Inside the Forest

"Is that the horned rabbit that Douglas had mentioned?" I study the figure standing motionless on the ground, eating weeds and other leaves from the nearby plants. Usually, one would see a rabbit grubbing with a freshly picked carrot from the meadow or some buried in their holes. Well, my disappointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined already.

Just like the old man had described, the horned rabbits have features that bring adorableness and dread to their eyes. At first, from looking at the distance, any will deem them not a threat but as a friendly beast waiting to get killed. However, their horns are an emergency system that sends their brains a message to flee or attack the enemy if they are below their level. They too eat flesh, and human meat is not an exemption.

By the way, these adorable creatures with white fluffy air are all level 30 and above, and also have decent stats that can trample a below-average adventurer.

"The old man expected us to kill that?" I said, unsure if the guy wanted us gone.

Grer scratches his head, wholly oblivious of what was about to happen. From the past few days of fighting mismatched monsters, the horned hares are by far the cutest one yet.

Izz, who could not wait much longer, lunges forward and engages with the animal with brute force and raw speed. Although Grer should be the one starting the chase, having to see such a lovable creature makes the lady goblin sprightly.

However, because of unforeseen circumstances, the rabbit immediately hops to its side, evading her attack.

Izz, who already expected her match, bends her feet and uses her force to manoeuvre her body towards her flank. The hare did the same and quickly dashes straight in between the legs of Izz.

After making the goblin girl lose her balance, the hare stands at the top of the branch, staring menacingly at its defeated opponent. I can sense its pride overflowing the bark of the tree, judging us for not being able to kill it.

"Let me try it, sister," Grer said while striking an assertive pose. Even Cece, known for her zoom arcane, acknowledges Grer's ability despite his low stats level. There is also this idea that the fox lady did not exhibit her abilities, and fooled around against us, goblins. However, Grer prioritised his status points on dexterity and strength, making him a considerable opponent.

"Come at me," Grer said while motioning his fingers to lure the crazed rabbit.

Accepting his taunt, the hare blindly leaps forward and aims its ivory hazel spike directly at the goblin's chest. Putting his speed into motion, Grer swiftly glides over to his rear and prepares his pointed stick to parry the creature's attack. The moment he fixes his gaze on the position from where the rabbit had jolted, acorns and twigs rains from above, distracting his focus.

The doe immediately takes this opportunity and ambushes him from the hole it had dug before. Unfortunately, Grer's reaction could not save him in time as we watched him sink from the burrow, gradually eating his body alive.

"A skill?" I asked while gazing at the begrimed soil.

[Danger!]

[One party member, Grer, has ingested the cicuta plant! Please provide an antidote now.]

[Cicuta is the most violently toxic plant that has a pleasant flavour. Tiny amounts of liquid digested can be lethal to livestock or in humans. The toxin cicutoxin acts directly on the central nervous system, which is a violent convulsant. ]

I noticed that something ingrained the soil with toxins coming from the nearby plants, killing the lesser ants and insects in its vicinity.

The two of us heave our goblin 'brother' outwards and rescue him from the last moment. By the time that his body touches the less dangerous area, he suddenly feels out of breath and gasping for air.

His body feels sore, and we could hear his wheezing lungs for every breath he takes. His epidermis on his chest turns to beat red as if something burned it without touching something hot.

"Grer, are you alright?" Izz said while placing some dry leaves on the scarlet surfaces of his skin.

I also cast my signature spell and conjure continuous water balls to wash away the remnants of poison, wishing it can alleviate his senses. Averting my eyes from the Grer's body, I realise that the hare they fought had already vanished after summoning the pit.

"Are horned rabbits that dangerous?" I thought to myself while carrying Grer's body on my back.

Suddenly, a small and streaking thing silently hit Grer's neck, but I was fortunate enough to discern it. Upon inspecting the item, we all see a twig oozing with translucent liquid from the exact spot.

