Chapter 789: Findir’s Mission (2)
The sky above was a stunning expanse of azure blue, unmarred by a single cloud. The sun shone brilliantly, its golden rays spilling down in warm cascades, bathing the landscape in a radiant glow. Below him, the vast forest stretched endlessly, but it was no ordinary woodland. Each tree was a towering colossus, with trunks as thick as the grandest of skyscrapers, their bark rugged and ancient, adorned with spiraling vines and moss that clung to them like veins of life. The branches extended far and wide, reaching out like colossal arms, their leaves forming a dense canopy that shimmered in the sunlight.
From this vantage point, the forest looked like a city in its own right—an endless sea of green and gold, with beams of sunlight piercing through the canopy in scattered shafts, illuminating patches of the forest floor far below. Birds circled high above the trees, their calls echoing faintly in the distance, adding a touch of serenity to the awe-inspiring scene.
Gargantuan roots twisted and turned, weaving through the undergrowth like natural highways, while waterfalls in the distance cascaded from rock formations, their crystal-clear waters glistening like diamonds under the midday sun. The entire world beyond the mountain seemed alive with vibrant energy—majestic and untouched as if it belonged to a different realm altogether.
For a moment, Findir stood still, taking in the sheer beauty of the land before him. The warmth of the sun on his skin and the vast, sprawling wilderness ahead felt like a different universe from the dark prison he had just emerged from. Yet, despite its beauty, this forest held dangers of its own. With the task still heavy on his mind, he took a deep breath, readying himself for what lay ahead.
With one last glance at the awe-inspiring view, Findir melted into the wind, vanishing into the forest below as he began his journey to the orc camp, the leopard silently following in his shadow.
...
Exactly ten hours later, as the beating and shining sun dipped lower behind the towering trees, casting long shadows across the forest floor, Findir came to a stark realization: he had no clue where he was going. The forest, which had seemed so majestic and clear when he first stepped out, now felt like an endless maze of twisting roots, towering trees, and impenetrable undergrowth. The light was fading fast, and soon the vibrant greens of the leaves turned into deep hues of purple and black, the forest growing dim and foreboding.
His feet ached from walking aimlessly for hours, the soles of his boots caked with mud and moss. The sky, once clear and bright, was now streaked with the last remnants of twilight, soon to give way to the darkness of night. It felt as though the forest had swallowed him whole, and the deeper he went, the more disoriented he became.
"Where... in the world am I?" Findir muttered to himself, frustration creeping into his voice. He had tried to stay calm, relying on his instincts and natural grace, but none of that seemed to help now. Worse yet, for the past several hours, he had been trying to communicate with the leopard that was supposed to be hiding in his shadow. At first, he spoke in a low voice, asking for any kind of signal, any indication that the creature was still with him. But no matter how hard he tried, the leopard remained completely silent—if it was even there at all.
Findir paused beneath a massive tree, leaning against the bark as he tried to catch his breath. "Come on, give me something," he whispered, half to himself and half to the leopard. But again, there was nothing. Not even a flicker of movement or presence. He couldn’t even feel the subtle shift in his shadow that might suggest the leopard’s existence. It was as if the creature had vanished entirely.
Doubt gnawed at him. What if the leopard had abandoned him? What if the elf had sent the creature on some other task, leaving Findir to wander lost in the wilderness? The thought sent a chill down his spine. The elf hadn’t exactly been the most trustworthy of allies, and Findir wouldn’t put it past him to have other plans in mind.
He clenched his fists, trying to push the doubt away. No, the leopard was still with him. It had to be. The elf wouldn’t sabotage their mission... right?
But as the forest grew darker and his path more uncertain, Findir couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that he was very much alone. The night was closing in fast, and he had no choice but to press on, with no clear direction and no sign of the leopard’s help.
...
(Back in the Troll Prison)
"Hey, he for sure sent that leopard out to kill Findir, right?" Luna whispered to Orion as they leaned against the stone wall behind them. Aisa, Cy, and Bella were trying to think of games to play, yet they came up with nothing but rock-paper-scissors due to their stressful childhood.
"Obviously..." Orion responded, slowly sharpening his index fingernail on the stone below.
