Custard, Viex, and I arrived back at our campsite pretty late at night that we all just huddled up in one corner, no longer caring about where we were sleeping. I swear it simply just closed my eyes and when I opened them again, the sun had already risen and the princes were now starting to cook while slowly cleaning up the camp.
I wanted to cry. I want to sleep longer! Even my familiars were agreeing with me as we curled ourselves to the ground. I grabbed one of Viex’s tails and placed it over my eyes to shield myself from the light.
“Rose, if you stay like that, you are going to get a sunburn.”
“Good. I always want to get tanned anyway.” I grumbled and turned over to my side. Then I heard a loud thud on the ground that made me crack an eye open to see what it was. It was a huge snake looking down at me with it’s fangs exposed.
I let out a scream as I rolled over Custard and Viex. I was about to bring them with me but they were still in their other form that I doubt I could carry. “SNAKE!” I screamed and scrambled to my feet and jumped to Serena. Viex and Custard were immediately on their feet and ready to pounce.
“SNAKE!?” She screamed as well and darted her head back and forth while carrying me in a princess style. “Where? WHERE?”
“OVER THERE!” I yelled and pointed over to Ren, who was now doubling over with laughter. He was gently holding the python in his hands while it slithered its tongue like it was also amused by something.
‘Apple?’ The snake, which I now realize is actually a spirit, help an apple with its tail and offered it to us.
Ren let out a sigh. “Oh, gods. Your reaction is priceless!” He chuckled and scratched the snake’s chin. “Well done, Manta.”
“MANTA!” The crazy Nymphs gasped in delight and suddenly dropped me on the ground as she ran towards Ren. Manta saw her approaching and immediately panicked and wrapped himself tighter to Ren’s neck.
Unfortunately, Serena didn’t care. She grabbed Manta from Ren and started pulling the snake towards her. Ren chocked in the process.
Now it was my turn to laugh at him as I saw how unwilling Manta was to go to Serena. He tightened his hold onto Ren’s neck that the dog boy was starting to turn purple.
Uh ho.
“SERENA!” I ran over and pulled onto Manta’s tail while Serena was pulling on his neck. “Stop pulling Manta! You’ll choke Ren.”
“R-Rose…~” Ren’s voice was hoarse as he struggled to say the words. “You too. Let...go.”
Was he saying something? I couldn’t tell because I was too busy playing tug of war with this crazy nymph.
“Manta is mine!” Serena yelled and she pulled hard enough that I almost tripped.
I looked up fiercely. Alright. She was asking for it.
I dug my heels to the ground and then I faced the other way. I gripped Manta’s tail tightly as I began to pull.
“Holy shit you two!” I felt someone pulling the back of my collar and prying the snake off of my hands. I glared grumpily at whoever took the snake when I noticed that it was Terrence.
He was now cradling a terrified python in his arms while he knelt beside Ren. Ren was gripping his neck as he breathed heavily. “Just breath. Relax.” He gently rubbed his back.
‘No apples. No apples for the both of you!’ Manta whimpered.
“Gee. That one time that girls were fighting near Ren, but it wasn’t him that they were fighting over. That’s just sad.” Nate chuckled, earning a disapproving look from his father. Now it was Nate’s turn to look pale.
I snorted. “Someone’s in trouble.”
“I wouldn’t breath just yet, Princess.” Terrence also gave me a disapproving look. “You should have been more considerate of Manta. He is a very gentle and sensitive snake. I hope you’ll reflect on this considering that you are the only heir of Gija in this realm.” I glanced down and flinched at Terrence’s words as he scolded me.
It was Nate’s turn to snicker. “Looks like I’m not the only one.”
I glared at him. “Shut it, daddy’s boy.”
“Little trouble maker.”
“Fake playboy.”
“Midget.”
I gasped. “Hey! I am not that short.”
“Midget in bust size.”
I stomped on his foot, making him howl in pain as I dug deeper. “Geez! You violent woman. Ow!”
“Princess Rose, Nathaniel!” Terrence’s commanding tone made us paused and look fearfully at the older vampire, who was now standing in front of us.
“He started it.” I immediately pointed at Nate.
“Princess, I don’t care who started what first. You all should be more responsible for your actions. All of you are adults now. That goes for you as well, Prince Ren.” He looked at Ren, who was now lying flat on his back, and only gave him a weak thumbs up to signal the older vampire that he heard him. “You two go and start preparing for our departure.”
“We’re finally leaving? How?” My eyes widened in both excitement and relief.
“I’ll tell you later.” Terrence gently laid Manta back on the ground and he immediately slithered away from us. “Right now, I must speak with Serena.”
Upon hearing her name, Serena stopped poking Ren with a stick and lookup up at us. “YOU WILL NEVER CATCH ME!” She screamed before she ran straight into the forest.
Terrence sighed.
“If we’re leaving, what about the people back in the village? Are we going to leave them just like that? Aren’t they Rose’s people?” Nate asked. I nudged him with my elbow to make him drop the topic.
