A Dance for My Enemies

Shifting in the Mud

I would never have assumed there were more friendly folk anywhere else in the world. Cities that are populous are generally full of scum and annoying people. It was pretty evident that this smaller town didn't get many visitors but they treated is with respect and dignity.

I am hyper aware of my feet which are walking barefoot in the morning dew. If there's any feeling I hate the most, it would be mud and dew. Despite this, I enjoy rain. The sound and the smell.

Sighing, I approach a smaller man wearing a dark green outfit. He resembles something of a forest scout.

Irelia had asked me to meet her here last night. Though I was completely ignorant of the why.

"May I ask exactly what we are doing here?" I look to my side at Irelia.

"In order to thank the local villagers for their hospitality, we're going to help them harvest some rare wild herbs." She replies calmly.

I understand acts of gratitude. But collecting plants in the forest? They are probably better at finding them than us.

"This particular herb is called the mejaweed. A remedy herb for illness and is native to this area. Considering they don't have a clinic here, they have to heal themselves." She lectures.

I look to the man once more only to see him already walking deeper into the forest.

At least we have the wonderful views of the Ionian forests to gaze upon.

So far, we've been walking deeper and deeper into the forest. An uneasy sense overcomes me as the thick flora quickly shrouds the forest in a dark aura.

With us is the man, Irelia, me, and some other local woman. Akali is pretty lucky wherever she is right now.

At this point, I can't tell if it's just getting dark out or we are entering a cave.

I get caught off guard as the man blocks me from going further.

I look at him only to see him pointing down somewhere.

It was only at this moment had I noticed the bottomless pit right in front of me. It was a long thin crevice that spanned a whole town wide. Small glowing spots could be seen on the sides of the steep walls.

And as fate would have it, apparently those glowing dots in the ravine, were in fact the herbs we were looking for.

"Okay, so what now?" I look to the man.

He furrows his eyebrows and backtracks to a tree. He peels off a ton of bark. Elastic in texture.

He forms a rope seemingly long enough to reach the herbs.

"I'm not getting on that." I deadpan

There's no way I would leave myself hanging on some makeshift rope suspended who knows how far above any ground.

But the man was already motioning for me to approach the edge.

I look to Irelia who seems completely okay with this idea.

"Are you guys sure this is safe?" I ask.

But the man only looks at me and gives a quick and simple nod before letting the rope down.

I scream at myself internally before I approach the rope and begin descending. The rope was held by 3 people so it should be safe.

I reach the point where I grab a single herb. It was a bit entrancing. The glow along with the gentle hum of the ravine seemed tranquil. All of my stress seemed to disappear as I placed the herb in a little pouch I was given.