"It's the antidote," A familiar voice echoes through the forest, accompanied by the rustling vines from a distance. Before we can even retort and raise our weapons, the figure of an elf appears before us.

"Elanor?" I utter, gape in amazement to find him here in the woods.

"Are you also lost?" I quipped, hoping to distract our frightened minds about Grer's condition.

"You idiot,"

The long-eared man steadily enters towards our injured friend, with some herbs and a bottle gripped on his hands. He then pours the mixture on Grer's head and showers him with a variety of shrubs.

At once, he materialises a magic circle and shines a bright ember to Grer's figure, still panting for quick breaths. The nerves around his body protrude, as it intakes all the immunity it needs to fight back the poisonous substance.

Under the light of the moon, moans of agony screech from the forest coming from my comrade getting healed. It was for his best, but he must muster his courage to go through the intense searing pain.

The entire process took us approximately five minutes, without even blinking our eyes. Eventually, Grer finally shows signs of relief, telling us that medicine is efficacious to him. His dark green epidermis gradually changes into a more vibrant colour akin to ours. He can also ease his fingers and toes and his lower extremities after waiting for some time.

However, his breathing patterns have yet to change, making our curling lips stagnant and unable to feel at ease.

"I cannot breathe." Grer repeatedly murmurs to himself while restlessly shaking his head in rapid locomotion.

"What happened to him?" I asked Elanor, who should be more knowledgeable than we are from the toxin invading the cells inside his body.

But as he stands up, he motions us to follow his back while bringing our comrade at his side. He refuses to utter a single word, but I cannot help to ask him the question once again.

"What is happening to him?" I recognise my voice getting louder at each word I pronounce. I knew that transferring my anger to Elanor was an immature action for me to do. In the end, we all just wanted to find the meaning behind our questions.

Striding to the forest, we stumble upon a dead-end of manifold vines covering a section of a wall. Everything around us looks dark and dangerous, especially with all the hedges shaking without warning. Looking from atop, we can see a bunch of broad forest leaves enveloping us like a roof, blocking all the moonlight shining from the moon.

"Oh spirit of fire, let your grace empower me with a crimson hue to pave our way."

Elanor chants a single phrase like the ones usually heard by magicians.

He closes his eyes and concentrates for two seconds before an arcane pentagram materialises from both of his hands. Abruptly a bright light shines at the same spot, summoning a small ember akin to a candle; but without its melted wax.

"Lantern,"

The small flame then levitates from his hands and circles around his shoulder as if it was part of his accessories. Whenever he turns around or looks from side to side, the scarlet luminance comes after like a portable flashlight. When he stops, the tiny inferno halts without even issuing it a command.

"What does that spell do?" I queerly asked despite knowing its functions, seeing it at first hand.

"Its purpose is to give us light," He answered. "It came from the dwelling spirits of the forest."

"Spirits?" I tilt my head, confused by what he was saying to me. "Don't you mean the arcane we are using?"

He simply shakes his head and points towards the ball of combustion squirming around him.

"Elves cannot project the fire element. Although some items that we use, like the quiver that I have, can discharge flammable arrows and explosives on command, we cannot directly create them," Elanor said while stretching both of his palms and centralising the arcane.

After waiting for half a minute, he extends his arms and shouts, "Fireball!" to the nearby bark as if a mage would have shot their runes. Unfortunately, not even a spark appears from his hand. The spell was unlike the wind or shadow ability that he had used against me.

I ready myself for a stance and mimic his position, preparing myself to cast a fireball with Grer resting on my back. Directing my thoughts to fabricate a molten spell, I close my eyes and gather every arcane that I have on the surface of my hand.

"Fire primarily comprises water vapour, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. I need it to be hot enough so the gases may become ionised to produce plasma." I utter to myself while feeling the warm temperature spreading from my hand.

However, a sound coming from inside the wall, enveloped with eerie vines, disrupt my thoughts.

"Father, who are these people?!" A soft and angelic voice echoes through my ears while calling out the person who was apparently with us at the moment.