I swear, if this resulted in me becoming the tribe’s new chief or leader then I will throw garlic at Nate for the rest of his vampire life!
“Let’s leave it as it is, for now. After all, they are safer here compared to other places. Time will decide on how it will progress. Now, if you both will excuse me, I have a Nymph to find.” Terrence bowed in my direction before he slowly made his way in the same direction where Serena vanished.
Nate and I exchanged glances. “Your father is strict.”
“Really? I thought he was kind of cool.”
“You really are a daddy’s boy.” I turned back and started heading towards the spot where I slept. I don’t really have much stuff here since everything was back at our original campsite. And when I say original, I meant the campsite up on the surface.
Speaking of which, I wonder how Cloud and the other horses are doing. I sure do hope that Cloud isn’t causing too much trouble without me.
I paused as I started looking around. Where’s my bag? Where’s my damn bag with the chalice?!
I started to swear, but I tried not to let anyone notice that I was starting to panic. They will kill me! They will surely murder me if they found out that-
“Hey.” Ace suddenly called my attention and I felt something strong and heavy, hitting me on the face.
I blinked slowly before looking down to see that it was the bag that I was looking for. “The chalice!” I breathed out in relief until I suddenly remembered that Ace was here. I gulped before I looked up and prepared myself for a good scolding.
Ace was rubbing his eyes tiredly as if he was trying to keep himself awake. “You should keep an eye on that. It’s an important artifact.”
“What wrong with you?” I dared to ask. “You didn’t sleep?”
He stiffened before he glared at me. “None of your business. Just go and get ready so we can finally leave this blasted place.” He snapped at me before going back to his spot and sharpening the blades of his bow and arrows.
Geez. Why are people in such a bad mood today?
I was about to grab something to eat when I heard a scream. A scream loud enough to rattle our nerves.
We all ran towards the spot where Terrence and Serena were standing. They were both stunned and looking at a specific spot in the forest.
We followed their gazes and stifled in a chorus of gasped as well.
Emerging from the forest were Nymphs. There were at least 5 of them. These Nymphs were ones that don’t talk. Similar to the ones we saw when we were going to Fred.
The Nymphs carefully made their way out of the forest. They hesitated a bit, but when they spotted Serena, they started smiling and headed in our direction.
“Holy cow,” Ren whispered. “I thought that Serena is the only Nymph here?”
All of the Nymphs started gathering around us. All smiling brightly. Serena was stunned. It was the first time that I saw her this quiet. It must be a shock for her as well.
“It must be the ritual. Princess, the presence of your familiars must have purified the lands enough for them to return.” Terrence says.
“Okay,” I replied doubtfully. “But returned from where?”
“I-” Terrence paused. “I actually have no idea.”
I looked at Viex and Custard, who were now on either side of me. “Do you guys know what’s happening here?”
‘Sorry, master. I have no idea. Maybe Viex does.’
‘Why me?’ Viex demanded while pointing a look at him.
‘Because you’re old and wise.’ Custard says while panting and lolling his tongue out goofily. Viex frowned and slapped him with his tail. ‘Ow!’
I but my lips to stop myself from laughing. I can’t believe he just called Viex old!
‘There are two things that I believe happened. The first one is that they may have been scared and went into hiding. With the absence of order, spirits tend to go berserk. The second is that they may have been trapped and sealed somewhere.’ One of the Nymphs pointed at Viex and nodded her head eagerly. Then she formed some sort of hand gestures in the air and pointed to a nearby tree. ‘I guess the second theory was closer. It appears that they were indeed trapped. But they were more likely turned into trees.’ The same Nymph nodded and before she pointed in my direction with an apologetic look. ‘And it would appear that they were the ones who brought you here. She says that they apologize for dragging you here.’
I told the princes what Viex said so they would get an idea as well. I looked at VIex again. “You say they brought me here?” I questioned. “I don’t exactly remember them doing anything.”
“The vines.” Ace concluded and earned a series of nods from the Nymphs. “No wonder the forest felt more alive here and harder to control. I should have guessed.”
I was suddenly tackled to the ground by a heaving and crying Serena. “Friend!” She sniffed. “Thank you! Thank you for bringing them back even though they were talking here but they never had the gal to even let me know!” She stopped crying for a second to glare at them briefly before crying again.
“Um...There there.” I said awkwardly as I patted her back. Unsure of what to do at this point. She finally sat back and allowed me to the same while she whipped her tears.
Serena glanced back at Terrence. “Fine. I’ll do it. I’ll allow this one favor of yours, Terrence. But only because you people brought back my sisters.”
Ren helped me up on my feet before I turned to look at Serena. “What favor are we talking about?” I looked at the princes to see if they knew what was going on before I returned my gaze to Serena.
The Nymph got on to her feet as well before she headed for her sisters. They are exchanged warm smiles before looking back at us. “We’ll be taking you back. Back to the surface world.”