The group continued their trek through the forest, not much time had passed since they got to the deeper parts. The monsters still making noise around them, but not daring to approach. It was strange, while what Rowan said might be true, them making so much noise and not attacking was still odd.

“This is getting a bit, unnerving.” John said, his weapon in hand.

The group had been on alert, Rowan taking over the role of scouting completely as the situation was above what could be considered as practice at this point “I agree with te hero… Tis is unnatural, I don’t tink the yells are directed at us at tis point.”

“We should head back then, what ever the dryad has done here has clearly upset the beasts here.” Athena said, losing her patience and wits from constantly being on alert.

While not having a say in the matter, Mia had to agree with them. The sound made it impossible to hear anything except the beasts, she found it hard to believe anyone besides themselves had made it this far into the forest. “Turn back?”

Rowan took a long look around their surroundings “We don’t have a choice. I don’t sense anyting besides beasts. princess?”

“Yes, this mission is a failure.” Athena sighed “It was outside expectations, but it can not be helped.”

So that was it, they didn’t find the escaped slaves nor the one that was apparently left behind. Mia felt a bit relieved they had successfully escaped their shackles, but still… she glanced into the distance, worried about the one left behind, hoping he was safe.

“Wait.”

Mia snapped towards John who had spoken up, his face was pale, and he was visibly shaking.

“Hrm?” Athena turned towards John “What is it?”

“We can’t turn back yet; my first quest cannot end in failure.” John spoke, panic in his voice.

Athena crossed her arms “As I have just said, this was outside of what was planned. No one could have accounted for a dryad, you will not be held accountable for it.”

“We cannot search under tese conditions. Te last one will be assumed dead.” Rowan added.

“No! you see how the beasts are acting, there is still hope for them!” John protested. “Mia, back me up on this, you want to find and save the last one, right? Right?!”

He can’t be serious… just by sound alone she could tell how lucky they have been that the monsters had not decided to attack them all at once, even he was considering leaving till his precious quest was going to fail… She shook her head “Dangerous, can’t find them…better to leave?” while she did want to find them… was it really better for them to do so? Who ever it was would be thrust back into slavery the moment they found them? They have also turned away the dryad…

John was shocked, taking a step back away from her “How can you abandon them like that.” His eyes widened “No, we cannot abandon them, we have to continue.”

Athena approached the hero and placed a hand on his arm “My hero, your dedication is admirable, but Rowan can not sense anything with this noise, and the monsters may attack at any moment.”

John shook his head “No, we must save them, if only these monsters…” He looked at his sword as if pondering something “You all gave up on them, but I won’t, I can’t…” He gripped his sword and looked at each of them “I am a hero, these beasts…” He rose the sword high in the air “Need to…”

“SHUT UP!”

He screamed, a force emanating from him that spread out around him. At first Mia thought she was just imagining it, but the trees visibly shook from the invisible force. “What in the…” Mia let out her surprise.

“Hero! Doing tat will aggravate te monsters into attacking!” Rowan dashed to the Athena’s side and pulling her behind him.

Hearing this Mia got ready, her weapon at the ready. Her ears scanned the surroundings trying to see where the first monster would come from, but she couldn’t hear anything, it was too silent…wait. “Uhm…” Mia tried to speak but the hero shouted

“Let them come! I will defeat them as the hero!”

“You fool! Tink about the oters! Princess stay behind me, tis is going to be bad.”

“Hm… the monsters…”

“I will protect all of you, the hero never fails his first quest!”

“John… the monsters are…”

“You are going to fail it if everyone dies!”

“Rowan it’s…”

“Nonsense! No one will die if I am protecting ev-“

“Everyone!!! The monsters are gone!”

““”eh?”””

The three of them looked at Mia, surprised, then in the silence noticed that it was silent. “It’s true…” Rowan said, lowering his guard and stepping away from Athena.

“Where did…where did they all go?” John lowered his weapon. “Did I scare them off?”

Mia shook her head “Soon as yell, everything quiet.”

Athena calmly walked over to one of the nearby trees, placing her hand upon it “Hrm.” She glanced around.

“What do you tink, princess?” Rowan asked, keeping close to her.

“This is a guess, but that might have been the dryad’s trap. A magical illusion that was dispelled when the hero let out his shout filled with his magical power.”

John got a triumphant look on his face “So now that’s out of the way we can continue the search! The quest is not a failure.”

“No, you-“ Rowan spoke up, looking like he had a few choice words to say to John but the princess stopped him.

“Leave it for later Rowan. Focus on finding the slave.” She ordered. She also looked cross, but as she said, decided it was better to do it later.

“Understood…” Rowan then turned his attention to Mia “Now since te hero doesn’t want his precious mission to fail… It is still up to you to find whoever it is tat is out here.”

Mia nodded, still having a hard time believing the outburst of John actually worked. She closed her eyes and listened, faintly she could hear groaning, they were close. “Hear something, this way.” She started towards the sound, apologizing in her mind towards who ever it was she had found.

“That’s my companion!” The hero shouted happily behind her.

Truly, she was sorry.