrated grunt. "Damn traps," she muttered, slicing through a vine that got too close.

Farther ahead, the corridor opened into a large chamber where phosphorescent moss coated the walls and the floor trembled with a low hum. Giant rats, their red eyes glowing, emerged from the shadows, snarling as they bared their sharp fangs. Among them, shadow spiders remained motionless, camouflaged against the rock, until they attacked without warning, launching sticky webs.

"Formation!" Thalric roared, his sword slicing through the air to behead a rat with a precise strike. Blood splattered the moss, and the echo of his shout reverberated through the chamber.

Anya slipped between the creatures, her daggers flashing as she plunged them into a rat's flank, her agility allowing her to dodge the webs with feline grace. Mael fired an arrow that pierced a shadow spider's eye, and the creature convulsed with a shrill screech before exploding in a grotesque burst. Its carapace split open with a wet crack, spraying sticky guts and a gush of green acid that hissed as it hit the ground, dissolving the moss and leaving a acrid stench in the air. Mael leaped back just in time, but a drop of acid splashed onto his boot, sizzling as it burned through the leather.

"Watch out for the spiders!" Mael shouted, wiping sweat from his brow as he dodged another spurt of acid.

Kael, steadier now, aimed his crossbow and fired, hitting another spider in the abdomen. The creature collapsed with an even more violent explosion, its black, viscous innards splattering the walls while a stream of acid poured out, forming a steaming puddle that dissolved a nearby rock. Kael staggered back, his face pale as he watched the acid eat away at the ground inches from his feet. "By the gods, that's disgusting!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with revulsion.

Eliana raised a hand, casting a burst of fire that incinerated a web and scorched a rat, her robe glowing with protective runes. A spider tried to ambush her from above, but she spun and unleashed a spell that made it explode mid-air. The spider's guts rained down on the group, accompanied by acid that sizzled as it hit the moss, leaving small, steaming craters. Eliana shielded herself with a magical barrier, but a drop of acid grazed her sleeve, burning a hole in the fabric with a hiss.

"Find the source!" Anya yelled, dodging a swipe as another rat fell under her blade.

Eliana turned, her eyes catching a dark glow on the wall—embedded gems pulsing with energy. "There!" she pointed, casting a spell that shattered a gem with a burst of light. The nearby creatures weakened instantly, stumbling, and the group seized the moment to finish them off—Thalric cleaving a rat in half with a brutal strike, Mael and Kael taking down the last spiders with synchronized arrows. Each spider that fell erupted in a wet burst, sending guts and acid flying in all directions. The group had to take cover, dodging the corrosive sprays as the phosphorescent moss melted under the acid, leaving a toxic stench that stung their eyes.

The battle ended as quickly as it had begun, leaving a heavy silence broken only by their panting and the hissing of acid still eating away at the floor. The smoldering bodies of the creatures lay scattered, the spiders' guts forming nauseating puddles amid the charred remains of the rats. The hum of the remaining gems echoed like a distant heartbeat.

"This isn't a normal dungeon," Eliana said, wiping sweat from her forehead as she examined an intact gem. A patch of acid had burned the edge of her robe, and the smell of scorched fabric mingled with the stench of the fight. "It's alive… and someone's controlling it."

Thalric sheathed his sword, his armor marred by shallow cuts and small burns where the acid had splashed. "Whoever it is, we'll find them. But first, let's rest—this is just the beginning."

The group set up a makeshift camp in the center of the chamber, surrounded by the remains of their enemies and the still-steaming acid puddles. Anya silently sharpened her daggers, Mael checked his arrows, Kael sat with his back against a rock, nervously wiping a smear of spider guts from his crossbow, and Eliana traced protective runes around the perimeter, careful to avoid the spots where the acid had eaten into the floor. Thalric stood watch, his eyes fixed on the dark tunnel leading deeper down—a faint, watery echo reverberating from its depths, a harbinger of what awaited them on the second level.

In the shadows of the dungeon, Kaili and Aurora watched through an obsidian mirror, their reflections shimmering under the crimson light of the orb. Kaili smirked, her iridescent wings quivering with a low laugh that echoed in the crystal. "These worms are barely worth the effort, my queen," she growled, her voice dripping with mockery as her dark eyes gleamed with cruel amusement. "A little more, and they'll be yours to toy with."

Aurora tilted her head, a faint smile curving her lips as she observed the exhausted group. "Let them continue," she said, her voice clear and melodic, cutting through the air. "They'll soon learn what it means to defy me."

The mirror darkened, leaving only the echo of her crystalline laughter and the distant hum of the dungeon, waiting for their next move.