Early Departures

Only problem now is about how I was going to go about doing just that. See, I had an idea, but, well it was just that, an idea. Looking back, I probably should have thought it through a little better than I did. Oops.

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Well, whatever it doesn't matter if it wasn't thought out, I just have to BS this and make it work right? I seem pretty good at that so lets do this. My initial plan was to try and use my Skill: Eye for Treasure. I know that it deems magical items as 'treasure' but I want to know if I can guide the skill into something more specific. There is never a better time to test something than when you absolutely need it to work, right? No, I definitely need to rethink my planning skills. I'll be sure to keep a mental note for later.

Taking a deep breath I close my eyes and focus on the skill. I think If I focus on a specific property of the gems being valuable, then it might register them as treasure, after all what is considered 'treasure' is different for everyone. I realized that I automatically recognize magical items as treasure, The question is if I can change the focus of the skill to something more specific.

I take a deep breath and calm myself. I need to stay calm. Closing my eyes I focus on the skill. My focus is on the gems themselves. From what I could tell, each crest was inscribed on a valuable gem. For example, our team got spinel and Luxen's got emerald. If I can focus solely on these gems, then based on their placement and shape I'll be able to clearly find ever hidden gem in the vicinity. So long as things go as I want them to that is.

I do just as I had planned and it worked, rather it highlighted every valuable metal in the vecinity. There was a wonderland of sparkles glistening around, in which I saw an assortment of things ranging from bracelets to necklaces and the sort, all containing or being made of various sized precious metals. The targets however weren't overly hard to pick out, all I needed to do is ignore the shapes I know aren't correct. Just find the egg shaped gems that are conveniently not attached to the other people. Simple.

As I was about to move to go steal the gem a shiver shot down my spine as I felt my stomach turn and twist, almost making me vomit. A flash of fear and panic flashed though my head, before I felt my focus pulled in the direction of Korona and the rest of the ongoing fighting.

Korona's fire was burning bright and moved fast around their targets keeping them locked, unable to easily advance or retreat. The fire also seemed to be damaging parts of the forest. I could see some of the leaves and bases of the surrounding trees were scorched. I could see the trees became unstable, beginning to rustle and writhe in anger. Abandoning the thought of attack I shot forward towards Korona not even thinking twice. I used my momentum, Grabbing her wrist and using the force of both of us together, to create a wide projectile pushing anyone who was also in the immediate area out of the way. It hurt, and was a little disorienting but I wasn't going to doubt something that dreadful.

" Alice what are you doing?" Korona exclaimed.

Her question was answered as a root from one of the surrounding trees lifted above all our heads and slammed down at the position where we were previously. There was one boy who I had failed to push out of the line of fire, just off the edge of the forest, and as the angry mass of wood descended the poor childs body caved. The earth rumbled and the wind cried at the descent as the boys shoulder was completely removed as half of his body remained relatively intact as the other half was Crumpled and smashed like an stomped soda can. His face had one of pain and shock as his other half was wrapped by the root and pulled into the depths of the forest so that we could no longer see him.

All fighting stopped as the rest of us stiffened. One hit with those things and we were dead. No one moved out of fear of the things, This was definitely not a safe place for us to be and one wrong move and that would be all she wrote. We didn't have the luxury for mistakes. This was a cruel test for us. Looking around carefully I assess the situation, attempting to formulate some plan of action.

In the meantime the mangled root systems unwove, as the branches of the trees began to rattle, in a rather threatening way. The branches were a minor issue compared the roots that burst from the ground. The roots moved like tendrils flailing and writhing indiscriminately. They seemed to be riled, but they haven't attacked anyone else yet, so there is no reason to despair ... yet. This didn't keep their agitated and sporadic movement from taunted us causing our existing fear and anxiety to fester and bloom into the deliriant blossoms of dread. There was Nineteen other people here last I checked make it eighteen now. Four of them were still up in the trees and they seemed horrified. Lyric had descended prior, and I could see Emmy and Eric were both here, along with Jack, Lyric, Tanya, and Kon. If we all wanted to make it out alive this was probably one of the better possible groups to have been here. I have no doubt that they can escape, what worries me is the others. Eric had a pained look on his face, meaning the boy who died must have been on his team, and knowing the others like I do I know they won't want to leave anyone behind. Not that I do, I'm just more open to the idea.

