The Unwilling Protagonist

Chapter 25: The Dreams are (not)(?) Real

Everyone was walking for days; it had grown so tiresome. General Rathe considered it fortunate that there were no other encounters with the Arcana or their instances. After a week's worth of walking, the entire army had reached the area known as "the Ghost Elves' Forest". The story of which, there used to be an entire population of Forest Elves that lived there, but then one day, they all perished. From what explorers and wizards could determine, something killed all the elves en masse while they were sleeping in their beds. The strange thing was, there were no signs of struggle, nor was there any blood spilled at all. Any attempts from the elves to repopulate the area were met with the exact same results: they all perished in their sleep.

In an ironic sense, humans, orcs, and certain beastman species, races that the elves would consider "less intelligent beings" didn't seem to be affected by whatever the elves were affected by. Only certain individuals were affected by this sleeping phenomenon, but this was resolved when they were forcefully awakened by their peers. Regardless, until the source of the phenomenon was discovered, or until it went away or stopped, any attempts to camp in or rehabilitate the forest were forbidden.

"Mistress, I would've tried to avoid this route as much as possible, but this is the quickest way to Magician." Rathe said while helping with setting up his tent, "Is it possible that you could somehow prevent the strange magic of this forest from affecting us?"

Reighland looked around the forest. She could feel the magic of this place weighing down on her like it was a tangible thing.

"It's possible, but I cannot make any guarantees..." Reighland channeled a beam of light out of her staff, which spread into a dome that enveloped the entire camp.

"This barrier should block out any outside influence...but I can't do anything if the magic has already made its way inside..."

Rathe sighed, "Whatever works. We're only spending one night here anyway..."

Elsewhere, Y/N was about to bed down and sleep.

"Do you feel that?" Geralt asked.

"What?" Said Y/N.

"This...presence. This...weight..."

"The only weight I feel is the one on my eyes..." Y/N pulled his blanket over him, "Good night, Geralt."

"Hmm...Y/N...stay vigilant..." Geralt replied.

Y/N closed his eyes and drifted off...

Opening Theme:

Y/N woke up to his alarm again and got out of his bed. It was Saturday, the day that he was supposed to meet his mysterious observer. He looked at the time; 6:01 AM. Fourteen hours of jack until the time came.

Welp, might as well get started...

Y/N looked under the bed and pulled the gun out from it. Where did he even get a gun anyway? He inspected the magazine again; three rounds, then he holstered it in his pants. Next, he-

A knock on the door interrupted his train of thought. Was his guest here already?

Y/N slowly walked over to the door, ready to draw the gun. He looked out of the peephole. It was Miriam, the girl from school who kept glancing at him, but looked away when he looked at her.

Y/N opened the door. Miriam looked right at him and attempted to keep herself composed.

"Good morning." She said stoically.