Gloomstone Forest

(Arthur POV)

Two days of travel brought us to Gloomstone Forest. Eight hours by car, four by bus, and a final stretch on foot. We're staying in Gloomstone Town, close enough to the forest for convenience.

Stepping into the forest's edge, I'm struck by how much it resembles Fangorn. The trees are old and gnarled, moss hanging from their branches. The air is damp and heavy with the scent of decaying leaves.

"This is the place," I tell my crew. "We'll film Fangorn scenes here."

One of my assistants, a nervous-looking imp, pipes up. , "Boss, shouldn't we have hired an adventurer or mercenary?"

I know where this is going. "Because it's dangerous, right?"

He nods. "Yes, boss. There are goblins, sometimes even trolls around here."

I'm not as concerned as I would have been a few months ago. The system's given me some advantages. I've learned a breathing technique that's increased my mana pool and magic potency. I've also picked up some physical training that's boosted my stamina and fighting skills.

I'm not at my brothers' level, but I'm closer to Bobby's strength now. It's enough to handle the local wildlife, at least.

"Don't worry about goblins and such," I tell them. "I can handle it."

The crew looks skeptical, but they don't argue. We start setting up our equipment, and I keep an eye out for any potential threats.

I watch my team bustling around, setting up equipment for our test runs. We're not filming properly yet, but these tests are crucial. In a few days, once casting's wrapped up, we'll be back here in full force.

The dragon casting's a problem for future me. As for the orcs, I've got a plan brewing. We'll use the few orc demons we've found, then supplement with primal orcs from deep in the Gloomstone Forest. Of course, we'll need a guide for that little expedition. Another item for the to-do list.

While the crew's busy, I catch George's eye and nod towards the trees.

He follows me without a word.

"Where should we set up our portal?" he whispers once we're out of earshot.

I scan the area. "Somewhere hidden. Maybe in the hollow of an old tree or something similar."

George furrows his brow. "You're not worried someone might stumble upon it?"

I can't help but chuckle. "Why would I be? To activate the portal, they'd need to know the password I'm going to set."

"Password?" George's eyes widen. "Your portal will have a password?"

"Of course," I say, grinning at his surprise. "It's a basic function of the portal stone. Can't have just anyone using our secret shortcut, can we?"

We continue our search, discussing potential hiding spots. Finally, we spot an ancient tree in the distance, its trunk twisted and gnarled with age. A large hollow at its base catches my eye.

"There," I point. "That's perfect."

As we approach, George pulls out the necessary tools from his pack. "Alright, let's get this set up. I'll need to do some dwarven crafting to anchor it properly."

I nod, pulling out the portal stone. "I'll start the activation ritual. Between your crafting and my magic, this should be undetectable to anyone who doesn't know exactly what they're looking for."

Once we've found the perfect spot - a hollow in an ancient, gnarled tree - George and I get to work. We've got to move fast; the crew might start wondering where we've disappeared to if we take too long.

I pull out the portal stone, its surface cool and smooth in my palm. George rummages in his pack, producing a set of dwarven crafting tools.

"Alright," I say, kneeling down at the base of the tree. "I'll start the activation ritual. You work on anchoring it."

George nods, his face set in concentration. He begins etching intricate runes into the bark of the tree, his movements precise and practiced. I'm reminded again why having a dwarf on the team is so invaluable.

I close my eyes, holding the stone in both hands. The ritual isn't complicated, but it requires focus. I begin to channel my mana into the stone, feeling it warm under my touch. As I do, I whisper the activation phrase:

"By shadow and light, by root and branch, I bind this stone to this place."

The stone begins to pulse with a soft, bluish light. I can feel it resonating with the natural magic of the forest. So far, so good.

"George," I call out, my eyes still closed. "How's the anchoring coming?"

"Almost done," he grunts. "Just need to... there!"

I feel a surge of energy as George's dwarven runes connect with the portal stone's magic. The light intensifies for a moment, then fades to a subtle glow.

Opening my eyes, I see the portal stone has sunk partially into the tree's hollow, the runes George carved forming a perfect circle around it. If you didn't know what to look for, you'd never spot it.

"Now for the password," I mutter, placing my hand on the stone once more. I whisper a phrase - something only I and a select few will know. The stone flashes once, acknowledging the security measure.

George wipes sweat from his brow. "Is that it? Are we done?"

I nod, standing up and brushing dirt from my knees. "That's it. One secret portal, ready for use. Want to test it out?"

George grins, his earlier nervousness replaced by excitement. "You bet, boss."

I place my hand on the stone, whisper the password, and focus on our studio back in the city. For a moment, nothing happens. Then, with a soft whoosh, a shimmering doorway appears in the air before us.

"After you," I say, gesturing to George with a grin.

I step through the portal after George, and whoa - it's like being turned inside out and back again. For a few seconds, I'm blind, my head spinning like I've had one too many at the tavern. When my vision clears, we're standing in the studio, the familiar smell of paint and sawdust filling my nostrils.

"It works," George says, his voice a mix of excitement and nausea. He's swaying a bit, probably as dizzy as I am.

"Right," I say, trying to sound more steady than I feel. "Problem solved. Let's head back before the crew starts wondering where we've gone."

Another dizzying trip through the portal, and we're back in Gloomstone Forest. The crew's almost finished setting up the equipment, and the construction team is already modifying the area for our shoot.

"Boss, where'd you disappear to?" one of the crew members asks, eyeing us suspiciously.

I shrug, aiming for nonchalance. "Just took a look around. Didn't even see any goblins or trolls."

Jeff, our local guide from Gloomstone Town, pipes up. "They usually come out in the afternoon or at night. Right now, they're too scared of demons in broad daylight."

He pauses, giving me a look that makes me wonder if he's trying to tell me something. "They only target weak demons, and only when they're alone in the forest at off-hours."

I can't help but feel he's implying I fall into the "weak demon" category. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Jeff.

"With this many of you," Jeff continues, "you've got nothing to worry about. A simple fireball would scare off those goblins and trolls."

I turn to my crew, who look slightly less terrified now. "See? Nothing to worry about."

I chuckle, glancing at my crew. Their relief is palpable, like kids realizing the monster under the bed is just a shadow.

It hits me then - these guys are total city slickers. They're so used to the hustle and bustle of urban life that the thought of a few forest critters has them jumpy. I guess when your biggest daily threat is getting splashed by a passing carriage, the idea of goblins and trolls seems pretty daunting.

"Though goblins and trolls aren't a threat to us demons," Jeff says, his tone suddenly serious, "in the deeper parts of Gloomstone Forest, there are orcs. They live in tribes, so they're definitely more dangerous. I suggest you guys never go there."

As we're talking, something catches my eye. There, in the distance - is that a troll? Its head is just visible, peeking out from behind a tree. It probably thinks it's well-hidden, but subtlety isn't exactly a troll's strong suit.