Crossing Illusion: Reflection (Book 1) #Wattys2017

Chapter 27: The Priestess

Blightsmire's valley, 9:46 PM

"They suppose to be around here..." Fahmir trying to locate his allies since they tried to meet up and discuss their condition.

Both team 1 and 2 are out of range somehow, or something bad happened to them. Meanwhile team 3 are the only one that are available and also the most nearby, so they decide to go into the valley as their rendezvous point.

"Well, Astina said that she put a flashy sign so that we could spot it easily... But where? I see no such..." Reynold was looking around and then realize that the shadow of the hill are odd. When he look up, there are a large geometry-like monument erected, with many geometrical decorations and a crescent moon on the top. Clearly, Astina had fun making this. "Yep, that must be her." He said as he point the object to Fahmir. "Yep, that's artistic." Said Fahmir, stroking his chin as he admired the art, and replied by Reynold by putting  his hand on his face. "That's not what I'm pointing out... I mean, it's too extravagant." But it do serve it's purpose as a landmark that attract their attention.

The two team meet and discuss both of their condition, their experience, and the vision of Fahmir. Astina open her book and note everything that she need. "Oh god, this is bad..." She seems to draw a pattern or graphic to connect the event with their information. "I think there are something bigger than just the tree monsters. Since they seems to be controlled by something, and I doubt that this entities existed naturally on this place." She still seems to thinking even when she concluded that. For her, who are experienced on the study, had a hunch that a large portion of the picture are still missing.

"The witch part are especially interesting." Fahmir held his chin as he recalled on his vision. "My first vision is slaughter, and the culprits seems humanoid. it could be the witches." He gave his allies a piece of his thought. "It could be, but the problem is that their overall identity and target are still unknown." Bates replied.

"No, what's important is where they are and what they're going to do. Even worse, team 1 and 2 cannot be contacted..." Reynold speak with voice filled with worry and frustration. Reynold is a serious man and he value greatly the safety of his team, especially those who are younger than himself. Moreover, Noir, Almerich, and Melisa are those that he already know since long. If anything happened to them, he won't be able to forgive himself and deemed his existence as a failed mentor of Mirage unit.

Suddenly there are red smoke soaring to the sky and explode into bright smoke and dim flash, it's a flare signal. The team manage to multiple shots goes into the air before they finally stopped.

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Grunweld mountain, near the top, 9:32 PM

"You sure it's from here?" Tybard observed his surrounding as they walk uphill for quite of time already. He won't be complained if not because Christine are physically weak, and keep taking a rest after ten minute of walk since the terrain are rough.

"Yeah it is... Just a bit more..." She barely could walk anymore, so Melisa voluntarily helped her walking by her side. Soon they reached the peak of the mountain, and there are a lonely house in the middle of the field. It's so old and abandoned, without any sign of living nearby.

Tybard point to the house and she nod. "So it come from here... Alright!" The man walk into the house, but when he already few feet away, the two trees in front of the house start moving and attacking him, which he able to dodge by moving back slightly. The tree uproot itself as their feet revealed, and their branches formed into two humanoid hand. Finally two eyes and one mouth formed on the tree trunk. "Seems they set a security guard in here." Tybard prepare his fist in a boxing stance and face the two guardian of the house which now fully moving. Unlike the other threes that they faced before, their body are smaller and seems more humanoid in both appearance and movement.