The Last Paladin 3: A LitRPG Adventure by John Cressman

Author:John Cressman [Cressman, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2024-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Hunter and his companions traveled with the six elves through the Elder Wood for most of the morning, the journey filled with moments of beauty and wonder. The morning sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. The air was filled with the songs of exotic birds.

Hunter couldn’t help but marvel at the environment around him. Having never been to the Redwood Forest in California, it was so different from any other forest he’d ever visited. He felt a sense of awe and curiosity as he took in the sights and sounds of the Elder Wood but kept a wary eye out for any signs of Qi-touched beasts.

Hunter didn’t spot any, but several times, the elves had diverted them in a different direction without saying anything. In each instance, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. His Danger Sense still wasn’t working, and he wasn’t sure if that was from Hardwin’s instincts, or it was just his imagination.

Because they were jogging, the conversation was minimal. Thankfully, this meant the elves didn’t direct any snide remarks in his direction, though he still noticed the occasional disdainful looks from the elves.

Their journey continued until noon. Then the group eventually found themselves ascending a steep incline. The surrounding trees grew taller and more majestic, their branches intertwining to create a natural canopy high above the ground.

Despite being in excellent shape, Hunter found himself breathing heavily as they continued to ascend the incline. When he looked back, he saw Meneeka was red-faced and puffing loudly, barely able to keep going. In fact, she looked like she might pass out at any moment.

Hunter dropped back alongside the girl. He ignored the sneers of the elves as he did so. “Are you all right?”

“It’s…a lot…of…running,” she managed.

He glanced over at her, seeing her clothes were soaked with sweat and every inch of her exposed skin was flushed. Hardwin’s experience told him she was at or near her limit.

“Can we slow down?” Hunter asked aloud, targeting the green-haired elf.

This caused a chorus of snickers among the elves. “How typical. The male cannot keep up.”

The lime-haired elf’s lips twisted. “Push yourself. We are nearly there.”

Hunter rolled his eyes but didn’t correct them. If they wanted to believe he was a weak male, he could care less. At the moment, he was concerned for the wildling who appeared on the verge of falling over.

“You look like you’re about to collapse. Let me carry you for a while,” he offered, keeping his voice quiet.

The girl’s eyes went wide, and she nearly stumbled. “What?”

“Hop on my back and I’ll carry you for a while so you can catch your breath,” he repeated.

“I…uh…” She hesitated.

“It’s okay,” he said and then lowered his voice conspiratorially. “And better than you collapsing in front of our guests.”

The girl hesitated only a bit longer but finally gave in. “Fine. But just for a little bit.”

Hunter held out a hand. “Take my hand. I will pull you up and around me.

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