Chapter 31 - 30 – A Pest Nest
Kael and Seris were walking through the forest.
Seris walked ahead. She was far more alert than he was.
Kael kept a healthy distance—not because he didn’t trust her, but because he was realistic. He wasn’t a warrior. Not really. Sure, he had taken a few martial arts classes back in high school. A little kickboxing. A semester of jiu-jitsu in college before the loans crushed his schedule. He could handle a drunk at a party, maybe. But in a real fight—with blades, fangs, or claws? He knew better.
Kael stepped over a knotted root and checked the map again.
"We’re close. The nest should be west of this ridge, past the dead oak."
According to the guild’s map, the pest nest was half a mile deeper into the Blackroot Forest. The infestation had started weeks ago, with livestock going missing and travelers reporting skittering sounds and strange shadows. A low-priority mission—D-rank. Nothing glamorous. Ten silver coins.
Kael didn’t care about the reward. This wasn’t about silver.
He wanted to see what Seris could really do.
It was one thing to see her posture shift with a blade in her hand, to witness her confidence.
"You’ve fought in forests before?" Kael asked as they pressed deeper.
She nodded. "Forests. Swamps. Ruins. Wherever they sent us."