Freedom Forest

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"Have a safe travel, sir." You hand the coachman a fairly generously filled bag of coin. Nothing too significant, as your inheritance has afforded you more money than what you know to do with. You might not even have need for it soon enough. "You as well," you wave the carriage away as it disappears into the mist of that damp and dreary afternoon. You turn, your boots splashing water up that has accumlated on the ground from the rain, now turned into a light drizzle. A man wearing a dark cloak with the hood pulled up watches you, with his back to the dark forest behind him. You swallow hard and take those hopeful steps toward him. [["Hello, sir."]] You greet the man.

"Here to visit Freedom Forest?" He asks. Straight to the point, this one is. You scratch your beard, scrounging up all the scraps of information you've heard about this place and its inhabitants. Plenty of people told you about how this place was magical and full of wonder, though most of them had never even set foot near it. Plenty of people also told you that the rumors were all nonsense, fairy tales told between children. The coachman shared some advice with you, but even he, who often took sightseers to this location, didn't know much about these people or the place. He only told you to have no doubt anything that you try to do or say. You take a deep breath before responding, a way of mentally preparing yourself. "Actually, I was hoping to see if I could possibly [[live here]]."

The man with the cloak scratched at the stubble on his chin, clearly thinking about what you'd just said. You can't read what he's thinking, his eyes covered by the hood and also because you stand a solid two head taller than him. After a few awkward seconds, the man gestures for you to follow him. [["Okay, all right, follow me."]] He moves quickly, cutting into the darkness between the line of trees.

As you both walk into the forest, you notice that the gentle pattering of raindrops fades away. What should have been trees and foliage surrounding you slowly fades into pitch blackness, like staring into a cellar with no torch or lantern. You look all around you, taken aback by what's happening. When you look behind you, you notice that the world you were just standing in slowly distorts, being swallowed up by the same darkness that you are walking into. You feel a firm tug on your sleeve. You turn and see the cloaked figure holding firmly onto your robe. "Keep following, lad. You don't want to get lost in here." You gulp hard and [[proceed]].

The man lets go of your sleeve after you two walk a little farther. You can only presume that he trusts you to keep following. Soft white specks of glowing lights float around lazily, decorating the void of darkness. Some are pure white, some are a subdued cyan, some in a pale yellow or green. "What are these?" You ask. Before the cloaked man can answer, you both emerge from that darkness into [[blinding sunlight]].

As your eyes adjust to the light, you make out an ordinary looking forest. No bird calls, no insects pestering or buzzing around, just trees and foliage that could be found anywhere else. Not what you would expect of the fabled "Freedom Forest". "Those were souls of the departed, souls of the lost." "What?" The man with the cloak peels back his hood to reveal a green set of eyes looking at you. "People that wandered into the forest without any guidance, those rejected by the forest for being deemed unworthy or a threat." He rubs at one of his eyes with the back of his sleeve. "May their souls find peace in that eternal darkness." You turn around, but the darkness has vanished now. The forest expands behind you. [["Now if that's all you need-"]]

"Wait," You interrupt him. "What is it? Need something else answered?" His eyes are strangely red as he pulls his arms away from having rubbed at them. "If not, just follow this path until you reach the community. I have to get back to my post." You stand there and think over some things you'd like to ask about. Questions: [["What was that darkness?"]] [["Are the rumors about Freedom Forest true?"]] [["Your eyes look red, is everything okay?"]] [["Never mind, I'll be on my way."]]

"Ah, I don't know how it works exactly, no one really does. We think that the forest uses it as a means of protecting itself from unwanted visitors. Without a guide, any that attempt to enter get lost and perish..." The man trails off, staring blankly at the ground. You feel your breath get caught in your throat. Is this place more devious that the rumors let on? You feel nervous thinking about what you might have just gotten yourself into. "But you have nothing else to worry about. Nothing else can harm you now. The forest deemed you worthy of entry. Is there anything else you'd like to know?" You breath a sigh, feeling a little relieved, but you're still a little doubtful. You collect yourself and think before speaking. Questions: [["Are the rumors about Freedom Forest true?"|"Are the rumors about Freedom Forest true?"2]] [["Your eyes look red, is everything okay?"]] [["That's all. I'll be on my way."|"Never mind, I'll be on my way."]]

"There are a lot of rumors about this place. What I can tell you is that the people here are different most people you've approached in your life. Everyone comes here for different reasons. This forest gives you the opportunity to live out your dreams, free of any interference. Without spoiling much more, all I'll tell you is that it's a peaceful place. I'm sure you'll like it if you choose to stay with us. Any other questions?" Some of the rumors you look to be true. You want to ask for him to say more, but don't. You think about what you want to ask about next. Questions: [["What was that darkness?"|"What was that darkness?"2]] [["Your eyes look red, is everything okay?"]] [["Never mind, I'll be on my way."]]

"I... Um..." The man hesitates to answer. His eyes swell with tears as he stares at the ground. You feel guilty for him making remember whatever it is going through his mind. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked. I-" "Don't worry about it." The man makes a solid effort to meet your gaze with a smile. "Let's just say that I lost someone that means a lot to me in that darkness. As long as I live, I'll never let anyone else fall victim, so long as the forest wills it." You feel great admiration toward the man and return the smile. "Thank you for your service." He nods at you, wiping his tears away. "Just follow that path, it'll eventually lead to everyone else that lives here. You'll get instructions from there and decide if you want to live here with us or not. I have to get back to my post in case someone else comes by. Good luck and I wish you all the best." With that, he walks past you, vanishing into thin air. There's a dirt path before you that splits the forest down the middle. It's almost unnatural in how clear and flat it is, without any noticeable ridges or bumps, or even so much as a pebble or in the way. [[You follow it.|You follow it (softie route)]]

The man in the dark cloak nods and slides the hood back over his head. "Keep following this dirt path, it'll eventually lead to everyone else that lives here. You'll get instructions from there and whether you're fit to live among us or not. Good luck." With that, he walks past you, vanishing into thin air. Probably headed back into that strange darkness. There's a dirt path before you that splits the forest down the middle. It's almost unnatural in how clear and flat it is, without any noticeable ridges or bumps, or even so much as a pebble or in the way. [[You follow it.]]

