Capítulo 13: Arc 1, Chapter 13: Into the Woods

Awaiting nightfall, the three of them split up to scout out the area around the park.

While the entrance was welcoming with benches, a fountain and even swings for children, the newly propped up tent hid most of the atmosphere further in.

Behind it, the shrubs being whacked and slashed could be heard. "You really showed that bush," Fumeko commented seeing Jotou swinging her sword.

The blonde sighed, "I need to practice at some point. The better I get at this thing, the easier we take down a velatos; conclusion, me whacking this bush equals more armite for us."

"Well, then don't let me stop you," Fumeko crossed her arms while the two waited for Hotaru's return, "Just make sure you hit it this time."

Jotou came back out from her 'stance', copied from other members using swords in the guild, "At least I do something. You're literally a screaming beacon for the velatos to follow.

To put it simply, a damsel in distress," Jotou put a hand on her forehead, mimicking a fainting princess. "At least Hotaru can heal us while you're being bait."

"Oh, so now I'm useless?" Fumeko furrowed her brows.

"I didn't say that. I'm just saying we should accept that we're both pretty pathetic in combat and that Hotaru is kinda the only stabilizer in our group," their hair began swaying and leaves began rustling.

"I'm still a really good detective—the best even."

"Maybe. I know I'd be pretty useless and clueless if you didn't talk to me that day. Now, I'm just clueless.

But we need to start pulling our own weight and taking care of each other, no? We are in this together," Jotou smiled, sheathing her sword and looking to Fumeko.

"Hmm… I suppose," Fumeko relaxed before letting out a snicker to Jotou, "You know, for some random guy from a different world, you have a weird way with words to make people feel better."

"Huh?"

"I'm back," Hotaru walked out of some of the shrubs. "Sorry I took so long, but after a thorough search, there's no sign of something big or slithering that went through the woods."

"None on our sides either." Fumeko exhaled, "Either this story's fake or the velatos had wings too."

"It's surprising there's no tracks, knowing all the dangerous creatures that lurk in Kria Park," Hotaru glanced into the woodlands that only thickened further and further in.

"Why would Kria have a park like this? Seems like kids and families come here," Jotou questioned while she picked a green leaf off of the redhead's strands and threw it into the wind, making Hotaru's ear twitch slightly.

Hotaru's eyes glanced up to the leaf before answering, "Kria Park, when first established, was a gigantic place to use.

Unfortunately, due to lack of city funding and overall negligence, nature took over and many monsters found shelter."

Jotou groaned, "Even if the velatos doesn't get us, I'm not sure I want to know what else is in there…" The leaf blew over through the gusts till the sunlight turned moonlight.

"Ready to go!" she flicked out her wand, "I'm fairly sure I know in which direction it went so it must also come from that way. Follow me!" she began marching into the trees not even awaiting the others.

The other three followed behind with shrugs, "Are you sure you want to go in there with heels?" Fumeko pointed to Asobi's feet.

"Hm?" Asobi lifted her leg up backwards, "These?" she clicked her wand against them and like a fading image the heels disappeared into comfortable-looking flat shoes, "I spell them every time; I never wear heels," she beamed.

She stood a little shorter than Jotou and Hotaru, still taller than Fumeko. Her difference in height from before was a mere trick it appeared. They continued down the dark green thicket, through openings.

Fumeko paced up next to Asobi, "So, how long've you worked in the circus?" her smile hid an interrogation.

Asobi put her wand to her chin, "…Ever since I can remember really."

"That must be a long time to know Zayexiwovu. He doesn't seem to be an elf," Fumeko leered, "I've never seen an elf; much less one in a circus and not with an elf village or something."

"Long time, yeah," Asobi scratched her head, "I know I turn twenty this year and I've never met an elf either.

I don't know about villages, but they all say I'm an elf and you do too, so, I at least know I'm an elf!" she cheered. "I still don't know what that means exactly," her shoulders drooped immediately after.

