The Celestial Nobles (The Awakening of the Phoenix) [Completed]

Chapter 52: Forest of Doom

After what we did, rumbling again happened, but the gates have finally opened, making everyone really happy with what we did. Even we both, can't still believe that we actually did it. The hint was to use the swords by someone who are in perfect bond. And Granger and I are that bond, that's why we made it!
I still don't know how we got to do it, but still cool!

We are now inside the Forest of Doom. And not only does the name sounded creepy, but also the sorroundings. If earlier was a cool and relaxing scenery, this place is nothing but a dark and dead place. Not even a single plant is alive. All is colored black, and all plants are weathered. It was so spooky that we have to stick beside each other, just to be sure that we won't be separated.
Granger is beside me, and this time, he asked...

"What did you do to find out about the gate earlier?" His question made me calm down for a bit.

"The truth is, I used my power to find out what it meant. I used my magic to look for the auras of the keys, that's how I found out about the secret of the swords." I answered and he nodded as an answer.
"How about you? You seemed to have also collapsed earlier?" I asked, and he looked at me first before actually answering.

"I don't know why, but... Something must have been playing tricks on me since we arrived at the gate."

"What do you mean?" I asked lowering my voice and squinting my eyes with curiosity.

"Well, after seeing you do your trick... I was knocked unconscious, and, after that, I woke up in a different place." He started to explain. "There was this room, I don't know where. I was sitting in there like I was waiting for someone, and then a woman came to me, I can't see her face at first, but after the second vision... I saw you." After what he said, I was left with no other words but a surprised expression. I mean, why does that story seemed kinda familiar?

I didn't said any more words to him after that. I just don't know what to say to him. Also, I am trying to remember where I saw his story. It really is kinda familiar at some point.

"Guys? Halt." Guinevere said and we all paused while waiting for her cue.

"What's going on? Is there a problem?" Rose asked, and Guin shushed her. We all listened carefully, and good thing we did, because if we didn't we wouldn't have been able to hear such horrifying sounds.

"W-What's that?" Jade asked as he shivered from what we just heard.

"Goosebumps! It gives me goosebumps!" Mye said as she embrace herself.

The sounds are getting louder every second. It sounded like a howl, and then comes a growl. It sounds terrifying, i've never felt this fear before. The sound, it sends chills down my nerves, like... Death is upon me.

"Ready yourselves everyone. Battle might commence." Granger said as he loads his gun. We didn't disagreed with this and just prepared ourselves. And before we could even say another word. Many monsters started to attack us simultaneously.

They look like hounds! But there faces are full of scars and that they only use two feet to walk?! Like seriously, they look like walking dogs! I mean, walkers who uses not four but two feet! They started to attack us, and their teeth are as long as that of a tiger on both sides, with sharp talons like that of a shark! Yep! Overall they look like real monsters. Or they might be real monsters.

"Whoa!" I heard Jade. "Guys, cover up for me! I need to see something from my book!" He said.

"No worries!" I said and started to waive my hand in the air. Then I started to levitate and fly towards him. And as I was about to go near, I pushed myself down, with my palm facing the ground, making everyone from the sorroundings off-balanced.
"Your welcome!" I said as I continue blocking every monster along my path to cover Jade up. "You better hurry if you want to join the game!" I said and split three of the monsters in half at the exact same moment.

"I'm trying my best here!" He said and after just a couple of minutes. "Here! I know what they are! They're called the Doomed Hounds! They weren't supposed to be called like this, nor look like this. But after what happened to the mountain, they all got cursed to be this way!" He explained and flipped another page.

"Well thank you for telling us a good story. But how about if you search for something more usefull? Like, how to maybe stop them!" Rose asked.

"Hold on!"

"Just read!" She said and he continued.

"Ah! They can only be stopped if they fall asleep!" He answered. "But they only sleep at night time!"

"What?! You serious?! What do we do now?! Isn't there another way, like... Just sing them some lullabies?!" Guinevere asked, and my head went 'bing'! After hearing both of them.

"Mye! Use your flute!" I said and Mye looked at me with hopeful eyes. "Now!" I shouted. The enemies were getting stronger and more of them are starting to come out now. We're being outnumbered!

"I got you!" She said and took her flute out. Then she started playing some tunes.

(The tune being played is entitled: Forbidden Lullaby)

The music was so calming but at the same time, I can feel a little bit of chaos in it. Something in between war and peace. It was so soothing that everyone of our enemies are starting to weaken, and that some of them are starting to lay on the ground.
The wind made a soft breeze, but instead of feeling comfort, I felt goosebumps! This place is really creepy.
After playing, none of our enemies were left standing. So we started to tip-toe our way pass all of them, and we did our best not to make some noises because Jade told us that they are really sensitive when it comes to sound. One wrong move might awaken them again, so we all did our best to not make a single sound. Good thing it worked and we got passed all of them.

"That was really scary as hell!" Jade said, unable to forget what just happened.

"Goosebumps still hunts me!" Mye said and hugged herself again.

"But you saved us all Mye! If it wasn't because of you, we wouldn't have been able to escape." I said and she just smiled plainly.

"We have to keep moving! There is still one more place to go before actually reaching the top of the mountain." Tracey said and we all agreed, before taking another step. But before that, I felt a throb in my head again.

"Shit! Not again!" I heard Granger said, so I looked at him and he seems to be experiencing the same thing too, making me worried.

"Are you two okay?" Marc asked, and we looked at him seriously. "Obviously not." He said and raised his hands in defeat.

"We need a place to rest. Sun is getting real low." Tracey said and just the time we all found out that he was right. The sun is about to set.

"But where will we stay? We can't just put our tents everywhere around here! It's too dangerous." Rose said.

"Actually, you're kinda wrong about that one." Jade said as he reads his book. Although my head is still throbing in pain, I still tried to even hear what he is saying. "It says here in the book, that all of the creatures here doesn't move at night. They only move at day time, so I can assure all of you that we are all safe to stay here." He explained.

"Thank goodness~" Guinevere said and they all started to ready everything for the camp. They let Granger and I take a rest, specially me, since, I was the one with the most help, said Marc.

I just watched all of them ready everything while both Granger and I lay down. My head still hurts, I want to sleep, but I also don't want to be a burden later, so I just waited for them to finish setting up the tents.

Granger didn't talk to me. In fact, he was the first to sleep. Maybe he couldn't wait any longer, so I just let him be and when everything is done. I even helped them carry him to their tent, before actually going in our own tent to lay down.

"Sweet dreams~" I told them and they responded back, before we actually closed our eyes to sleep.

I just hope that no bugs or snakes will crawl up to us while we sleep.

To be continued~