As you walk, noises from animals that would naturally inhabit an area like this finally ring out. The chirping of birds, the occassional skittering of smaller, unseen animals. The sunlight is warm as it beams down on you. The air also feels different from anything else you've experienced before. There's a subtle sweetness to it, something about it makes you feel refreshed after each breath you take. Everything feels more vibrant, more alive. These new sensations almost distracted you from the fact that it was raining just a moment ago. What is this place? In the distance, you can hear the faint sounds of people conversing with one another. A clearing appears before you, providing [[an exit]] to the uninhabited portion of the forest.

You emerge from the forest into an area that has more manicured surroundings. The foliage around you is trimmed to shorter lengths. A few tree stumps are scattered about. A large unlit bonfire is in the center of it all, with around ten to fifteen people sitting around it conversing with one another. Before you can announce your presence to them, they take note of it. All eyes fall on you and the group falls silent. You stare back silently. A man breaks away from the group, taking a few steps in your direction. "We have a visitor everyone," He has a voice that commands attention. "Let's show him [[our hospitality]]."

The group begins walking toward you with the man that spoke up first leading them. "Hello, it's nice to meet you." The man extends a hand out to you. He has long hair that falls in thick, braided strands that match his long, grey beard. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that he's the leader of this group.v You take his hand in yours and offer a firm shake. "The pleasure is mine, sir." You both lock eyes and smile. You then take a glance at the rest of the group. Different shapes, sizes, styles, and demeanors. Some of these people you wouldn't assume to make a life out here, but you're not one to judge. "My name is [[Valentino]]."

"It's nice to meet you, Valentino!" A bald man with a bushy mustache in the group says. "How are you liking it so far?" A shorter and plumper woman asks. "What brings you out here?" A lanky and pale woman asks. "Hi, thank you. It's beautiful so far!" You haven't seen much, but it's better to set a good first impression. "Why am I here? Well... I was hoping to possibly live here if it isn't an issue." Everyone looks to the leader and you do the same. It's evident that he's the one to look for [[an answer]] from.

"Well, I can tell that you're serious about it," the leader gives you a friendly grin. "I'm sure you've that this place is called "Freedom Forest" by now, and that is no exaggeration. Here, you're free to do as you please. No one is permitted to encroach upon your way of living, so long as you aren't causing harm to anyone else or yourself. We and the forest only ask that what you do is of some sort of benefit to us." That's more than a relief to hear. The rumors weren't just rumors. The only thing left is the rite of passage, though you're not sure of what it is. "I'm glad to hear that." You smile. "If I may ask, what would you like to do? Judging by your physique, you look like you'd make a good hunter, perhaps?" The smile drops from your face immediately. You don't want to disappoint these people. "Uh, well, you see-" "He doesn't have the heart to be a hunter." [[A voice]] cuts you off.

A woman steps up beside the leader and puts an arm around his shoulder. The first thing you notice about her is her piercing grey eyes. Something about them is overwhelming you, making you feel exposed as she looks you up and down. "You think so?" The leader looks at her. "Those muscles have certainly seen their share of hard labor." "Sure they have. But he's not a genuine hunter or warrior." She says, holding eye contact with you. You want to pull away from her gaze, but you don't. These words might have some truth to them, you admit, but that doesn't stop them from stinging. "Excuse me?" You say, failing to [[hide your displeasure]].

"Am I telling a lie?" The woman takes her arm off the leader's shoulder and steps toward you. "Just be honest. You don't have anything to hide from us." "It's true," the leader speaks up, hoping to defuse the situation, "If you wish to do something else, nobody here has the right to question your desires." You calm down a little, but the sour taste hasn't left your mouth. "That's good to hear... [[What do I have to do]] to become one of you?"

"You have to duel the strongest we have to offer." Your eyes scan the crowd of people. There are a few faces that capture your attention, but one of them really stands out. A man with a scar running down his left cheek and an eyepatch his left eye. He has his hair styled in a messy mohawk. His sleveless shirt exposes his massive arms, veins bulging out. He notices you studying him and shakes his head. "He's not the one you'll be dueling." The leader says with a solemn voice. You furrow your brow. There's no way he isn't the strongest person out of the group. "Who is it then?" "Athena." The leader gestures to the grey-eyed woman. She smiles at you. You study her body. Average height, bronze skin that lacks any blemishes or scars, and no real muscles that stick out at you. You're first surprised, but quickly feel a rush of excitement. [[This should be easy.]]

"Prove to us that you're worthy of becoming one of us." The grey-eyed woman yawns. She doesn't see you as a threat. You'll teach her to think otherwise. The scarred man steps in front of both of you, pulling his pack off. He takes out a set of wooden swords, axes, and spears. "Pick your weapon of choice," The scarred man instructs with a meeker and higher pitched voice than expected. [[Pick up the sword.|pick up sword n route]] [[Pick up the axe.|pick up axe n route]] [[Pick up the spear.|pick up spear n route]]

A woman steps up beside the leader and puts an arm around his shoulder. The first thing you notice about her is her piercing grey eyes. Something about them is overwhelming you, making you feel exposed as she looks you up and down. "You think so?" The leader looks at her. "Those muscles have certainly seen their share of hard labor." "Sure they have. But he's not a genuine hunter or warrior. He doesn't have it in him to hurt another person or thing if he can help it." She says, holding eye contact with you. You want to pull away from her gaze, but you don't. What makes her so confident that she knows you so well? Although these words might have some truth to them, you admit, but that doesn't stop them from stinging. "Excuse me?" You say, failing to [[hide your displeasure|hide your displeasure (softie route)]].

