章 28: Forest of Rundabar

After his birthday Linri just kept on practising with his father everyday. Once he was done with training he would go back to his room and read on the books he bought to get an idea about what kinda world he was on. There were so many additions to the world that just with his knowledge from the game it was impossible for Linri to know everything. So he just kept reading to understand this world's history. After a week of study Linri could not be called an expert but he at least possessed common knowledge.

Aside from training Linri kept a leather notepad where he wrote everything he remembered from the RP club including character backgrounds, future events and along with the possible events that people were planning but never happened because of the sudden shut down of the club. Looking at all the info Linri started to formulate plans for future along with what he could use against the characters and how he should act when an event starts, like which he should participate and which he should avoid at all costs. He also thought about what to do to change some future bad things that was going to happen some characters.

During this week as he was busy with training and planning he did not talk much with Jaime. Even though he said they were friends currently they were not like friends. More like room mates living under the same roof. Linri wondered if he should do something to fix it but he still decided against it.

When they were having dinner as usual Arkady said something that gave Linri goosebumps all over his body. He said;

"I just got a nice job offer. It seems like in the Forest of Rundabar. They asked me if I wanted to join the expedition as the official cameraman."

"Join it!" said Linri excitedly. He did not know it but accidentally he had raised his voice so his parents were looking at him with questioning eyes so Linri immediately corrected himself.

"I mean Dad isn't that a wonderful opportunity? We haven't left home this summer. This can be a family vacation. We can have fun in the forest and it would be like camping. It must be awesome to brag about if I can tell my friends that I spent some time in the Forest of Rundabar." said Linri.

"That was my original intention as well but we have a guest in our house we still have to take her idea into consideration. If she doesn't want to go you and your mother have to stay home with her to keep company." said Arkady.

Linri was looking at Jaime signalling her to answer yes. The place Arkady talked about was the place where Linri gained his abilities. He had to go and without an expedition team to go together with it would be too dangerous travel alone. That place was a gigantic forest and it was situated in Africa of this world. Linri suspected that there might even be some magical beasts there since this world had magic and that place was one of the biggest uncharted places on earth. Still that was just a guess that there was no mention of it the club.

"I do not know. It sounds dangerous. Shouldn't we just stay at home" said Jaime while looking towards Linri with a smirk on her face.

Linri was panicking. Just what in the bloody 9 hells this woman was talking about? This was no time to joke. What if Arkady took it seriously? His future would be ruined.

"Of course not! Don't you know how strong I am. I can protect you. If something happens you can always count on me" said Linri anxiously. He was praying for her to just stop and say yes.

"That does not sound right. Weren't you beaten by some hooligans when you last tried to protect me? I am afraid you would lose your life." said Jaime. Her expression was telling Linri to beg her.

"No way! It's just some jungle. At most we would encounter some beasts and we can always ran faster than them. You can also leave me to them as bait too." Linri was getting desperate. He really was.

"Fine I can go as well I suppose." said Jaime as she saw how desperate Linri was. She just wanted to play a prank that's all.

"Great then! We will leave in 2 days. Jaime you had passport with you right? Give that to me so that I can handle the visas tomorrow." said Arkady and the dinner resumed as usual but Linri was too excited to sit down. The day had finally come. Whether or nor he can gain abilities depended on this trip. Without external aids Linri could never awaken the powers of the Kitsune and Werewolf inside him. This was what he stated in Linri's background. Actually before he created Arkady he did not even wrote about that so he just simply explained Linri's lack of powers prior to deities as Mixed bloods unable to awaken their bloodlines as the two beasts inside him constantly fighting over supremacy resulting in no powers. Even if he tried to strengthen one of them to help it kill the other he would die as well since both of the beasts were part of him and if one them were to die he would die as well.

Linri was lamenting himself for making such a complicated background. Why did he have to make it so troublesome. Now he was paying for it as all the other descenders probably already had their powers and enjoying them. Then he remembered Gendor who was inside Alex and probably experimented on and felt grateful that he did not create something like that.

Linri quickly finished his dinner and started his preparations. He had to be ready for this. He could not fail. Even if he were to die he had to try meeting the deities. Because he knew that it was his only hope of returning home.