Chapter 54: Solo
Grace moved through the forest with her rapier drawn, constantly glancing over her shoulder. Every rustle made her jump. Every shadow looked like a plant-zombie ready to pounce.
[I can’t believe Diana abandoned me. ’Just scream if you’re about to die.’ Wow, thanks for the stellar advice.]
Despite her nervousness, there was something oddly familiar about traversing these woods alone. The dappled sunlight filtering through leaves, the soft earth beneath her feet, the smell of moss and bark and growing things. It reminded her of her old life.
Back when she was just Grace Lightsinger, humble turnip farmer, she’d spend hours in forests like this one. Hunting for herbs, digging up roots, gathering berries and mushrooms. She knew how to move quietly and which plants were safe to touch.
[Who would’ve thought all that foraging would be useful angel training?]
She ducked under a low-hanging branch, careful not to snag her wings. That was new, at least. Turnip Farmer Grace didn’t have to worry about wings getting caught on things.
The forest grew denser the further south she moved. The trees here seemed almost deliberately placed to block her path, forcing her to squeeze between trunks and climb over massive roots. The corruption was more visible too—patches of moss that glowed faintly purple, flowers with too many petals that seemed to turn to follow her movement.
[This is fine. Everything’s fine. Just a normal, slightly demonic forest. Nothing to—]
A twig snapped behind her.
Grace whirled around, rapier extended, and found herself face-to-face with... nothing. Just more trees.
[Get it together, Grace. You’re jumping at shadows.]