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As gingerly and quietly as you possibly can in this situation, you shake Elias awake. The man has only been asleep for three hours, but that’s going to have to suffice. He resists your touch at first, but after more rigorous prodding, the mage finally opens his eyes and groans awake.
>“Wake up, damnit! You need to come up with something to get us out of here, and fast. Otherwise, we’ll be sitting inside one of these creature’s stomachs before the night is through!”
Elias takes a while to get his bearings, before responding. “T-too soon, haven’t rested enough yet. I need more tim-“
>You shake the mage again. “We don’t have time! Do you hear that?”
In the distance, you can unmistakably hear the sound of a Demonic Beast rumbling about, as if searching for something. Your comrades are still fast asleep, and you’re afraid that the noise that will come with martialing them to their feet will only serve to lure the beast closer to your position. Thus, Elias needs to use the same trick he did before to keep the creatures away.
“F-fine, I’ll do my best…” Elias sloppily gets to his feet and begins muttering the same strange incantation you had heard previously. After a few moments, the wisp you had seen before reappears, once more darting in a circle around your group. The fog that was blanketing your surroundings dissipates, and you can once again see your immediate area more clearly. “T-there. If we’re doing this, then let’s not waste time. Lady Anemone may alter the forest’s layout again at any moment. We need to beat the enemy to Arcadia…”
Part of you is worried about Elias. The man is clearly not well, and this excursion is taking its toll on him. He’s having a hard time standing up straight and is leaning against a nearby tree for support. He’s not the only one. You would have loved to get a few more hours of sleep yourself, and you find that you’re battling to keep your eyes wide open. Still, you’re concerned that if you spend any more time within this hellhole, the nightmare that you just woke up from will come true.
>-1 to all stats for the next battle
You and Ava go around rousing the party from their sleep. They don’t look to be faring much better than you do, but at least they were able to get somewhat of a reprieve. Once everyone is on their feet and ready to go, you all begin following Elias and the wisp’s lead once more. Bathed in the wisp’s light, you realize that you can no longer hear the Demonic Beast. A small measure of comfort, to be sure. You aren’t sure how long you follow Elias within that place, but the next thing you know, the sun is beginning to rise.
“This is it…we’re nearing Arcadia…” Elias whispers.
>“You’ve said that before. How am I to believe you?”
“This time I mean it…Lady Anemone hasn’t altered the landscape for hours now….”
>“You don’t sound too excited.”
“I fear that something else may be taking her attention.”
