The Morning sun took its time climbing above the tree line, finally showering Cairo with its warmth. Under different circumstances, it would have been a welcoming scene, unfortunately Cairo was in a very dangerous place. He slowly woke from his slumber, taking in the unchanged surroundings. Something triggered Cairo's warning sirens.
'Why is it still silent'
Outside of the trickling of the stream water, the grove was still silent, not a single sound to be heard. No birds singing, no leaves ruffling, no footsteps, not even the crickets were chirping. Cairo couldn't remember a single sign of any other creatures in the grove, but he knew there must be some somewhere. Afterall, who pollinated the flowers and other plants? Animals had to exist in this forest in order for it to develop like this, so why hadn't he found any?
Cairo glanced at his closed basket in regret, he had planned to find an animal so he could test the berries and fruits he had collected to see if they were safe to eat, but if all the animals were gone that wouldn't be possible.
'This place is less safe than I thought it was. I need to figure out where all the wildlife disappeared to, and then I need to get out of here.'
Cairo tried to feel his path through the golden string, but it didn't seem to have a strong pull at the moment. Cairo didn't know how to feel about that, it could mean that he hadn't veered from the path yet, but it could also mean that this location was where he was intended to be. Considering the lack of encounters, that would mean there was a large obstacle to overcome here.
'Deep breaths. Lillia and Wrest definitely moved past this location, which means that they were able to confront the obstacle and survive. I may be alone, but I have many more tools and preparations. A shame I don't have a test subject for these plant samples…'
Cairo had also wanted to work on testing the chemicals and compounds that were produced by the abnormal flowers; medicines were of significant importance for average adventurers.
Unable to think of any other preparations, Cairo collected the leftover charcoal from his fires, and fixed his carrying basket to his back. He began to retrace his steps, through the enchanting setting of the grove. He wanted to wait at the border edge of the contaminated area to get a sense of its covered area, so he kept a keen watch on changes to his senses. While he was much more sore than yesterday, and carrying much more weight than before, he was still much more energized than normal. It wasn't much longer until he felt a familiar rush hit his mind and body.
The stimulating effect seeped into his bones, filling him with a strong feeling of revitalization. However, it felt different this time, the effects were far less shocking than before, and he didn't feel the same cognitive boost. He looked at his hands, they seemed to be in much better condition after having been riddled with burns from the hot amber.
'Is it a different source this time? Or are the effects lessened the following times? That sounds like one of those substances the tramps get addicted to… Was it really that dangerous and I simply got lucky?'
The frown on Cairo's charming face matched his furrowed brows. He was proud of his decision yesterday, however he was much more suspicious now. Had he been deceived? Did he miss his chance to obtain a necessary boon for his development due to his own hesitancy?
He retreated to a safe distance, waited for the effects to withdraw and began to move perpendicular to the contaminated area. He would repeat the process several more times, making markings on the inside of a bark scroll with a charcoal bit, recording his observations.
Each time, the effects of the stimulant seemed to undergo a change. He felt different energies seep into his mind, body, and soul. Whether it was his skin, his senses, his muscles, his mind, or his soul, various different changes occurred when he entered the range of the contaminated area. His bark scroll slowly transformed from scribbled signs and lines to a relative map of the area's perimeter, with different symbols placed at the different points to differentiate their effects.
His frown returned after completing the map, he wasn't happy with his most recent hypothesis.
'No signs of life, a conveniently placed area that seemingly gives out stimulating "blessings" that seem to be tailored to intelligent creatures… This… This has all the makings of a trap.'
Cairo didn't spend any time researching other world rituals, however he did know that sacrificial rites tended to be the most primitive of them. He didn't dare wonder what degree of danger the effects of a mass death ritual could have. If all the wildlife in this grove were sacrificed in a massive ritual, then why would the effects still be found in the grove?
'Indeed. It has to be a trap. Someone must have performed the rite, and is using it as bait to capture something else. Think Cairo! What do I know about sacrificial rites? What are they used for?'
He stood in between the marvelously vibrant and lively trees, staring at the map he made, searching for some sort of inspiration.
'Wait… the perimeter… Is this a massive magic circle? The landmarks at the different points are used as significant symbols in the pattern? Damn, I don't know anything about this stuff.'
Cairo kept thinking and prodding the "ritual circle", trying to find some kind of rhyme or reason to the effects. Meanwhile he kept trying to recall and remember the sacrificial rites in the pathfinder records he had read.
'I thought sacrificial rites were only common among the crazy people who sacrificed people to summon evil creatures like "Devils", however this energy doesn't seem to be parasitic or evil.'
Cairo was rather frustrated, he had intended to gather clues and make a plan of attack, he had originally believed it to be a biochemical or mystical effect of some type of predator, one who used the overstimulating effect to disorient and intimidate its prey. However, that was evidently not the case. In fact, it was much worse.
