Mystery

Kiro spent a few hours in the meadow harvesting Ruvana and learning his new ability. He eventually unlocked an add on ability like Toma had described. So many possibilities were open to him and he wanted to learn more, but he had already been away too long.

"We got so much, Master! I think they'll be pleased!" Toma jumped up onto Kiro's shoulders as he carried back all the Ruvana they'd found. He just hoped it was enough given how many people had been bitten.

"Thank you so much, Lad. Excuse me while I prep the medicine." The physician accepted the Ruvana and started away.

"Let me help! I'd like to learn all I can." Elise jumped after the woman excitedly. Kiro hadn't seen her this excited about anything except peppers. He couldn't wait to tell her he'd found some in the meadow, but he figured he'd have to.

"She wants to be useful to you." Leda walked up behind Kiro.

"She already is." Kiro turned around and noticed a lot of worried faces. "What's going on?"

"The rude party that left earlier hasn't returned." Leda answered looking at the people as well.

"I'm going to see what happened." Kiro let Elise know before he left then headed put with Toma on his shoulders and Leda by his side.

It took a several hours before they found traces of a fight then nothing. No dead or wounded bodies. Just a spot that looked a little tussled and the footprints disappeared.

"What do you think happened?" Leda asked kneeling down.

"I don't know. It looks like the people just vanished." Kiro told the others to keep quiet just in case goblins were around and checked the surrounding areas.

"It looks like the goblins came from that way." Toma pointed his paw toward a small path. "Then went that way."

"The second path is much wider." Leda examined. Even Kiro had to admit. It looked like there were more goblins heading down the second path compared to the first.

"If there had been a fight here, shouldn't there be less goblin?" Kiro asked out loud.

"Silence!" Leda hissed crouching down. Kiro followed her example and crouch down in the tall grass and listened, thpugh he knew Leda's ears were much better. Leda jumped out of the grass and pounced on top of a guy.

"Please don't hurt me!" The guy begged as Leda held him down.

"Hold on, Leda. I recognize him from the hunting party." Leda got off the man but still stayed on guard.

"What happened here?" Kiro asked helping the guy to his feet.

"I got nervous as we travelled and stayed behind the crowd. I figured with this many people, I probably wouldn't be needed. That's when the screams started, one after another. It terrified me so I ran and hid in the trees. I watched it happen, but I still don't know how to explain it. The entire party turned into goblins. It was insane!" The guy was panicking and Kiro tried to comfort him a little.

"Leda, help him get to the village. I'm going to set up came in that cave over there. See if the physician knows anything that can help." Kiro hated splitting up, but it made sense.

"What are you doing?" Toma asked after a while of watching walk in circles.

"I noticed something. If I analyse the same herb in different a different order, my sight upgrades faster. Also, plants I haven't seen appear in mixing combos to create other things. Got it!" Kiro exclaimed harvesting a small white flowered herb.

"Got what?" Toma asked walking away from the fire finally.

"This herb mixed with something called Willsberry makes a potion for returning to natural order. It cures effects such as curses that change a person's being." Kiro finally walked over to the fire and sat down. We'll look for some in the morning. Maybe Leda will know something when she gets here." Kiro laid his head on his bag as a makeshift pillow as Toma curled around him.

The eyes in the bushes blinked as they watched the boy and spirit fox fall into a deep sleep. If ever there was a time, it was now.