Chapter 3: The Trouble
Ryl collapsed on the ground, exhausted.
“I can't believe… he really… made me run… twenty laps!!” He said, panting hard.
“Then you should stop messing with him.” Aspen replied, handing him water.
Ryl gulped it down to the last drop.
“Brother Aspen!” Elis called out, with Mia trailed behind him.
“What are you both doing here? Does father know about it?” Aspen asked, reaching them.
They both shook their heads.
Aspen sighed.
“You should at least inform him before heading out,” he said, kneeling to match their height.
"He’ll be worried.”
“Okay!” They both beamed, hugging him.
Odin’s nose was buried in some ancient scrolls, but when he heard them, he peeked out.
“Oh! We have two more guests here.” he said smiling.
“Uncle Odin!” both exclaimed, running towards him.
“It's good to have more people.” He said, taking some candies and handing them over.
Their eyes glowed with excitement. ”Thank you, Uncle!!” they said in unison.
“Alright! You guys keep playing until I make lunch.” he said, heading to the kitchen.
“Okay. Let's play tag! And… Mia will catch us!” Ryl declared pointing at her.
“It's not FAIR!” Mia pouted.
“Last time I was a catcher!!”
“I think it's your turn Mr. Morphis…” Elis stiffened his smile.
“And what's the problem with that? It’ll be easy to run away from her~ ” Ryl grinned mischievously.
"Her legs are shorter than mine!”
“Stop picking on her!” Elis yelled, clenching his fists.
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"Now, now—don't fight.” Aspen stepped in.
“Let's decide it with rock, paper, scissors!”
All agreed.
Aspen lost.
“Great. I’ve fallen into my own pit…” he scowled as the others ran off laughing.
They all played until lunch time, filling the land with laughter.
When the meal was ready, they feasted heartily.
_ _ _
The sun began to dip westward; it must have been around three to four.
Aspen and Ryl both wandered in the forest, orb in their hands.
“Ryl, don't you think we shouldn't go into the forest?” he asked, glancing around.
“Uncle told us to stay away from it.”
“Why? Are you scared~?” Ryl teased.
“Ah!” Aspen shouted suddenly.
Ryl gasped and ducking behind him, eyes widened in horror.
“AAHHHH!! WHAT HAPPENED?!!”
Aspen burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.
Ryl blinked in disbelief.
“Ah-hem!” He cleared his throat.
“I wasn't scared at all—it was all just an act!! I’m very brave, you know.”
“Yes, yes Mr. Brave~" Aspen shook his head, still laughing.
They continued deeper.
Grass rustled softly as they walked.
The gentle breeze carried the scent of wild plants.
“Aspen, don't you think the forest is a bit quiet today?” Ryl asked.
“You are right… It's really calm.” He murmured, adjusting his small bag.
Time passed.
“This is boring!! Let's go back already!!” Ryl whined.
“Hmm… There aren't any beasts around, let's come back tomorrow.”
As they turned to leave, something dark hovered behind the trees.
Aspen froze, rubbing his eyes—
When he looked again—nothing.
“Why did you stop?” Ryl asked.
“I saw something over there,” Aspen pointed.
Ryl squinted in that direction.
Empty.
“Aspen, there's nothing there. I’m not falling for your tricks again.”
“I really saw something…”
“Come on, It's getting dark. Let's go home.”
Aspen nodded slowly.
They started walking again.
He… help me…
Aspen stopped. “Ryl, did you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
“Listen carefully!” he hissed.
“It's coming from this direction—someone’s calling for help!”
They hurried towards the voice.
When they arrived, their faces paled.
A girl laid on the ground half-dead, blood-covered, trembling.
She reached out with shaking hands, “Ple… please… he—”
Too late.
SHLURP!
A huge, dark, slime-like mass fell over her.
After a few seconds later, it slid aside like jelly.
Only a skeleton remained.
Ryl breath hitched. “Wh-what was that?!”
“How should I know!” Aspen whispered back, heart pounding.
His thoughts drifted in his mind like a hurricane.
“I've seen it before… it’s… It's not the same one... but… this one’s scarier than that!”
The slime began to mould into human shape, making squashy noises.
“Oohhh… looks like I've got two more side dishes...” it rasped, flexing newly formed fingers.
“It's been a loooong time since I tasted little kids…”
Aspen raised the orb and aimed it.
Nothing happened.
“I told you we were scammed!!” Ryl snapped.
“It's not that!” Aspen hissed.
"It is not reacting because it's not a beast!!”
“Then what is it!?” Ryl cried out loud.
“Whatever it is—it's NOT good!!”
“Run!!” he grabbed Aspen's hand darting away.
“What’s the hurry?” it blocked their way.
“Please don't eat us!!” Ryl pleaded.
“We may look good, but I promise!! We taste worse!!”
“Hmm… don't worry about taste.” It said with a grin. “It may seem… eating in your way, but… it's absorbing life force. So taste is… not a problem.”
They ran in the opposite direction.
It interrupted them again.
Both fell hard. Aspen’s things scattered on the ground.
The creature laughed—a wet, horrible laugh.
Ryl snatched something beside him and threw it.
But—
It passed through the creature, dissolving instantly.
“It's useless,” it said.
“I am stronger than you think.”
Its arms stretched out, slime coiling like tendrils as it whipped it.
They dodged and stood up.
Aspen grabbed a thick log and hurled it.
The log stuck inside its body.
“I’ve already said…” it hissed as the log degenerated “...useless.”
It lunged.
POOF!
A mist of white powder filled the air.
Aspen coughed, covering his nose.
His vision blurred.
“I… feel weak.”
He pressed his hand against his head.
“My head… it's hurting like hell… I can't… bear it...”
Ryl’s voice echoed faintly through the haze.
“Aspen! Where are you!?”
Aspen could barely see his panicked shadow moving in the mist.
“Ryl…”
His legs gave out.
The world turned dark.
He collapsed.
*****
Chapter 4: Cursed Spirits
