The forest quieted down as the moon risen from its hours of outset.

They estimated that it’s early 7 in the evening. The monster was used as their food as it would be a waste to let others eat it, besides, Ken was the one who’s insistent to deep fry it. It’s common courtesy for some adventurers to leave the dead monsters on the way as a respect for the nature, but not all others were courteous as them.

After the dinner, they moved on, leaving the smoldering smoke and ashes behind. As they ventured, they saw monsters that is on post mortem. The sight is unappealing to see. All that was once alive monsters butchered others mercilessly.

“I guess that beninghol is the winner after their match.” Ken broke off the silence.

They turned and entered a path. That’s when all began when the forest had fallen into haze. The milky gray mist began to stretched and completely shrouded the forest. They would like to entertain the thoughts that it could be sign of elves or any other mystical benevolent creatures except that it is eerily silent which is enough to drive a chill to their bones and spines.

Slowly and smoothly, the fog flowed and fluidly drifted in the air.

They remained sticking to each other as they pressed forward into the unknown.

They ascended on the path. With each step they take the fog grew thicker and harder to see. It is miracle enough for the light of the moon manages to pierce through the cloud of mist and offer them light, but it is still useless, their vision is still shrouded in white.

Up to a certain point of ascension, they came across a lake. It was enchanted that’s for sure. The view enchanted their attention, they didn’t even notice that the mist became thinner.

The lake was deep, bluer than any other lakes they have seen. The moon capped ahead and the light made it more vivid and magical, it’s polished like a caerulean, perfect and still. Instead on going on the right track, they neared on the leak, enough to observed the view. The trees shaded them from the piercing light.

A gentle timbre of voice sang in melody.

In the middle of the lake, the still water trembles calmly and a lady, all in blue, appeared from the water, seemingly levitating. Its small feet touched the water and created another set of ripples. It walks in the water and headed towards them.

Their aloof faces clearly indicates that they’re under the spell of it. Of all, Ken was the most enchanted. His eyes remained fixed to the woman. He felt it. A minor jolt of pain on his right hand. It was insignificant, but another bolt of pain erupted. He held his hand, bearing the pain as his veins grew thicker enough to laden on his arm to his palm.

With his senses came back to him, he saw the lady that enchanted them was 7 steps away from them. He shrugged off the pain and slaps his two comrades.

They lurched backward.

“No thanks to me.” Ken declared. He massages his right hand’s palm to ease the pain.

Alastor who’s still processing what just happened ignored Ken’s remarked and narrowed his eyes as the clutched on his sword while still on the scabbard.

“We got fibbed, aren’t we?”

Linda replied back to Alastor, “More like enchanted.”

The lady in the lake stopped motioning. It’s blank eyes sizing them. It did not move and inch or dared to lift its muscles.

Ken asked to himself, “What the hell is that?”

Alastor withdrew his sword, “Who cares?! Let’s attack it while it still confused.”

Alastor dashed forward. His speed unrelenting and his murderous attention directed at one point. A rush of adrenaline course through his body.

“Al, wait!” Linda shouted.

In fact, the mystical being was not completely hostile at all. It simply awaits what to transpire in order for it to judge what appropriate move she will do. Now, that Alastor chose to retaliate physically, it forced the creature to engaged in combat.

Before he got closer, the lady in blue shrieked. It’s crackling and piercing voice disrupted completely their senses. They all bent and cover their ears. Them covering was not enough to blocked the voice.

After the seemingly long 10 seconds, they stood, face twisting in pain.

Linda felt something liquid dripping in his ears. She smeared it and looked at her hands. The red liquid slowly dripping out of her ears. They all still felt the ringing tone that vibrates their eardrums for the moment before the senses came back from being numbed.

Linda immediately created an ice wall between them and the creature, grabbed the two and went ahead of the path, disregarding the notion rationality. When she felt that they’re far away enough, she broke to paused. They panted and sat on the ground.

“Why?” Alastor asked. “We could have taken that thing down.”

“No…” Linda quieted down and inhaled a lot of hair before replying, “That would be unwise.”

“Unwise?” Alastor raised a brow. “That monster is obviously dangerous. By letting her go, we couldn’t say how many victims will fall under her spell.”

“Killing her would do worse.”

“How?”

“That thing is a water imp.”

They all froze in a moment. They’d believe it. Linda’s voice was too serious to jest.

“Water imp?”

Linda nodded over Ken’s question.

“I thought they would be smaller.” Alastor stated his thoughts.

“That’s a Nuno you’re talking about.” She continued, “Imps has different maturations, all depending on their environment.”

Alastor asked, “If that’s true, then what is it doing here?”

“Clearly, an imp would not protect a simple lake.”

The word ‘imp’ has different kinds that varied in stature. But all of them has the same interest, that is to protect the nature.

“I don’t know, but I do think that it’s only trying to protect its territory.” She stared at Alastor. “And your provocation endangered us all.”

It is stated that killing an imp would cause a devastating calamity. It was not a lie. The role of the nature imps is to protect the nature and help remain the balance between the world of monsters and man.