"Hm? You knew?"
"Of course. I would be a fool to not take into account his hostility from before."
"Then why do that? We could have easily said no and the elf wouldn’t have been able to do something about it. It seems he doesn’t want to draw much attention from the guards seeing as how he is always in the shadowy corners of this prison.
"I... believe in Findir. He will be fine, so stop worrying," Orion chuckled, wrapping his arm around Luna who looked as unappeased as ever. "You’re the same as ever," He smiled.
Luna looked at Orion with a gaping jaw before slowly chuckling as well. She shook her head as if to get rid of the negative thoughts from her mind. She then proceeded to lean her head on Orion’s now slim shoulder.
"You’re very pretty and gentle in this form. I wouldn’t mind you not changing back."
"I would," Orion smirked. "You would have more of a shoulder to lean on."
The two continued to laugh between each other with the other three looking over in jealousy. They quickly scurried over and interrogated the two as to why Luna was leaning her head on Orion’s shoulder and what they were laughing about. However, Luna and Orion jokingly shushed them before turning to each other with big smiles.
...
(Back in the forest, another few hours later)
"Dude, I deadass have no clue where I am," Findir muttered, leaning his back against one of the massive trees around him.
As Findir leaned against one of the towering trees, he realized how dark the forest had become. The sky, once vibrant and clear, was now a vast expanse of pitch-black, only faintly dotted by stars. The world around him was submerged in shadows, the dense foliage overhead blotting out any remnants of the setting sun. Back when he was a dark elf, seeing in the dark had been second nature, his eyes instinctively adjusting to the blackness with ease. But now, without those gifts, he was left in near blindness.
Taking a deep breath, Findir slowly closed his eyes, trusting in his other senses. He focused on the sounds—the rustle of leaves, the distant chirp of insects, and the gentle sway of the trees in the breeze. His hearing sharpened, picking up on every little movement around him. His sense of smell heightened, catching the scent of damp earth, pine, and the subtle musk of animals nearby. The air itself seemed to vibrate with life as he tuned into the forest, using his senses to create an expanding web of awareness around him.
Bit by bit, his sensory range grew, stretching out in all directions. Twenty meters. Thirty meters. Forty meters. The faintest shifts in the underbrush, the tiniest breaths of wind through the leaves, all of it painted a vivid picture in his mind. At fifty meters, he finally sensed something—life. And not just any presence, but a familiar one. His brow furrowed for a moment before recognition dawned on him.
It was the leopard. The very same creature that had been hiding in his shadow was now barreling through the forest, but it wasn’t alone. Chasing behind the leopard were several massive beasts, their heavy, enraged footfalls shaking the ground with each thunderous step. They seemed furious, their snarls and roars vibrating through the air, and they were all heading straight in his direction.
Despite the chaos rapidly approaching, Findir didn’t flinch. He didn’t panic, didn’t even shift his weight. His calm was absolute, a stillness so deep that it would have put even Aisa, a sniper renowned for her unshakable focus, to shame. Instead, he remained utterly composed, his mind as clear as a tranquil lake.
Without a sound, he moved. His eyes flicked upward, locking onto the thick, massive branches of the tree looming above him. In a swift, fluid motion, Findir scaled the trunk, using his hands and feet to expertly climb from one sturdy branch to another. His movements were precise and deliberate, his body blending seamlessly with the natural contours of the tree until he reached a spot just below the dense canopy.
There, amidst the thick branches, he stopped. Closing his eyes again, Findir stilled his breath. His pulse slowed to a near imperceptible rhythm, his chest barely rising and falling. It was as if he had vanished from the world, his presence hidden beneath a shroud of wind that whispered through the leaves.
It was an ability so subtle, so refined, that it could only be achieved through years of honed skill. Though there were techniques and magic designed to cloak one’s presence, Findir had mastered it to such a degree that he could replicate the effect through sheer will and experience alone. His heartbeat, his breath, everything slowed to the point where he seemed almost dead, invisible even to the sharpest eyes.
From his perch high above, he waited. Below, the enraged monsters and the frantic leopard would pass, completely unaware of his hidden form in the trees.
