Land.

The world trembles around you. With your eyes shut to subdue the disorientation, your perception of the world spins, and almost instantly, the wind is taken from your lungs as your feet hit the ground. The impact itself isn't at all heavy, though it's like when you think there's one more step at the bottom of a staircase so you accidentally slam your foot down on the floor and it hurts. Both of your boots hit dirt much faster than you expected, but at least it wasn't high in the sky. You slowly open your eyes, and still in your grasp is Nyllia, who seems completely fine.

Around you is nothing but dense underbrush and trees. There's no path or opening in sight.

"Without the little witch Vivi living in her hut, I believe that we will not have nearly as much trouble traversing this forest now," she explains. "That is what I have heard. I prefer to be meticulous in my planning, Kyle, therefore I have spoken to those who have traversed between these trees as of late. Still, keep your eyes open for all manner of things, from goblins to dire wolves. Nothing we cannot handle of course."

"So how do you know which way to go next?" you ask.

Already, she's unwrapped herself from your arm and has touched her hands to a nearby tree. Without responding, she begins to climb, wrapping her legs tightly around the trunk as she skitters up quite easily to the dense canopy above. She disappears for a long moment. However, she finally makes her way back down--dim light from the cloudy sky piercing through a hole she leaves behind, which reflects quite brightly off her polished armour.

With a grunt, she lands on two feet next to you. "Interesting," she says with a smile.

"You're being very mysterious today."

"Am I?" she asks. "What is interesting, is that you placed us far closer to our destination than I had expected. There was a decent chance that we would either be wandering for hours, or I would have had to think up something else."

"That's not a very meticulous plan."

"Well that matters little now. Thank you, Kyle, for once again helping me when I need it. Come."

You begin walking beside her. "What are we fighting?"

She stares ahead in silence before finally turning a glance in your direction. "Why must we fight something?"

"You asked me to wear my armour."

"The dangers of the Deeproot Forest are diverse and strange. It is always best to be safe."

"So what is the quest then?"

"You shall see."

It doesn't take much longer, though it does take much effort, traversing the rough terrain between the trees, before Nyllia places the back of her hand over your chest to gesture you to halt in place, in which she does as well. There's nothing here, however. Still no opening or paths. All you hear is the distance, gentle sound of water, birds chirping above, and the occasional noise of something rustling through the tall grass and shrubs.

"Wait here," she asks as she steps forward, bending her leg over a tall rock before disappearing into the trees.

"Wait, what? Uh. All right. If you insist. But just be careful, all right? Like you said, you never know what you can run into out here."

"I appreciate your concern," comes her voice. "Wait ten minutes, and then follow." With such a strange instruction you'd like to ask her what she means, which seems to be a running theme today, but the sounds of her movements gradually dissipate.