9 Chapter Three || Forest Guardians (1/2)

The unlikely duo meandered their way through the forest in search of food. It was a plentiful forest untouched by humans or elementals. And with Akari's guidance, Essairyn distinguished the edible from the inedible. Berries and other greens soon filled the cloth bag, enough for several servings.

”Hey,” piped Akari, ”Do you know how to store items in the magic cache?” She pointed a paw at the bag Essairyn held.

”No, what's that?” Essairyn replied curiously.

”Heh, of course not. Should've guessed when you made a box for that beast demon claw,” Akari lightly scoffed, making the girl roll her eyes in mild amusement.

”It's how you can store items without having to physically carry them. It's like an invisible inventory. Look,” Akari directed, pointing at the air in front of Essairyn, ”Try imagining a wall of compartments and reach out.”

Though skeptical, Essairyn did as she was told, and to her amazement, wooden-like boxes with missing front sides appeared less than two feet away.

”Wha-” Essairyn uttered in surprise, ”It's really like a game inventory!”

The fox now rolled her eyes, remarking, ”I've got a game fanatic on my paws.”

”How does it work?” Essairyn asked excitedly, ”Do I just put whatever in there and make it close with my hand or something?”

The fox gave the girl an unamused, amused look.

”Yeah basically, I guess that's the gist of it really.”

With eyes sparkling, Essairyn eagerly placed the bag into a square compartment. Then, she waved her hand in front of the compartment shelves, willing it to disappear. And sure enough, they did.

”Amazing!” Essairyn exclaimed.

”It's just how adventurers get by. Do you think we'd hike around with luggage and expect to fight properly in a battle? Or have ourselves get robbed in our sleep?”

”Still, I'm glad. This is really useful!” the girl beamed.

The fox chuckled, ”You really are a traveler.”

”Speaking of which,” Essairyn thoughtfully began, ”I'd like to explore the forest for a bit. Come on!”

Akari grinned and the two set off. As they delved deeper into the depths of the Spirit and Demon Forest, the sounds of the day gently subsided into the stirrings of the night, and fairylike wraiths materialized in the cascading twilight. They dusted the forest floor with fallings wisps while flitting around like fireflies. Their speckled glow faintly illuminated the understory.

Intrigued, Essairyn outstretched a hand toward the ethereal creatures, and they daintily danced upon her hand in mirth. Their giggles whispered throughout the air, and their smiles radiated in the coming night.

”Ts' rien,” they murmured, causing Essairyn to knit her eyebrows in confusion at the foreign language.

”What're they saying?” she asked Akari who was attentively looking at the creatures.

The fox turned her gaze away and seemed to shrug before beginning to walk again. ”Who knows,” she replied disinterestedly.

As dusk finally descended, more creatures of the night arose from their slumber. Soon, the forest was a hushed frenzy of activity, and Essairyn was astounded once again by the beauty of these otherworldly spirits and demons.

While gazing at the mysterious splendor of the night, Essairyn noticed some light-footed animals streaking through the brush. They were traveling so swiftly that they could only be discerned by a soft phantom glow that smudged the air behind them. She wondered how and why they were moving so fast. She squinted her eyes in concentration, trying to pick out their features as they passed.