Free Web NovelChapter 175: Noctiluria
After an hour of searching, Victor found no trace of the Noctiluria. He paused for a moment, resting in a small, damp clearing of trees and considering his next move.
The sunlight barely penetrated the treetops, creating an atmosphere of almost constant darkness. Mari was right, this was a good place to look for a weed that grew in rotten environments. Maybe not the best, but a good place nonetheless.
Noctiluria was a rare and powerful herb, and Victor had heard of it. He just had no idea why it was so important in Mari’s experiments, and he didn’t need to.
Victor knew that it grew in damp, shady places and that its leaves had a characteristic bluish glow that set it apart from other plants. Mari had told him to look for it in rotten trees, probably because it would be easier to find, but Noctiluria could grow anywhere in this forest.
When he returned to search for the herb, he walked slowly, examining every bush, every moss-covered tree trunk, looking for any sign of the herb.
Victor pulled a canteen from his hip and took a sip of water. Then he put the canteen down and looked around again, deciding to explore an area further north where the terrain seemed to slope slightly, possibly indicating the presence of a watercourse.
He moved on, his eyes searching for any sign of grass. Minutes turned into hours, and exhaustion began to set in. With each step, the terrain of the Lura Forest seemed more treacherous, with roots and rocks hidden beneath the thick foliage. Victor walked cautiously, knowing that a twisted ankle or a fall could be disastrous in such an isolated place.
Suddenly, a strange sound caught his attention. A rapid rustling, different from the usual forest sounds. Victor stopped, his senses heightened. He pushed aside a low branch and quietly approached the source of the sound. Through the vegetation, he saw a small, hooded figure fiddling with something on the ground. His brow furrowed.
Who else would be in the Lura Forest? And why?
Victor watched the figure for a few moments before deciding to approach it. He knew it could be dangerous, but his curiosity was greater. He approached with light steps, his gaze fixed on the back of the mysterious figure. When he was close enough, the person seemed to notice him and spun around, revealing a boyish face, but one marked by tiredness and dirt.
"Who are you?" Victor asked as he pointed his sword at the girl on the ground.
The young woman slowly raised her hands, showing that she was unarmed. "My name is Amanda," she replied, her voice shaking slightly. "I’m looking for something... like you, I guess. Why else would I be in Lura, right?"
Victor narrowed his eyes and studied her. "What exactly are you looking for?"
Amanda hesitated, looking around nervously before answering. "An herb! It’s called Noctiluria. I need it to... help someone very important to me."
Victor felt a wave of surprise and mistrust. "Noctiluria is a rare herb."
Amanda nodded, her expression grave. "I know. But I have no choice. I have to find it before it’s too late."
Victor thought for a moment. He knew that the Lura Forest was dangerous and that it wouldn’t be easy to find Noctiluria. However, this girl was no more than fifteen years old, and perhaps together they would have a better chance of achieving their goal, so he could get her out of this place quickly.
"Very well, Amanda. I’m looking for Noctiluria as well, and maybe we can help each other. Let’s work together." Victor put down his sword and extended his right hand to the girl.
Amanda’s eyes lit up with a mixture of hope and relief. "Thank you. I really appreciate it. I didn’t know what to do alone in this scary place." She accepted his help.
They began scouring the area together, exchanging information about the weed and where it might grow. Victor realized that Amanda had an impressive knowledge of botany, which could be a significant advantage in their search, but she was quite clumsy and nearly fell several times between stumbles and slips.
As they walked, Victor tried to learn more about this girl and understand why she was alone in a forest like Lura’s.
"You mentioned that you needed Noctiluria to help someone. Who would that be?"
Amanda sighed, and her face took on a sad expression. "My sister. She’s very sick, and Noctiluria is the only hope we have to cure her. I’ve tried everything, but nothing has worked. That’s when I heard about this miracle herb."
"Miracle herb?"
"Yes. Noctiluria is also known as the Night Flower or the Flower of the Dead because it’s often found in cemeteries. According to popular legend, if someone is very sick and eats the six petals of Noctiluria, they will be cured. Isn’t that why you’re looking for it, to save someone?"