~Shriek~

A Scream interrupted my thoughts as finally someone had lost it and ran off screaming. Things didn't go well for that poor girl as her head was soon removed like a golf ball, off a tee by a nearby root. The root fractured her skull, which erupted into a mist of blood. The root retuned to it's respective tree dripping with her blood re-entering the ground, causing the tree to shiver in what I assumed was demented pleasure, as her body fell on its knees and slumped back, the rough exposed flesh on her neck where her head once rested, was facing everyone else near us. Blood leaked from her neck like a demented facet and pooled around her body, and I could smell the fear in the area. No that's just urine, same thing I suppose, still disgusting.

I managed to keep myself calm, because I have been scared shitless a few times before, I don't have the Basic Fear Resistance Skill for nothing, however My legs were quaking and I'm not going to lie I was terrified. Though, I wasn't going to let things end here, I refused to die like this. I was going to make it out alive. Her body was also taken by the forest, presumably to be eaten by the flora. Now we know why there are no other living creatures here.

Another person started to run for the hills. I have no clue what he was thinking but he did it anyways. Fortunately, this gave us enough time to try and make a break for it ourselves. " Everyone this way! I heard Eric shout without missing a beat " There is a field of flowers not too far from here , we may be able to make it! Move it, I'm not letting a single one of you die!" Collectively we began to hurry through the forest, running like our lives depended on it. You know ... cause they did.

Once we all left as a group the forest seemed to scree as the trees entered a frenzied state. We started to move and the forest closed in on us immediately. Fortunately the roots had an end to their range, unfortunately we just kept running into them. We started to try and fight back, but as soon as Korona used her fire, our assailants stopped and recoiled raising high above our heads, but not moving. We tried to use this opening to make some distance to our target, when suddenly Korona screamed.

Looking back I saw a root whip up and hanging upside down by the foot, was Korona. She gave me a frightened smile as another root shot through her back out her stomach, blood tripping down her chest and blurring her face.

I looked on stunned when I felt a tug on my arm. I was being dragged away, but i caught one last sentence, from Korona's mouth " K...eep...goi...ng...Tell Viola...I'm...sorry." It was then that the other roots that has been seemingly watching came in. Two. Three. Four more roots impale her in various spots throughout her abdomen as other wrap around her arms legs and head brutally crushing cracking and dismantling her in the most bloody cruel way possible. I could still hear her muffled screams echo despite the growing distance.

I as tears cascade down my face, I could hear the rumble of new roots emerging, as if to welcome us to the path to hell. Despite what they had just done, they hadn't had enough. I felt my vision grow red as a deep and feral growl was released from my throat. "You ... Took something of mine." I mumbled to myself. Lyric had stopped running and started to stave off the roots that had attacked the reminder of the group.

"Now ... I'm going to kill you." My body twitched as a wave of anger overtook me. My eyes sharpened, and time slowed, yet few by, as I moved my hands above my head, a black ball congealing above. I make my way to the center of the group in the blink of an eye and pressed the orb of darkness into the ground. Small puddles of black emerged atop the dull grass as black tendrils shot out of the depths. These tendrils were as black as night and the sides were shaped into thin blades allowing them to be more capable of severing. I myself had removed my sword from my inventory and together we attacked the Root systems that were sieging us with extreme prejudice. We slashed, crushed, and dismembered every root we could, Until their numbers began to dwindle. If it even so much as twitched it was killed. We left gouges in the surrounding trees despite their sturdy truncks and managed to hold off the roots until everyone managed to recuperate enough for the last stretch of the journey, well everyone except for me that is. Once my anger had all but ran out, and my bladed tendril friends had received their own beatings, returning to their holes, I collapsed. The forest needed a little time to recuperate, in which, Lyric had retrieved me and with the assistance of Jack we made more progress forward.

More Root began to attack however Everyone was paranoid about where they were and together with a few close calls but no real loss, we managed to avoid or deflect the roots , as we pressed on. Everyone pushed forward with everything they had, and as we reached the edge of the forest one last yelp was heard.

Turning back, Emmy had tripped and fallen the roots were hot on our heels and we had no time to go back, I let out a cry as we continued forward and a vine shot towards Emmy's crawling body. I wanted to help but I could barely walk on my own, my arms and legs pulsating as they stayed immobile against my will. I closed my eyes not wanting to see another friend die, but the high pitched scream I had been anticipating didn't come. Instead it was a more masculine "urck."

Opening my eyes I saw Eric standing in front of Emmy his shield raised protecting her from harm. Emmy lunged forward and grabbed him by the collar, pulling him back to the rest of us and the roots receded as if it realized we had escaped and didn't want to bother wasting more energy.

