Chapter 9

Phoebe and I met in the portal room, where she was visibly excited, "I can't believe this I know how to make so many potions now, and its as if I've know all along. I think I know what potions I want to make, I figure if we're going anyway, might as well make something of high value," Phoebe seemed more and more excited as she spoke with a gleam in her eyes.

"Lets head to the Forest of Mist!" This was a forest know for its vast numbers of deaths; while the few who lived came out half insane, warning people never to enter. Of course, I only felt safe going here because of the 3 lives I was granted. Plus, as I've said previously, greed is a powerful driving force. In the forest's description on the module, the listed plants and beasts couldn't help but cause my heart to race. It had many of the ingredients needed for healing potions, stamina potions, and magic potions. But, what was really great was one plant in particular, the Blessed White Willow.

The Blessed White Willow is a rare ingredient used in many potions, with a specialty in healing potions; it also had a secondary use in love potions. The bark from this tree can be used as a pain killer that brings down swelling while bringing extreme feelings of comfort. Using the bark of this tree in a healing potion, can greatly improve its effectiveness. The leafs of the tree can be used as a quick bandage; through the mixture of saliva the leaves can completely close a gash, to stop the flow of blood while helping to heal the wound.

While this plant is a great ingredient… unfortunately, I have no idea how I might be able to bring it home with me. But, though the chances are low of finding it, there was one beast which caught my attention as being extremely rare and expensive. Of coarse I made sure to grab some rope from the side of the store to use to bring any beast back, if we get so lucky.

"I'm ready!" Phoebe resolutely looked at me slightly nervous and excited for our journey.

I pressed the button on the pad, as it took our 2 energy and the portal changed to purple. We held hands and walked through.

As we appeared on the other end of the portal, we both fell on the ground due to dizziness. "Well at least for our first time we didn't puke…" As I finished commenting this I couldn't help hearing the splash of liquid hitting the ground.

"BLERGH!!!" Phoebe was bent over a pile of puke which had just landed on the ground.

"I guess I spoke too soon… Are you better now?" I wanted to make sure she was okay, although it sounded a bit like I was rushing her.

"I'm fine" she responded as she looked around at the vast forest covered in a thin mist. After the introduction of mana to the world trees had flourished. So, the forest we were looking at was similar to the redwood forest in size. There were many different flowers and moss at the base of the trees and throughout the forest floor. I had Freyja observe the surroundings for any movement or noise, using her keen senses.

Phoebe began walking around looking at the various plants as she reached out to pick one.

{Level 1 Inventory unlocked: Currently capable of holding 10 different objects of any size; repetitive items can be stacked 5 times}

"YES!!!" I couldn't help my mind instantly thinking of the White Willow. And with my increase of knowledge brought about by my introduction of greenhouse book, I also know how to find it. The mist all over the forest is due to the Blessed White Willow natural releasing the mist to protect itself. Currently, Phoebe and I are in a lightly misty area, if we walk towards the areas with a heavier mist, we will eventually find the tree.

"Well I have to admit thats helpful." Phoebe responded as the Ice Lily in her hands disappeared.

"Howl!" Freyja was howling near us informing us of the animal she had just found.

Phoebe and I ran to her location. On our way we could hear the sound of fighting and what sounded like flesh being torn. I began to grow weary as I heard whimpering coming from Freyja.

As we made it through the line of trees into the clearing where Freyja was lying on the ground just under a giant ape. "Thats a C rank wood ape!" Freyja, while given from the system was still brand new, she was only F rank. The ape looked at us with a toothy grin as it smashed its fist down on Freyja's head. Blood flew everywhere as Freyja instantly died. I broke down in tears for the wolf I only had a short time, but somehow created a bond with. I knew she would come back to life due to some unknown trust that I had in the system but, it couldn't stop me from feeling the loss that came with watching my first companion die. As I looked to the side at Phoebe she had tears flowing down her cheeks as Bagheera began running towards the ape.

{Freyja had died, would you like her to revive?}

"Yes!" I uneasily responded as I waited for Freyja to get up. The ape was walking towards Bagheera who was only a few feet from the ape at this point. Freyja stood up as her head began to form out of thin air. Looking at her now I could see just how much she had been hurt, as i clenched my fists with blood dripping down. Two of her legs had been bent backwards and her tail had been ripped off. I quickly yelled towards Freyja. "Kill that bastard!!!"

Bagheera wasn't much better off than Freyja as he was close to bleeding out. As the Ape kicked out its leg finishing off Bagheera, it looked towards us eagerly. 'This is one bloodthirsty ape!' With this thought in mind, I watched as Freyja lunged towards the back of the ape with its jaw open. She grabbed onto a chunk of the apes back and ripped a chunk off.

"Yes" Phoebe said next to me as Bagheera began to get up in a similar style to Freyja a few moments ago.

The ape had a startled look on its face from being bitten in the back, which grew upon seeing not only Freyja up and attacking it but, Bagheera recovering at immense speed. Its startled look quickly changed to rage as it through its fist at Freyja, who dodged to the side. She began running around the ape waiting for an opening, then slashing out with her claws.

Bagheera quickly joined in stealthily, as he slowly moved towards the ape, who was throwing its fists out in every which direction angrily. Upon spotting its opening, it jumped forward with great speed and agility as it slashed at the apes neck.

The ape fell to its knees with an unwilling look as Freyja finished it off by biting through its abdomen. We had won.