Chapter 8
THE UNUSUAL MONSTERS in the Forest of the Devout were still a mystery, but Mira had learned that Soul Howl had come this way in search of the Holy Grail of Heavenly Light.
If she followed this trail, she should catch up with him. Eventually.
As she left, Mira thanked the plant folk, who were now enjoying the banquet of sweets. The little girl gave Mira fruit from a nearby tree as an added thanks for bringing so many. She said the fruit had grown from the offering given by the man who wanted the root.
Mira put the fruit in her Item Box. She’d never received a gift from the gods before, although she now wished she hadn’t.
Next up was collecting the items Solomon requested. It would take an hour on foot to get to that location, so Mira summoned Pegasus to speed things along. The beast seemed to have been worried about her, since it happily licked her cheeks over and over.
Once Pegasus finally calmed, they flew for several minutes to the lakeshore closest to the sacred grounds. The forest clearing below was overgrown with flowers of all colors.
Each time the wind passed through, the flowers danced and emitted sweet fragrances. The rippling lake reflected the sunlight and glittered like crystal. A waterfall tumbled down a cliff on the opposite shore, creating lovely background noise.
Small animals scampered about. Given the serenity of the glade, this must have been a sanctuary for the little creatures.
Was this place always so gorgeous? Shocked and a trifle emotional, Mira took in the sight.
In-game, this was merely a lake with a meadow. But now, it was a beautiful field of dazzling flowers—nothing short of paradise. Mira stood upon the shore, feeling the thirty years that had gone by.
As she did, a golden-furred squirrel approached Pegasus, sneaking around its hoof before clambering onto the horse’s body. Atop Pegasus’s back, the squirrel heaved a sigh of relief and fell into a deep sleep.
That opened the floodgate, and soon more small, furry creatures approached. Mira was surprised, but she had to giggle at the sight of Pegasus decorated like a Christmas tree. The winged horse seemed unbothered as it accepted all the animals.
Pegasus was a holy beast—a Buddha-like figure to the creatures—and truly the safest, most sacred place they could be.
Mira watched with a smile and found herself gazing at a blue baby bunny. It was an extremely rare animal called a pure rabbit, which had fur famous as a good-luck charm. Uninterested in that, Mira gazed at the bunny’s adorable, round eyes and spherical form. Pure rabbits had always been considered one of the cutest species in Ark Earth Online.
This was Mira’s first time meeting a live pure rabbit. They were naturally timid and rarely revealed themselves to anyone. With enough of a strained search, someone lucky enough might catch a glimpse of one, but most people only saw this rare animal in screenshots. Now one was right before her eyes, and she couldn’t tear her gaze away from its adorableness.
I never knew real pure rabbits were like this. It’s so…round and fluffy. Unbidden, Mira found herself reaching a hand down. But before she could touch the pure rabbit, it jumped away in fear and took refuge behind Pegasus’s leg.
“Urk…” The clear rejection wounded Mira. Pegasus neighed quietly to the rabbit, and the bunny timidly showed itself again. “Goodness, Pegasus… Did you tell it to come out for me?”
She tore her eyes away from the pudgy bunny and looked to Pegasus. It responded with a nod and cocked its head as if demanding praise.
“Aren’t you the best?” Mira patted Pegasus’s head once and returned her gaze to the pure rabbit. Long blue ears poked out of its head, bobbing occasionally as if to search its surroundings. Unable to bear the temptation any longer, Mira patted the blue orb and savored the fluffiness of its fur.
Despite its size, it was unbearably soft and warm. A pure bunny, right there beneath her hand, alive as could be!
Mira stroked it as gently as possible, taking care not to agitate it. Soon she was rewarded, as the pure rabbit judged that she was not dangerous and leaned into her petting.
“Aww, what a cutie you are! There, there. Good baby.”
The rabbit’s cuteness never ceased. Mira pulled it into a soft hug, single-mindedly doting on the creature. Then Pegasus suddenly neighed, scaring the rabbit enough to send it leaping out of Mira’s arms. The bunny composed itself before bowing down as if in apology to the winged beast, showing submission to its god.
“What did you say this time?” Mira asked, cocking her head in confusion. “What’s gotten into you, Pegasus?”