We entered a yellow field of sunflowers as the remaining few of us let our cheers of happiness for surviving and cries of mourning from the people lost. Four people had died just now. I look down at my hands as memories of the short time I knew Korona, ran through my mind. Her passive impartiality, as well as her quiet confidence, and snide remarks. Her smile when Viola did something innocent, and visual and verbal exhaustion when Anabelle and I argued. How was I supposed to tell the others she died. None of us came here to die. Then why? Why did it have to be her? My hand covered my mouth, as tears fell down my face, and I gazed longingly into the forest. To think people can get attached so fast.

Brontes had noticed I had walked off alone and laid a hand on my shoulder to comfort me. He was asking for me to join the others as we were about to start to plan out our future objectives when metal hitting the ground alarmed us.

Looking back, Eric was on the ground with Blood running down his clothing, and the back side of his shield, while Emmy sat beside him crying holding her hand over his heart. My heart broke at the scene as I rushed over to try and help.

"Alice! Y-You can s-ssave him right?" she sniffled. I didn't answer as I pulled her hand down slightly and tried to freeze the wound and keep him from bleeding, while assisting the reconstruction. I was hit with a few major issues. First I couldn't reconstruct organs, my magic could help heal flesh and tissue, but I couldn't support an entire organ, not like this. Second he had lost too much blood that too much assistance could end up killing him while not enough would also kill him. The third was he was hit in the heart, It wasn't bad enough to kill him instantly obviously, but if I tried to heal him there is a chance I stop his heart completely, even if I manage to not mess up on the scale of interference I needed to give. Besides, even if I did and he survived somehow, my magic works like glue. I can mend things and fill in cracks and gaps but this was too big. Even on the off chance he did miraculously survive, his heart wouldn't function properly, and it may be permanent.

I relay the news to Emmy with tears in my eyes and pain in my voice, but Eric just smiles. and weakly grabs hold of her hand. " Don't worry about it." He then smiles weakly. "There isn't anyone I'd rather die for than you. Just ... before I go I have something to get off my chest."

~Cough~

Blood started to leak out of his mouth. I tried to slow down his death, but there was nothing i could do. I felt like absolute shit that I couldn't help, but regardless I tried my damnedest. I began to get agitated with the thought of how worthless I was right now, but I had to stop in fear of killing Eric.

"What...is it?" Emmy choked trying to hide her tears so as not to worry Eric.

"Emmavailya ... I love you." He smiled, " and I always will, even in death."

"Stop it with the cheesy goodbye's. I makes it should like your about to die." I heard from behind me. It was Tanya, Like the rest of us she was doing her best not to cry but her fingernails were digging into her hands drawing blood. " You can't die here, you just ..."

She couldn't take it and she burst, falling on her knees in front of Eric, her head down, she began to bawl, " Please, You can't leave us." She had grabbed Eric's other hand in desperation.

Lyric was just beside her, he had tears streaking his face and a lost expression, he wasn't completely here, he remained silent but fell at Eric's side, Wrapping his arms around him. Emmy did the same around his neck, since he as lying in her lap. Tanya and I joined and Emmy started to hum a sweet little melody, we all joined in as well, making it up as we went but it sounded mournful yet full of hope. The melody was oddly beautiful, as we hummed his soul into a peaceful departure.

"I wish you the best in your next life." I whisper into his ear as my hand that was still over his heart attempting to control his injury, felt him flatline and his body lost the little support that was keeping him upright. I looked up at the others and shook my head trembling.

The others that were watching started to cry with us and we sat in solitude mourning the hero that had led us together out of the crisis.

Suddenly a familiar voice echoed in our minds.

" Attention, Contenders. It has come to our attention that the arena has been incorrectly appraised for an activity such as this. The arena has been deemed unsafe for the competition to continue, to ensure the co-operation of competitor's the rest of this year's competition has been canceled. As such you are no longer different teams fighting for a crown, but a unified unit working towards survival. Each of you will be teleported back in approximately five minutes, as the teleportation spells require time and focus to rush. Please no one panic, but keep your eyes open and wits about you. As of now we don't know what truly lurks within the forest. I wish you all luck and prey to your safe return."

I felt a growl surface as I glared into the sky. 'That couldn't have come before our friends were mangled by carnivorous trees?' I thought in a state of seething rage. They wouldn't have died had we been told.

I flinch as I heard the faint echo of a scream in the forest we had just exited. A shiver runs up my spine as I realized there were more people in there. The scream soon vanished as if the forest had eaten that as well. In the far distance I could see the blue trees of the other forest. Remembering the feeling of terror I felt when looking back into that place. I could only prey that the others were okay.