Chapter 71: Colin Forest
Reinhard slowed to a stop, his breathing still controlled while Zenuken dispersed from his grip, wisps of energy trailing from his fingers.
Marie came to stand beside him, Longinus vanishing in fragments of crimson-gold light. She grinned, her eyes bright with lingering excitement, while Joseph stopped last. Arondight faded from his hand, and he turned to look back at the passage with a sigh before shaking his head.
Then Reinhard’s attention shifted to their new surroundings.
They stood in Area 2, which had far more space than the passageway and the previous Colin Area 2. The ground was smooth with small hills covered in thick grass that swayed in a breeze he could feel against his face.
He saw a river cut through the landscape with its surface catching sunlight. The sound of moving water provided a constant backdrop and looked beautiful.
It’s then that Reinhard noticed the Beasts.
Reinhard blinked as he saw the four Phantasm Beasts that resembled foxes. Their fur was bright green, almost luminescent in the sunlight, with black streaks running through their bodies in elegant patterns. Their tails were very puffy and bouncing as they moved.
He saw two of them running around the hills and playing with each other. Their movements were light and carefree, with their paws barely seeming to touch the ground. The other two had approached the river’s edge, lowering their heads to drink some water and wagging their tails.
Marie’s entire expression transformed. Her eyes went wide with her grin growing, and her hands clasping together at her chest.
"Such cute Forestsunes." Marie whispered softly before sadness crept into her features, and her smile turned wistful. "Too bad we can’t approach, or they’ll run away."
Reinhard watched the creatures, noting their delicate build and graceful movements. "Can’t blame them. They look like they can’t defend themselves."
Marie sighed before looking at the beasts with a faint smile. "They can’t. The only thing they have going for them is their extremely good instinct that can help them run away from danger."
Joseph’s eyes were fixed on the Forestsune, and his expression softened as a subtle shine entered his gaze.
"What amazing Phantasm Beasts." Joseph said quietly before a hesitant look appeared, and then he walked forward.
Then he walked forward.
Reinhard and Marie blink in surprise as they see Joseph moving to the side as if he wanted to look at them from a better angle. They watched as he turned his head and tracked each Forestsune with his attention, completely absorbed.
"I wasn’t expecting this, but it does look nice." Reinhard says with an amused smile.
Beside him, Marie giggled before her hand covered her mouth, but her shoulders shook with barely contained laughter. Their eyes met, leading to an understanding passing between them and smiles spreading across both their faces.
Without any words, they followed behind Joseph, letting him lead as he continued studying the Forestsune with quiet fascination.
They moved through Area 2 with the river being their constant companion to their right, filling the spaces between their footsteps with noise. Above the clouds drifted lazily across a sky that seemed impossibly wide after the claustrophobic passage.
Marie’s arm extended suddenly, her finger pointing toward the left where another path branched away from their current route. The passage there looked darker with more overgrown trees pressing closer together.
"The path going to the left is the one Professor Brune says will take you to the inner region of the Forest." Marie said.
Reinhard’s gaze followed her gesture, studying the darker trail and understanding settling across his features. "And the higher-tier beasts... So if a person didn’t have a map or knew where to go..."
Marie nodded, her expression growing more serious. "There’s a good chance they could take a path toward those Phantasm Beasts. This is also one of the reasons normal people are told to take the roundabout way instead of trying to save time and rush through the Monster Zone."
Just after Marie was done talking, the Forestsune trembled, and then all four of them froze mid-movement.
Their heads snapped left and right frantically before their ears flattened against their skulls. Their puffy tails doubled in size before they bolted to Reinhard’s surprise. He watched the green-furred beasts rush toward the river as one, their paws hitting the ground in perfect synchronization.
They didn’t hesitate as they came up near the water and just plunged directly in before they began swimming with surprising speed. Within seconds, they’d disappeared around a bend, leaving only ripples behind.
Reinhard blinked and muttered. "Wow... Just wow..."
Joseph sighed as his shoulders dropped, and he looked down at the grass beneath his boots. "Damn it. I wanted to observe a bit more and maybe get close to one..."
Marie chuckled, but her eyes were already scanning their surroundings. "Let’s worry more about what they sensed than them running away."
In the next two seconds, four Cheronos burst from the northern path.
They came in a rushing pack as they released high-pitched screams and yellow eyes shined with hunger.
Then they paused with the Cheronos in front, slowing abruptly, and then its head looked left and right. Confusion appeared on its face as if the prey it smelled should have been here, but for some reason wasn’t. The other three had slowed down and glanced around near the river, but still no sign.
Their yellow eyes found Reinhard, Marie, and Joseph.
The lead Cheronos’s screech came again, but quieter this time. It took a step backward, then another, with the other Cheronos following its movement as they stared at the trio with weary looks. They turned as a group and rushed back north, their retreat almost comical in its haste compared to their aggressive arrival.
"So their instincts warned them of the Cheronos," Marie said, watching the creatures disappear back up the path.
Reinhard shook his head in wonder. "I’m more surprised it warned them so early. The Forestsune didn’t even see or hear them, and yet their instincts warned them. It’s amazing."
Joseph’s voice carried that same tone of fascination he’d shown earlier. "That’s why I consider them amazing. To have instincts like that warn you before the enemy even shows up? It would help eliminate a lot of the danger... It’s like seeing the future or seeing everything around you from above!"
Marie sighed as she crossed her arms. "But it would make things a bit dull."
Joseph held his chin with his free hand, his expression thoughtful as he slowly nodded. "I guess that’s true... But then it would help keep you out of trouble, Marie."
Reinhard laughed at this while Marie’s face transformed into an exaggerated pout as she scoffed, but then giggled in the next second.
"I wonder if that’s a skill of theirs." Reinhard said, his amusement still evident in his tone. "If it is, then it would make for a good Beast Sigil."
"It’s a skill, but good luck trying to catch one," Marie said as she faintly smile. "The stronger you are, the more their instincts will warn them to stay away from you."
Reinhard hummed, turning the problem over in his mind. "And I’m guessing it’s difficult to catch them as a Third Class Beast Master?"
Marie shook her head before saying. "It’s more like the Phantasm Beasts around make it harder, since you’re contending with them."
Joseph sighed again before looking at the river and said. "Let’s go, guys." He walked toward the north with a slight slump to his shoulders, his usual straight posture compromised by disappointment.
Marie’s laughter burst out first while Reinhard’s followed immediately after, unable to contain his amusement at Joseph’s uncharacteristic display of dejection.
But despite their laughter.
They fell into step behind him as they continued north through Area 2, leaving the empty riverbank and its vanished Forestsune behind them.