Chapter 4: Dryad Chieftain
The duo was not deep inside the forest, just the right amount of distance between the city and the outside. It was already noon when they arrived at the first clue of where they would hunt the chaotic nymphs. The place was almost devoid of any sunlight as the humongous trees blocked any big source.
"Are you sure we're in the right place?" David asked.
He used his halberd to cut the thick vines in their direction while Brooke optimized the map system to guide themselves to the chief nymph.
"We are," he assured him. "In fact, we're actually near. The coordinates should be right."
"I don't see any progress in this direction," he jumped up high, trying to see the end of the path. "What type of nymph are we killing anyway?"
"I still don't know, the quest seemed vague about its details."
Brook helped cut the vines with his sword, making their journey a tad bit faster. To preserve energy, Brook would slash first followed by David.
"As far as I know, nymphs are the attendants of the goddess Artemis," Brook said.
"I don't know man. Ever since the world changed, the gods we knew were just a drop of water in the ocean after all."
"Right back at you," I followed up. "But, Greek gods are still prominent in this world and we can't deny the possibility of Artemis."
Artemis, the daughter of Zeus and Leo and the twin sister of apollo, is considered as a patron of young girls. She was also known as the herald of the nymphs, where those creatures would follow in her virtues. She belongs in the Bonum Faction, along with several minor gods on her side.
"So, are we looking for a bow and arrow somewhere here?"
"I don't think so. It would be too obvious for the common men if it's going to be that easy. Plus, Quetzalcoatl might just have the same symbol you know."
Legends posited that Quetzalcoatl, a god of the Aztecs, was created from being impregnated by the goddess Chimalma by shooting an arrow. Mixcoatl, the Aztec god of the hunt, also used bow and arrows.
"Aha! There it is," David pointed out on the tree covered with thicker vines.
"Lucky guess," Brook said.
It would be hard to see as the engraved bow and arrow on the wood was totally covered. To Brook's guess, David might have just a trait that notices minute details, something about being punctilious.
"Quickly, cut the vines!"
They had removed a portion of the vines which then exposed the symbol out in the world. Brook touched the symbol, feeling its mystique aura until it glowed so bright that their eyes were momentariliy blinded.
"What is happening?!" Yelled David who attacked nothing but air.
"I don't know but stay focused and don't do anything rash."
They were transported in a mana-filled place, a village of some sorts. Their first guess would be that it was a nymph village, considering their quest. They were outside the gates of the village, standing there feeling the enigmatic air around the place.
[You've discovered the Nymph Village. The goddess Artemis marked this as her teritory. Should you bear any ill thoughts to the nymphs, she would hunt you down to the depths of this planet.]
--- The magical air has brought you benefits by inhaling a portion of it. Intelligence +2. Mana +3.
"Sweet!" David formed two fists in his chest from the notification they both had received. "More room for casting, then."
"We should be careful," Brooke warned David. "Ill thoughts to the nymphs? That's pretty vague, stay vigilant David."
"Got it," he answered.
Brook unsheathed his sword while David placed his halberd at his back. They walked inside the gates, blocked by the two dryad guards.
"What brings you here? Speak!" Said by the dryad on the right with a long spear.
"We received a mission from a god about exterminating the corrupted nymphs, we would like to seek audience with someone of authority," spoken by Brooke.
"Wait a minute," the second dryad said.
The dryads contacted the chief for verification and the chief contacted the village head. They were given entry to the wooden yet spectacular village where the infrastructures were advanced despite it being wood.
"It's probably magic," he said to David who was awestruck as they walked inside.
"Follow me," the dryad who had spoken to us earlier ordered.
The creature had led them to the biggest building in the village, the chieftain's house. It wasn't guarded like the walls because dryads are naturally nice to their own kind. The gates of the manor were opened for us and we walked along the path that led to the house. Flowers occupied the whole land except the road.
"This is amazing!" Exclaimed David who yet again was not believing what he was seeing.
The manor was completely elegant; chandeliers were hanged from the high-ceiling and the brown wooden stairs exuded a grandiose aura.
"I see that you like what you're seeing," the old dryad who appeared out of nowhere said. "There's more to it, but we have something of utmost importance."
"Greetings, chief," Brook bowed his head slightly as a form of respect. "Quickly, David!"
David bowed panicking.
"Raise your head, young ones," the chief said. "You don't have to be so formal in front of me. Come here."
The chief led them to the living room, while the young female dryad served us tea as they sat.
"Now onto serious matters," he coughed. "As you know, hamadryad and hydriad gave access to the spirit fountain without my permission. I gave them isolation for one month as a form of punishment, but they turned their backs and killed their own kind."
The story was narrated to us by the chief, including the minute details such as the existence of the spirit fountain. The spirit fountain was the foundation of dryads, their source of power. This power could also be harnessed by humans in the form of mana, with the human reaping several benefits such as increase in constitution, intelligence, and endurance.
The matter was worse than it seemed as the two corrupted dryads were upcoming champions for their tribe. They were strong, but the older generation was stronger; however, they lacked the will to kill their own kind.
The mission given by Artemis to us because of the urgency. The Malum Dynasty was known of its cruelty, if it weren't for the outsourcing of Artemis, Brook wouldn't have been able to get the quest because of his alignment to the dark side.
Contrary to Artemis' expectations, Brook and David were not at all evil. It was just a stereotype set by the society and heirarchy of the gods. Even the chief had never expected such polite and mannered guests from the Malum Dynasty.
"The quest has been updated," the chief said. "Check your interface."
Ongoing Mission: Nymph Killing.
The corrupted nymphs have been slaying its own kind, apparently revenge for the isolation the leaders ordered as punishment for giving a human access to the spirit fountain.
Find the entrance to the nymph vilage and find the chieftain.
Slay the two corrupted nymphs and reap rewards from the gods.
Unlocked Information:
The old generation couldn't kill their own kind no matter how severe the situation is. Go to the Marsh Pits where the corrupted dryads were last seen.
The Goddess Artemis favorability towards you +5.
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