EP 11 - GOTHEL.

Deep in a forest in a mansion, a woman was storing her cauldron and humming softly to herself. A black raven perched on her window sill.

"Oh Beophalus! We have visitors!!". The bird made an odd sqwuak.

She looked into The pot and saw the unaware adventurers walking through the forest. She looked closer and caught a glimpse of a man. "My...My, You've changed since we've last met . But I'll recognize that air of superiority anywhere!"

She turned to her bird and have a cackle.

"How about we show our guests around ?"

# # # # # #

They proceeded through the deep dark forest.It had a weird air of discomforting aura.

"Aren't we there yet"? Avyanna asked for the 100th time.

"No!"Levi repeated what he has been saying for the past five hours.

"A branch is blocking my way please ". Conrad said aloud.

"Duh, Cross over it?!"Kyra chastised him.

He motioned to Avyanna so she could move it out of his way. Avyanna was just about to disagree but remembered at once he was blackmailing her, so with no choice she had to leave her self pride and condescend so low to move it for him.

He smiled.

Kyra walked side by side with Levi. She couldn't believe she was standing so close to him!

Once Levi turned to look at her but she turned away blushing as red as ...

Well red" Su ling said.

"You're good " Levi said out of the Blue.

Kyra was surprised. He... He ....He talked to her !

"What do you mean ?" She mumbled.

"Finding out That old man was the bad guy. It was cool."He said and gave her a little smile.

Kyra heart skipped a beat. Those eyes . Those dangerously gray eyes that one could fall in by just looking at them.

They all came to a stop at a huge oak tree in which all its leaves has wilted away to nothing.

Weirder still, in such a luxuriant forest where all was green?

"I can swear we just passed that tree earlier ". Conrad said.

"We are stuck in a maze ".Avyanna enlightened him.

"Another one of her tricks, I suppose "Levi enjoined.

"How are we getting out of here! "Kyra asked.

Levi peered at the inscriptions under the tree. A harmless threat meant to deter stranded strangers to turn away

"PROCEED FORWARD IF YOU DARE AND MEET YOUR GHASTLY DEATH!!!!!!.

Levi scoffed. After all these years, she didn't still know how to make threats.

and unfortunately I don't respond to threat very well.

"All we need" Levi announced "Is to stick together. Do not lose sight of each other for a second.We are dealing with someone Almost as old as time. She is cunning , deceitful , haughty, extremely wicked and can twist a person's mind up to the point of madness. Her name is GOTHEL and we need to exercise extreme caution because when we're talking about her ... No person is safe. So to survive this, remembering all her tricks correctly, she'll try to make you to hallucinate till you forget your own name, so no matter what stay togeth...

Levi hasn't even finished talking when he heard a scream. He looked back and ...

ALL of them were gone.

He scanned the forest. The trees began shaking as they shiftly and subtly rearranged their positions.

Levi wasn't worried for himself. He's escaped her snares before. Who he feared for was Avyanna and the others . Especially the naive , soft hearted friend , Avyanna.

No one could escape Gothel...

Except by running mad in the process.