"Ready to get your revenge on me, hm?" The grey-eyed woman gently pats your cheek twice. Your fists and jaws clench tight. You don't want to hurt her, but you'll teach her to treat you with respect. The scarred man steps in front of both of you, pulling his pack off. He takes out a set of wooden swords, axes, and spears. "Pick your weapon of choice," The scarred man instructs with a meeker and higher pitched voice than expected. [[Pick up the sword.]] [[Pick up the axe.]] [[Pick up the spear.]]

"There are a lot of rumors about this place. What I can tell you is that the people here are different most people you've approached in your life. Everyone comes here for different reasons. This forest gives you the opportunity to live out your dreams, free of any interference. Without spoiling much more, all I'll tell you is that it's a peaceful place. I'm sure you'll like it if you choose to stay with us. Any other questions?" Hearing that some of the rumors you heard look to be true helps put you at further ease regarding the deadliness of the darkness. You want to ask for him to say more, but don't. You think about what you want to ask about next. Questions: [["Your eyes look red, is everything okay?"]] [["Never mind, I'll be on my way."]]

"Ah, I don't know how it works exactly, no one really does. We think that the forest uses it as a means of protecting itself from unwanted visitors. Without a guide, any that attempt to enter get lost and perish..." The man trails off, staring blankly at the ground. You feel your blood run cold. If you hadn't kept walking, how would things have turned out? Would you never have gotten the chance to live life like you've always wanted to? "But you have nothing else to worry about. Nothing else can harm you now. The forest deemed you worthy of entry. Is there anything else you'd like to know?" You breathe a sigh, feeling a relieved. At least you know that there aren't any other obstacles for the moment. You think before speaking. Questions: [["Your eyes look red, is everything okay?"]] [["That's all. I'll be on my way."|"Never mind, I'll be on my way."]]

You swing the sword around you a few times, getting a feel for it. Back in your hometown, you were known as an elite swordsman. People from out of town had even inquired about you services. If you want to win this duel, you'll make sure that you're not holding anything back. The scarred man puts his weapons away and pulls back. The leader steps up. "Today, Valentino will be duelling against-" "I'm ready to [[start now]], while my blood is pumping." You cut the leader off.

You turn the wooden axe over in your hand, chuckling as a memory surfaces. A small scar of your own runs diagonally in the space between your thumb and index finger. Acquired in training to become a guardian for the government in your town. The guy that gave it to you was the greatest axe wielder you ever saw and showed you why axes weren't made for you. "Wait," You stop the scarred man before he can put the weapons away. "Not this one. Let me pick a different one." [[Pick up the sword.]] [[Pick up the spear.]]

You twirl it once in your hands. Nope. Not for you. "Hold on," You stop the scarred man from putting away the other training weapons, "Let me pick a different weapon." [[Pick up the sword.]] [[Pick up the axe.]]

The rest of the group gives you both space as you come face to face on a patch of level dirt. You stare down Athena, attempting to shake her psychologically. Maybe she'll know that this is out of her hands before you have to hurt her. Maybe she'll even apologize. "Someone looks serious!" Athena pretends to shake in fear. "First move is yours, //sir//." Clasping your sword tightly, you charge at her. She isn't holding a weapon, but that isn't your problem. You'll show her why you aren't one to take lightly. You lift the sword and: [[Swing from the right]] [[Swing from the left]] [[Swing from overhead]]

//Thunk!// She reveals a dagger, keeping your sword from connecting. //Crack!// A thunderous crack rings out as your sword bounces off of her dagger. "Try harder!" She implores you. Her eyes are steady, her body composed. You can tell that she hasn't even broken a sweat. Letting out a quick breath, you take a moment before continuing in the action. Winding up, you: [[Swing from the left]] [[Swing from overhead]]

//Whoosh!// She ducks under your sword in one fluid movement. //Wheee!// The wind from your swing being dodged makes a high-pitched sound. "You almost had me." She flashes a grin while nonchalantly flipping her dagger in her hand. You hop backward, gathering space between the both of you. You think before you go back in again, choosing to: [[Swing from the right]] [[Swing from overhead]]

You pull your arms way behind your head, building up strength for the one hit that'll end this duel. You don't want to truly hurt her, but you want to live here badly. You'll do anything it takes to win this duel. "Enough is enough." You hear Athena say just before you rip the sword down in front of you. In a blur of movement, you only have enough time to register that she's sidestepped your swing. Before you can lift your sword back up and locate your opponent, you feel something strike at your ankles, causing you to topple over like a tree. Your breath leaves your chest as you hit the ground. "Are you finished? Do you concede?" Athena's eyes lock with yours. She has you pinned down, placing herself on top of your chest and arms while holding her dagger to your throat. "I-I- [[I want a rematch."]] [[I concede."]]

Athena gets up and gives you some space. "There's no need for that. You've already proven your valor." The leader says. You stand up and dust yourself off, bringing your sword up. "Duel me again." Athena raises her dagger, gesturing for you to fight. Charging at her again with newfound determination you: [[Swing from the right|S route swing from the right b2]] [[Swing from the left|S route swing from the left b2]] [[Swing from overhead|S route swing from overhead b2]]

You have to admit, that even through all of your training and experience that you've gathered over the years, Athena is on a different level. You've never been in a fight so onesided. You couldn't even tell what she was doing before it happened. "Good," Athena stands up and offers her hand to you. "It isn't in my interest to hurt you." She practically picks you up by herself as you hop to your feet from her pull. The crowd watches you silently. Your shoulders slump a bit, you feel disappointed from that humiliating defeat. You know you have to say something. [["She's the strongest person I've ever faced."]] [["I wasn't feeling well."]] [["This duel was rigged!"]]

This is the first duel you've ever lost, and while you feel embarassed to have been so thoroughly bested, you just can't bring yourself to lie. Athena smiles. "You flatter me." "Congratulations, you've passed the test!" The Leader steps up and approvingly pats you on the shoulder. "Whenever a new member joins our community, we hold a hunt to celebrate with a feast." "I passed?" You ask. "You passed." Athena says. "The duel isn't about whether you won or lost. It's about how you conduct yourself after the duel, regardless of the result. Come, I'll help you prepare for the hunt." Without giving you a chance to say or ask anything else, Athena grabs you by the hand, [[pulling you away from the group and deeper into the forest.]]

