In dense greenery, small insects buzzed around. The wind gently blew through and lifted up the soil from the ground. Just judging by this description, people would imagine a peaceful forest that comforted people’s hearts. However, the forest that Zich and his companions were in fit the description above, but it was not peaceful or cozy at all—at least to Lyla.

“Ack!” Lyla tripped over another tree root poking out of the forest soil. Her body heaved forward.

“Whoops!”

However, she didn’t make a fool out of herself by falling down on the ground. Zich caught her with ease since he was walking in front of her. 

“Thanks.”

“No problem, my lady.”

Zich said a cheesy line and winked at her once. After teasing her a bit, Zich helped Lyla stand upright. Lyla let out a sigh; it was not the first time this happened. Other than the tree roots sprawled out all over the ground, there were way too many traps in this forest. There was a hole covered with leaves, slippery mud, and a stream filled with mossy rocks. Lyla looked around her surroundings. All she could see was dense vegetation and huge trees. She was not able to even clearly see what was ahead. In this forest, plants that were beneficial to humans by providing food and lumber...