"huff huff huff… what the heck’s going on?! We’ve been walking for hours…" Bayan kept on complaining.

  "Um, professor? I hate to say it, but are we lost?" Jeremy asked.

  Both looked tired and covered in sweat.

  "I’m afraid you might be right," the Professor said. "It's strange. I’ve been to this shrine countless times… yet I’ve never seen these trees before. Whatever might this strange flora be…?"

  "Just look at all this mist," Bayan said. "Do you think it's making us go around in circles?"

  "No way. Even a child could get across this area in an hour! Don’t tell me…" Jeremy muttered.

  "Are we, like… stuck here somehow? Like for real?!" Bayan exclaimed, her frustration growing.

  Bayan was about to start crying.

  The Professor, with his arms crossed and his left hand on his chin, spoke thoughtfully, "Indeed. A normally impossible conjecture, but we have lost consciousness. Getting stuck is certainly odd. If it has occurred, there must be a reason."

  "A reason? Like what?" Jeremy asked, curious.

  "This is just a theory," the Professor continued, "but perhaps we inhaled some sort of noxious gas?"

  "No way! Now you’re freaking me out…" Bayan squeaked, her eyes wide.

  "It would explain a loss of directional sense. And would certainly explain why we’re stuck. When I awoke, I was standing alone in a grove of trees surrounded by red spider lilies… that’s when I heard you, and rushed over. Do you all remember anything before we met?" the Professor explained.

  Jeremy held his forehead and looked troubled. "Hmm, my memories are definitely fuzzy… and there’s this weird fog, what’s going on?"

  "Well," the Professor said calmly, "You all came to do some research, yes? I believe looking for this 'reason' counts."

  "You’re not even part of our study group!" Bayan whined. "Ohhh, I’ve had it, I just wanna go home!"

  "We still have to get back to the campgrounds first," Jeremy pointed out. "Home is even farther away than that."

  Bayan sighed in frustration, "Now ain’t the time for splitting hairs! Maaan, my legs are stiff as a board already!"

  "And I say now’s no time to start whining! Those legs are your only way out of here!" Jeremy snapped.

  "Thanks for the lesson, captain obvious," Bayan said sarcastically. "It’s not like I asked you to carry me or anything!"

  The Professor sighed. "Now, now, this is a waste of energy. Here, Bayan, I’ll carry you if you’d like."

  Bayan hesitated, embarrassed. "I… I’ll pass, thanks."

  "That’s right you will," Jeremy said. "You shouldn’t be saying things that upset the professor."

  Jeremy then looked at the Professor.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  "For that matter, professor, you should not coddle her," Jeremy added.

  The Professor smiled slightly. "And I suggest you lead by example, instead of simply chiding her without ears to listen. At any rate, it’s only the three of us here. We have no one to rely on but each other."

  "Yeah, I guess that’s true…" Jeremy admitted, looking around.

  Bayan sighed and looked down. "Hey… where did Malak and the others go? That Amaya kid was with them, too—"

  Suddenly, a weird rattle sound echoed through the air.

  "Wait, did you hear that?" Bayan said, her eyes darting around.

  "There shouldn’t be any bears in this region," Jeremy said. "It could’ve been a monkey… or maybe a gazelle?"

  "At any rate, best to remain vigilant," the Professor advised.

  ?????

  Not far from Bayan’s party

  "Over here, Twinkleway!" came a soft voice.

  "Ah, yeah, okay!" Twinkleway responded enthusiastically.

  "Is… is that an animal?!" Jeremy asked, his eyes widening.

  "What in the world?!" the Professor exclaimed in disbelief.

  In front of them was a small floating creature with delicate, glowing eyes and flowing, wind-blown hair, wearing natural, leaf and vine-based attire. It had small wings, and its colors shifted between red, green, yellow, and purple. Beside it stood another small, rabbit-like creature with soft brown fur, large droopy ears, and big, innocent eyes. The second creature stood on two legs.

  "You all are... This one is curious!" the creature said, its voice sweet and high-pitched.

  Bayan blinked in surprise. "Huh…?"

  "Uh, professor! Have you ever heard of a creature like this?" Jeremy asked, still in shock.

  Twinkleway threw his head to the side and brought his small hand closer to his mouth, as if to whisper.

  "You’re…?" Twinkleway murmured, clearly startled.

  Jeremy jumped back, startled. "Wh-what is it…?"

  The Professor’s eyes widened. "I… I can’t believe my eyes…"

  "Wait," Bayan said, excitement building in her voice. "Don’t tell me. This isn’t one of those legendary 'Hubal servants' things, is it?!"

  "One of them?!" Jeremy gasped. "That’s impossible! Those things can’t really exist!"

  "Unbelievable… they really…" the Professor muttered, staring at the creatures in awe.

  Bayan, now looking extremely excited, bent down to get closer to the creatures’ level. "Ummm, like, hello? Mr. Rabbit?"

  "Hey! Don’t approach it so carelessly!" Jeremy warned, grabbing her arm.

  "I just thought it might understand words, that’s all…" Bayan said, trying to pull away.

  Suddenly, a sharp cry echoed from the left.

  "Yeep!" Bayan screamed, jumping back in shock.

  "Whoa! What the--?!" Jeremy shouted, eyes wide with surprise.

  "Uwaaah!" Twinkleway yelped, backing away from the oncoming danger.

  A green monster, with a green head, dressed in a cloak and holding a lantern and a knife, appeared in front of them.

  "Oh no… I think they might be dangerous!" Jeremy shouted.

  "Eek, it’s coming over here! Shoo! Shoo!!!" Bayan screamed, backing away.

  "We are being chased by them! They are frightening! This one is scared!!!" the creature cried in panic.

  "YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!" Bayan shrieked in terror.

  "Oh, oh no! Look out, Bayan!" the Professor shouted, rushing to protect her.

  The monster lunged at Bayan with its knife, but the Professor jumped in front of her, narrowly avoiding the stab. The floating creature head-butted the Professor’s stomach, knocking him out of the way just in time.

  "Yikes! Professor?!" Bayan cried, horrified.

  "Oh no… professor!" Jeremy shouted, his face pale.

  "He… he protected me!" Bayan said, her voice shaky, realizing what the Professor had done.

  A loud cry rang out as more monsters appeared.

  "Eek! Now there’s a bunch of them!" Bayan cried in panic.

  "We have to save the professor… the monsters are swarming him!" Jeremy said, his voice tense.

  The Professor stood up, determined. "S-stay away! Don’t worry about me, just run away!"

  "But—!" Bayan cried, her heart racing.

  "This one senses trouble! If we stay here, we are doomed!" the creature said, tugging at their sleeves.

  "Jeremy… go on, now!" the Professor urged.

  Jeremy closed his eyes in denial, tears threatening to spill.

  "Professor… dammit!" Jeremy swore.

  "Hey… come on, Jeremy. We’ve gotta get outta here!" Twinkleway said, grabbing his hand.

  "Let’s go, Bayan!" Jeremy shouted, pulling her away.

  "Huh?!" Bayan exclaimed, confused.

  "Come on, just run!" Jeremy ordered, his voice frantic.

  "Professor! No!!!" Bayan cried, looking back toward the Professor.

  With a kind smile, the Professor said softly, "It’s fine… it’s up to us adults to protect the future. The rest is in your hands, Jeremy."

  "Wait, Jeremy! We can’t just leave him—" Bayan protested.

  "We can’t let his sacrifice be in vain! Let’s get out of here!" Jeremy said firmly.

  ?????