Northern Region Forest

When Athena and Diana came home, the sudden commotion alarmed them in the house. Both of them runs as they worried something might have happened.

"Grandfather…"

...Ah, what have I done? Why did I leave Fuji behind?

"Grandfather, are you alright?" Diana said, as she tried to approach him, but was too afraid as well since Fuji seems to be furious.

"Fuji!"

Hearing his master's loud command, it surprised the cub as it went down on his stomach feeling guilty of his actions.

When she saw how the young cub acted, her heartache ashamed of what she'd done as well and said, "Come here…"

Fuji runs towards Athena and jumped into her arms.

"I'm sorry for leaving you behind."

She then carried Fuji towards them, "Grandfather, forgive us for what Fuji did."

"No, child, it's partly my fault. I accidentally step on him…" he explained, feeling even more ashamed of what he did.

"Grandfather how could you," Diana yelled

"He was so small I didn't notice him." He replied

They laughed hearing the old man's silly expression.

Whilst Diana was busy teasing his Grandfather, Athena decides to check the village with Fuji. She was unable to see things clearly last night since it was too dark and since the direction she and Diana took was the opposite way to the main village.

"We tried to help but we couldn't help everyone," Diana said who came after them.

"Don't worry, soon will be able to bring life to everyone."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me now, I haven't done anything yet..."

Later that afternoon, Serfred came all dressed up, but not in his knightly uniform.

"My Lady…" he said

"Just call me Tina." She replied

"I am your knight, it is wrong for me to just call you Tina." He said with such conviction.

"Fine."

"Tina, are you heading out now?" Diana asked, bring along a new company with her. "This is Tycho, his the craftsman and blacksmith in the village."

...I sense something odd between them. The way the guys flusters when Diana introduces him. Hmm, Wait? Could they be...

"Diana, are you two?" Athena was not able to finish what she wanted to ask when both of them reacted.

"No…"

"Kind of…"

Both of them responded at the same time, causing an awkward silence after hearing each other answer.

...Oh man, I just hit the jackpot

"What do you mean no?" Diana frowned

"Diana I-"

Before the man could explain, Diana has already walked away, leaving the man all disappointed.

"Don't worry, she was just teasing you…" Athena smiled, "Do you have everything I asked for." she asked

"Yes, I prepared some arrows as you asked, I made a small cart for us to carry our stuff." He explained, "If I may ask, where are we going…"

"To the place where we can find life and supplies…"

Both Serfred and Tycho expression darken, they did not expect Athena will be leading them to their death.

"Ma-my lady, that place is dangerous." Serfred anxiously said

"Yes, Tina, there are wild monsters in the forest as well," Tycho added

"I know, you won't need to worry. Once we get what we need will leave at once." She explained

In the end, they ended up following Athena to the forest. I was a few hours walk since it was quite far away from the village. As they slowly approached the forest, you could already sense all the malice in the air.

*..**.**To think* *this forest is filled* *with unspeakable treasure.*

When she was still back in the Empire, she read books about the Northern Region Forest not only is it filled with monsters, but its forest holds quite rare herbs and elements.

As they entered the forest, Athena prepared her bow and grab the arrows from the cart. "Fred, watch over, I'll be back…"

"But my Lady…"

As Athena grabs her bow and attached an arrow to it, the arrow flew directly and in one strike it hit a killed the deer that was a distance away from them and was hiding behind the trees.

*...**.**What the heck just happened, did she just hit something out of nowhere?*

Tycho looked stared at the girl curious to what she just hit.

Serfred went ahead to check what it was, to his surprise it was a deer. He was blown away how precise Athena's arrow hit the deer; it was a perfect shot in the head.

When Serfred returned with the dead deer, Tycho was completely speechless. As he places the deer in the cart, both of them stared and wonder who Athena was.

*..**.**Ah, my hands hurt. Gosh, this body too is too weak. Just one strike almost made me lose all my fingers. Back then I could* *play around* *with the bow for a whole day. I guess we'll end up heading home soon.**sigh*

"Alright, I'll be going now," Athena said, and neither one of them complained as she disappeared into the forest.

As Athena went deep into the forest, she then senses forest malice became much worse. The atmosphere was too cold as well that its air was suffocating and causing her problem breathing.

"I guess I'll head back for now." She said

"Sir Serfred, do you think she fine?" Tycho asked

"Don't worry, she was able to kill a deer in one strike I'm sure she'll be fine." He replied

I wasn't long when they notice Athena's silhouette coming out behind a tree; she was dragging another deer and some small animals.

"Let me…" Serfred said running towards her. "What's inside the bag?"

"Some herb to make some potions since I'm unable to heal anyone at the moment. It's best we get more people to work with us." She explained

"Then Tina, what's all these animals for?" Tycho asked

"For the village…" she smiled

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