'She must've been picked up by the circus when she was a baby. Must be rough not knowing who you are and instead get told by others, in a world you don't understand… Wait a minute, I know that's rough-'

"Jotou?" Hotaru's voice broke Jotou out of thought.

"Hm?"

"You seemed distracted," Hotaru ducked under a branch.

"It's nothing. Just, thinking about my… old world. Elves, magic, reincarnation… I know of them, but this is all new to experience," Jotou walked along with her sword clearing out the shrubs.

Hotaru frowned, before giving a smile, "I'm sorry I asked. You must miss your world a lot."

'That's the thing… that day it all happened; I don't feel much of it because I'm not even sure what actually happened. I say I died, but I still feel alive.

So many questions of how and why. The real question is, do I even miss my old world? I need to get back home though… what happened to them…?' That night, their faces…

"Yeah," Jotou replied.

"Something's ahead!" Asobi warned in a whisper. Fumeko crouched down and took out her dagger.

Four heads peeped out of the shrubs, looking down a slope that entered into a clearing through which moonlight peeked.

Three large forms, bulbous, cloaked in shadow, ruby red eyes and larger than the centicrab they slew a few days back. They roamed on the ground with no feet, aimlessly shifting through the grass.

"Three!?" Fumeko's eyes popped.

"Clearly no denying it now; should we go back? We had trouble dealing with one," Jotou suggested.

"That seems like a good idea," Asobi sided with her immediately.

Hotaru pointed, "And let three velatos loose in the park? Look at them, no arms, no legs; they're not fast. Three of them becomes three armite pieces and no one else gets harmed."

Fumeko examined more, "How do we take them on? Also, didn't you say it had teeth?" she faced Asobi.

Asobi shrugged with her arms behind her back, "Maybe their mouths are closed? I don't know. We probably should turn back right now!"

"Oh, now you're scared?"

Jotou shifted past the two bickerers, "They're spread apart at least. We have a lot of plants to use as camouflage around them. We can stealthily take them out one by one from behind."

'Hmm, when was the last time I had to strategize in a video game? I always loved stealth missions.'

"Are you gonna go for the eyes?" Hotaru queried.

"Apparently it's not supposed to work," Jotou inspected the new sword.

Fumeko looked up, "You might as well test the theory. It's not like you're gonna be able to stab its body suddenly."

Jotou grunted a little; she readied herself up before getting to a proper spot to slide down slowly. The others followed behind, careful of roots and rustling leaves.

The shrubs and dirt crunched to their footsteps as they got right behind one of the creatures. The others took cover whilst Jotou approached, sword at the ready.

It shifted forward sluggishly, leaving pressed and slimy grass behind. Hotaru, "Rejuvenate," casted onto Jotou before Jotou inhaled and leapt out—running towards the creature.

'This better work!'

The ruby red eyes flipped onto the back of its form, low enough to Jotou's height. The shadows increased and razor-sharp teeth appeared on the smooth body- "RAWR!" It growled like a… tiger?

Jotou still went forward and stabbed! … "Gloop." Her sword entered the red eye and her hand was stuck on the sword handle while the blade was stuck within.

"Huh?" Jotou verbalized while Fumeko and Hotaru squinted from behind. Jotou pulled her sword out to see her blade covered in greenish-blue mucus, "The hell?" as Jotou spoke the creature shuffled towards her.

Jotou took a few small steps away; the creature moved a little faster. She rushed back to the group, "Uhm?" she showed her sword, "Uh?" she faced the three of them, "Hm?" she shrugged.

Hotaru inspected the mucus, "I think that's… slime fluid…?"

"Slime velatos?"

"Slimes become faster the longer they hunt, we should hurry to kill those velatos if it has the same properties. Your sword just went through it?" Hotaru's asked as if she didn't just see what happened.

Fumeko glared over to Asobi, "How did you scare away the velatos?"

"With, my magic?"

"I need a little more detail…" Jotou started suspecting as well.

"Uhm, uhm, uhm…" a sweat trickled down the side of Asobi's temples.