The First Quest (Part 2)
It is a sunny day that reaches the grassland few Kilometers away from the [Neutral City]. The birds are singing at the sky while the grasses are dances along with the graceful warm wind.
On the road, Zenon and the others are walking as they have already received their [First Quest] to obtain [The Black Flower] inside the Hyperion Forest.
While walking, Ross is in the lead while walking while giving a happy face as he is the leader of the group. Zenon and Adam is just a few meters away from them while enjoying the view. Then while seemingly enjoying the view, a sudden voice startles the two and it was May who is right beside Zenon.
While walking May asks a question to Zenon.
"Why did you choose him as the Leader?" May said with her serious and deep voice.
"Let's just say... because of instinct. I feel something that he will be a great Leader than me." Zenon replied.
After Zenon and May talk seriously, Ross turns around and shouted to his team members and tell them that they are near the Hyperion Forest.
"Guys we're almost there." Ross said in which all of then acknowledged.
Time have passed and they are already in front of the Hyperion Forest. Their eyes widens as they sees the gigantic trees that is about 120 meters, they feel like ants beside a single tree alone.
But before they can even enter the forest, Adam asked a question to the others.
"But... does any one of you know the location of the Cave?" Adam asked while looking at Ross and the others.
Hearing that, they also didn't remember asking for the "exact" location of the Cave wherein the Herb will be located.
"True... it slip my mind too. I guess this is our mistake." Zenon said while holding his head.
"That's enough of that... the problem is how are going to find it whereas no one knows where it is." Bryle said as he taps May and Adam's shoulder while smiling.
As usual, as an amateur [Adventurer]... they look at each other. But unfortunately none of them gave it. Instead, Ross, as the leader, told them that they should head inside first and just scout the area.
"I guess we don't have much of option then, we'll scout the area. We don't know if there are any monster that are living here so we should be careful. Come on" Ross said as he take the first step towards the forest.
When Zenon heard that, he thinks:
That's true, the [Guild] will not give a hard [Quest] for a starting [Adventurer]. I just hope that there won't be any monster that are stronger than us... at least for now.
Then they now finally muster up their courage to walk in to the forest where no one knows if there's a danger that is lurking inside.
***
"Avel" Zenon said as he raises his right arm up to his shoulder to act as a platform for Avel to land.
Everyone heard the eagle sound created by Avel as it descend from the sky right to the arms of Zenon. Ross and the others look and shocked when they see that Zenon has a pet at his command.
"Go find a Cave and tell it to me immediately." Zenon said to Avel that immediately takes off to his hand and fly over the trees.
May is extremely happy when she saw the large bird that landed on Zenon's right arm and she immediately asked questions about Avel.
"Wow... wow... how can you have such a wonderful pet? How did you obtain that bird." May said with enthusiasm.
"I took care of him since he was still an egg and then we just grew up together, that's all." Zenon said as May can't still stop mesmerizing the fact that Zenon has a bond with an eagle.
Then Ross and Bryle says something too.
"As expected to a [Monarch Candidate]." Bryle said while giving a thumbs up.
"That's a great feat." Ross said.
As the time goes by, were are still walking straight from our initial path before entering th forest. Then all of a sudden, Avel finally comes back and landed on Zenon's arm.
With their long term bond, Zenon can understand Avel by going to his head (thinking just like Avel). When he understood that, he immediately told the group the current location of the Cave.
"I know the location. We're almost there, right infront of us, there's a huge Cave." Zenon said based on his understanding on Avel's explanation.
Then hearing that, Ross ordered that they should now move faster since the Cave is now right in front of them.
But Zenon is thinking the other thing.
Right when I understood Avel, he also told me that we're not alone in the forest. He said that there are people following us right after we leave the [Guild]. I'm not sure but I have a feeling that Erwal is behind us... we should be careful.
Then as expected, they we're greeted by the large mouth of the Cave forming like a sharp teeth with its stalagmites and stalactites from the entrance. Seeing that Ross, turn around and faces us and give his order.
"Because this is our first [Quest] we must stay with each other. We don't know what will happen inside the Cave so let's make sure that we are near each other at all times.
It's pitch black inside the Cave, so take out your [Phone] and speak "Light" right to it." Ross said.
We then follows it and takes out our [Phone] and says the word "Light". Right after we said that, the whole [Phone] glows so bright like a small sun.
Seeing that, Ross now finally ordered us to follow him and walk through the entrance of the Cave. Just like a normal Cave, the ground is slippery because of the drops of water from above and there's are countless rock formation that can be seen inside.
"By the way, where can we find [The Black Flower]?" May asked.
"We still don't know but its will definitely thrive somewhere it can bloom. We should just stay sharp. Maybe if we go deeper we can find it." Bryle said while we all continues to walk.
Silence fills the entire Cave, the only sound are our foot touching the ground. Bryle is tightly gripping his [Armas], his axe. Ross is also ready to as he hold his dagger and even May who is holding her gun that is almost taller than her.
Zenon is still observant within thier space. His senses is now even greater since he becomes the [Monarch Candidate] and received the [Recognition of Bathala]. While walking, Zenon heard something that is odd but it seems the other's didn't hear it. But out of nowhere, the ceiling where countless stalactites suddenly falls that everyone immediately noticed.
"WATCH OUT!" Zenon shouted where everyone except May who can't move right at her place because of fear. So Zenon immediately rush to her and pushed her hard to the other side that ultimately separated them from the others.
"Are you okay, May?" Zenon said while struggling to stand up.
"Y-yes... just some few bruises." May said while she get her [Armas] that flew away from her.
Seeing that May is all right, Zenon faces the thick boundaries that separated them from the others. So Zenon shouted if they are okay on the other side.
"Hey are you guys okay?" Zenon shouted.
Luckily, everyone is safe and sound as they speak their reply that is faint that Zenon and May can hear.
"Yeah we're safe but this wall is so thick it would be hard to destroy it at our levels." Adam said.
"Alright... we'll do this. May and I will go straight and you three find another route and find the herb. Let's call each other when one of us finds it." Zenon said.
Ross, realizing the situation, also agreed with the plan of Zenon to form a septated team but he's thinking that May will be safe because she's with a [Monarch Candidate].
"Okay.... we'll leave now." Zenon and Ross said simultaneously. Then they immediately turns around and faces the black and lightless path.
But Zenon can't still hide the fact that they are being followed and suspecting that it might be the people who tried to attack them at the alley.
I hope Adam will be safe with them.
***
[Ross' Team • 20 min's later]
They art walking at the other direction they found at the Cave but they are still worried about their safety. So they are tightly gripping their [Armas] while walking to be prepared if anything happens.
"I hope May and Zenon are okay." Bryle said.
"They'll be fine... May is strong too." Ross replied to Bryle.
Hearing that they still continue their walk and when they are about yo go deeper, a clapping sound is heard by three of them.
*Clap. Clap. Clap*
"What is that? It's coming in front of us!" Bryle said as they all readied their weapons to engage into a fight.
Then a familiar voice hits Adams ears.
"Well, well... now that I managed to separate the [Monarch Candidate] with you I can now finally eliminate you... Adam."
When the light has finally reaches the face of the mysterious man who is clapping, it was Erwal who is suspected by Zenon.
"Well then Rugrats... it's time for you to die." Erwal said with his sly and arrogant face showing intense bloodlust towards Adam whose eyes are so wide while looking at Erwal.