The leader steps forward and pats you on the shoulder. "Congratulations! Welcome to our community!" You shake your head in confusion. "But I lost?" "The duel wasn't about winning or losing. It was to test your spirit. Usually we hold a hunt after any duels to celebrate, but since you say you don't feel well-" "He'll be fine." Athena pats you on the back with enough force that it shakes you. "Let me show him what to do. Get everyone ready." [[Athena drags you away from the group]], not giving you the chance to say anything.

You can't come to terms with defeat, especially with how effortlessly you were beaten. You've been forced to learn the sword and lived most of your life learning how to become efficient at using it. It just isn't possible for all of that to mean nothing. "The duel was not rigged, we assure you-" "That isn't possible," You cut the leader off. "As a matter of fact, I don't want to live among a group of liars." "Wait-" Before the leader can say anything else, you turn toward the entrance that you came from. Before you can move, however, you feel a hand on your shoulder. You look down and see Athena staring at you with a frown. "You and I both know there was no cheating. I thought you were better than this." You rip your shoulder away from her. What does she know about you? Before anyone else can stop you, you storm off. This isn't where you're meant to be. You're sure of it.

"So, what-" "You and I both know you're perfectly healthy." Athena finally lets go of your arm after both of you are well away from the group. "I'll let this one go, but stay honest from now on." You scratch the back of your head like a young boy that just got lectured. You feel like one, too. You wonder how she knows nearly everything going on in your mind. You have questions for her. [["How do you know everything?"]] [["What are we going to do?"]] [["How are you so strong?"]]

"In time, I might tell you how. Let me clear one thing up; I don't know everything. I just know a lot. For example, I know that you spoke to our gatekeeper and guide. I know that he let you know about how he lost his only child and that you showed him your compassionate side." Your eyes go wide. "How do you know that? Wait... He lost a child in the darkness?" "Thank you for that," Athena smiles at you. "Times have been difficult for him, but he continues fighting everyday." Your question went ignored. Athena waits to see if you have anything else to say. [["Why can't you tell me?"]] [["What are we going to do?"]] [["How are you so strong?"]]

"There are some weapons in a small shed near here. My personal collection. I'm giving you one of the swords in there, since I know that you won't let it go to waste," She points off into the trees, though you're not sure what you're supposed to be looking at. "The herd chose that area recently, just beyond the trees. We're gonna get the fattest, most delicious meat to celebrate you becoming one of us." You hadn't thought about hunting being a practice here as you thought this was a peaceful mythical place where death didn't occur even to animals. But after finding out about the darkness and the duel, you're not sure what to expect anymore. [["Let's move. Don't want to keep the others waiting too long."]]

"I've trained hard my whole life. It was necessary. From the day I was born, everything has been a struggle for me," Athena lowers her gaze to the ground. "Believe it or not, you were the most formidable opponent I've ever had. You're strong, even if you lost." It feels like a joke, considering how hard you lost, but you feel like she isn't lying. "What type of training did you do?" "A lot of training, more than most can imagine." You wait for her to elaborate further, but she leaves it at that. [["How do you know everything?"]] [["What are we going to do?"]]

"You'll have to earn that answer. Ask me anything else." [["Seriously? Can't you tell me?"]] [["What are we going to do?"]] [["How are you so strong?"]]

"No." Athena is visibly irritated now, her eyes shining fiercly at you. "Question time is over, come on." Tugged by the sleeve, you let yourself get dragged off. Whether you want to admit it or not, you don't want to get on her bad side. With things already awkward between you two, you decide to keep your mouth shut until you [[reach your destination.]]

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//Thunk!// Her dagger blocks your swing again in an eerily identical manner. //Crack!// A thunderous crack rings out as your sword bounces off of her dagger. "Try harder!" She implores you. Her eyes are steady, her body composed. You can tell that she hasn't even broken a sweat. Letting out a quick breath, you take a moment before continuing in the action. Winding up, you: [[Swing from the left|S route swing from the left b2]] [[Swing from overhead|S route swing from overhead b2]]

//Whoosh!// She ducks under your sword in one fluid movement. //Wheee!// The wind from your swing being dodged makes a high-pitched sound. "You can't touch me." She informs you, flipping the dagger again with her other hand on her hip. You hop backward, gathering space between the both of you. You think before you go back in again, choosing to: [[Swing from the right|S route swing from the right b2]] [[Swing from overhead|S route swing from overhead b2]]

You pull your arms way behind your head, building up strength for the one hit that'll end this. You don't want to hurt her truly, but you want to live here badly. You'll do anything it takes to win this duel. "I don't want to hurt you." You hear Athena say just before you rip the sword down in front of you. In a blur of movement, you only have enough time to register that she's sidestepped your swing. Before you can lift your sword back up and locate your opponent, you feel something strike at your ankles, causing you to topple over like a tree. Your breath leaves your chest as you hit the ground. "Have you had enough yet? Do you concede?" Athena's eyes lock with yours. She has you pinned down, placing herself on top of your chest and arms while holding her dagger to your throat. [["I concede."|I concede."]] [["Not yet! One more time!"]]

