Chapter 10


    Looking west, he could see the sun nearing the tops of the trees in the west. Telling him without checking his system clock, he only had an hour, maybe two, before nightfall. Mentally he went over his supplies, making sure he hadn’t forgotten anything since being pulled into the tavern by Boyd.


    Sure he wasn’t forgetting anything, he sent his intentions to Wraith, who clicked his beak before taking off. Setting off at a trot, Xane moved down the main road, heading towards the gate. Nearing the gatehouse, he saw the old quartermaster leaving his shack for the day. Marcus must have noticed him, as he sent a friendly wave his way.


    Waving to the man, Xane put on a small burst of speed as he passed the town wall. Stepping off the road, he cleared the two hundred yards between the wall and the tree line in a matter of seconds. Entering the shadowy world under the forest canopy, Xane activated his night sight. Or, as he preferred to call it, the aspect of the raven.


    Near instantly, the forest became as bright as if it was lit by the noonday sun. Moving along the game trails, he would make slight detours to check his traps. As he made his way back to the cave, he thought about his time on Volderon. Sure, the first few days were rather eye-opening and filled with more than a few stumbles. He found he was coming to truly calling these woods home.


    Even as an author, Alex had never thought he would get to live a life like one of his stories. But here he was doing just that, as Xane. Those thoughts brought him to Persephone and her mother, Thresh. They communicated from time to time over their link. Apparently, she was still healing from what the shaman had done to her, as well as being forced to hatch early. He knew it would be nine years before they were reunited.


    That led him to thinking about his future class and what it may be. Would he get one that he could use while exploring the labyrinths that the Goddess had spoken of? Or would he get something only useful outside such environments?


    The whole time, Xane could feel Wraith brush against his thoughts as he seemed to listen. That left him wondering if the bird understood when they reached the mouth of his cave.


    Pressing a hand against the bare rock of the of the mountainside, Xane channeled his mana. With a cast of move earth, a portion of the rock face slid back and to the side allowing him access. Stepping inside, he placed his bow on a small rack as he activated the lamp hanging by the door.


    Xane looked around his home with a smile of satisfaction. In one corner of the room, he set up a series of tables for his crafting. One was filled with beakers, vials, and other tools needed for making simple potions. Another sat close to a small furnace like fireplace, its surface littered with arrow shafts still being shaped, and others still needing their fletching.


    Wraith flew past him and landed on the table Xane ate at. Picking up the small tin plate, he fixed Xane with a beady eye and squawked at him.


    Rolling his eyes, Xane slipped out of his chest harness and hung it and the two swords on a peg next to his bow. “Yeah, yeah. Give me a minute, you greedy ass bird.” He said with a chuckle as Wraith dropped the plate, fixing him with a glare.


    Moving past, he pulled some of the fresh scraps that Thomas had given him and dropped in on the bird’s plate. Wraith let out a small cry of happiness as he began gobbling down the meat. Entering the room, Xane called a kitchen, he stoked the coals as he added some wood. With the fire crackling away, he began pulling out meat and other ingredients and started cooking his dinner.


    As he cooked, Xane kept his map open as he planned out his search for the flower. Frowning as he closed out the map, all he really had to go on was the general area. Setting his food on the table, he had to shoo Wraith away from his dinner.


    Xane set out the next morning after going over all his gear. By the time the sun had risen over the treetops, he was back at a familiar clearing. A shiver ran down his spine as he remembered the dead bodies that were strewn about the last time he was here. Near the center, he could still see signs of where the scouts had burned the dead.


    Turning away, Xane started a methodical search using the clearing as a center point. During his search, Xane found a variety of herbs and plants his identify had told him would be useful for making potions. But none were the ones that Sarah had described.


    Sitting on a fallen log, Xane silently chewed on some jerky as he studied his map. He had combed the area near where he entered the clearing, to no avail. After coming up empty-handed, he has started extending his search in a widening arc. Closing out his map, Xane looked up to the sky to study the afternoon sun.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    As he was contemplating how long he should keep searching, he felt his connection to Persephone snap into place.


    “Persephone?” He called out mentally


    “Hello, Xane.” Came her child like voice along with the excite he normally felt from her during these brief talks.


    “How are you doing?”


    “Much better. Mother says that I will soon be strong enough to hunt.” She replied cheerfully. Her exuberance that came through their connection brought a smile to his face.


    “How about you, Xane? I can sense you are not at your home.” Persephone’s question startled him for a moment until she explained.


    “I can get a sense of the scents around you through our bond.” She said. That’s when Xane got an idea.


