Five Little Sacrifices

Chapter 49

"What kind of animals are they then?" Freed asked. "How can we find one?"

"They're not exactly animals", Baluhu said and they were all confused. "Actually they are fungi."

"How can a fungus feel itself being threatened?" the rune mage asked as he almost dropped his jaw.

"It's not like I know everything about them, why they work as they work but that's just how things are", Baluhu huffed. "They are actually quite harmless if you just ignore them, it's just that people usually get a little bit too curious when they see one."

"How big are they?" Bickslow asked. "Are they hard to find because they are so tiny?"

"No, but the size depends on how old the fungus is. Some might be a few feet tall, some even taller than my cottage. What makes them hard to spot is how slowly they move. As you know, usually fungi won't move at all. These ones have evolved to use old branches, fallen tree trunks, bark and everything like that to cover itself and use them as tools so they can walk around the forest. It helps them to find new places where to find food. They move slowly, they use what they can find from woods so they blend to their background almost perfectly. Some people won't notice they are near even if they walk right next to them."

"That sounds... I honestly don't know if I'm impressed or what", Freed said, trying to imagine how those creatures might look like.

"Well, that is what I'm asking as a return", Baluhu said and he shrugged. "Take it or leave it."

"We can do it!" Bickslow grinned.

"We have to discuss about this first!" Evergreen yelled slapping the seith mage.

"What's there to talk about, baby? I'm sure we can find them", Bickslow cackled. "And we need answers so it's not like we have a choice here?"

"But why are you so interested about Netherworld Magic?" Baluhu asked and now he looked confused. "I assumed you already knew about it."

"We don't really", Roscoe said.

"So those little spirit souls, who is commanding them?" Baluhu asked and he pointed towards the tiki dolls that were chasing after Felix and Chester.

"They're my babies", Bickslow smirked. "We've been friends since forever."

"Bickslow uses Soul Magic", Freed explained to the old man. "He controls souls."

"Those five are not just any kind of souls", Baluhu said. "They are souls of spirits directly from Netherworld, not just mere ghosts or reflections, brought here by magic and something has chained them here. I know how that spell works since I have done it as well", he said and pulled up his sleeve, showing them a simple tattoo of a serpent. "This is my friend Ozih, the one you saw earlier at the festival."

"Wow", Bickslow said. "The big white serpent that was flying through the air?" he asked and Evergreen jolted against Freed, away from the old man who chuckled.

"That very same", he said. "But how can you use this seal if you don't use Netherworld Magic?"

"Oh, well, must be because of Yuidose then", Bickslow supposed and they nodded.

Baluhu frowned.

"I know him very well", he muttered now looking angry. "What is the connetion between you lot and him?" he asked grabbing his flute and stood up, suddenly looking ready to chase them all out at once from his cottage.

"Please calm down, we will explain", Roscoe assured quickly. "It's not like we are working with him."

"Yeah, we're trying to stop him", Bickslow nodded.