Athena frowns and stares at you for a long minute. She sighs and lifts herself, allowing you to gather yourself. "Please, Valentino, we don't want you to get hurt." The leader pleads. You look at him out of the corner of your eye, ignoring his warnings. Failure isn't an option when your dreams are just in reach. When you know that you can take down someone that hasn't gone through the trials that you have. "Ready yourself," You warn Athena. She shrugs and assumes her defensive stance. Once again, it's on you to take the initiative. You won't squander your opportunity this time. With all the focus and determination you can muster, you: [[Swing from the right|S route swing from the right b3]] [[Swing from the left|S route swing from the left b3]] [[Swing from overhead|S route swing from overhead b3]]

//Thunk!// Her dagger perfectly blocks your strike once again. //Crack!// A thunderous crack rings out as your sword bounces off of her dagger. "Not good enough!" She yells at you. Her eyes are steady, her body composed. You can tell that she hasn't even broken a sweat. Letting out a quick breath, you take a moment before continuing in the action. Winding up, you: [[Swing from the left|S route swing from the left b3]] [[Swing from overhead|S route swing from overhead b3]]

//Whoosh!// She ducks under your sword in one fluid movement. //Wheee!// The wind from your swing being dodged makes a high-pitched sound. "Not even close." Her eyes look at you with pity while nonchalantly flipping her dagger in her hand. You hop backward, gathering space between the both of you. You think before you go back in again, choosing to: [[Swing from the right|S route swing from the right b3]] [[Swing from overhead|S route swing from overhead b3]]

You pull your arms way behind your head, building up strength for the one hit that'll end this. You don't want to hurt her truly, but you want to live here badly. You'll do anything it takes to win this duel. "This is the end." Athena sounds melancholic as you rip the sword down in front of you. In a blur of movement, you only have enough time to register that she's sidestepped your swing. Before you can lift your sword back up and locate your opponent, you feel something strike at your ankles, causing you to topple over like a tree. This time, the impact hits harder, and you start to lose vision and awareness of everything happening around you. Before you fully lose conciousness, you hear her say one more thing. [["I thought you were different."]]

The sound of raindrops around you wake you from your slumber. As you sit up, you feel an ache shoot through the back of your head, making you groan in pain. One glance at your surroundings reveals to you that you're back under the misty rainfall outside of Freedom Forest. You stand up and wipe the mud off of your clothes, shivering all the while. "I really hoped that you could have passed the test." A familiar voice says behind you. You turn and see the hooded man. He's leaning against a tree with his arms crossed. You can't see his face, but the disappointment "How did I-" "You were thrown out here by Athena after fighting until you passed out from exhaustion. It's admirable that you were so fixed on trying to best her, even when everyone that's faced her knows they can't," He scratches at his chin, as if in deep thought. "It's a shame. I thought we might have gotten along well."

After walking for a short while, you two approach a small building built up right next to a strong, thick tree. Without a single window to give a glimpse inside, you wouldn't know what the purpose of the building is if Athena hadn't already told you. Opening the door, Athena has just enough space to reach in with half of her body. You can hear her move various things around, but there isn't enough light for you to see what exactly she's moving around. "So, tell me a little bit about yourself." The sudden question catches you off guard. "Um, like what?" "Anything." [[Tell her about where you're from.]] [[Tell her why you came to Freedom Forest.]] [[Tell her what you'd like to do in Freedom Forest.]]

"I'm from-" "From the west, I know." She says while continuing to move things around in the shed. "How do you-" "The pink pin on your cloak. I noticed it the moment you appeared before us." You pull your cloak up, bringing the pin up to your face. Home. "The backbone of our kingdom. The land of the hardworking," Athena continues looking through the shed. "If I'm remembering correctly, you're the first person from the west to come here. I've heard that most people from there live their entire lives without leaving it. They grow accustomed to the roles their assigned to, or only leave because duty calls for it. Did duty call you here?" [["Where are you from?"]] [[Tell her why you came to Freedom Forest.]] [[Tell her what you'd like to do in Freedom Forest.]]

"I left home because I was tired of the monotony of it all." You surprise yourself at being so open, but you don't stop there. "I was tasked with serving as a guard for our town leaders and working as an occassional hunter when needed, but it's never been something I particularly enjoy. I'm thankful for what I learned, but I just couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't keep waking up doing the same thing over and over, pretending that I was content with where I was at in life." "Reasonable. With your muscles, most people would jump to the conclusion that you have worked in those fields," Athena says. "Luckily, you don't have to worry about that here. For the most part, at least." [["For the most part?"]] [[Tell her what you'd like to do in Freedom Forest.]] [[Tell her about where you're from.]]

"This place let's you live your dreams... Is that true?" "Yes. As long as you aren't a troublemaker, which the forest has already decided, you're free to do as you wish." She says, stepping out of the shed with a sword inside of a dark brown leather sheathe. "So... Could I..." You hesitate, embarassed of what you want to ask next. "Go on." You take a deep breath. "Could I be an artist? Could I sculpt toys out of wood here? Maybe write stories?" Athena smiles and pats you on the shoulder. "I knew you were a softie. I don't see why not. You could even start as early as tomorrow, as soon as we're done with your celebration. Here, take this. I have a feeling it suits you." [[Inspect the sword.]]

"The North." Cold and harsh, the most sparsely populated quadrant of the kingdom. In a book you once read that most of the kingdom's sorcerers and magic users come from there. Other than that, you haven't done too much research on the area. All you know is that while it used to be more heavily populated, many people have started making their way into other areas of the kingdom. "Do you know any magic?" You ask her. It would explain why she made easy work of you. "Maybe. But this isn't about me, we were talking about you." [[Tell her why you came to Freedom Forest.]] [[Tell her what you'd like to do in Freedom Forest.]]

"You can't completely avoid it here," she explains, "You don't have to worry about guard duty here, the forest doesn't accept troublemakers. But we still have to eat and work for our food. But sometimes, even our usual hunters will want to take a break, which means someone will have to fill that gap. Sometimes someone will ask for help and I imagine that you'll popular in that respect. You wouldn't turn down one of your new comrades, would you?" "Of course not." "Good. Other than that, you're free to do as you like in our cozy little home." [[Tell her about where you're from.]] [[Tell her what you'd like to do in Freedom Forest.]]

Glimpses of gold coupled with rubies reveal themselves as you unsheathe the sword. Once fully uncovered, you're met with a sharp, glimmering silver blade that echoes your appearance in its gleam. This sword is larger than most you've ever wielded, and yet, it feels as light as a feather in your hand. "That's a very special sword. Few can wield it and it looks to be a natural fit for you." "What's it made of?" You ask, taking your gaze off of the sword. Athena shrugs. "It was given to me. But plenty of people have tried lifting the sword, rarely have I seen someone lift it as effortlessly as you." You sheathe the sword. "When does the hunt start?" "At your word. [[Follow me.]]"

