Black Forest

After calming, Astrid glanced around trying to identify where the teleportation spell had taken her. The place she was in was a forest no doubt, but which forest specifically she could not recognize.

The treetops swayed as the wind beat on its leaves. But the sun did not pass right through the leaves, giving a dark feeling even in the middle of the afternoon. Astrid sat down with difficulty, the arrow in her belly still throbbing, remembering that she was still hurt.

"Argh, I'm tired," Astrid said to herself. "Status."

Name: Astrid

Age: 22

Breed: Half-demon

HP: 350/2340

MP: 6/3790

Abnormalities: Critical mana level.

Weakened health (Severe blood loss).

Affinities: Water +80

Fire +65

Earth +50

Wind +50

Titles: The outcast (Rejected by demons, hated by humans),

Master Witch (The one who has already mastered her profession)

Pulling out the arrow at this point would only further damage her already weakened state. Using the blood dripping from her wound, Astrid made a magic circle on the trunk of a nearby tree, her intention was to find out where she was, to decide a path to take.

A soft glow appeared beneath her hand as she sought her location within the forest, all sounds seemed to vanish as the link was made with the tree.

The more she mapped the area, the more she was surprised, the plants, the bugs and the monsters that lived in that place, made it increasingly clear that Astrid was in the Black Forest, the largest piece of forbidden area among the five kingdoms.

It was certainly the best place she could find to hide. As a matter of fact no one would appear in that place, even the outermost part of the forest was feared and few ventured into the place.

What would be horrible news to other people, turned out to be great news for her. The area she was in did not have very powerful monsters nearby, which indicated that it was the territory of an extremely strong and fearsome creature.

This creature was not around, which made this the perfect time for her to hide. Astrid, tried to find a good place to rest and heal. The plants in the locality revealed a hole not far from where she was, which had a hidden cave.

Sighing heavily Astrid took her hand from the tree, losing the link it had made with the forest.

"Thank you." She thanked the trees that showed her the way and with slow steps went toward the hidden cave.

It was painful to walk now that adrenaline no longer pumped in her veins, but she had to get there before she collapsed. Astrid came down with great difficulty down the hole, almost falling into the process. But she managed to hold onto the curtain of plants that protected the entrance.

The cave looked fresh and dry, and she could hear a faint stream of water ahead. 'It's a really great place.' Astrid thought.

"Light," Astrid mumbled the spell, and then three balls of light began to float around her. There might not be much mana left, but at least she could still do it.

Tired of all her ordeal, Astrid struggled to make one last matrix of enchantment. Making matrices had the advantage of using the present mana around instead of the user's mana. Tired of all her ordeal, Astrid struggled to make one last matrix of enchantment. Making matrices had the advantage of using the present mana around instead of the user's mana. And using his own blood would potentiate the power of the matrix she was drawing.

Finally, after finishing the matrix, Astrid ventured deeper into the cave until she reached the water source. Leaning down she saw that the water was pure and she was able to drink large mouthfuls of the fresh water.

After drinking she sat against the wall in the cave, a slight glow of sweat from the fever and excessive loss of blood could be seen on her dark skin. Astrid took a dagger from her thigh and ripped the shirt around the arrow.

The appearance of the wound was not good, felt like it was starting to get inflamed, and her standing alone in the middle of nowhere was certainly not a good sign for her.

At the moment there was only one solution she could follow. Astrid intoned a brief spell and warmed the tip of the dagger until it turned red. And in a rapid movement she plucked the arrow and pressed the hot knife against her wound so she could seal it.

"Ahhhh..." Astrid's scream of pain echoed through the walls of the cave, the scent of her burning wound making her feel sick and overly tired.

She only had time to push the hot dagger from her wound and throw it away before her eyes blurred and her body collapsed.