As she stroked its mane, Pegasus pushed its head into her chest. Hrmm. That doesn’t tell me much. She continued to pet the beast and looked down. The bunny squeaked, still groveling at Pegasus’s feet.
Mira wanted to dote on the blue fluffball once more, but she knew that if she started again, she might never stop. If left to it, she would have been tempted to play with the rabbit all day, but she had come with a goal in mind. She couldn’t frolic with little woodland creatures forever.
With no small feeling of regret, she shooed the animals off Pegasus’s back and dismissed it. However, the creatures gathered around her. It seemed they recognized her as Pegasus’s master, and as she walked toward the rocky mountain that served as the labyrinth’s entrance, they scurried after her.
“No, no. Go away. I’m going to a dangerous place.”
Naturally, they did not understand her speech. The bravest animal among them, the golden squirrel, sat atop Mira’s shoulder in blissful relaxation. She glanced down to find the pure rabbit begging her to carry it as well.
It wouldn’t do to go into the labyrinth like this. Trying her hardest to withstand temptation, Mira decided to summon the perfect being to negotiate with the creatures.
[Evocation: Cat Sith]
Right away, a small magic circle appeared in midair. With a pop, a kitten dressed like a magician emerged. He spun three times before landing, feet perfectly aligned, and revealed a placard that said 10.0. His magic circle spewed confetti, making the performance just a touch more elaborate.
“I answer your summons, meow meow meow! It’s been so long that I wanted to make it a little mew-re of a treat. How do you rate it, Ringmeowster?”
“Eh. A six at best.”
“Mreeeow?!” Cat Sith spun his placard to create manga-like speed lines. Mira chuckled; she admired the meticulousness of his performance.
The cat fairy, Cat Sith, was one of the few summons below top-tier that could talk to people. His abilities weren’t directly useful in battle, but he was a fantastic scout and translator with the rare ability to speak to animals. He could gather information from them as needed.
“Goodness! Ringmeowster…or should I say Ringmeowstress? You’ve turned into a little girl! Simply purrfect! Ten outta ten!” Cat Sith waved the 10.0 placard with both hands, jumping around and mewing wildly. The display made the animals wary, causing them to back off somewhat.
“It bothers me how easily everyone accepts it… Ah, whatever. Might I ask a favor?”
“Pawsitively!” Cat Sith put his feet together and saluted. The hand behind his back held a placard that read Standing by!
“I want you to tell these animals that I’m going somewhere dangerous, and they shouldn’t follow me. Can you do that?”
“On my nine lives, it will be done!” Cat Sith doffed his top hat and held it over his heart with one hand, the placard in the other hand now reading Cross my heart and hope to die! He jumped into the center of the animal crowd and spoke to them with words that Mira could not comprehend.
After a while, the animals seemed to get the message and sadly dispersed. Cat Sith then addressed the golden squirrel on Mira’s shoulder, and it obediently jumped down and climbed a nearby tree.
“All done, Ringmeowstress.”
“Indeed. Good job.”
Cat Sith leaped off Mira’s shoulder, doing three flips and twirling to face her before landing directly on his head. With faltering steps, he managed to right himself and salute again. Mira thanked him for his work and pulled him into a hug. She was sad now that the animals were gone, and Cat Sith made a cuddly substitute.
“Mya ha ha! That tickles!” Cat Sith whined, but he kicked his legs joyfully. His placard shone with the word Tighter!
Mira scratched the chin of her summoned party member and resumed the trek to the rocky mountain.
***
The Primal Forest lay within a fissure that ran through the mountain adjacent to this lake. Mira entered the canyon, walking carefully down the steep path with Cat Sith atop her head. The space was barely wide enough for a full-grown adult, and the bare rock was cold and echoed with each footstep.
Deep inside the fissure entrance, the waterfall was just barely audible. No sunlight penetrated the canopy, but Mira’s path was well-lit thanks to Cat Sith. With his special searchlight ability, he emitted light from his eyes. Sitting on her head, he naturally and conveniently lit whichever direction she faced.
Ten minutes in, the slope became easier to traverse, and soon it was a flat path. Cat Sith glared toward the end of the path, where countless engraved symbols shone fluorescently in the rock wall.
“Veeery suspicious. There’s magic afoot!” he growled.
At Mira’s feet were the words Primal Forest Management District, Adventurers’ Guild Union.
