Chapter 205: Trouble in the woods (1/2)

Whilst in the outer sections of the forest, in an unnamed, unimportant clearing a black egg was in the process of transforming the innocent white fluffy creature into something completely new. A couple of miles away from it, the duo of a purple-haired girl and a black-haired boy was sneaking forward, aiming for the depths, the inner sections, layers of the humongous forest.

”So, what's the plan? Are we just going to sneak around like your men, or do you have an actual plan?” The black-haired boy, Aiden asked with an aloof look. He had his arms behind his head, as he walked a few steps behind the girl, not really bothering to cover his tracks.

Stopping in her tracks, Sarah turned around and looked at the smiling boy with a pouting look.

”Of course! We have already discussed this, Aiden! First, we will go and map out the area the recon team has investigated. Although they did not stumble on the Orc's camp, it should be somewhere close by.”

As she spoke, the pouting soon turned into worry, settling on her face as she continued after a momentary silence.

”We should also go and take a look at the Goblin's camp. From the report, it should be somewhere at a relative distance from the Orcs. You know, what is strange?” Her worry changed once again, as a troubling thought surfaced in her mind. ”Why are the goblins so quiet? It's really not their race's usual method. They settled in a place, hidden but close to a target civilized settlement, and begin to raid it for their resources. Hunt around the village, keep their little fingers on their settlement's lifeblood and pulse, slowly suffocating it. Once the villagers or citizens are weak enough and the little monsters are certain there are no more obvious threats they would launch their all-out assault and kill and pillage everything they could before they pick their stuff and march towards their next target…”

Thinking about it for more, she was even more confused than before. Shaking her head, clear annoyance began to express itself on her face as her mind couldn't process all uncertainty and lack of information she had to work with.

”It just doesn't make sense! Why did they team up with the orcs? It's not their style at all! Something is not right…”

Aiden kept silent all the way as Sarah tried to make conjectures about the report they received. He of course could make out more about the situation that the girl found so strange. After all, he had already visited the little creature's settlement before and had access to more information than the girl. Still, he couldn't just blurt out what he knew, as he wouldn't be able to explain his source at all.

'That shaman told me that they were forced to march and set up camp here. Although he didn't know much, what he knew was that they were forced in great numbers to settle here and be ready. Too bad, I couldn't learn more from the previous leader…' Remembering how he couldn't even see the being or beings that were in contact with the previous leader from his memories, he could only sigh. It seems that the world has many mysteries that he has yet to understand and unveil.

How could someone plant such a strange defense mechanism into another being's mind? Was it to protect his own identity as he knew that these primitive creatures' minds' could be easily manipulated and read?

Remembering the old leader, he took a glance at his System's inventory, where he still had their 'Sacred Relic' the gnarled piece of a wooden stick with the scarlet gemstone resting peacefully. He still wasn't entirely sure what it was but based on the information he gained from the fallen ex-chieftain of the goblins, it was a necessary item to establish the connection with the mysterious forces that ultimately controlled everything behind the scenes.

Just who was this mysterious being, or group that managed to command so many savage, unruly, ruthless creatures and force them to fall in line obediently? What was his goal, what was the reason behind the gathering of this so-called 'horde'? Aiden doubted that it would be for such a meaningless goal as to punish the humans, there had to be something more… Something deeper… The set up for something pointless such as that would be too wasteful.

Still, there was simply too little information available. Also, remembering his master's words, they would need at least a few months before they would be able to launch their first wave of attacks. So why reveal themselves now?

Aiden could only sigh, and give up trying to figure out everything. At least for now... Hopefully, this little 'trip' could shed more light on the underlying mysteries.

”What are you thinking about?” A gentle feminine voice woke Aiden from his thoughts and forced him to return to reality. Sarah was standing in front of him, with her hands on her hips, looking at him with a pouting, hurt expression.

Leaning closer to the youth, she gave him a fierce look. She repeated the question, with a bit of pert behind her tone.