[Maria; Llygredd area]

I notice dusk’s approach as I finish off the last of a group of slimes. Wiping my brow, I clean my spears and gather the cores for proof of elimination. Counting them up in my pouch gives me a total of thirty-six, a large haul for a single afternoon of hunting. Of course, that’s assuming you don’t run into a bunch of them at once like I did.

I feel the tension leave me as I walk through Llygredd’s gates, evidence that my body is done for the day. After stopping by the guild to complete today’s requests and collect my pay, I find myself wandering into a giant garden atop a small hill by mistake on my way home. The flowers are arranged in a way that accentuates their colors, and even one such as myself can tell whoever is responsible for this has put countless hours into making it this way. I sit at a conveniently placed bench and just let nature’s beauty soothe me as I watch the sun set.

So much has happened these past few weeks, and I’m still processing it. The events at Wedi, my new bracelet, the upcoming promotion, and of course Leon’s expedition. I also can’t shake the feeling that more is on the horizon for me. Something big is coming, and I’m inevitably going to get caught up in it.

“A human? I don’t recall the last time one of you came to my garden.” A voice calls out from behind me. I turn to see a dryad walking between the bushes. “You always seem to be in such a rush to get things done, never taking time to relax. So many only focus on the end goal that they forget to enjoy what life has to offer. They work so hard to get a better life, dying before they can find happiness. But you’re not one of them. You’re in tune with nature, and that’s what called you here this evening, my child.” The dryad proceeds to sit on the bench next to me.

Despite being a total stranger, I have a feeling I can trust her. “I wish I had more time to relax, but so much has been happening recently, and I’m struggling to keep up with it all. Perhaps you’re right that I was called here. Seeing your garden has given me the time I needed to reflect on things. Still, ‘in tune with nature’? I remember getting an aptitude test several months back, and the results show I lacked any major affinities for magic.”

The dryad chuckles before responding. “That’s not what I meant by that. Your magical affinities have no bearing on how you feel here. Besides, your affinities can change given time and effort, something humans tend to forget in their quest for power. Were there any recent events that could have influenced your affinity towards nature magic?”

The bracelet! I never thought about that! Does this mean that I can learn magic now? That’s definitely something I’ll need to get checked soon.

Seeing my reaction, the dryad gives a wry smile. For a while we talk about various things found in the wilds, both good and bad. Once the sun has set, I excuse myself.

“Thank you for your company, Lady Dryad, but I have to head home now. I promised mom I’d come home every night for dinner, and I’m not planning on breaking that at the moment.”

“Of course, feel free to come back any time. Company is always something I appreciate so long as they respect the garden.”

I’m almost back home before I realize that we never exchanged names. At least I remember where it was, so I can go back to visit at any point. The day ends as uneventfully as it began, with me lying in bed beneath the covers.

[Leon, Ilaith Swamp]

I underestimated how taxing marching for three days would be, but we arrived at Ilaith Swamp last night. The residents of the nearby village were more than happy to see us, offering hospitality that I wasn’t expecting. Lady Beatrix kept a calm face throughout the ordeal, only to tease us once we’d settled. It was nice to have proper food and a bed after days of nothing but dry rations and sleeping in tents.

Upon entering the swamp proper the following morning, the scouting party is greeted by heavy fog. Before long, they return with some unsettling news. They say they had a constant feeling of being watched, and that the mist moved as if it was alive. Lady Beatrix looks at them in confusion before telling them to head off and rest. She decides to send a second party to confirm their claims, and I happen to be a part of that one, much to my dismay.

Once I step foot inside the fog, I brace myself for what may happen. Visibility is so poor that I can only see a few yards in any direction, meaning everyone has to be very careful to keep their bearings. Perhaps I was too careful, as I find myself tripping on a stray root and face-planting into the mud. This causes the others to panic and flee, leaving me lost and alone. Knowing that the swamp isn’t particularly large, I decide to keep walking in one direction until I make it out the other side.

As the minutes pass, I begin to worry about what will happen when I make it back. Will Lady Beatrix denounce me for getting lost so easily? Or will she just be glad I turned up safe? How long are they going to wait for me before declaring me missing? Also, where are all the monsters that are supposedly here?

Continuing to move forward, it's not long before I begin to hear voices through the mists. Turning to follow them, I walk up a hill whose top rests above the fog. I see two others here, conversing about something. Seeing as they aren’t wearing our uniform, I decide to not walk up to them since they might be hostile. Positioning myself in a good place to eavesdrop on the pair, I try to listen in on whatever they’re saying.

“... experiment … marginal … further … plans … evolution … setback … uncooperative … made … disappear … couldn’t … girl …”

“I see. I’ve received word that a squadron is on their way from Llygredd to our location. Prepare to evacuate and destroy the laboratory. We cannot allow ourselves to be found this early in the operation. It’s a shame we couldn’t get her to assist us, but at least we know she won’t be able to get in our way.”

I try to shrink away back into the fog only to step on a branch, making a snap noise. Naturally the two men turn to see me before approaching. Doing what I thought was the only logical choice at the time, I rush back into the fog, moving in an erratic pattern to hopefully throw off my pursuers. It seems to work, as I find myself alone once again. I need to tell Lady Beatrix about this. She’ll definitely know what to do.

Then I hear a growl behind me. I reflexively reach for my sword, only for it to not be there. I must have dropped it at some point. While I’m no slouch in hand-to-hand combat, I won’t be able to block anything sharp coming for me. It’s at this moment that the beast decides to pounce. Hopefully my training was enough for this.