Converging Destinies: Part 1

Chapter 145

       "The thing is, the Northern Woods are about a thousand miles away. Cedric, you got that spell that lets us teleport?" Eris asked.

       "No, but I'll have it tomorrow." Cedric answered.

       The group decided to spend the rest of the day relaxing. They had a moment of fresh air and relief knowing that Aaron was now truly gone.

       The beach was nearby, and the group decided to have a day of relaxation at the beach.

       Cedric and Eris swam in the ocean. It was somewhat cold, but to a point where it was comfortable. Ara' Sei was riding the wind, hovering in midair. On the beach itself, Ella and Zerai sparred with their blades.

       "Cedric, where did you learn to swim?" Eris asked as they tread water a few feet away from Cedric.

       "There was a lake in the forest that I would go to." Cedric replied.

       "How could you swim in that, it's freezing!" Eris shouted.

       "We only did it in the Summer!" Cedric replied.

       "Oh, that makes way more sense." Eris said.

       "What, did you think we had a deathwish? You'll die if you swim up there at this time of the year." Cedric said.

       "Isn't it crazy? In like a month the Northern Peaks will be smothered in snow." Eris said.

       "Not really, you get used to it up there." Cedric said.

       "Oh, is it going to be cold when we go there?" Eris asked.

       "I imagine it will be a bit chilly, but don't worry. It'll never be as cold as it was near Point Frost, don't worry." Cedric said with a laugh.

       "Thank goodness, it was way too much up there." Eris said.

       "Don't worry, chances are we probably won't have to go back, so I think we'll be fine." Cedric said.

       Up above, Ara' Sei looked over across the ocean. She was hovering about fifty feet above the water, and she could see miles upon miles into the distance. The ocean was terrifying, but it was less so when she could fly.

       Ella and Zerai sparred on the beach. Unfortunately for Zerai, Ella was definitely the better warrior, and he lost almost every single time. He didn't pay much mind to it though.

       That night, the group once again gathered near the tree. The group had their usual meal of magical berries created by Cedric.

       "So, Cedric, do you have any idea what we're up against?" Zerai asked.

       "Well, it's something that has made druids disappear one by one. Druids that can shapeshift into animals and command the very forest itself. Whatever this is, it makes them disappear without a trace, and never return.

       "You have no way of knowing if they're dead or alive, they're just gone." Zerai confirmed. Cedric nodded.

       "It's possible whatever this thing is wasn't killing them off, but it sounds unlikely." Eris said.

       "If they aren't being killed, what would be happening to them?" Cedric asked.

       "Is... Are Northern Woods magical in any way?" Ara' Sei asked.

       "No, they aren't magical themselves, as far as I'm aware, the druids are the only beings there that can wield magic." Cedric explained.

       "I don't know, I don't this is any normal foe. I've seen your magic, there's no way any normal foe could pick off people like yourself without a trace. Whatever this thing is, it likely wields magic." Eris said.

       "Then it's completely unfamiliar to me. I know about the plants and animals that live within the Northern Woods, none of them are magical. This isn't like the Sutha Jungle, these are just normal woods. They aren't unlike the groves you find outside Cresselbrooke, or the forests that surround the Central Peak, they're just normal forests, so I'm not sure what this could be." Cedric explained.

       "Okay, in which case we need to figure it out." Zerai concluded.

       Then, the group fell into sleep. Everyone but Cedric was restless, as he was reliving past memories. Memories of when he first heard others in his circle were disappearing, memories of running away, and memories of the people he'd lost.