Reverse Chronicles

Across Araplene

     I exited the Cave of Reversals to find myself in the edge of a forest that had giant trees similar to redwoods. Behind me is Aurebus and in front of me is a giant forest. Looking at the sky, it seemed it was still morning. The giant trees covered the view of the sun, but I knew I was facing east. The forest looked dense. Even at the edge, the scent of forest grass and moss is present.

     While I was assessing my surroundings, Daniel suddenly approached me and asked, “Where are you heading? Are you also going through the forest?”

     “I am headed to Jyria,” I answered him straight. “What about you? Where are you headed?”

     “No way!” he smirked. “I’m also bound for Jyria. What do you say we pair up and cover each other’s backs?” His proposition was both great and suspicious. With him, I would have someone who will help me in battles and help me survive through this forest. However, I have just met him. I probably should not put too much trust.

     “Okay, it’s a deal,” I suddenly blurted out. What did I just say?! No matter, I will keep my distance and take advantage of him as much as possible.

     “Cool, cool,” he smiled. “So we haven’t been properly introduced, my name is Daniel and I am an Apprentice. I am training to be an archer that is why I am travelling to Jyria.”

     “Nice to meet you, Daniel. Again, my name is Josh and my class is something that you haven’t heard of so I’m not telling you, and I am travelling to Jyria because of special reasons.”

     “Ooh, special reasons! Are you training to become a mage? Magical people consider themselves special and that is a fact.”

     “No, I’m not training to be a mage. I wouldn’t be carrying this sword if I was training to be a mage.”

     “Well, a mage knight then. It is still possible.”

     “I’m really going to Jyria because of some special reason that I can’t tell you and that’s the truth,” I shouted in annoyance, but I was laughing inside because Alyssa’s voice is kind of cute when in anger.

     “Okay, okay, alright,” he laughed. “I get it, let’s go.”

     We entered the forest and found ourselves immediately encountering monsters. First, a goblin which was wielding a knife appeared. I took the front while Daniel was at the rear supporting me. “This could be a moment to show off,” I thought. “I will defeat this goblin a single strike.” Unsheathing Whisperer, I rushed the goblin and defeated it in a single strike.

     “Goblin defeated, gained 3 experience points. 29 experience points needed for level 6.” What, just 3!? I swear I gained five when I was at Aurebus. Does Daniel’s presence decrease the amount of experience points I earn?

     “Hey, Josh,” he tapped my shoulder, “that was an impressive strike, but thanks for the free experience points.” With those words, I burned in shame. My thought of taking advantage of him backfired. He took advantage of me!

     I was a bit frustrated, but instead of burning in anger and cowering in shame. I thought back on Marcus’s words. I have to calm down and assess things carefully. I don’t have to fight every battle and defeat every enemy.

     “Are you alright, Josh?” Daniel called me because I stayed behind in deep thought. “What’s the matter?”

     “Nothing, I was just thinking about something. Let’s go.”

     We ventured deeper into the forest trying to go in a straight line as much as we could. While we were travelling, my stomach started to growl. I utterly forgot that I have not eaten breakfast. Daniel heard my rumbling tummy and laughed, “Hungry? We can rest for a bit.”

     “I am hungry, I haven’t eaten breakfast yet,” I mumbled.

     “I haven’t, too. Hey, maybe we could eat together,” he proposed in such a suspicious smile.

     “Sure,” I did not know what went with my mouth but I just agreed. I grabbed a glass bottle full of milk from my receptacle and an apple. I helped myself. Daniel sat across me and got steak from his bag. He also got some grapes and berries.

     “I hunted this meat,” he started a conversation as we were eating. “I got it yesterday from a buck inside this forest. I also foraged these berries at the forests south of here.”

     “I see,” I started to draw some conclusions about Daniel. He is not just an Apprentice, he seems to have experience in a lot of things. “While we are here, can you teach me how you do that?” I begged employing the use of woman’s charms.

     “Sure,” he laughed. “I don’t see why not.” We finished our meal and continued on our way. We encountered two elapieds, but we took care of them easily. Daniel covered my back when they were about to attack me. Knowing that fact, I attacked carefully but fiercely.

     “Elapieds defeated, gained 9 experience points. 20 experience points needed for level 6.” I see now, we receive a fair amount of experience points. Elapieds would usually give 9 experience points each. There were two of them so the total is 18, but since there are two of us, it was divided into two. Now I see how this works!

     As we went deeper into the forest, we eventually lost our sense of direction. There was nothing but trees that surrounded us. The vegetation cover was too think and intense that the azure sky was not visible. Only a fair amount of sunlight allowed us to see inside Araplene. I remained as calm as I could. I turned to Daniel to see what he is feeling. I was quite surprised when he was smiling and was just whistling looking around.

     “Do you think we are lost?” I said to him in a calm way taking a deep breath afterwards.

     “I think we sure are,” he gave a suspicious smile again, but this time I felt that there is passion behind it. “But we can climb the trees to find our way back.”

     Following Daniel’s idea, we began to climb the nearest giant tree. Daniel climbed first, easily making his way up the trunk. I started to climb, but I forgot that I stayed most of life inside of the house and I haven’t really climbed up a tree.

     “Are you alright?” Daniel looked down from above. “Don’t tell me you don’t know how to climb?”

     “Okay, I won’t tell you.” He jumped down and started to teach me the basics. He told me that he uses his arrows to climb up as the lower trunk of the tree still has no branches that he could hold on to. He gave me two daggers, “Use those daggers and climb your way up.” He began showing me how to climb. He stuck one of the arrows and pulled himself up. Then, he stuck the other above up and pulled himself up again, repeating the process.

     I gave climbing a try and it was difficult than I thought. It was heavy lifting my entire body up and holding it for quite some time. I practiced a lot of times, while Daniel gave me tips as much as he could. When I tried and failed for quite some time, a message suddenly appeared in front of my face, “Climbing skill upgraded to level 2.”

     With an upgraded climbing skill, I could now lift my upper body enough to climb up. I was now able to do it, despite failing a lot of times prior.

     “Now that’s what I’m talking about,” Daniel climbed up with me and together we reached the top of the giant tree revealing the azure sky that was hidden from the inside. The sun was at its peak and we are currently in the middle of a sea of trees.