20 Days Ago.

I’ve begun to realize just how close by everything was to each other back in Phorash. Everything was just a few blocks or a drive away. But here in Galfania, everything needed to be walked, and it took hours. So, so many hours.

Honestly, this entire place looked like it could benefit from some kind of makeover, no matter what. Although it was certainly beautiful, untouched by greed… More like torched by hatred and pain.

The ground was still dead, not a single drop of life, only accompanied by fallen leaves and completely drained trees, looking more like stakes that protrude through the grounds.

It wasn’t like the winter of the south; rather, it just felt dead, gone, drained. Especially when I looked and found even more dead bodies, but not of people, rather, more of monsters.

Charlie crouched down, studying the surroundings as she stared at the blood stains and the apparent state of decay. “These were recent and probably connected to whatever those who worship this Skiper-Weles are doing.”

She looked at Koschei. “Can you tell us more about this serpent? Why do they want him to return? And how does Jane tie into this?”

I laughed a little and looked around, checking our six. “Yeah, they seemed really adamant to deliver me to their leader as well. What was up with that? Why do they want to burn the Heavens so much? Is this the classic evil villain who wants to watch the world burn?”

Koschei continued to lead the way, morning turning into afternoon as we continued to wander into the dead forest. For some reason, the more we walked, the more the trees seemed to be bunching together, creating a large and twisted maze that he began to navigate us through. “From what I recall, Skipper desired to make its way up the Axis Mundi, all the way into the Prawia, from there he would topple all of creation down into the Nawia so he could rule it all.”

“Oh, okay, standard evil monarch, got it. Guess I can add another evil villain to my list.”

I snapped my fingers, creating a light alongside Koschei as the labyrinth of wooden trees we found ourselves in was dark with the branches folding against each other, blocking out the afternoon light.

There was no noise to be had, nothing but our conversations as we turned left or right, continuing ahead and ahead.

“And he was struck down by this Perun person?” Charlie turned to Koschei as they went further into the dense and dead forest, where we could hear some whisperings upon the wind. “Do you think he could be someone who could help us?”

Almost immediately, Koschei laughed, rubbing his head as he grinned. “Perhaps. He’s quite a temperamental fellow from what I know, but he is also the King of the gods, or so they say here.”

My eyes widened as I stared at Koschei. “Wait, wait, so this guy is like… Pantheon King level? Like, you know, supreme omnipotent ruler?”

I noticed the mushrooms more now. They sort of dotted the inside of the dark maze they were in, kind of acting like a guide, except I had no idea where they led to.

“Supreme ruler? Yes, however omnipotent is a no. It took quite a while for their battle to end, and even when Perun won, it was quite taxing. Perun isn’t omnipotent; no one would be, well, unless you believe in Svarog or Rod, the latter of which is more recent compared to the former, that is.”

“Why? What are those guys like?” I asked as I noticed that there was actually something growing amongst the dead trees, that being… Mushrooms, a lot, and a lot of mushrooms.

“The supposed creators of the world. The kings of creation and whatnot, or well, that’s how some of the stories go. Actually, there are quite a few stories of creation. The one I enjoy the most, and the one that my Baba used to tell me, was of the First Spirit, or rather the Egg of Creation from which all things were born. Some people say Svarog was the First Spirit, some people would say Rod created it, but we don’t know for sure, the gods are fickle with information.”

I laughed a bit, shocked at the way he phrased it, as if he didn’t believe it himself. “You sound like you don’t even know what you're talking about.”

“That’s because truthfully, I do not. Our history has been long, tattered, and forgotten, and while Baba Yaga has a repository of all the possible knowledge she collected, even she would not be able to fully divine the knowledge of the divine. Such tales are for the gods' lips to speak of.”

Charlie’s hands went straight to her holster as she began to scan the area around as if something was wrong. I could see the side of her head glowing a bit as the sprites whisper ever so slightly. “Sounds like the stories of my old COs, nobody really knew if it was true or not, people just accepted what they liked and that they didn’t, but right now I don’t like how claustrophobic it is.”

I nodded along and decided to just fast-forward this part of the maze. I raised my hand, firing a ray of flames at a faraway wall. However, upon impact, the wood, instead of burning away, exploded, sending out familiar shards of pain all across the room like a grenade.

Since we were all inside, the blowback reached everyone. Koschei was the least affected, barely wincing. I gasped out in pain, meanwhile, trying to push aside the agony.

But Charlie… She fell to her knees, already shaking as she clutched her head. “Make it stop… M-Make it stop! I-I’m sorry, Henry! I’m sorry… everyone… P-Please, I-I don’t want to go back on that boat!”

