Mystic

Chapter 20; Matthew

Matthew looked up into the canopy, still seeing nothing.

"They aren't real." Matthew assured Cairo, though he wasn't so sure. Cairo's eyes were glued to the treetops, and he wouldn't look at Matthew, no matter what he did. Matthew climbed up the nearest tree, trying to search for anything that could be the source of the illusion. Matthew thought there was nothing, and was climbing back down when he spotted a small rune carved into the tree.

"Mystics!" Matthew shouted. The markings were fresh; there were still scraps of bark hanging loosely from the mark. Plus, there was mud from the forest floor on the branch, though that could have been Matthew's fault. He was still wet from the river incident, and his boots were filled with water. Still, someone was close by, and Matthew intended to find out who. He climbed down to where Farah was waiting and looked around. There was an empty pocket  in the vegetation that was large enough for a person to fit through. Matthew tapped Amira on the shoulder. She didn't react, but Matthew knew she was aware of him.

"Can you look at me?" Matthew asked, curious. Amira looked as if she were fighting to turn her head, but she managed to take her eyes off the canopy.

"Yes." She said through gritted teeth.

"What do you see over there?" Matthew asked, pointing to the opening. Amira hesitated.

"A man." Amira said, staring blankly. Matthew moved to stand in the opening.

"Do you see me, or him?" Matthew asked.

"Stay away from him, Matthew! He's Dangerous, I can tell!" Amira shrieked, then went back to looking at the trees. Matthew looked at Cairo and tried to get him to look as well, but he just kept staring and muttering to himself. Matthew saw only one option.

"I'm going through that opening. Farah, stay here and shout if there is trouble." Matthew told her, using gestures to tell her what he was doing. He felt stupid, like he was playing charades by himself, but Farah seemed to get the message. Once he was sure she understood, he started into the forest. The canopy grew thicker the deeper in he got, and little light reached the floor. It got so dark at some points that Matthew was tempted to use his phoenix feather, but he feared that he would ignite the vegetation around him. Eventually, he reached a small clearing where a shabby camp was set up. People gathered around a central fire, and basic shelters were organized in a ring. A woman who was washing clothes by a well saw Matthew and shouted. Several men rushed over to Matthew and tied his hands behind his back. Matthew looked down at the ground as they did, wondering who the people were. They spoke in a strange language that Matthew couldn't quite place, and their camp held all sorts of unusual items. A pair of severed eagle talons sat on a barrel, and Matthew spotted a jar holding a single frog through cloth hanging in the doorway of a tent. The men escorting Matthew threw him to the ground inches away from the fire, in the center of the camp. Men and women argued, and though Matthew couldn't understand a word, he knew they were talking about what to do with him.

"I didn't mean you any harm." Matthew told them. A man with a thick beard who looked like the leader of the group glanced over at him.

"Then what brought you here?" The man asked.

"I was traveling with a group when two of them started... seeing things. They won't move, won't look anywhere other then the trees. I saw a gap and the foliage and went through to investigate." Matthew told them, saying each word cautiously.

"Not again." Someone said at the back of the crowd. 

"Again?" Matthew asked.

"You aren't the first to have encountered such a thing." The man untied Matthew, who shot up onto his feet immediately. "Guide us to them." The man said. Matthew led them back through the undergrowth and to where Amira and Cairo were still staring at the sky. The man muttered something in ancient elven, then said,

"Alkoros! reveal yourself!" 

Suddenly, a creature appeared on the branches above them. He looked like a small man with green warty skin, long knobby fingers, a pair of stag-like antlers, and bright yellow eyes. He lounged on the branch and smirked as if he found the whole situation amusing. 

"Yes?" The creature asked slyly.

"Reverse your dark magic, Alkoros!" The man shouted at him.

"Well, I could. But, I'd need something in return." Alkoros said, pretending to be uninterested. He paced along the branch, looking at his fingers.

"If you do, I may let you live another day." the man said, brandishing a long spear. Alkoros pushed the tip of the spear away. Finally, Alkoros seemed to notice Matthew for the first time.

"And who are you?" Alkoros asked.

"No-one of consequence." Matthew answered coolly. according to legends, demons could gain power over a person by hearing their name. 

"Oh, but I believe you are mistaken." Alkoros said, inspecting Matthew more closely. The demon leaned in until their noses were almost touching, and the demon's eyes clouded over for a minute. When the demon returned to normal, he backed away slowly, pondering. 

"Leave these travelers alone." the man said. 

"I unfortunately must comply, though you must understand that it brings me no pleasure, and it is certainly not of your doing." the demon said, backing away. He disappeared, and the spell on Amira and Cairo was broken, they both instantly came back to life, looking around wildly. Both of them said something to each other in Deanish. Matthew sighed, both out of relief and annoyance. 

"What was that?" Matthew asked.

"A forest demon, who protects the surrounding forest. His power to summon illusions is strong." the man said.

"Why wasn't I affected?" Matthew asked curiously.

"Because you have witnessed death, and therefore understand the cycle of life." Matthew pondered this, and why the demon suddenly backed off. Either way, he and his friends needed to make camp. It was approaching night, and they were still in the deepest corner of the forest.

Sorry we haven't updated in a while, I have been pretty busy lately with various activities, and contracted a serious case of writer's block! Also, I know this chapter isn't too great, but I will try to make things more interesting in the future to make up for it! - Cyborgnaiad