22: 22: Setting Up A Camp

Guys I'm back... and I will be updating chapters daily henceforth. Thank you all for your patience and prayers, I really appreciate it.

**********************************************

After their encounter with the Tendrilwort, the team had been walking all day, doing their best to leave the plant-dominated part of this area. They had ventured deep into the mountainous forest, where towering trees cast a dappled shade on the uneven terrain. The air hummed with the mysterious energy of the ethereal flora, and the occasional rustle of unseen creatures added to the enchantment of the surroundings. They had scaled some elevated landscapes resembling a hill, but smaller in size.

The group has also encountered other beastial plants on their way. However, this time they were more prepared to deal with those plants. Drake, Apphira, and Kael are always the first to point out those ominous plants. After making such a discovery, they will carefully eliminate those plants.

Lyra seemed to have learned her lesson from the previous encounter. She dared not leave the group, nor did she try to get a look at any newly discovered beastial plant. And Thorne was always close to her in case the inevitable happened, so he might be able to protect her.

For Alvan, he still hasn't gotten a grip on how to leverage his emotions in order to be in control of his powers. Emelda was standing next to him, unwilling to be near Apphira or too far from Alvan. At the very least, she might be able to tie up whatever might try to attack them. This was exactly how the group was divided as they traversed deeper into the mountainous forest. Apphira, the leader, was at the forefront, closely followed by Drake and Kael. Next to those three were Thorne and Lyra, and at the very rear, just like vanguards, were Emelda and Alvan.

So far, after dealing with the Tendrilwort, they had encountered four different kinds of beastial plants, of various sizes and colors, on their way. There was the Thornspire, with its shimmering thorns, which stood proudly. Also, the delicate petals of the Luminara Vine glowed softly in the dimming daylight with its vines hungrily craving prey. Then there was the Shadebloom, and finally, the Peachpine. Each step brought them face to face with the marvels and perils of this mountainous domain.

Currently, their journey led them to the foot of a mountain, the first mountain they were meant to scale. The sky gradually shifted from its light blue canvas to a dark reddish hue as the sun bid farewell, marking the arrival of night. It was going to be their first night outside of Etheloria, a land now tainted by the looming Shadow Plague.

"Wait, I don't get it. What are your plans right now? Don't tell me you want us to scale the mountain," Thorne lamented.

"Please, Apphira, I think we should find a place to rest. If nothing else, it's getting dark and it will be even more dangerous to confront the strange plants lurking in the shadows up there," Alvan also expressed his concern, however , he was interrupted…

"Most importantly, we are exhausted after such a challenging journey. Not all of us were trained by the Templar force or have cosmic energy."

Drake turned around and gave Thorne a menacing glare, but Thorne scoffed as if to imply that he wasn't even tired or afraid of the former. And in a sense, he wasn't speaking for himself, but for Lyra, who had been rendered mute after nearly having her limbs chopped off by a certain tree. He did not know why, but after she had saved him from a shadow minion in Etheloria, he had been looking after her as a way to return the favor.

"Okay, okay," said Apphira as she turned to face them. "We will look for a place devoid of those plants to camp for the night. I believe there is a narrow ledge that we must cross before we can successfully scale the mountain. Therefore, it is unwise for us to continue."

She continued, looking directly at Drake and Kael, "You two know this terrain better than anyone else. Can you help us find a secure place to stay for the night?"

"Follow me." That was all Drake said as he started walking to the right. Thankfully, there were fewer or no beastial plants around the base of the mountain.

Soon, after walking for a while with Drake leading the way, they arrived at their destination. The most obvious feature here was a gigantic tree, so tall that they couldn't see its top, and so massive in girth like the Tendrilwort they had encountered earlier. However, it wasn't as colorful as the Tendrilwort.

Kael noticed the uneasiness in the group upon seeing the tree, especially from Lyra, and decided to speak. "This place is safe, and that tree is not carnivorous nor does it have the ability to attack us. I still remember when the Templar Force camped here."

"This is the best place for us to camp tonight," said Drake, pointing to the huge tree. "It seems like you all forgot that we arrived without any camping facilities. So with this tree, we can improvise a camp to rest for the night."

"Shit!" Thorne cursed.

"It is still better than crossing a ledge tonight," Alvan said, looking at Thorne.

"So, how do we start the pseudo-camp?" Kael asked sarcastically, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

Just then, a breeze blew past them, carrying a soothing and fragrant scent. 'This scent, I think it's familiar,' thought Lyra.

"I will set up the makeover camp," Apphira said.

"With what?" Emelda snapped, somewhat annoyed by the way Apphira said it.

"I will create a barrier. A cosmic healer's barrier is the second strongest barrier ever known, with the strongest being a sorcerer's barrier." Apphira said, looking in Lyra's direction. "We will all be safe within it."

Emelda muttered under her breath, "You aren't the only one here who can create impervious barriers." Alvan, who heard her mumbling to herself, peered at her face, but she didn't say anything.

Apphira stepped out in front of the tree, but before she began creating the barrier. Drake swiped his hand horizontally across the area where the camp was supposed to be. The ground was cleared of all smaller shrubs and debris, with just his powerful aura. Afterward, Apphira conjured a spacious barrier around it, using the tree's trunk as the rear wall of the barrier-camp. It was a circular camp, as expansive as three rooms put together.

However, just as she finished, they could see Emelda walking toward the tree. After she had approached it, she extended her right hand. As soon as her hand touched the tree, thick and sturdy vines sprouted out and surrounded the barrier from the outside. Wrapping, winding, spiraling, and snaking all over the surface of the barrier, like a membrane. Only the entrance to the camp was left uncoated with the vine.

"Whoa!" Kael and Thorne exclaimed in unison.

"What other camp could be better and stronger than this combo?" Alvan commented, while Emelda beamed with joy.

The entire group entered. A campfire was set up at the center of the camp. While Thorne harnessed his earth element, he built beds for everyone—an earthen bed elevated from the ground.

Now, it was already dark, and the sky was filled with sparkling stars. The half moon peered at all seven of them seated on seats conjured from the earth around the campfire in the camp. The atmosphere around them was awkward as silence fell upon them all.

That was when Drake broke it. "I'm familiar with this surrounding. I will go look for some edible fruits and, if possible, 'meats.'"

Meats? He knew why he said "if possible," even though they had left the main plant-dominated part of the area. Wild animals and beasts are still uncommon in this area.

As Drake stood up to leave, Kael also stood up. "I will accompany him; there is no way I can be around and let my superior find food for me." Then they both left through the entrance of the camp.

After the two Templar force militants left the camp, Lyra, who had been thinking about how to trace the source of the earlier scent, also stood up. "I will take a walk for a while. I need some fresh air." Without waiting for anyone's permission, she departed from the camp. Thorne also surreptitiously followed in the shadows after using the same excuse.

"Is it just me, or do you guys also think those two act like a couple?" Alvan sarcastically said, and the other two girls with him laughed.

After watching the crackling fire in front of them for some time and taking in enough of its ember scent, Alvan decided to break the silence between himself, Emelda, and Apphira.

"Apphira, could you please tell me about the Time Orb and the Infernal Crystal, and perhaps explain how they can assist us in this quest?"

----------------------

FOR BONUS CHAPTER:

✓ 10 Golden Tickets/25 Power Stones/Gifts from 5 readers ---> 1 Bonus Chapter

HAPPY READING GUYS!!!