§ Entering the Great Forest §

♦ 4th season of the year 1599 a.M.,far west of the Marteine Empire, Crastia Continent.♦

Beyond the western border government, in a large forest untouched by men, a team of explorers, along with a group of rangers, enters the jungle to discover and catalogue unknown species of living beings. This vision has not been unusual lately; in different locations in the great forest it was already possible to perceive a certain approach from scientist's groups through its edges.

In addition to the spontaneous advancement in science forward nature, it was the absence of the phenomenon that occurred before in it which instigated scientists enter the territory. Previously, a mist permeated the edges of the forest and was so dense that it made any kind of reconnaissance at the site impossible. Due to it the area was always seen as forbidden and feared by population. However, this group, like many others, was obstinate to discover what was hidden for so long.

On the second day, after the group of explorers which was composed of four men and three women and rangers, had entered past the perimeter not demarcated by the body Protection and Reconnaissance of Wildlife and Flora (PROREWF)- whose guards belonged to- paused the trip to rest after long hours of walking and research . While most of them were looking for a place to sit and take their luggage off, the youngest of the group, Lara, excited by the burning desire to discover something new, did not even wait for the group to settle and already started to look for it again.

It was then that the oldest in the group, Sandro, with short, curly and gray hair, internally smiled noticing the young woman's action and, while taking off the luggage, said in a laughing tone: "Young woman, just relax a bit! We still have five days of exploration. Enough time for observe the forest. "

And then added worriedly, as he saw that the girl had not listened to him and continued to walk away: "Do not go too far, Lara! If you are looking for something, be it close! "

Then she replied laughing and unconcerned: "I am on it, Grandpa! I'm not going too far." Sandro was a grandfather on the part of Lara's father, both had a very strong connection and he cared a lot about her. In a way, he always influenced her, even in the choice of profession; both were biologists, as also the rest of the group except the guards.

Shortly thereafter, the group seeing that Lara has returned agrees and decides to sleep in that place, as the sky was getting darker by the minutes and the place was big enough to camp. And so decided, the group begins to prepare to settle in and rest for the third day of exploration.

Couple hours later, right at the dinner coming to an end, the group was gathered in around the fire to heat. And then, Leo, with a military haircut and one of the youngest guards, he was wearing his green and wine clothes and a rifle in his lap, noticing the sudden silence of the group, began to speak:

"Wow, so much mystery around this forest, uh?! So in the end it isn't so different from the others hahaha! But seriously, do any of you know what that fog was? "- He said while looking at the scientists in front of him, then in the end his gaze fell on the oldest of the group. Leo wasn't the only one interested in the answer; so when he finished the question, the others two guards also quickly stared at Sandro.

Feeling the gaze of the whole group, he remained quiet for a while, uncertain how to respond to that question, and then said: "Well, it is not as easy to answer as you think. The fog that permeated here was really an unusual phenomenon. Sigh ..." - He said sighing at the end, as if he were tired. And then it continued after a pause: "Well, previously the science hadn't evolved enough to the academics be able to easily analyze the substance formed by it, and it wasn't something so urgent to research. But thanks to the technology of recent years; precisely in the past two years, the head of my research department obtained permission from the dean, and then took over the research. After six months, we were finally able to fully understand that it was a mixture of water, which naturally shall be evaporated from the plants and soil, and another substance that was previously unknown, which we call Sarin, something extremely toxic to humans, which can cause vertigo and even hallucination, if in high dosages. "

Seeing that the guards were surprised by his long explanation, he took advantage and continued: "That is why the academy developed and distributed these masks to the field research teams in case something happens." He then removed three gas masks from his bag and handed them to each guard to they have a look. The number of mask given to them by the department was the quantity of academics in the group. As for those who came from the academy already knew about the artifacts. What the guards didn't know was that the department also gave them antidotes, but like the masks they didn't need to show it.

"Incredible!" - Leo, curious about how would be to wear it, just put it on and was surprised by the comfort the mask offered. They were made of dark leather, the edges were sealed with some type of silicone and the displays were made of tempered glass. All the guards were stunned by the quality of the mask.

The youngest scientists in the group, laughed internally at the act of the guard, as they found it curiously funny how people farther from modernity thought something as simple as these masks was surprising.

Time passed, so the guards then returned the masks and the group went back to talking a bit about the things they think about the forest, their life-experience and culture.

In a moment of relaxation just before everyone would get up to sleep, John, with his thick beard, brown skin and the oldest PROREFFN agent in the group, said in an unassuming tone; but with a grin smile on his face:

"You know, now that we're talking about how we grew up and the like, did you know that there is a tale about this forest?"