[Coolshaymin]

The winds breezed through the meadows and towards a forest that sprung up seemingly overnight. The winds rustled the dark purple leaves that made a top layer over the place. The insides of the forest seemed to get dark really fast just from the outside. Some of the purple leaves fell down and turned some grass and flowers purple as they touched. This new landmark definitely had a very suspicious tone to it.

Still, the duo needs to venture into the dark corrupted forest. Not only was it contaminating the usually untouched area, it also contained one of the heroes from before Li. Though given how tainted the leaves seem, may be best not to linger too long. The source should probably be eliminated as soon as possible less it damages the usually low Starvia count of the Meadows.

[Rina]

Back here huh? On his broomstick, Lemres flew down from the sky and into the entrance of the forest. The fact he's back here in the plains rings strangely with him, considering he fell down here when he first arrived. It was quiet when he showed up, but now with the strange violet grove that suddenly sprouted, he grew concerned. The grass that led to it was dyed a toxic purple, and they continued to do so through the fallen foliage.

This certainly wasn't here when I was. What caused this forest to turn purple?

Waiting for his ally to show up, he sat on his floating broomstick, biting into what appears to be a piece of chocolate. Interestingly, his magic is powered by his sweets. He enjoys his sweets, but he's also needing to fuel up on his magic power, lest he becomes...a bit loopy without them.

[Deleted]

"Hoot!"

A sound of an owl was heard nearby, the owl Itself was sitting at a nearby non infected tree branch, examining the forest where the person It needs to rescue Is supposedly at, It looked down at Lemres before hooting again to get his attention. "Hoot, hoot!" The owl would say...Before saying something else yet again. "Hey." It said In a feminine voice, a few seconds later It would turn Into a human girl...Theodora, who jumped down towards Lemres and looked at him.

"You must be my partner for my first mission...Judging by your get up and that you look like someone I met, I'm guessing you are...A wizard, not a sorcerer." Theodora said as she looked at the woods, taking a side step away from a purple leaf that was about to fall on her, she looked down at It.

"I thought this place cant get infected? I wonder how these spooky woods became...More nightmare inducing?"

[Coolshaymin]

The winds continued to blow through the forest some more as the partners met up in the dark woods. Everything seemed strangely quiet save for the rustling of the leaves and swaying of the grass. There did not seem any abnormal tone to it though. Seems odd given this place looks horribly contaminated yet no one was around... Until the earth in front of them seemed to move a bit...

... As a flower popped out of the ground? It was an innocent looking flower that did not seem harmful. "Hi, I am Lovely! Are you two lost?" The sudden flower introduced. She seemed friendly enough. It definitely did not seem like she could cause harm even if she wanted to... Then again, flowers can have the oddest self defense mechanisms.

[Rina]

He looked up to the sky, taking notice of the owl soaring down and then transforming into Theodora. So his partner also uses magic.

"Close, but not quite. I'm Lemres, and I'm known as the Comet Warlock back in my home town. So you're a practitioner of magic too?"

Lemres stepped off the broom to politely bow and introduce himself. The moment he got off the broom, he made it disappear with a little poof, disappearing into a puff of smoke. Looks like someone she just met? Hmm...curious.

"I look like someone you know? Haha, now who could that be?"

With another leaf falling to the ground, he looked over to the forest once more.

"The meadow is one of the few havens, but mainly because it is isolated from the rest of the world. Seems like something has made its way to here and took root."

Lemres fiddled with his wand, wondering what lies within the forest. Then, the flower spoke to the two, introducing itself. He crouched down to get a closer look at it.

"Oh? Now where did you come from? We're here to investigate the strange grove here."

[Deleted]

Theodora looked at Lemres as he introduced himself and seemed Interested that Theodora was magical as well. "Yup, this looks to be an interesting mission...I guess?" Theodora said to Lemres as he wondered who Theodora referred to as the person that looks like him. "A boy called Schezo, he basically looks like you...But he seems to act more like a warrior instead of being magical, even though he does have magic...I'm not surprised that you two look alike." Theodora said to Lemres as she entered the forest.

Soon after walking, Theodora came across a flower, oddly suspicious that this flower was not infected...Either way, she doesn't trust things that try to be super cute so much that there just faking It, Theodora wants answers.

"Yes...Lovely, but I think me and my friend here can find our way, but may I ask...What's your favourite thing In the entire world?"

[Coolshaymin]

"Ooooh, wouldn't you like to know. I am a flower. Maybe you missed me? Or maybe I am still young? Anyone's guess really," Lovely teased while avoiding the Candy Wizard's question. "Aw, are you suspicious of little old me?" Lovely responded with a fake air of insult towards Theodora. "Well, my favorite thing is not rainbows and unicorns if that is what you were expecting. I enjoy much more... entertaining things.... But hey, why am I being questioned here? I just want to help," Lovely continued innocently.

"I heard you guys were contemplating but about these forests. I thought a resident could help you with that. You see, this is the home of a great tree known as Whispy Woods. He was safe here due to the low contamination here. That sadly ended very recently and he somehow got transformed into a monster! The whole forest has been turning corrupt as a result! Little old me is the one of the few that escaped..." Lovely answered their unspoken question.

[Deleted]

Theodora listened to the flower as It explained what It is does, while he sounded friendly at first he soon said he had pleasure of...Entertaining others, making Theodora more suspicious. "Hmm...What kind of entertainment?" Theodora said to the flower as It said what happened to the forest, called Windy Woods, and how he was one of the survivors of the starvia attack In the woods, Theodora still got suspicious of the flower, but the story seemed true giving the place they were currently In.

