The Forest Chronicles

Chapter 7

Victoria sighed, breathlessly. She was hating what was happening right now. "Just because I can see doesn't mean I should be used like a lantern." She rolled her goggled eyes. "You aren't a lantern, my lady, you're a leader." Benjamin chuckled. Jason giggled. "Yeah, my lady," he giggled more. "You're a leader."

The four members of the quest were all holding hands in a line. Victoria was the first, Alexander was second, Benjamin was third, and Jason, because he could also see like Victoria, was last to see what was behind them. Oh, maybe I should have said that they were in a cave right now. They were searching for more Dust Blood for the Shivering Knight. "This is the best day ever!" Alexander whispered to Benjamin. Benjamin nodded. "I know! My lady is finally leaving the manor!"

"Does she not leave?" Jason tilted his head. "Makes sense why she's so pale." Jason mumbled the last sentence. "I like that she's pale!" Alexander chimed in. "I know, Alexander." Jason rolled his eyes. "I apologise, but am I deaf? Because the last time I checked, I was not." Victoria asked. Jason could see that Alexander looked down to the cave floor, his face red. "Hey, Viccy, is this a cave or tunnel?" Alexander asked. "Both. Don't call me that."

Alexander nodded. "How does that make sense, my lady?" Benjamin questioned. "It started as a cave but the Dust Creatures have dug deep." Alexander sighed. "I like a smart woman." Alexander said to himself. "I couldn't care less, demigod." Victoria responded. Jason burst out laughing, but he didn't know what it would entail. Rocks shook, bats flew, and Dust Creatures screeched. "Shut up, descendant!" Benjamin let go of Alexander's hand to cover Jason's mouth. "Thanks, Benjamin." Jason said, moving Benjamin's hand. "You're welcome, Jason." Benjamin nodded.

"Vampire! Descendant!" Victoria yelled. "Ben! Jay!" Alexander screamed. Jason turned to look at the other two, but his vision was blocked by dust. Rocks crumbled and the next thing Jason knew he was falling.

...

Benjamin rubbed his eyes. "What happened?" He heard. The voice belonged to one descendant of Kei: Jason Witherleaf. "We fell." Benjamin stood up, taking a deep breath. "I know that." Jason exhaled, standing up. He stretched. "Your laughter caused-" another crash of rocks echoed. "Ah- What the Helik, Herolia, Tazani, Shka, Zen, Sih, Ena, and Thunder Horses is happening?!" Benjamin screamed. "I don't know but, you scream like a little girl." Jason chuckled. "I apologise in advance, but this isn't FUNNY!" Benjamin took a long deep breath. "I apologise again, Jason." Jason nodded "It's fine, Benjamin." Benjamin sneezed. "Achoo!" He wiped his nose with his sleeve. "That was disgusting, but my sleeve was all I-" Benjamin didn't finish. He gasped. "What?" Benjamin looked terrified, but joyful. "Look!"

Jason stepped towards Benjamin and turned around. A Dust Creature! Which was exactly what Victoria was trying to find. "Now, we just need to-" Benjamin was cut off by the Dust Creature screeching. "Shut up." Benjamin was giving sass to the Dust Creature. "How, exactly, are we gonna get its blood?" Jason asked. Benjamin shrugged. "I am actually not sure."

...

Alexander and Victoria were walking through another set of tunnels. This set had bioluminescent mushrooms and moss, so the tunnel was well lit. "So, Viccy-"

"Don't call me that."

"-How does it feel to be travelling alone with yours truly?" Alexander giggled. "It feels exhausting." Alexander frowned. "You're no fun," he said, "lighten up!" H moved his hand to poke Victoria's shoulder. Victoria grabbed his arm before he could. "I would prefer to not be touched, thank you." She said with that accent she found odd, but Alexander found endearing. "Alright, Alright, I understand." Alexander nodded.

"So, on the way, Jason told me about Knolas being a kingdom." Victoria tensed at the mention of her last name and kingdom being used in a sentence. "Yes?" She answered through gritted teeth. "Jason also said it was destroyed or something a long, long time ago." Victoria nodded. "It was." She replied. "Then when Benjamin heard us talking about it, he said to not talk about it," he paused to breathe, "why?"

"It doesn't matter." She said, simply. "Can you tell me more?" Alexander was crouched and ready to pick up a cool neon blue mushroom. Victoria sighed. She paused time. She unsheathed her pure silver dagger and cut the mushroom off its stem. She sliced the stem and roots. The blue surprisingly didn't stick or spread on her gloves. She looked back to the crouched demigod with an outstretched hand. Victoria grabbed his forearms and pulled him up to his feet with ease.

She smiled slightly. Her eyes widened and smiled faded to a scowl. Victoria didn't smile. The Lady of Knolas Manor didn't smile. She shook her head, let go of Alexander and wasted time. Alexander yelped. "You were aiming for the Lumino Keaynos. It's poisonous until you cut the stem." Alexander frowned. "Oh." Victoria held her closed hand out. "I cut it for you." She opened her hand to reveal the same mushroom Alexander wanted.

Alexander gasped. He took the mushroom. "Thank you, Victoria!" Victoria nodded. "You're welcome." She replied. "So, Dust Creatures serve my mum,"

"Mhm."

"So, if I ask politely for their blood, I'll get a vial?"

"Yes, Alexander."

"You're smart."

"Thank you, Alexander."

Alexander laughed. "I thought you were going to say 'I know, Alexander!'" Victoria cleaned her dagger with a cloth. "Does the descendant always see those three words when addressing you?" Alexander nodded. "He does." Victoria ran her hands on the tunnel wall. "What do Dust Creatures look like?" Victoria closed her eyes as she walked. "They are tall, screech loudly, have grey skin, black sclera, white pupils, long fingers, and their blood is black." Alexander chuckled. "So that's why their blood can be used like oil!"

"What?"

"I read Jason's copy of Mushroomia Kingdom's Book On Forest Magic, and it said that most creatures with black blood have night magic in their blood and the energy produced from it can be harvested!" Victoria nodded, smiling slightly again. She didn't notice this time, so she couldn't stop it. "That's true! The Dust Creature's blood has the most night magic inside of their being! I can't believe I've met a mortal who knows the same things I do!"