Not only was this likely done by a knowledgeable person, but it was very likely that the person did not have good intentions. If he marched to the center, it was very likely he would end up in a fight he was significantly disadvantaged in. Wrest and Lillia had trained to confront people, given that it was likely two against one, they should have been capable of putting up a fight with the benefits of boosted cognition had they not retreated like Cairo.
If Cairo had been bolder and stronger, it was likely he could have charged to the center of the area and stolen away the bait from the trap. Now, he left too many traces, the enemy likely knew of his presence.
'I have been too careless. I didn't expect the first situation to be this complicated…'
Cairo was struggling to not feel hopeless, he felt like he had already made a grave mistake. His judgement had been tampered by his fear. Now he would have to fight an uphill battle against a prepared enemy, while he was absolutely out classed.
"The longer I wait, the more likely the situation is to go out of hand. Most of the Pathfinders achieved results by being decisive, I cannot keep hesitating. I have a vague idea of what I am facing, I just need to turn that into my advantage." Cairo announced aloud, attempting to psyche himself up. "In fact, knowing more about my opponent could be a good thing, knowing I'm likely outmatched is important so I don't make the mistake of trying to fight them."
"If the premise of this part of the path is to obtain the source of the stimulant, then it would be better to not fight and instead to make it to the center and take away the bait. The path hasn't been giving me any feedback yet, so the objective should be here. If the source can be used to turn the tide or escape, then that should be the best path out of here."
Cairo stashed his basket between two emerging boulders, exchanging the items and remaining materials on his person for some from his basket. His makeshift tool bag, and amber canteen were slung over his shoulders and tucked under the cover of his amber-plate reinforced leather coat. He took the remaining petrified branches that have been broken down and lashed them together to the front of a frame to make a shield, while slipping his remaining amber ingots into his pockets due to their light weight. He was not exactly willing to part with his current favorite material.
Taking one last look at his remaining collections, he closed the top of lid, and left a mark on his bark scroll map hoping he would have the opportunity to recollect his items.
Spear and shield in hand, with all his important items in their various places, he marched his way to the border of the contaminated area. He took a final look at the picturesque surroundings, he was slightly depressed that he couldn't take time to enjoy the beautiful environment. Chances were that he would have to make a quick escape from the grove, to wherever the path would lead him after this.
Taking deep stretches to offset the remaining soreness, he let the blood pump through his body, readying his body for the following danger. He slung the strap on his shield higher up his arm, and with a deep bow, he sprinted into the zone.
Sensations flooded his body, he wasn't sure if it was the stimulant or his own adrenaline, but he felt the power flowing into his body. Cairo knew that the ritual area was rather large, it would take a few minutes to reach the center at top speed. But, Cairo could not run at top speed, the roots and shrubbery would rob him of his feet should he be careless.
After a minute of a full sprint, he knew that he was reaching the inner portions of the ritual area, as the effects started to overlap again. It wasn't until a few seconds later that Cairo's worries were proven true.
"YOU!"
The voice boomed, rippling across the thick air, intimidating the very essence of the grove. Cairo was momentarily astonished, the sensation of the single word being spoken was beyond his expectations, but stopping meant absolute death.
"THE RAT WHO DARES TO SIPHON AWAY MY REWARD HAS BEEN INFLICTED WITH GREED!"
As the voice dominated the very air that was still in the forest, the dark shadows cast by the massive trees seemed to slip away from their anchors and fly toward the center of the ritual area. Cairo could barely see a shape beginning to form in the air ahead of him, likely to be the center of the circle. The shape had begun to expand slowly, sprouting small limbs from the still forming torso.
'He is made of the shadows? He must have known I was here the second I stepped in the radius… Siphoned?'
He would not stop now, he knew his plan was the only option left, the enemy was beyond his expectations.
As the body began to form, the voice seemed to change from ever-present to localized within the shadow body. "It has stabilized too much, it cannot use it as a vessel any longer, I must sacrifice it."
Cairo would not have normally been able to hear the shadow's voice from such a distance, but his senses were abnormally enhanced, branching out from within his own body.
'Vessel? Stabilized… He wanted me to take the bait so he could possess me? Scary.'
Cairo didn't act any different, not wanting to give the shadow any unnecessary information. He did not know if the shadow knew he could hear him, but considering that the shadow was strong enough to perform the ritual it was unlikely he would care if he heard or not.
If he were to take the treasure formed from the ritual, would it be possible for the ritual to be held still? Surely the ritual needed a vessel to hold the power, the shadow would need to prepare a second one if Cairo took the first one. Even if he was captured after taking the first vessel, there would be a chance to escape. He just needed the shadow's greed to prevent it from killing him.
Nearly a minute later, Cairo felt the stimulating effect take a qualitative jump. His stronger eyesight peered through the remaining trees, and not too far in the distance did he see it. A singular fruit tree that was glowing with a soft light in the center of a small clearing, its young trunk sprouted into a collection of newly formed branches that had sprouted a collage of wonderfully vibrant iridescent leaves. From a more developed branch, hung a singular glistening fruit with glowing speck of light slowly drifting away from the fruit.
