Ethereal Madness

Chapter 30- Dark Side Of the Forest

I really don't like this.

Around me were a band of amazon women. I wouldn't mind as much if Min or Rin were here, but of course that'd be too easy.

Pain suddenly entered the back of my shoulder and I tensed up.

"Don't look so stressed," Kula said.

With Kula here, I should've been more comfortable. After all, he is an outcast as well; A slave. Well, I should say he's a 'slave'. However, he at least has the benefit of a bulky frame while being nimble enough to keep up with everyone. I on the other hand...

"Easy for you to say," I whined.

"You've been training with Min and Rin everyday, right? You should be fine."

"...If you say so."

"Just find me if you get lost."

I gazed over at the tree line. Getting lost in there is probably a death sentence.

"Less go!" Shuna roared not too far from me.

Even she's here, huh?

"Everyone get ready," a voice quieted everyone up. In front of everyone was a girl I don't remember seeing before. She had about the same frame as Ainia, but slimmer and taller with soft blue eyes and slightly curlier brown hair.

"Hurray et oop Launa!" Shuna said.

"Calm down you. We aren't even fighting anything," Launa said.

"Umm, what exactly are we doing?" The words escaped my mouth before I had chance to catch them and in seconds all eyes were on me.

Just keep calm. It was only a question.

"Ah, the city dweller. Arthur I believe your name was, correct?"

I nodded.

She walked over to me in a calm, composed manner unbefitting of an amazon woman.

"I'll be leading today's expedition. My name is Laryuna."

"It's not Launa?" I asked.

"It's Laryuna," she said sternly.

"...Got it."

She glanced at all those around her. "Today we'll be exploring an undiscovered part of the forest."

"Undiscovered?" I assumed they knew everything about this place.

"As you know, we are people of the forest and live by it. However, certain areas remain a mystery to us."

"As in, you don't know what's there? Is it blocked in some way?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"Every time we've ventured into those areas, we come back unable to recall anything. It's as if the memory is stolen from us."

"How many times have you tried?" I asked.

"More than I'd like," she said dryly. "Anyways, if that's enough of your questions, we will begin. Kula, I assume you are here to cover Arthur?"

He nodded.

"For you to even be here must mean Queen Tali must really want him here with us. But for what reason..."

A hand planted on her shoulder, snapping her back to reality. "Ahem. With that out of the way, we will leave soon. Prepare your weapons." She walked away.

"Kula, is there a reason I shouldn't be here?" I asked.

"Expeditions are common here," he explained. "We gather in groups here to gather resources and to hunt. And that is the confusing part."