My Servant System - #389 - 389 Chapter 388: Escaping the Forest?



Kat PoV

With the way shown to me through a euphoric resurgence of the bond working once more, I resumed my rush through the frosted over forest, the chilly air filling my lungs as my feet glided over the snow.

I had no real idea where the Bloodstone Clearing was in terms of my current position, as the hours I had run after managing to flee from the Oni and monster infested clearing were now nothing more than a blur to me, my heart still pounding at the thought of what might have been if I was just a tad bit weaker.

Who knows what truly awaited me if I had been weaker and forcefully taken by such a powerful tribe of Oni; would I have still been the Kat that Jahi and the others had fallen in love with, or would I regress into the looser, unsuccessful Kat that I had once been in a life long since over?

That very thought made me shudder, and I pushed past my strained, aching muscles and slightly labored breathing as I ran, wanting to leave this forest behind me and never see it ever again.

I shook my head as I brought my thoughts away from such a depressing subject, instead focusing on the here and now.

During my mad rush away from the Oni, I had consumed more of my potions, bringing me down to just two more stamina potions and three mana potions, as well as three dark vision potions…

I had been chugging the alchemical liquids like they were water as I made my swift escape, and that meant that, going forwards, I would need to resume my more conservative, cautious, and realistic journey.

Less potion usage, more actual rest, and stopping at reasonable times.

As it stands, I hadn’t slept in a few days, and I could tell that there was only so much the potions could do for me now that my body had grown accustomed to the influx of magically enhancing liquid.

So I tried to ignore the dull headache and strained, sharp burning sensation that assaulted my legs and back as I continued to run, the sky slowly darkening once more as I continued through the forest as swiftly as I possibly could.

My speed seemed quicker then before, and I traveled between the trees quickly, the pale blue bark zipping past as I weaved between trunks and leapt over roots.

Night fell, and I decided to take one of the three dark vision potions, wanting to make a little more progress before finally hunkering down for the night, giving my body some form of rest and sustenance for a few hours.

I would desperately need it, since I could feel my body consuming my mana at an enhanced rate, replacing my need for calories with mana.

Sure, I could last entirely off of the potent mana in the air for who knows how long, but food is still much preferred to doing that, even if it is just dried, salted jerky.

Eventually I felt the dark vision potion weakening, and I sighed as I focused on the direction I needed to head before slipping under some roots, carving the direction and placing one of my daggers down facing that direction.

Resting my head against the roots, I steadied my breathing as I allowed my Water Mana to wash over my exerted muscles, healing them and soothing me swiftly, all while I searched through my packs and removed the strips of dried mammoth, gnawing on them hungrily as an orb of water floated around me, allowing me to drink when I needed it.

My ears were twitching as I focused on my surroundings, all while I made sure to take another scent diffuser pill in between bites of the jerky, keeping my presence down to a minimum as I rested up.

The forest was back to being its silent, empty self, and I could only hope that it remained that way as night slowly gave way to the bleary light of dawn.

Getting up, I took my dagger and resumed running, my body so used to the motions that I returned to my top speed in mere moments, my sense of time blurring as I wondered if I had ever stopped at all…

The unending trees and roots weren’t doing anything good for my mental state, as I wondered briefly if I was just trapped inside the same small ring of forest and running in a circle, only to bite my cheek hard as I tossed that thought away.

I needed to think positively, but it was becoming harder and harder to do so inside this wretched frozen forest.

Time lost its meaning as there was no sun to look directly at, nor was anything happening to distract myself from the monotony of traversing such a large wooded area.

Even the stories and conversations with the system had grown boring over these long hours, and I could only grit my teeth and push forwards, desiring nothing more than to be free of this frost covered cell.

Time continued to pass, and I would never be able to tell just how long I had been inside this forest as days melded together, my only driving force being the fear of being captured by any of the tribes inside the confines of this forest.

Eventually, I somehow managed to reach the edge of the forest, looking out over the snowy plains that separated this forest from the Wekalian Steppes a few thousand miles to the north.

Covered in a light flurry shower, the plains were peaceful and quiet; not silent like the forest, but filled with the swishing of a breeze and occasional howl of an animal, while in the distance I could make out a small hamlet nestled into the side of a hill, fires warming up the landscape as the people huddled together, sharing in the warmth.

I… was finally free, and I continued my journey forwards, putting distance between me and that damnable forest as I ventured out onto the next leg of my journey.