The Grimoire

Chapter 44: The Hunter

KEL

Hindi ako sigurado kung anong oras na ba. The barrier that surrounded this forest is too thick for me to see but we didn't notice it from inside kaya nakapasok kami, and right- we're trapped but I know we'll manage this somehow.

I glanced up as we ran through the misty forest. The black sky had this sense of malevolence that was watching us from earlier. I'm not quite dure if my mind is playing tricks on me but it seemed like whoever is watching us is near us. It almost feels like the trees look the same and felt like we were in a loop. The gnarled branches were twisted up high from the ground like they were fingers made of bones. The breeze I felt seemed like whispers from darkness and I can't deny, it is creeping me out.

"We're not alone here, Kel," Leo warned. 

"Right," sagot ko naman.

We continued to search for the source that Cairo mentioned at hindi talaga namin alam kung saan kami papunta because we really don't know where the source is located so we ventured in the depths of this forest without any direction at all, just pure instincts and senses. Even so, we continued embarking in this journey kahit na hindi namin alam kung saan kami papaunta. Each step we take is acciompanied by creaking of dead branches and rustling leaves. The howl from creatures were loud but it didn't stop us.

As we go deeper, we noticed that the branches got more thicker, and the vines were getting longer, and it was blocking our way. Leo stopped on his tracks kaya napatigil na rin ako. At first, akala ko tumigil siya kasi masyado na kaming malayo at baka hindi na kami makabalik but I was wrong. It took me a few seconds to realize that a faint source of magic was sensible from where we were standing. Para bang hindi malayo pero hindi rin malapit ang hinahanap namin. 

Pareho kaming lumingon sa iisang direction and believe me, I never want to go in there. The energy that was engulfing on the area where we sensed a faint source was too dark for me to handle. I can't seem to explain what I am feeling pero sa madaling salita, para bang dalawang klaseng kapangyarihan ang nasa iisang lugar. 

The breeze stopped. The rustling paused. The howling was replaced with silence. Everything stopped like someone stopped time. 

Someone's here.

Someone is watching us for sure.

Someone is following us.

Someone is trying to kill us.

"Now, this is weird," Leo said at tumango ako. We both started to look around at alam kong kinakabahan siya pero hindi niya lang pinapakita. Being with them in here as a new member is scary, to be honest. What else can I do? Nandito na ako eh.

We suddenly heard footsteps na hindi namin matukoy kung saan nanggaling. It's just- it's there, walking around this creepy ass forest habang kami ay nalilito sa kakahanap kung saan ang source na tinutukoy ni Cairo.The fact that we don't even know what it looks like is a bit concerning.

And again, the silence surrounded us. I held my breath at dahan-dhan kong kinuha ang sandata ko na nakasabit sa likoran ko. A type of battle like this is a disadvantage. I'm an archer and I'm supposed to be a long-range fighter. At this point, alam namin na may paparating sa amin so without any hestations or calls, pareho kaming tumalon palayo sa tintayoan namin which led us to be in separate directionand this isn't looking good.