The Source of All Evil

Chapter Eighteen

Michaela Walker.

Michaela hesitated a bit before striding towards the Forbidden Forest. Kirby clung to her head, purring from time to time, seemingly frightened. The princess, however, didn’t hide her fear, gripping Michaela's arm tightly, looking like a scaredy-cat as she studied the surroundings.

“You really have been here before?”

Michaela nodded, glancing at the frightened princess’s expression, forming a reassuring smile. “Yes, though it was scary, I wasn’t attacked by any creatures. I mean, inside the forest, because once we got out of the forest, a colony of Cursedwings targeted Kirby and me.”

“Cursedwings?! Why would they be here?”

“I don’t know,” Michaela said with a shrug. “They must’ve roamed away from their habitat for some reason. Anyway, the village Chief saved me, and that’s how I ended up in Hema.”

“The creatures usually stay around their nest, so I find it hard to believe that Cursedwings came, all the way, to the Forbidden Forest and left their nests unguarded.” The princess said musingly, then hastily added when Michaela gave her a look. “It doesn't mean I don’t believe you. I was just thinking out loud. You see, the beasts that inhabit the Cursed Forest are all followers of the Evil Master, so I’m wondering if he’s the one who sent them to look for you. . .”

“Yeah, I remembered something,” Michaela interjected, sounding excited as she said. “The Chief said that the Cursedwings exhibited odd behavior when they didn’t kill me on the spot and that they were carrying me as some sort of trophy.”

“They carried you?! So, they must have been sent by the Evil Master. . . And that’s exciting for you; why?” The princess was staring at her weirdly, as if she’s gone mad, making Michaela chuckle.

“Silly, it is exciting! It means I am immune to their attacks. If anything, they’ll just try to take me away, but I can always find a way out.”

Actually, that wasn’t why Michaela got excited. If the princess and the chief’s theories were true, then she could use those creatures to get sooner than later to the Evil Master’s palace. Of course, she wouldn’t tell this to the princess.

“Yes, that would work to your advantage if we were in the Cursed Forest, but we’re not. I’m just terrified of the beasts in this forest. They’re known for their high cultivation and viciousness.”

“Relax, Nirvana. We have Kirby with us, and it can always use its powers to get us away from danger. . . Why are you looking at me like that?”

The princess had a stunned look, her tan cheeks tinted red, smiling wide as she hugged Michaela. “This is the first time you called me by my name. I’m so ecstatic!”

Hey, hey, don’t guilt-trip me, Michaela thought, regretting that she tricked her into following her here. But thinking of Rafe being in danger, Michaela swallowed her guilt, forming a rigid smile as she hugged the princess back.

They walked for a few minutes inside the forest, and nothing eventful happened on the way. The princess chatted in a carefree way as they walked deeper into the woods, looking overwhelmed with excitement for just hearing Michaela call her name, unaware of the alarmed expression the other had on. Michaela didn’t feel at ease that the forest was quiet, too quiet, that not even the rustles of leaves could be heard.

“By the way, I like the name of your Divine fairy.”

Michaela pushed the princess behind her, saying. “While I appreciate the sentiment, now is not the time to talk about this.” She nodded towards a group of men walking in their direction, looking like some noblemen, dressed in some fancy suits, bearing a strong demeanor.

“They must be some experts exploring the forest. Let’s introduce ourselves.”

Michaela figured that the princess got conditioned to always seek men's help, which was why she sounded so eager and relieved now that strange men appeared in the forest. But she knew better. Michaela held the princess’s hand and shook her head, as she could tell that this group of men weren’t human but Divine beasts who could shift into human forms.

They were the very beasts who attacked the princess and her men when she got forced to enter this forest, in the original story. Michaela recalled their description from the book, which was why she could easily recognize them. She found it odd that this inciting incident, which would lead to the rising action of the plot to its c****x, was happening now. And there was one problem; the princess survived that incident alone. The people who were with her got ravaged by these beasts. And now, the only person accompanying the princess was her.

Did she really just dig her own grave?

The group of seven beasts stopped in front of them, wearing inviting smiles, resembling that of a crooked salesperson. One of them, who had a red bow-tie on, covered with his medium-long beard, bowed his head towards them, saying.

“My name is. . . Lord Atlas, and these are my companions.” The others snickered; one of them licked his lips as if he was imagining which part of her looked more decadent. Michaela shivered in disgust, gulping carefully as she went on.

“I guess you’re taking a stroll in the forest just like us.”

The man’s smile grew, nodding. “Yes, but I’m embarrassed to say that we lost our way.”

The princess tugged her shirt, and Michaela leaned down as the other whispered, “How is it possible that they are lost when their power levels are higher than mine? All experts have a sense of perception and high intuition.”

“That’s because they’re not taking a stroll, just like us. Have you ever seen someone venturing in the forest wearing a suit?”

Michaela was loud enough for the others to hear, and the man replied. “I understand how suspicious we might look, but we really were taking a drive in our carriage, but it broke down, and we had to walk. . .”

“Without your mounts and with no guards, and you expect me to believe you? Besides, one of you is overly excited to taste human meat that he has already started shifting into his true form.”

Indeed, one of the beasts, the one who was licking his lips, was already growing fangs and mane. He huffed as if he was chastising himself for his inability to stay in control. Albeit Michaela was terrified, she remained calm, holding the princess’s hand with one and using the other to hold Kirby closer to her chest.

The group leader smirked her way, tapping a finger on his lips, before letting out a chuckle. “You’re a smart human. I give you that. I made a bet with my friends that you would willingly follow us to your demise, falling for our lie, but you proved us wrong.”

“How can I fall for such pathetic charade? It's so juvenile,” she slyly remarked, but the leader of the group didn’t look offended, laughing as he said.

“For a mere human with no innate powers, you sure know how to run your mouth.”

“And for a Divine beast with divine powers, it sure is embarrassing that you couldn’t even pull a sham on a mere human with no innate powers. . . Also, if you’re going to be two-faced, at least make sure one is pretty.”

His looks weren't half-bad, and only their eyes revealed the beasts they hid within, and the thought of it repulsed her.

The seven beasts all seemed irritated by her reply, glowering their ways, showing their growing fangs. The princess’s voice trembled, whispering. “Why are you getting them riled up?! We can’t fight them!”

Of course, Michaela knew that, but what could she do?! Talking s**t was now her defense mechanism, ever since she transmigrated to this world, though it was a bit broken.

“Are you underestimating us?!” The leader said through gritted teeth, and Michaela blurted.

“It’s impossible to underestimate you.”

“You! You dare insult us!”

“No, silly. I wasn’t insulting you; I was describing you.”

The beasts had enough of her little disrespect. They all morphed at once, before her eyes, into beasts similar to that of Chimera from Greek mythology. There was no bone-cracking, or face-contorting, as she expected. The way they shifted seemed like an act of magic, as one moment they were in their human forms, the next, glorious beasts were towering over them.

Each beast looked like a lion with the head of a bear protruding from its back, a large dragon tail with a snake's head on its end sweeping the trees that surrounded them, sending them flying in the air. They were of different colors, black, brown, golden, and white, looking majestic yet terrifying. The beasts stood at ten feet tall, making Michaela and the princess look like dust specs in front of them.

“Oh, s**t!”