“Hrmm… This must be the barrier,” Mira muttered to herself. She patted Cat Sith’s back and retrieved the restricted-area pass she’d received from Leoneil at the Karanak Mages’ Guild. “Ah, here we go.”
“Meow, meow! The magic is weakening.”
The moment Mira took the permit in hand, it shone, causing the symbols on the wall to fade. She had no idea how the restricted-area pass worked, but she surmised that it was now possible for her to keep going. Mira took one step at a time, and with each step, the symbols ahead faded. At the same time, the ones she passed regained color.
Another ten minutes in, a faint light came into view and the passage ended, depositing Mira in a large chamber. Within was a small yet dense forest. Light like sunbeams shone from overhead, but there was no sun above. Oddly, the ceiling was dark; it was nothing but bare rock from which luminescent ivy hung.
The foliage in the light was vibrant, with flowers of all kinds growing everywhere. The small forest’s trees extended so high that Mira had to crane her neck to see their tops. She gasped at the sight.
“Ringmeowstress, we’ve discovered new frontiers!” Cat Sith jumped down from Mira’s head and yowled “Yahoo!” to the forest. Despite his enthusiasm, this was hardly an unexplored area.
“Thank you for all you’ve done.” Mira returned the restricted-area pass to her Item Box and put her hand on Cat Sith to dismiss him.
“But mew adventures lie in wait!” Cat Sith grumbled, ducking under her hand to prostrate himself. His placard now read Haev mersy! No doubt the spelling errors indicated his distress.
He suddenly reminded Mira of Twinkle Pom, who had done the same thing. Realizing that each summon had its own thoughts and feelings, she pulled her hand back, saying, “You’re impossible.”
“You’re the best, Ringmeowstress. I’ll tail you as long as I live!”
“Don’t you mean ‘follow’?”
“That too!” Cat Sith threw a Boundless devotion! placard high into the air, jumped, and spun. When he landed, he had changed into an expeditionary outfit. Then he caught the falling placard…on his head. It fell to the ground next to his dazed body, reading: Here lies Cat Sith, dead of embarrassment.
“Well, shall we get going?” Mira surveyed the area and picked an enormous leaf from a nearby vine. Using it as a parasol, she walked to the edge of the clearing.
“You’re leaving me alone in the wilderness?! Me-owch, that’s harsh!” Cat Sith shouted and jumped to his feet, scrambling to catch up.
Mira and Cat Sith stood facing a rock wall. Before them were a fissure and a slope that led even deeper down. This was merely a primal forest; the Primal Forest was deeper still.
The path ahead was steep and as smooth as glass. Once they descended, they could not come back up via the same route. That was true of all Devils’ Labyrinths—their entrances and exits were always in different locations.
Mira patted Cat Sith’s head as he perched on her shoulder. “Light the way.”
“It’s clawfully dark up ahead.” Cat Sith swung his legs excitedly as he aimed his glowing eyes at the path. He’d given up his placard in favor of clinging to Mira with both hands. He knew exactly what was about to happen.
Mira squatted and spread the leaf underneath her.
It’s always a thrill to come here!
The path ahead was a long, long slide. Mira grinned with excitement and scooted her butt forward until she was inches away from the slope edge.
“Now!” She kicked with both legs, hurtling onto the slope.
“Our adventure begiiins!” cried Cat Sith.
Mira accelerated at an alarming speed, and her muscles tensed with anticipation.
This was fun in the game, but in reality, er…
Wind buffeted Mira’s whole body. Each corner and turn tugged with such centrifugal force that she thought it would throw her off the slope. Though she negotiated the turns smoothly, the way she was forced to take them at high speed terrified her. Being unable to see very far in the dark didn’t make it any more comforting.
“Meowstress, I’m gonna pee myself!”
“Hold it in!”
Like a perpetual pain machine, the slide curved left and right, and Cat Sith screamed each time. Perhaps thanks to his exaggerated shrieks, Mira was able to keep her cool. After five whole minutes of sliding, the light of their goal finally came into view.
As the too-long slide ended, it tossed Mira and Cat Sith abruptly into blinding light. Mira squinted as the ground disappeared under her, and she flew in an arc before finally succumbing to gravity and crashing into the ground.
