“What happened?”
Sera asks as she tilts her head, after seeing Chris’ sudden actions and my confused reaction.
I honestly don’t know what to make of this either, but I don’t think Sera can see that light.
I’m pretty sure that was a spirit. I can’t see what it looks like, but I’ve felt that light and magic energy a few times before.
“Well, I felt a reaction similar to my spirits’, so I called the spirits contracted to me. And then they went because other spirits called.”
“So the reactions Sora felt were from spirits?”
“I guess? They felt a lot like the spirits Chris summons.”
I use Magic Energy Detection again, and it really feels the same.
But they’re not completely the same either. There are subtle differences.
“It feels like they’re calling us too. Let’s go to them.”
“Isn’t it dangerous?”
“I think it’s all right. It’s just a feeling, but I don’t think they have bad intentions.”
Sera and I look at each other, and decide to follow Chris for now.
But I’ll cast another shield just in case, before we advance through the forest.
We’re being cautious as we walk, but I’m also noticing that this forest seems to be made up of various kinds of trees all in the same place.
The colors and shapes of the leaves are different, and there’s what looks like vines wrapped around trees.
That also means there are a lot of fruit bearing trees. I’m sure Hikari would be jumping with joy if she was here. And by casting Appraisal, I see there are fruits I’ve never seen or heard about before.
Ah, and I’m pretty sure Hikari likes that one… That one over there exists in my world. I’m sure the name is different, but it looks like strawberry. But I’m pretty sure strawberries aren’t picked from trees with a thick trunk like that one…
“Something on your mind, Sora?”
“No, I was just looking at the different types of fruit. And there are a lot of different mushrooms too, so I’m sure Hikari would like this place.”
I respond to Sera without thinking, and she looks around and agrees.
We keep walking for about an hour, until we reach the place where the lights are gathered. There are lights of different colors flying around like they’re dancing, and it looks very mystical, especially because the forest makes things darker.
Eventually, one of the lights comes this way, and stops on Chris’ shoulder.
Then she nods.
“Sora and Sera, apparently they really are spirits.”
She tells us.
“Apparently they want to know why we are here. What should I say?”
“…I think we should just be honest and say we’re after holy tree fruit.”
There might be holy tree fruit somewhere in this forest, but there’s more dungeon ahead of us.
Also, while the spirits seem friendly right now, if this place is important to them, they could turn hostile all of a sudden.
But all I know about holy tree fruit is that it’s an ingredient necessary to make elixir.
“What if we tell them we heard about it from the dragon king?”
Chris proposes when I hesitate.
“…Yes. Then can you ask if they know the dragon king first?”
“All right.”
Chris turns to the spirit again and says something. She’s not actually talking, but I think it’s something like my Telepathy.
Then the light that apparently is a spirit becomes brighter, and it leaves Chris to go back to the group, where it starts blinking aggressively.
The others also start blinking, as if responding. Then what’s probably the spirit that approached Chris before, along with another one, come back.
Chris nods to them.
“Yes, thank you.”
She says suddenly as she bows.
“Sora, they know about the dragon king. Also, there isn’t any holy tree fruit here. But they said that mother probably knows about it.”
“Mother?”
“…Yes. Apparently a being called that by the spirits. But it’s not on this floor.”
So this person… Spirit? Is on the next floor?
“Chris, can you ask them if there are any monsters on this floor?”
“…Apparently not, Sera. They say it’s them, and their friends near the stairs.”
“Then let’s hurry.”
We do as Sera says, and keep walking.
But eventually, we need to rest. We’re hungry too.
Hikari usually tells us when it’s time to eat, but she’s not here now.
“Let’s eat. Can you ask if there are any places where we can rest?”
“…They don’t know about resting, but they know a place where we can take it easy.”
After seemingly waiting for Chris to speak, the spirits fly and turn, as they keep going and blinking.
We just stand and watch, and they start aggressively blinking. It’s like they’re telling us to hurry up.
“Fufu, apparently they’re in a hurry to show us a place they like.”
Chris laughs and starts walking, and we follow her.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
Thanks for the treat.