Without anyone noticing, something had started growing on the numerous trees.
Resembling overgrown flowers that had yet to bloom, green fluorescent pods had appeared here and there on the trunks and branches.
Sporadically, the pods would twitch, open up slightly, and...
Puff-
Puff-
Emit a breath of Green Mist.
Slowly but surely, the area was filled by it.
The pods had begun growing and sprouting some time ago.
It was breathed in by Mark, Elisa, and Krista, but also by the Beasts and Monsters that they fought.
As one might expect, the concentration of this Mist in the air was low at first. So low that it was impossible to notice with one's eyes, or even with one's sense of smell.
The appearance of the pods, however, was kept a secret.
On one hand, the fighting kept them from noticing those pods.
On the other,
"They really don't want to fall asleep, huh? Especially those two..." The Spirit Of The Forest, Yarnha, whispered to itself.
On a branch, the Creature with a womanly appearance was seated.
It had been a couple of seconds since the Forest's roots had started rising from the ground and entrapping the intruders.
The Forest's Spirit was standing behind Mark.
Its lips moved as it stared at Krista.
The Forest's Spirit was halfway through the ground.
Only its upper body was visible, as it stared at the kneeling Elisa.
The three were half asleep, and seemed to fight the stupor as they jerked themselves awake from time to time.
"Alala... Why do you have to make this harder than it needs to be?" The seated Yarnha whispered.
There were four Spirits.
But at the same time, there was only a single Spirit.
The four were one.
"You can trust me. You know that, right? I'm here for you. So why don't you tell me?"
The sweet and irresistible voice entered Mark's mind.
He shook his head, but the Green Mist had already done its job.
In a way, it could be described as a Poison.
Yet, it hadn't triggered Mark's "Poison Resistance" Passive Skill.
The body deals with different Poisons differently.
Each has a certain Remedy.
And this type of Poison, Mark had never stumbled upon.
The Green Mist was more Drug than Poison, though the line that separated the two was a rather thin one.
The Mist had numerous Effects on those who breathed in a certain quantity of it.
Amongst other things, the Green Mist would dull the senses in a peculiar way.
One's vision would become blurry and hazy, but colorful things would appear brighter and shinier.
In this particular instance, the Mist made the Spirit's hair, dress, and eyes stand out.
Breathing in the Green Mist would also lead to inhibitors slowing down the brain's processing speed, impeding one's thinking and reasoning.
This made it much harder to focus. Remaining calm and collected would also be an issue.
The sense of hearing, however, is heightened by the Green Mist.
These factors worked together to ensure that Yarnha's voice was all they could hear.
That she was all they could focus on.
All they could think about.
A couple of steps away from the three, were the bodies of dead Monsters and Beasts.
Roots had come into contact with them some time ago.
By now, the unmoving bodies were nothing but carcasses.
Only the Monsters' and Beasts' bones remained.
Their life force had been completely drained by the roots. By the Forest.
This was, of course, what it meant to "Become one" with the Spirit.
The reason why the three were still standing was simple.
Unlike the Monsters and Beasts, the three hadn't died yet.
Taking away energy and life force from a dying body was a much easier task.
Something that the Forest, or Nature in general, excelled at.
Taking from the living on the other hand, not so much.
Which is why the Spirit needed them to give in to its demand of "Becoming one".
"Looks like that one is pretty much ripe for the taking." Yarnha whispered.
"Now, once again, what are you?" Yarnha asked.
"Where are you going anyways? Is there really anything you will find?" Yarnha questioned.
"Why not stay here? You will never be separated, if you remain here." Yarnha argued.
Mark's brow twitched nervously.
Krista trembled restlessly.
"I've just... Started looking for it. I can't..."
"Why not? It's easier here, with me."
"No... I must... We have to-"
"We? There's no true 'we' here, is there? You should know that better than anyone."
"That's not... True. We..."
"We this, we that. You're an Elf, aren't you? Why would you remain with a Monster? Especially one who reeks of Corruption. You can smell it, right?"
"I... I..." Elisa pressed her lips. "I can." She confessed.
"Then-"
"But it's... Different."
"Different? Is that how Corrupted you have become?"
"Huh?"
The words truly shocked Elisa. It felt like the Spirit's hand had brutally and ruthlessly grabbed her heart.
Yarnha sighed.
"It's time for you to understand."
"Understand... What?"
"Understand that this is to your benefit. That being with me is better."
"No... That's-"
"Look..."
Elisa's body stopped rocking back and forth, resting fully on the roots around it instead.
"At what awaits you out there."
The eyelids that had been slowly opening and closing for a while stopped doing so.
Her eyes rolled to the back of her head.
The final Effect brought by the Green Mist.
One that could only be felt after breathing in a high quantity of the Mist.
The synapses in the brain start firing up.
The blurry vision isn't so blurry anymore.
Suddenly, Yarnha disappeared.
The trees disappeared.
The whole Forest had disappeared.
Everything had faded away.
Only she remained, alone.
Elisa blinked.
She opened her eyes.
"What..."
A large and well-decorated room.
"Where...?"
Golden tapestry covered the walls.
A large and beautifully ornamented mirror was on the other side of the room.
Elisa stared at herself.
She brought a hand to her face. Dirty.
She brought a hand to her hair. Greasy.
"This..."
Elisa found herself kneeling on a spacious bed.
Her eyes teared up as she lowered her gaze towards that bed.
She recognized it.
It was hers after all.