She had landed on her backside, and Cat Sith finally slipped off her shoulder. A muffled cry came from beneath her. “Pfmeow!”
“Ah, sorry about that. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine… You’re light, now that you’re a little girl.”
Mira jumped aside, and Cat Sith stood up. Tottering, he did his best to show that he was just fine. He picked up his placard, which declared Every tom wants a queen to sit on him!
Girl and cat surveyed their surroundings. The spectacle before them was peculiar. They had landed on a branch so high and long that they could not see the forest floor below, nor where the branch started or ended.
This place was quite different from the forest before. Though deep underground, the lush green space was full of light. Mira looked up and saw a full canopy obstructing her view. Here and there, vines as thick as trees hung down; the light once again seemed to come from them.
Behind Mira and Cat Sith, a rock cliff stretched high above. Branches crossed it in all directions, and vines thick with leaves were tangled around them. Unidentifiable bird cries echoed in the distance.
The air seemed thick with a lifeforce of its own. In this place, ruled by natural laws beyond human knowledge, an oppressive serenity hung heavily around the pair.
“A whole mew world! We’ve discovered the depths of these uncharted lands!” Cat Sith declared, deeply moved by their “discovery.” He planted a placard labeled Cat Sith Expeditionary Team in the ground—or at least he tried. The wooden branch was too hard, and the placard simply fell on its side. Cat Sith—Mira’s one and only party member at present—stooped down dejectedly to pick the placard back up.
Now, how many will I be able to find? Mira began walking around, looking for the item she had come to harvest, and Cat Sith rushed to follow.
***
After searching the dense forest a while, Mira finally found the purpose of her visit below a leaf: a seed large enough to wrap her hand around, pulsating with deep-green light. This was a Primordial Pip; Solomon had asked her to gather them.
“There you are. Finally.” Mira picked up the Primordial Pip with a sigh and looked around again.
The Primal Forest was commonly known as the very first forest, although strictly speaking, it was not a forest at all. It was merely the countless branches of the father of all trees, the Gopher Tree.
Indeed, everything before Mira’s eyes was the Ancient Gopher Tree, which meant that she could potentially find Primordial Pips anywhere. In practice, that made it impossible to identify a suitable gathering point.
Long ago, former players had shuffled through here, staring fixedly at their feet. Remembering such simple, everyday occurrences, Mira sighed again at the Primordial Pip in her hand.
Cat Sith clambered up Mira’s shoulder, pointed at the Primordial Pip in her hand, and asked, “Ringmeowstress, do you need more of those?”
“Nine more. But I have no idea where they’ll be. Argh! This is so irritating,” Mira complained, though the cat’s soft fur soothed her slightly.
Unexpectedly, Cat Sith walked along Mira’s arm, sniffed and licked the Primordial Pip, and jumped down to search his surroundings.
“There’s one right over there!” Cat Sith announced, pointing confidently with his paw a few branches ahead. For some reason, he was sticking his tongue out with tears in his eyes. Mira’s gaze shifted to his placard, which read Flavor: AWFUL.
“Oho. Really?”
“Those have a pawsitively pungent smell. With such refined senses as mine, it’s easy to find them!” Cat Sith responded with the best thumbs-up his toe beans could muster. His eyes were sharp and confident, but his tongue still poked out.
“Fantastic work, Party Member One!” Mira cried as she snatched up Cat Sith.
[Immortal Arts Movement: Air Step]
Mira dashed through the air to the spot he had pointed out.
“It’s near here!” Cat Sith piped up, cradled against Mira’s chest, and he looked down at the branch stretching out before them. The little guy was right; Mira discovered a Primordial Pip in a spot where the branch’s vines had tangled.
Up to this point, she had only used Cat Sith for scouting and recon—she never knew he could be so useful. Mira rejoiced at this newly discovered power and raised the cat with both hands, demanding, “Where’s the next one?!”
Cat Sith’s eyes darted back and forth until his unique, unparalleled, masterful senses homed in on the scent again. “Hmmm… Mya ha! Over there!” His cat searchlight lit the way to the next Primordial Pip.
“Good job!” Mira’s mood had lightened immeasurably, and she petted, cuddled, and praised the kitty with each new discovery of a pip. This harvest was going much more smoothly than she’d expected.
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