However she wanted to know If Lemres thought the flower was evil, she looked at Lemres and whispered to him.

"Do you trust this flower? I know I don't."

[Rina]

"Ah, the Dark Wizard? I actually do know something about him. He's quite unusual, but I think he's hiding his kindness with a serious front."

Upon having the discussion with the flower, Lemres contemplated on the flower's demeanor. He definitely knows something is up, and is trying very hard to get them to trust the duo...but he just plays along with the act, paying not much mind to Theodora's skepticism. Lemres has...other plans in his sleeve. For now, he's got the trusting look on face.

"Now now, how could you be so distrusting when the flower's telling the truth? Skepticism isn't going to get to the bottom of this any easier. How about something sweet to put you at ease? Lollipops? Chocolate? Or how about cookies?"

Lemres presented the several sweets he mentioned to her. Whether or not it's a tip-off that he's putting on a trusting facade is up to her to figure out. He's putting up some red flags, but he knows what he's doing.

[Coolshaymin]

"Hey! Not not to gossip, Magic Girl!" Lovely objected as Theodora whispered to the candy wizard. She did not exactly hear her but she did seem annoyed by it. Regardless, she cheered up and went back to her happy tone after a moment. "You want to help these woods, right? Well, there is a split in the road  a little ways ahead. Whispy Wood is down the LEFT path, okay? Seeing him may be the only way to fix this place. As a resident I am very much in danger here... So, remember to take the LEFT path, okay? Whatever you do, do NOT take the middle road. There is something VERY dangerous that way. I will see you farther ahead!" The plant advised before tunneling back into the soil and disappearing.

Looking through the darkness one can see she was right. There is a three way intersection up ahead. Well, only two paths are very clear. The middle and left dirt roads cut through the forest and to places one can't see in this blinding darkness. There was a right path but it looked unmanaged and damaged. The strange thing is the plant did not even mention that path other than reference. Why could that be?

[Deleted]

Theodora listened to Lovely as he instructed which road the two should take, he said that the left road up ahead would be safe, but If they take the middle road, they will be in danger, normally Theodora would probably ignore the left path and take the middle one because It might be the actual safe one and that Lovely lied just so he can get them killed...But she decided to do a 360 and trust Lovely, what If he was telling the truth after all?

As for Schezo, Theodora answered his question. "Look, I saw these cutesy stuff like Lovely before, they may look cute and glamours on the outside, but on the inside, they harbour a deep and horrible secret, a secret so terrible that If it could be let out, you'll be shocked to the day you die..." Theodora said to Schezo...Until she acted happy once more.

"But, let's take the left path anyway, thanks for the information Lovely, but your now useless to our mission now, so go someone safe instead of trying to freak us out."

[Rina]

"Left? I'll take your word for it."

After moving deeper down, he noticed that there are indeed three paths. Theft being the one Lovely wanted them to go down, the middle being dangerous...allegedly, and the right, which was completely ignored altogether. From the delivery of what Lovely wanted, Lemres could just simply defy everything Lovely said and not go left and be closer to the truth. But which way would be against all 'common sense'? Going down the middle road, or going to the right?

Lemres' obfuscating naivete was dropped once Lovely was out of sight. He turned to Theodora, now with actually serious answers.

"It's quite evident that Lovely is misleading us, or attempting to lure us into a trap. It seems to be trying much too hard to want us go in those directions, believing we'll be played for fools. I advise not going left, as that's what the flower wants."

[Coolshaymin]

Theodora's comment for Lovely to get lost fell on deaf ears, as quite frankly she already did. Still, for some reason the girl was willing to trust Lovely's word now. Of course, her partner was not so willing to go through with following the flower's suggestion. Still, what if Lovely was wanting them to ignore her advice? She might of been able to tell by Theodora's attitude they did not trust them.

But what if her advice is genuine and they fall into a trap of their own accord? That could be the plan. Then again, she could of been dishonest too. She did not seem that nice and did not seem to be trying that hard at faking if she was. Still, there is the right path she did not mention. Why did she choose to not talk about that? Honestly, it's a gamble whatever choice is taken. It could be an obvious trap, the trap could be a trap, or something more.

Still, time was running short. They had to either split up or agree on a path. The winds blew more leaves down to the forest path below. One had to wonder if that was dangerous to Nonplants. Might be best not to find out.

[Rina]

Hmm... I wonder if this is all a mind game to toy with our trust?

Lemres pondered on the flower's motive, and what would be the ultimate goal? Defeating Whispy for a greater power? A typical trap? Ridding the purple forest as step one to an ulterior motive? Screwing with the duo's trust just to screw with them? Ah, he shouldn't overthink. For now, let's focus on the current situation.

"So, what do you suggest? Do we listen, do we defy, or do we take the third option?"

[Deleted]

Theodora looked at Lemres who seemed to agree with her about what she thought about Lovely earlier, however he suggested that they shouldn't go left as that was what Lovely wanted. "I know, but what If he could be actually telling the truth for once Instead of trying to kill us by tricking us?" Theodora said to Lemres...As she got an idea.

"I know what we can do." Theodora said as she got out her wand and summoned a magical stick which landed In Theodora's hand. "We can use this...It's a chance stick, It will point to the path we should take If we command It to." Theodora said as she spoke to the stick. "Chance stick, give us a chance and point to our destined path." Theodora said.

The stick moved by Itself and pointed...Left, before disappearing In a puff of small smoke.

"Welp, I guess the stick agrees with me, we should go left. Besides If It Is a trap we can just fight our way out."