You both head deeper into the forest, working your way around roots and rocks jutting out of the ground. The leaves are taking on golden browns, warm oranges, and bright reds. In tune with the Autumn season. A peaceful scene, but one to change soon, as apparently bison are the staple dish for celebrations here. "What about your weapon?" You ask Athena, who's been relatively quiet since you two set out for the hunting spot. "Right here." She slides the dagger out from her sleeve. "Before you ask, this is the same dagger from the duel. It adapts to the situation, becoming a knife for utility, or becoming a lethal weapon at a moment's notice." A silence falls between the two of you shortly after. With a little bit to go before you reach your destination, you think that now would be a good time as ever to get some more questions answered. [["What is the darkness?"]] [["What makes Freedom Forest special?"]] [["Why did you come here?"]]

"Right, you probably have a lot of questions. That darkness is a shroud, something that filters out threats from those that are worthy of entry to the forest. Think of it as a magic barrier. The main drawback to it is that unfortunately, those that might have been considered worthy can get lost in it and perish. A guide is necessary to navigate through it." You're reminded of the hooded man and how pained he looked. "Earl, the one that guided you, decided to become a guide primarily, due to his loss. But I don't like to talk about it too much, especially without him knowing about it. Is there anything else you want to know about?" [["What makes Freedom Forest special?"]] [["Why did you come here?"]]

"Most of the rumors you've heard of sound like something out of a fairy tale, right?" You nod. "That's because this is really a magical place. The forest is a living entity. It's aware of everything that happens, how the creatures inside of it feel, including you and I. While it can be harsh toward those that are unworthy, it is a benevolent being. If it can detect that you have a pure soul, it's more than happy to fulfill your desires as best as it can." [["How do you know all of this?"]] [["What is the darkness?"]] [["Why did you come here?"]]

"I had nowhere else to go." You notice a change in Athena's tone. She sounds... Melancholic? "You said you came from the North, right?" "That's right. I spent most of my childhood with my father there, but eventually we started travelling around the kingdom. He said that the North was no place for a child to grow up." Athena's jaw tightens for a moment. "When I was still young, he passed away. We were ambushed while on the road on the way to another town. I survived on my own until I found out about this place and how I could finally live the peaceful life my father always wanted for me." A knot forms in your throat. Her pain is something that you can relate to. [[Pull out your locket.]]

"I don't." Athena laughs. "Truth is, this forest has been around a lot longer than most of us have. Most of what I said are just theories floating around, passed down by those that came before us, and the ones that came before them, and so on. But it seems believable enough, right?" Something tells you that there's more to it than Athena's telling you. You scratch at your beard, contemplating on what to ask next. [["Why did you come here?"]] [["What is the darkness?"]]

You stop walking and pull out an oval locket that was hidden underneath your shirt and open it up, showing a picture of your mother to Athena. "My mother was the only one that supported what I did in my freetime. She knew that I always dreamed more about these grand stories in my head and tried putting them on the page with my words or pictures. Everyone else told me that I should stick to using my strength." You close your hand around the locket tightly. "After she passed, I had no real reason to stay in my hometown. She always told me to live as I wanted to live. I came here to finally take those words seriously and start acting true to myself." Tears start building up, but you do your best to hold them back. Athena reaches over and puts a hand on your shoulder, rubbing it gently. [[A rustling behind the trees grabs your attention.]]

"Who's there?" Athena asks. Stumbling out from between branches and pushes, the leader makes his way over to the both of you. He's holding a crossbow in his hands. He nods at you with a smile. "How are you doing, Valentino?" "Fine." You say, turning away from both of them to rub the tears out of your eyes. "I've never seen you use a crossbow." You hear Athena remark, shortly followed by a scream of pain. You turn quickly and see Athena holding her arm which has one of the crossbow bolts sticking out of it. You look up and see the leader staring at her with murderous intent. He quickly looks at you. [["Help me slay this demoness!"]]

"What? Demoness?" You look down at Athena and notice what looks like small, ebony horns sprout out from her forehead. Her ears also stretch out at the tips, forming pointed ends. "The bolt is doused in a poison that would normally be fatal to a human, but will only incapacitate her for a short moment. Quickly, help me bind her arms and legs before she has a chance to recuperate!" The leader pulls out chains from a sack he'd been carrying on his back. You look down at Athena who is clutching her arm, spit flying out from between her clenched teeth. She resembles a being that you've never seen before, nor heard of, but if she were really a danger, wouldn't the forest have denied her entry? But also, wouldn't the leader be denied entry if he was in the wrong as well? Battling with these conflicting thoughts, you hesitate. You need to act now. If you don't help the leader, you know fully well that Athena could kill him with her raw strength alone before you can even blink. [["What makes her a danger?"]] [["How did she get in the forest?"]] [[Help the leader bind her.]]

"Her kind warred against us long ago! They possess terrible magic capable of destruction beyond your wildest imagination! The only reason we triumphed over them was because they had a much smaller population, which we thought we had eradicated, but as you can see, they still remain!" The leader anxiously fumbles with the chains even though Athena is in a state where she's barely resisting. "If you plan on acting, act now!" [["How did she get in the forest?"|"How did she get in the forest?" 2]]

"This demoness has ties to this forest! Her kind is thought to originate from her and was thought to be extinct, but as you can see, she remains! Now are you going to help me or not?" He anxiously fumbles with the chains even though Athena is in a state where she's barely resisting. "If you plan on acting, act now!" Your heart pounds rapidly. You still have doubts over what you should do, but you don't have the luxury of mulling things over. [["What makes her a danger?"|S route what makes her a danger 2]] [[Help the leader bind her.]]