Immediately, I snarled at the wall, holding Charlie tight as I patted her head. “It’s okay… It’s okay, I’m here…”

I tuned to Koschei, rage in my heart and venom on my tongue. “W-what was that?!”

Koschei very carefully pierced the side of the maze, causing it to explode violently upon contact as he took the brunt of it. “They infused it with the same Magick that was in the venom of those serpents. A potent defense for anyone trying to hack their way out.”

I looked to the ground, aiming my hand below as I carried Charlie with my other arm. “Maybe I can dig underground-“

“Do not try it. The roots of the trees still exist, and they would contain the same venom.”

“Tch.” I turned around, maybe we could find a way out where we came from? But no, the walls of the maze had secretly shifted, closing and opening new pathways.

If I bit my lip anymore, blood would have come flowing out. “I can’t believe it? Are we trapped here then? I thought you said this was where the Fae are.”

“I did, correct. They are indeed here, but it looks like they are trapped with us.”

I blinked for a moment. “What? Trapped in here with us- How do you know that?!”

My yelling stirred up Charlie, who seemed to have finally calmed down. “Y-You can put me down… Now.”

I shook my head. “Not until we’re safe, no.”  Charlie sighed and, to my joy, resigned herself to the fate of being carried by me.

Koschei continued his explanation meanwhile. “The mushrooms. While everything else has died, there is an abundance of mushrooms, and where there are mushrooms, especially in strange areas, there are Fae.”

I kinda remember Peter talking about that for a bit during one of his rants. Something about Fae Circles and how stepping into them can transport you into some place called the Fae Wild, but I didn’t really listen cause he kept droning on and on.

I really should have in hindsight.

“Oh, okay, so we just need to find them and then what? You think they know of a way out?”

“No, if they did, they wouldn’t be here, but we shall learn of a way together. Let us make haste before we are even further trapped here.”

Together we began to walk briskly across the maze, making sure to stay close so that it wouldn’t encircle us. Meanwhile, I noticed that the mushrooms were appearing more and more frequently, dotting all over the place.

“Why are mushrooms connected to the Fae?”

“Now that I do not quite know, however, I’m sure we can soon… Ask them that directly.”

He knocked on wood three times, turning around in a circle before walking into the mushroom path. “Come, Fae guardians of Visiliy. We come here to offer our help in this riddle.”

“What kind of ritual was that? Do you have to do it every time to summon them?”

“No. I have no idea how to, but my Baba always said to at least try any combination of somatic movements.”

Then, a mysterious voice responded from behind the wall. “Your Baba was a wise person~”

I sighed in relief. “Hello? We’re trying to help everyone get out of here. If you play any tricks, I will not hesitate to detonate this wall with my flames to spray you.”

“I believe tricks and tomfoolery would have to wait for when we are out of our prison. We cannot really have much fun when we are trapped here.”

Charlie groaned from my back. “Can’t you just go into your spirit forms? I heard that Fae can do something like that… Right? Wait, how come I can understand what you’re saying?”

“We are blessed by our Watcher, holding the power to become ethereal like the wind and to translate our words. However, these roots and barks are infused with a dangerous venom that corrupts even the soul with pain. We have tried to escape, but the entire forest has been corrupted by the Skiper and their servants, so much so that even the Leshy of Visiliyand our Watcher have ventured to stop in their ascent.”

I had no idea who those people were, but it sounds like this situation was way worse than I thought. Especially since they sounded important.

“Well, do you have any idea on how to get out of here? Cause uh, if I try my way, it’s going to get all of us killed.”

“We would have to contact and find the Mavka, the once soul of this great forest. They have been heavily weakened, but still, if anyone could control this forest, it could be her.”

“Epic cool.” I chimed aloud. “Where is she?”

An uncomfortable silence was between us all.

“…Oh my gods, you don’t know where she is, don’t you?”

“We have an inkling, and we have been trying to follow it for quite some time. However, thanks to these walls, we are constantly getting lost.”

I sighed, tapping my feet as I tried to think for a bit.

“Koschei’s blades.” Charlie spoke out after some time.

“Hmmm? What about them?” I asked as Koschei unsheathed his daggers.

“They’re not as reactive. Maybe, we don’t cut through the walls, but we can use them as a way to mark where we are going.”

I laughed and patted her on the head before turning to Koschei, who had already stabbed his dagger deep into the wall.

“Ah! You almost hit me.” The mysterious voice spoke out to our… Joy actually. It meant that we were close by.

The blade sizzled as sparks flew off it like a grindstone.

“Stay far away from it as possible, let it be your guide as much as it shall be ours.”

“And we shall be your guide towards the Mavka. Together now, to escape this horrific prison of wood and venom.”