Chapter 4

Chapter 4 

The Hunting Grounds 

Standing before me was the gate for the eastern border of the Sylvan forest. Both of the gatekeepers spoke together, and said,  

“Present your pass, Flowerknight!”  

I looked up to see, that there were no gates at all, but just these two giant creatures. The story goes that Barkion and Beast were the gatekeepers, not just because of their love of the forest, but also because they had this magical power. A glow that only worked when they were together. It would stop any magic or spells, and if anyone had set a trap, it would light up as long as they were near. So you could never miss it. Just as soon as I pulled out the letter, it lifted out of my hands and magically opened up.  

“I would like to leave the Sylvan forest, oh great ones.” I said as I bowed my head.  

“Your wish has been granted. You may proceed.” They replied in two very deep voices, but it was as if they were of one mind. 

I walked through the magical barrier and was finally out of the forest. The air smelled differently, and I could no longer sense Sylvania. Through my mind so many thoughts were flowing. I was thinking about how I would miss my home, because I had never been out of the forest before. Plus, I didn’t know where to even begin searching for the trio. I was a sitting duck. As I stepped out of the grass, my feet hit the dry tan dirt. Step by step, I proceeded towards a canyon to the east. Then it hit me. I had exited Sylvania from the east side, so that settled it. I was on my way to the Dragon’s Domain.  

Strolling along, I couldn’t help but feel like someone was following me, but it was probably just my imagination.  

“Oh my gosh!” I said as I looked up the canyon walls.  

There were these beautifully bewitching harpies of all different colors. They were aligned atop the face of the canyon on both sides. They were screeching and laughing, but in a maniacal way. I heard one of them saying to the others,  

“Look girls’ fresh meat!” as the rest of them giggled.  

I couldn’t help but notice a cave opening on the right side of the canyon. It had to have been about the height of a Sagequoia to the entrance. There were two Harpy Ladies standing on each side of the door. It must have been where the queen perched herself. Way above me in the air, you could see the little bird shaped specs, so high up in the sky, circling, as if there were a rancid carcass lying in the middle of nowhere, waiting for itself to become dinner. I had a bad feeling about that. One of the specs dived straight down. It was coming right towards me, like a dive bomb spiraling into a death roll, completely engulfed in fire. I could have sworn it broke the sound barrier. As it appeared to fall like a meteor, it made a stop right before hitting the ground. However, the stop wasn’t just a sudden one. It was like the twinkling of an eye. He didn’t even look flustered. With a smirk on his face, he said,  

“What’s up?”  

In a sort of nervous way I replied, “Not much, what about you?” 

I was practically sweating and shaking, like a watered up saltshaker.  

Then he calmly said, “Look, you really shouldn’t be here, but if you hurry I think you can outrun the girls before they eat you alive. They are beautiful, but very aggressive.”  

“Thanks.”, as I booked it to the other end of the canyon. 

“By the way, they call me sky scout, but you can call me Jake. I’ll be seeing you around bro!”  

“Thanks! And mine is Levi!”  

I could hear them all laughing in such a seductive way. It sounded so evil, but almost alluring.  

Off in the distance I noticed the three mountains of the Dragons Domain. There was the Ice Mountain on the left. This was the mountain where the ice barrier people resided. The Dragon Ruler Mountain in the middle. This mountain was where the boss dragons lived, but there was a rumor that the famous B.L.S. paid them a visit, and now there are very few of them left. Finally, the Laval Mountain to the right. It looked like a volcano with two small smoke rings floating above it. The description in my journal states that the Laval civilization lives within the mountain. There is no way I could visit that place. I would burn up alive. A little bit further to the south sat the castle of the Noble Knights in Camelot.  

“I think I will make my way to that castle first. Maybe the Grand Wizard Merlin could help me in my journey.”  

I kept thinking about my plan for where to go after that, when I noticed that the feeling of someone following me returned. I kept my eyes peeled just in case it was more than a feeling. Maybe I was just being paranoid, but I kept walking through this barren wasteland towards the castle anyways.   

: I do not own the rights for any Konami or Yu-Gi-Oh related characters or cards. This is strictly a fan-fiction                           novella.