    “Persephone, can you ask your mother a question for me. I’m looking for a plant and having trouble finding it.”


    “What type of plant?”


    “It’s a flower. Five petals, purple in color with blood red rims. I don’t have a name.”


    “That’s the Night’s blood blossom. It only blooms in moonlight. Why do you need this flower?” She asked him. Xane quickly explained he needed it to help a child that was suffering a an illness known as chicory fever. A moment he nearly fell off his log when Thresh’s voice came through the connection.


    Xane was thankful he was in the body of child, because her voice was that seductive.


    “Xane, as Persephone said the flower you are searching for is the Night’s Blood Blossom. As I’m sure you gathered it only blooms at night. To harvest it you need to do so while it is being bathed in the moons’ light. While cutting the flower you must inject mana into the plant and place it inside either your bag or inventory. Doing so will prevent it from wilting before it can be used to concoct the cure. Also do not let sunlight touch the flower once it has been cut or it will become dust.”


    “Thank you Thresh.” Was all he could manage as he strained against the pressure she put his mind under just from speaking to him telepathically.


    “Mother says you are most welcome, Xane. I must go. Farewell until next time.” Persephone’s voice came through before the connection between them closed.


    Calling Wraith to him, Xane pulled some paper and a piece of charcoal. After scribbling out a hasty message, he tied it to the bird’s leg and sent him off back to town. With a handful of hours to wait, Xane climbed up into a tree and settled into the crook of a thick branch. After flipping through his menus, setting up an alarm. Xane closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.


    A soft chime roused him from his sleep. Stretching as he worked the kinks out of his stiff muscles, Xane canceled the noise with a mental command. Wraith clicked break, drawing Xane’s attention to him as he sat perched on a nearby branch. The raven bent his head down to pick at what was tied to his leg. Seeing it was a different piece of parchment, Xane fished out a piece of jerky and fed it to the ravenous bird as he snatched the note with a free hand.


    “Xane, I have gotten your message and have informed Sarah and the apothecary of the news. Unfortunately, the gate must remain closed until dawn. The best we can do is lower a rope down to you when you arrive.


    Sgt. Delores”


    “It’s better than nothing, I guess.” Xane said to himself before stashing the note and climbing down to the ground. With Wraith flying overhead, it took almost an hour before Xane found the first flower. Sitting in the space between a trio of trees, he caught the crimson glow the flower gave off.


    Pulling his skinning knife from the sheath on his belt. Xane held his breath as he grasped the stem in one hand and began to channel his mana into it. Pinching the stem between the blade and thumb, he snipped the flower. Letting out his breath, Xane dropped his knife to open his bag and place the flower inside. Snatching his knife off the ground, he could only hope he didn’t screw it up.


    Wraith called him from a tree a few yards away, below him sat another of the glowing flowers. Tucked away amongst the tree’s roots. Hurrying over, he quickly channeled more of his energy into the flower as he cut it free. With two safely tucked away, Xane sheathed his blade as they set out to find another.


    Scouring the forest, it took the two of them nearly six hours before they found a third. Sitting between a pair of trees, lit by a shaft of golden moonlight, the flower glowed brightly. Stowing his bow, Xane drew his knife as Wraith landed in the branches above. Crouching down he reached forward as a shadow fell across the delicate plant. With the loss of the moonlight, the petals visibly wilted.


    Xane snatched his hands back as he sucked in a nervous breath. Looking up, he saw Wraith gazing down and clicking his beak. Sending the bird a mental command as he waved at it to move. Wraith let out a gronk before hoping away to another branch.


    Glancing down he let out his breath as the petals filled back out in the light. Quickly as he dared, Xane harvested the last flower and stowed it away. Wraith let a small noise of apology, as Xane fixed him with a glare. Rolling his eyes at the bird, he fished out another chunk of meat and tossed it up. Wraith squawked in happiness as he jumped to snatch the morsel out of the air.


    Xane waited as the bird settled on his shoulder before he started heading back towards town. He had barely gotten a few hundred yards when he felt a sense of dread. Stopping in his tracks, he summoned his bow. Slowly he turned in place as he looked for the source of the danger. Wraith’s feathers puffed out as his head snapped to the side.


    Gronk!


    Looking in the direction the bird indicated, Xane sucked in a breath before swallowing in fear. A low rumbling could be felt through the ground as the creature let out a deep growl. Moon light glinted of razor sharp claws, attached to a paw larger than a dinner plate. Activating identify he read the results before uttering


    “Oh, fuck me!”