"I... Yes, it is."
"Then we’re in this together."
Time began to pass slowly as they explored every corner of the forest together. The vegetation grew thicker and the feeling of being watched was constant.
Victor couldn’t help but think of the old man’s warning on the wagon. The forest really did seem to have a mind of its own, leading and deceiving those who ventured into it. Victor could no longer tell where the entrance he had come through was.
Finally, after hours of relentless searching, they came to a clearing unlike any they had seen before. The ground was covered in soft, shiny moss, and a small stream meandered through it, its crystal clear waters reflecting the little light that penetrated the treetops.
"This place..." Amanda murmured in amazement. "It’s perfect for Noctiluria. She must be here."
Victor agreed, his eyes scanning the clearing for the bluish glow of the grass leaves. According to Amanda, Noctiluria was a very small herb, barely bigger than a clover, which meant that it was also very difficult to find because of its size. So they split up, each searching a different part of the clearing.
Suddenly, a soft glow caught Amanda’s eye. "Here! I found it!" she exclaimed, her voice full of excitement.
Victor ran over to her, and there was the Noctiluria, growing solitarily by the stream. The blue leaves shone with a light of their own, like little stars on the forest floor.
Victor knelt down beside Amanda and examined the grass with his eyes.
"At last," he murmured, feeling a wave of relief and satisfaction. "But there’s only one... Ah, it doesn’t matter. She’s yours."
Amanda looked at him in surprise. "Are you serious?"
"Yes," Victor replied firmly. "You have to save your sister, don’t you? I’ll collect this for you and then I’ll go on looking for mine."
Amanda cracked a genuine smile, something that seemed rare on her tired face. "Thank you, Victor. I really can’t thank you enough."
Victor smiled back and began to carefully remove his gloves to pick up the Noctiluria. He knew that a sudden movement could damage the fragile plant. But as he removed the glove from his belt, he heard a low, threatening growl.
His body reacted instinctively. He threw himself at Amanda, pushing her aside just as a huge, dark wolf approached. The animal ran straight past Amanda and fell into the water of the stream with a crash.
Amanda fell to the ground with a muffled scream while Victor rolled over and stood up quickly, his eyes scanning the clearing.
The wolf was soon out of the water, shaking violently to get rid of the excess water, but the threat didn’t stop there. Four more wolves emerged from the dense vegetation, their eyes glowing with hunger and ferocity.
Victor drew his sword from its scabbard and stood. freewёbnoνel.com
Amanda, still dazed, tried to get to her feet, but when she saw the wolves, her legs trembled with fear. Victor stood between her and the wolves, waving his sword in a defensive stance.
The wolves began to approach, moving in a circle around them. Victor knew he had to think quickly. "Amanda, stay behind me and don’t make any sudden moves," he ordered firmly.
Amanda nodded and slowly backed away until she was almost glued to Victor’s back. The wolves advanced a little further, their fangs gleaming in the dim light of the clearing.
Victor couldn’t help but feel a tightening in his chest. Wolves were cunning and dangerous predators, and when they hunted for food, they always tried to catch the easiest prey first. They would definitely focus on Amanda.
Suddenly, two wolves decided to move forward as if they had planned it beforehand. One wolf clearly had Victor in his sights, while the other probably had Amanda in his sights.
With a quick, precise movement, Victor slammed his right foot into the ground. With the power of his transformation, he turned the ground into thick, sticky mud beneath the feet of the wolf running toward him. The wolf was caught off guard as its paws sank into the mud, slowing its attack.
Victor wasted no time. He whirled his sword with impressive skill and turned to face the second wolf that was heading for Amanda.
Time seemed to slow as he saw the animal approach, its teeth bared, ready to sink into Amanda’s flesh.
In one swift motion, Victor swung his sword, and the blade found its target, severing the wolf’s head from its body in a single blow. The animal’s lifeless body fell to the ground, and the other wolves barked before advancing as well.
