We were passing through the Gratel forest. It is the biggest forest on the continent, separating many cities and towns. It is a dangerous forest filled with vicious beasts. Legend has it that a great witch once lived in this forest who in order to protect the forest from humans, gave various abilities to the beasts and trees that reside in the forest. There are also various trade routes among the forest and it is considered the safest area in the forest. Merchants frequent these routes to travel between cities protected by mercenaries. Adventurers are also frequently despatched by the guilds once in a while to despatch any beast that made their home near the trade routes, but the adventurers usually clear the areas near their town and city and the rest are left as it is and that’s why the need to hire machineries is required for safe travel.

“I wonder if we will encounter any beast due the smell of the food we are carrying” I said out loud to myself.

“I have been told that a spell was casted on our food that seals the smell along with preserving the food, so I don’t think we need to worry about that” Elena replied to the question.

I felt a little vulnerable during the day so I was being extra caution. At night I had the advantage of seeing and hearing clearly, so I could take out the predators by surprise. But during the day I didn’t felt as good as in the night. So we had to watch out and be alert.

Elena stooped in her tracks upon seeing something and called out to me.

“Can I collect some herbs so that I could make a few medicines just in case” Elena asked me.

“Um.. Ok.. as long as it doesn’t take much time.” I said to her sitting under a big tree.

Elena started gathering different types of herbs.

“Do you know how to make poison?” I asked her.

“I didn’t particularly learn how to make poison, but granny told a number of ingredients that should not be mixed due to its toxic nature. I will be able to recognise them. Do you want me to make them?” Elena asked looking towards me.

“If it won’t be a problem for you, then make some. We are going to need it, It will give us an extra assurance.” I told her.

Elena again started gathering herbs and mushrooms. I told her not to go far and started reading the demonic book.

Demons thrive on life essence which they get by consuming souls. More corrupt the soul; more energy can be squeezed out of it. That is the reason demon possessed bodies could wield so much power, as the summonses generally acts as vessels for demonic possessions. The only backlash is that the demon possessed body can only last for about eight years. During those years the possessors soul itself is slowly converted into energy until nothing remains but a hollow body which turns into dust after complete exhaustion.

The type of power and abilities depend on the demon summoned. More complex the Demonic ceremonies, the more powerful the demon that can be summoned. Complexity of ceremony affects the number of sacrifices to be made. Summoning some powerful demons may even require millions of souls.

The demons also wield power similar to human mages but with more power and control. With only exception of dark powers which is only limited to demons. A person possessed by demons will feel restless, slight burning feeling combined with severe weakness during the day, would be prone to confusion and hallucinate sometimes which is brought by coexistence of two souls in a single body.

I felt the sigh of relief on reading the symptoms of possessions. Initially I doubted whether I was possessed by a demon and it was the main reason I insisted on keeping the demonic book with me. Now that I know that I am not possessed by any demon I could relax a bit. However I am still bothered by the fact that I feel week during the day.

I closed the book upon seeing Elena approaching me. She had collected a lot of herbs. If not for their potential use, I would have never approved of carrying the load.

We both started walking again. Soon night came and we camped out like usual. Elena started grinding the herbs into paste and started mixing them. She made four types of paste and gave one of them to me telling that it was poison.

I started smearing the poison on the tip of the arrows and the sword which I took earlier from the merchant ship. I gave the bow and arrows to Elena to defend herself just in case.

“But I do not know how to use it” Elena motioned to give up on the bow and arrows.

“You just have to point, pull and shoot; it’s not a big thing. You can do it.” I told her pushing it her hand.

“But I have never used it before, what if I miss the enemy” She said unwilling to take it.

“Just keep it for safety then. Predators will think before attacking a person with weapon” I convinced her to take it.

Night came again and we camped for the night. I placed traps near our camp. We took turns sleeping and nothing out of ordinary happened.

The next day I woke up and went to check the traps I laid, to my surprise two rabbits were trapped in there.

I made a small cage by tying up the sticks and carried the struggling rabbits in it. They were rather cute looking pair. On seeing them, Elena was all shiny eyes. She was depressed when I told her that they would be dinner in case we exhaust our food. We are already carrying dried rabbit meat, so it’s no big deal to catch a live one for food.

As we went deeper in the forest, it was getting dark as the trees blocked sunlight. Elena was delighted on seeing bunch of herbs and went on to collect them. I patiently waited for her as this was the first time I saw her happy face. We talked all day, she told me all the stuff about herbs. Most of the information went above my head but I listened to her enthusiastically.

Night came and we once again camped out, it was unusually silent. I again placed a few traps while Elena was preparing dinner. I looked at the rabbits that were now calm and munching on the carrots Elena gave them. She seems to be too kind hearted, I wonder if she would be alright on her own. As long as she is with her mother, she would be alright. I cleared my thoughts and started eating my dinner.

In the middle of the night, there was sound of bushes near us. I stood up in alarm. Three of my traps went off one by one. There were multiple enemies. I woke up Elena and told her to take up her bow. The rabbits were terrified and were scampering in their cage. The smell of mud and blood drifted about in air. I listened to the sound and confirmed that we were surrounded by multiple enemies.

I stood there with a sword in one hand and a knife in another ready to engage with the enemies. A few minutes passed by and big wolf like creature came out of darkness, behind it there were multiple small wolves. This big wolf seems to be head of the pack. I counted twenty eight wolves near the big wolf and many others father enough that I couldn’t count but knew were there due to the sound they were making.

“Grab your medicine pouch and pack important stuff in it. We may have to abandon our food” I said to Elena in a hurried tone.

I stood before her obstructing the wolves view as she hurriedly stuffed her medicine pouch.

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I was too tired to write today, though I would skip today but then I started writing anyways. This was suppose to be a long chapter but as I said I was exhausted and finished it short. I didn't proof read today so sorry if there are any mistakes. Good Night.