While the leader is hastily putting her arms in chains, you rush over and grab the other set of chains and start wrapping her ankles in them. Athena tries resisting your attempts, but the poison is inhibiting her from truly putting up a fight. Once you both are sure that she is incapable of breaking loose, you see the leader take out a paper with foreign writing on it. "Good. I can finally accomplish my mission." The leader puts the paper over Athena's face. He begins whispering in a language that you can't understand. His whispers speed up, and with them, a blue flame emerges from the paper, slowly growing in size. "NO!" Athena screams out while thrashing violently, "DON'T DO THIS! PLEASE!" The leader stops his whispering, the flame completely engulfing Athena's body now. "Silence." The blue flames rage on fiercely, reaching to the sky in the shape of a pillar as Athena's body begins to burn under the heat. Her shrieks are accompanied by sizzling and crackling from this strange fire for a long time, before everything falls silent. [[A pile of ash sits before you where Athena was.]]

"Thank you for your help." The leader gathers his crossbow and the chains that survived the flames into his sack. "I must be leaving, now." "Wait, who are you? What just happened?" You ask these questions, but they fall on deaf ears. The leader rushes back into the line of trees, leaving you alone. You stare at the pile of ashes, perplexed about everything that just unfolded. One moment ago, you were speaking to who you presumed to be a normal human, only to find out that she was something else. Everything she'd told you about the forest comes into doubt now and you feel strange as you stand there. Making it here was the final plan, but now you're not sure what you're supposed to do.

"Back when her kind was greater in number, they waged a war against our own kind and murdered countless innocents! As I've mentioned before, we thought we wiped them out, but they still live among us, deceiving our kind, hoping to gather in numbers again! I'm begging you, help me before it's too late!" The leader's hands are shaking now, making it difficult for him to bind her. You can see Athena's eyes begin to focus, slowly looking to you and then back to the leader. What will you do? [["How can I trust you?"]] [[Help the leader bind her.]]

The leader looks up at you, bewildered. He quickly fidgets with his pocket, before pulling out a rolled up piece of paper and throwing it at you. "That paper is proof that I am part of the Monster Hunting Guild! You can see the king's stamp at the bottom! She's stirring... Q-quickly, help me before it's too late!" You look down and see Athena's fingernails grow into sharp claws. Hissing comes from her as her arms and legs twitch. Time is up. You have to make your choice now. [[Help the leader bind her.|s route bad ending]] [[Refuse to help the leader.]]

You drop down and take a hold of the other set of chains, looping them around her ankles. Before you can tighten them, you feel something hit your face hard, knocking you on your back a short distance from where you kneeled. One of your eyes is swollen shut. You groan as you slowly sit up, disoriented by whatever knocked you back. You look over and see the leader's head separated from his body, Athena staring down at it in the palm of her hands. Her face, chest, and hands are saturated with blood. Her grey eyes shine brightly as she stares down at the disembodied head with a blank expression on her head. Her focus switches to you. Your veins run cold as you freeze, staring back at her. She drops the head and slowly makes her way to you. "I was a fool to believe I could trust anyone."

"I... I can't..." The leader focuses fully on you. "What? Are you-" Athena's hand launches up at his throat, stopping him mid sentence. You watch as her fingers and claws close around his throat. Her other hand comes up and mimics her first hand. She stands up, pulling the leader up with her. The leader's hands pull at Athena's wrists, but to no avail. The breath you'd been holding watching this emerges in a gasp as Athena looks over at you. [["Thank you."]]

In one flick of the wrist, you hear the leader's neck snap. Athena continues to hold his lifeless and limp body by the throat. You see her brows scrunch together. "I thought I could trust you." She drops The Leader. You stare at his body, taken aback by everything that has just unfolded. His body slowly shrivels up, reminding you of the dried meats that were preserved to last over the winter. It stops shriveling after a minute and turns into ash until there isn't a single recognizable feature left. "It's what happens to intruders. Those that manage to get past the boundary. He must have had a barrier casted on him that allowed him to enter undetected." You look up at Athena. She's returned to looking like a regular human. "I guess [[I can't hide anything from you anymore.]]" She sighs.

You nod. Some answering is in order. "Well," She stares down at the ashes which are beginning to fly away in the wind, "I am a human like you. But my blood is mixed with an ancient species. My species that used to freely roam these woods." You're still on edge, remembering the things The Leader said about her. Before you can even make any mention of your concerns, she does her best to put them at ease. "I'm not going to hurt you. I might not have looked a human a minute ago, but I can assure you, I just want to live in peace like you. I can share more about myself, if you'd like." [[Find out more.]] [["It's fine."]]

"Long story short, most of what he told you is true. My father's people used to be at odds with humanity. But this was generations ago. The reason for the conflict has been lost in time. Most of the hunters, such as The Leader, don't know what they're hunting for anymore. It's just their duty to make sure that we're all wiped out. I know that you're also wondering how I know so much about you." She lifts a hand out and a branch from one of the nearby trees reaches down to her palm. "The forest has a connection with me. Anybody that enters is observed by the forest. Their emotions, their personality. The forest acts as my eyes and ears. I don't know everything, but I know quite a bit." You shuffle uncomfortably at hearing this. "This is how I knew about your talk with our guide. But don't worry, I can't read your mind or know your thoughts. I just know that you're a good person, a child at heart." She smiles. [["Are there anymore of your kind?"]] You ask.

She looks surprised. "Thought I would have more explaining to do. Are you fine to carry out the hunt?" "What about The Leader?" You ask. "He ran away. The others don't need to know about what happened here. There's no need to disturb their peace." You follow her to the hunting spot, deciding that you didn't see or hear anything just now. Maybe one day you'll ask her to tell you more.

"Out in the world, I'm sure there are some. My father and I only ever knew one other that lived in the North, but he departed for a different continent. If there were any others here, the forest would have let me known." She stares sadly at the ground, obviously passing over some painful thoughts. "I should honestly keep moving, but I don't want to leave this place anymore. This is my home. I'm tired of running." You walk over and pat her gently on the shoulder. She's an outsider. Just like you. You give her a minute before asking a question that's been on your mind since you heard her mention it. [["You said you're a human?"]]

