Chapter 61: Twisted Fascination
"We’re here..." Vagnis muttered to himself, taking in the surrounding trees that towered above them, it was like nothing he’s ever experienced, the elders would always tell him to stay away from this forest, the forest of no light. It was silent besides the sound of rustling footsteps coming from the hunters behind him, their hands gripping their staff tighter with anxiety and tension.
The leaves shift above them, blocking out potential rays from the sun as the smell of damp moss flows through the almost distilled air around them...
Vagnis squinted his eyes, his gaze dropping down to something wrapped up in leaves, held down by a singular rock.
"This place gives me the creeps—" Favio muttered, his hands scratching at his black hair in a nervous tick, eyes darting around even though he could hardly see.
"Keep it down, or they’ll hear you..." Hamel hushed, his words barely a whisper as he walked up ahead, the other following right after.
"Here, everyone take one of these..." Vagnis instructed, kneeling down to grab at the wrap, seeing the flashlights and flash grenades Astra promised. The devices were as primitive as possible, however to him it was a glimpse into the future, his eyes resting on a piece of wood jutting out of all of them, painted in a bright red hue.
"What are these things..." Zelr commented as he took one, Hamel pressing the button out of sheer curiosity causing an almost blinding light to shoot through the forest, illuminating the area around all of them. Though it wasn’t far.
"A mini sun?" Favio questioned, pushing his head into Hamel’s light, looking at the bulb within, squinting as he tried to make it out.
"No, it’s glass and electricity," The craftsman sighed, standing up straight when all of them got their hands on a flash light. "Though I’m not sure what it really is, just in case you probably shouldn’t stare into it..."