As Cairo approached the miraculous looking tree, he heard sounds echo from inside his soul. Crickets chirping, wings flapping, hooves trotting, mammals growling and squeaking. His expression grew more strained as he realized what he was approaching. The poor souls of all the wildlife had been sacrificed and condensed into the flesh of the single miracle fruit. All the life that was once contained in the beautiful place was snuffed out for the greed of one mysterious shadow creature.
The Shadow's body was concerningly formed, and its murmurous chanting was growing more mysterious. Cairo was just reaching the edge of the small clearing when the sounds of the forest began to grow restless and vicious, like the souls were whipped into a frenzy. The ground was slowly drained of all color and light.
The vibrant colors were being washed out, and the livelihood that had seeped out of the fruit tree was being drawn back by its roots, roots that had to have reached every inch of the ritual area. Cairo could feel the vitality he had regained be drained through the soles of his feet, through the amber-plate coated leather boots, making his sprint indefinitely harder with each step.
A few meters away from the tree, Cairo felt his energy be sapped, taking away all of his reserves. Cairo's eyes were glued to the fruit, he could still hear the chant in the sky above him. He couldn't turn his head to look up at the shadow, but he was sure it had taken its humanoid form already.
'So close! I just need that damn fruit!'
He tried to put one foot in front of the other, but it felt like he had been held down by the weight of the world. He felt the shield strap slide off his shoulder, and then heard the petrified wood clatter against the ground as he leaned even harder on his polearm in his left hand, barely propping himself up.
He miserably bit his lip as tried to inch forward, propelling his weakened body forward with the bottom of his polearm like a vaulting pole. His right hand found his coat pocket, and he barely managed to pull out the sun pendant, clutching its neck chain in his palm.
He weakly stumbled another step, only about a meter away from the tree. Feeling desperate with the overwhelming sounds of the violent wildlife roaring in his head and the imminent death lingering above his head, he frantically reached out to grasp the pull of his golden string of fate, hoping that his path could pull his soul just enough to give him what he needed to reach the fruit.
However, when he grasped the path with his soul, he was shocked. The golden light was writhing like a snake, one who was desperate to escape confinement. It thrashed within his grip, pointing in every direction like it was utterly lost and confused. Unlike before, the string hanging from the pendant was no longer connected to his string of fate, instead it pointed at the tree before him.
'Have I failed? Is my path thrashing because I'm fated to die here?'
Cairo's expression was hideous, twisted in desperation and anger. He did not want to die here, not after all the work he put into his rescue attempt. He had to move forward! How else would he save his sister? He wouldn't let them both die in this damned place for nothing!
His left hand slid up the shaft, and his right hand with the pendant chain wrapped around it met its counterpart at just below the spear head. With all his remaining fury and wrath, he leapt forward, pulling himself forward with the shaft of the amber polearm. His right hand drifted upward, seeking its last chance to seize the glowing fruit.
The Shadows erupted, and the shadows chanting slowed for just a second. The Shadow was furious, how could the rat push so far in that state? He had to split his focus for a second, despite only needing a second to finish the chant, the rat was going to just barely reach the fruit in-time if he didn't.
Surprisingly to Cairo, when the shadows were nearly about to sever his arm clean off, his fingertip touched something. Despite that, he saw the shadow hovering over his arm, and was furious that he wouldn't be able to consume the fruit, he would die here after all this effort after all.
WHOOOOM!
Light and Color erupted from the fruit, bursting out amazing bright rays, rays so strong that it ripped the shadows within a few meters apart instantly. Warmth and refreshing comfort surged through Cairo's fingertip, lighting up his body like it was on the verge of combusting into light itself.
"NOOOOOO!" The Shadow roared, defiantly bursting out to combat the light, it ballooned to encapsulate the entire ritual area.
After the second of effervescent blinding light, vision returned to Cairo's eyes as his body came back under his own control, as if all his life had been returned to him and even more. The moment of bliss didn't last long, Cairo whipped his head upward as he realized that the area was as dark as night, only illuminated by the miracle tree. He would have no time to bask in his accomplishment, his enemy was alive and furious, he could only attempt to escape now.
The shadows shifted, and several spiked tendrils surged toward Cairo, too many to count. Cairo stood there, with his spear in his hands, sun pendant dangling with a grim expression on his face. He knew that he could not escape this attack, perhaps his death was predetermined the moment he tried to steal the bait.
Then, a ripping sound broke both individuals' concentration, its harrowing sound rippled through reality. Cairo and the Shadow were confused, and momentarily hesitated.
Cairo then saw his golden sting become abnormally visible, it thrashed and tore at the space around him. He watched in horror and shock, what he was seeing was beyond comprehension. Space and time dilated, the shadow was frozen in the moment and couldn't interfere with the abnormality that stemmed from the thief.
Finally, the string ripped the space in front of Cairo, and without hesitating a second, Cairo was ripped out from reality through the tear.
The Thief vanished right in front of the shadows eyes, through means he was completely baffled by.