(Will Remain Unfinished - New Version Coming) The Legend of Malum (Book One)

Chapter Six Part One: Revelations

We forgot to buy food.

That was the first thing that Daffodil said to me when I woke up. Between getting knocked down, and the whole Children of Malum situation, I forgot to grab any food in the pharmacy.

I've had tons of experience being hungry in ways that you can't even imagine, so I could wait until we got to Chlorophyte. Daffodil on the other hand, demanded breakfast. Therefore, I had no chance but to bust out the old hunting skills.

"Are you sure you know how to hunt?" she asked as we walked deeper into the woods. "I heard that hunting was complicated, difficult, and that one little slip up could ruin everything."

I sighed. "Would you rather eat raw Coleoptera?"

She gagged. "Not only is that disgusting, it's impossible. Coleoptera meat is poisonous."

"Exactly."

"Whatever, it doesn't answer the question!"

"Daffy, I've been on my own for a year. Do you really think I'd survive that long if I didn't know how to get my own food? Hunting's easy, it's just a bunch of trial and error."

"That doesn't sound like something a hunting expert would say."

"You got to quit being so negative. Oh, hold on a second! I'll do a scan here."

"Scan?"

I raised my crossguard to my eyes and activated Vision. Details were wiped away as every piece of the environment took on a single color. As usual, every tree was shaded in green. The ground took on a slightly warmer shade.

Since Hortus itself was said to be the source of all Vitality, I theorized that the further you dug into the planet, the warmer the color would become. I wasn't planning on going underground, but the thought was interesting.

I looked around for any Vitality shade that wasn't green. Any at all. Elk were usually blue, so I was keeping my eyes out for that. If I saw anything black, then it was a Coleoptera, and it was time to run.

"Are you doing that Art you invented?" Daffodil asked.

I instinctively turned towards her and got blinded by her red silhouette.

"Ah! Yes I am, and you just burned my eyes." I rubbed my face and put some distance between us. "Just keep a few feet away from me. Your Vitality is too bright."

"Um, okay?" she said. "Is this how you always find your 'prey'?"

"Is there an easier way?"

"I heard you can bait them, or set traps, or follow their tracks—"

"I am taking that as a no."

My surroundings got progressively greener as we continued our trek. Who needed bait when you could see life energy? Although I admit that bait would speed everything up. Should I inform Daffodil that I occasionally have to walk around for hours before I found anything? Never mind, that was a dumb question.

Thankfully I caught a flash of blue before Daffodil tried to eat me for dinner. I signaled her to stop and gestured towards it. I couldn't look at her but I assume that she nodded. I tiptoed towards it while watching the ground for any stray twigs or rocks.

Once I got close enough, I lowered my sword, which ended the Art. I ignited my sword and launched a fireball. Now this approach has always ended one of two ways. Either the fire hits, and the elk panics before eventually collapsing (eventually being the keyword), or the elk hears it coming and runs for the hills. I prayed that it was the former, because now even I was getting hungry. I crossed my fingers and waited with held breath as—