"My mother was a full-blooded human, according to my father. I never got to know her. Shortly after I was born, he couldn't hide his identity from her any longer, some of my species' features revealed to her. She left as soon as she recuperated after giving birth to me. She couldn't handle living with people that she had thought were humans. We had to master shapeshifting magic to hide among humans." She turns away from you so that her face is hidden. "Is this enough? This is hard for me to talk about..." "Sorry." You apologize. "I've heard enough." "Thank you. Let's go hold the hunt. We still have to celebrate you becoming one of us."

"Her species has ties to this forest! They're thought to have originated from here, which allows them entry! I'm begging you, help me before it's too late!" The leader's hands are shaking now, making it difficult for him to bind her. You can see Athena's eyes begin to focus, slowly looking to you and then back to the leader." The leader's hands are shaking now, making it difficult for him to bind her. You can see Athena's eyes begin to focus, slowly looking to you and then back to the leader. What will you do? [["How can I trust you?"]] [[Help the leader bind her.]]

You swing the sword around you a few times, getting a feel for it. Back in your hometown, you were known as an elite swordsman. People from out of town had even inquired about you services. If you want to win this duel, you'll make sure that you're not holding anything back. The scarred man puts his weapons away and pulls back. The leader steps up. "Today, Valentino will be duelling against-" "I'm ready to [[start now|start now n route]], while my blood is pumping." You cut the leader off.

The rest of the group gives you both space as you come face to face on a patch of level dirt. You stare down Athena, attempting to shake her psychologically. Maybe she'll know that this is out of her hands before you have to hurt her. Maybe she'll even apologize. "Someone looks serious!" Athena pretends to shake in fear. "First move is yours, //sir//." Clasping your sword tightly, you charge at her. She isn't holding a weapon, but that isn't your problem. You'll give hear reason to regret taking you seriously. You lift the sword and: [[Swing from the right|swing right n route]] [[Swing from the left|swing left n route]] [[Swing from overhead|swing overhead n route]]

//Whoosh!// She ducks under your sword in one fluid movement. //Wheee!// The wind from your swing being dodged makes a high-pitched sound. "You almost had me." She flashes a grin while nonchalantly flipping a dagger in her hand. You hop backward, gathering space between the both of you. You think before you go back in again, choosing to: [[Swing from the right|swing right n route]] [[Swing from overhead|swing overhead n route]]

Athena scowls at hearing your request for another duel. She lifts herself and then offers you her hand. As she pulls you up entirely with her own strength, she asks you, "Are you hurt?" "No." "Good. Turn back and head back from where you came from. You failed the test." Your eyes go wide at hearing this. "What? I can't! Give me another chance. I promise I'll win!" Athena sighs and she lifts a hand before you, waving her fingers in a mesmerizing manner before your eyes. You watch her fingers do their dance, your eyelids becoming heavier with each passing second. Eventually, your legs feel like jelly, and you collapse into Athena's arms, [[fading out of conciousness.]]

Athena watches you with a blank expression. "What?" You ask. "I said I give up." Athena rises and offers her hand. "Congratulations. You're one of us now." "Wait, what?" "You're one of us now!" The Leader steps over and pats you on the back. "All that's left is to hold the hunt to celebrate." Athena nods. "Wait here with everyone. The Leader and I will retrieve a weapon for you to use." You watch as they both walk off behind the trees, disappearing out of sight. The rest of the people watch you, waiting for any sort of reaction. [[Make an excuse for why you lost.]] [[Ask how you passed the test.]]

You wake to the sound of raindrops. Through the groggy haze, you find yourself outside of Freedom Forest, sitting against a tree. You wipe drool from the edge of your mouth and shakily rise to your feet. How long have you been out here? "Failed the test, eh?" You notice the hooded man standing in the same position you first met him in. "How long have I been here? What happened?" "Athena had to use a sleeping spell on you. She only uses it when she's certain her opponent won't back down," he scratches his beard. "Impressive. You're one of... Three? Three, I believe, people that she's had to use it on out of hundreds that have tried to enter." The realization sets in. "C-can I get another chance?" The hooded man inhales sharply, holds it, then lets it out. "Sorry."

"I wasn't feeling well." You lie. The looks you receive let you know that you aren't fooling anyone. Everyone turns their focus away from you and begins chatting with each other. Feeling even more embarassment from the failed lie, [[you decide to quietly wait for Athena and The Leader to return.]]

"It isn't about beating Athena in the duel," the scarred man says, "The duel only tests if you can control yourself. If you can handle losing." "Oh." You say. It's a bittersweet thing, to have lost your first ever duel, but to still gain entry into freedom forest. "Yes." The scarred man says and turns to somebody else, striking up a conversation with them. Everyone else follows suit, but you can't bring yourself to join in. Despite passing the test, the loss is still on your mind. How did Athena effortlessly take you down? [[You decide to quietly wait for Athena and The Leader to return, thinking about what went wrong in the duel.|you decide to quietly wait for Athena and The Leader to return.]]

Hours pass, and the sun beings to descend, coloring the sky a bloody orange. The people have started a fire, continuing to converse with one another. You've remained silent for the most part, answering a few trivial questions that were asked here and there. Fortunately, just as you felt your patience beginning to expire, you see The Leader emerge from between the trees, a sheathed sword in hand. He walks straight to you, alone. "Where's Athena?" You ask. You'd love to see her in the hunt. "Oh, the poor girl was feeling sick. She won't be able to attend this hunt, unfortunately." Maybe it's for the best that she isn't there. You don't know if you could take her showboating if she were to conduct herself in the same fashion out hunting that she did while dueling you. "Yes, well, don't let her absence lower your spirits. You still have plenty others worthy of your attention. Come, let's hunt before the sun fully sets."

As you both walk through the forest, Athena continues to hold your hand. Nothing about it is rough in texture, in fact, if you hadn't just been absolutely dominated by her, you'd think that she had never wielded a weapon in her life. Everything about her is mysterious so far and you have so many questions to ask. "You have questions for me, right?" These words nearly make you jump. How does she know? You're a bit unsettled, but your curiosity as at the highest its ever been. [["What are we going to do?"]] [["How are you so strong?"]] [["How do you know everything?"]]