Defeating Dragons

Chapter 10 - Cultists

Morning next, we awake, and Vaneesa passes me a bag filled with many things.

"I'd give you more potions, but you are human. Thus, there a few human accepted potions that you can put on wounds, but don't drink them. They are in this bottle," she takes one out and shows me.

"The other potions," Vaneesa continues, "are for the others. They don't always take enough and often come back with injuries, mostly forgetting to refill at Thonis." She winks at me, "Help 'em out alright?"

I nod, "okay."

Then there are other things in the bag as well.

"Bandages, water bottle. Snacks for travel, such as monster meat jerky and a few other tidbits." She points out a green bag pouch thing, "Give this to the doctor there and you'll be fine."

She winked again. Why wink. Can't you just say what's going on? But its early and I'm starting to get homesick and I don't care too much for travel cause I just get too excited to be where I'm going and then I'm not there yet and so I get disappointed. Then excited all over again and it's a bit of a slightly nauseating cycle. Though I've not been carsick or motion travel sickness, so that's a plus.

Though when I travelled with my cousin, she said that my facial expression were enough to make her sick even without motion sickness.

Still, we are walking today. Chafulumisa, Kirsec, Itotia and I. We start off walking through the same way to the forest we got the materials at yesterday.

Apparently, it may take three days for the stone to be ready. Uncle and Aunt were upset that I won't be home with them for a while, but they said they would talk to my parents about keeping me longer. I don't know if they will tell them I'm in another world, they probably wouldn't believe it and I don't think Kyle was too happy when Aunt mentioned the idea. Uncle just said he'd tell my father I was getting into what they did when they were younger. But he wouldn't tell me what it was. Said I have to get home safe and in one piece and healthy first. Guess that gives me encouragement to come back. But also, I know Uncle is thinking of me and they are still looking after me as much as they can. I am so happy I am related to them and can see them and all that. I really want to go back home soon. Maybe Uncle will let me sleep in the same room as him? I don't know but I will probably be exhausted and want to feel safe with him and all. Plus, there will be so much to tell him. It'll be like a camping trip!

Apparently, it will take us a significant chunk of the day to get to the Mermaid place. Should be mid-afternoon Chafulumisa says, looking at me.

He nods, "Yes. Traveller is not as fast or endurance making as anyone else. And cannot drink potions, so we will be slower. But still, plenty of time in the evening to look around the undersea city."

I nod slowly. I don't think he means it as an insult to me, more of an observation. Coool.

It is a pretty worn track we are taking. Not a paved road, but no trees and is a clear pathway, just as big as a single lane road.

At least, it is for a while. Then we come to a growing forest, or monster forest. The monsters are literally trees. Not like the shadow trees from the yesterday's forest trip, but actual monster trees.

Only the symmetrical ones are going to eat you though. The ones with similar leaves are tricksters who will lead you astray, and the ones with congruent leaves will not intervene with any other beings.

As we round the last tree, we hear a scuffle. Well, Itotia and Kirsec heard it. Chafulumisa and I did not. However, once they pointed, I could see some leaves slightly sway then not swaying. Means something disturbed it. Chafulumisa did actually see the being though.