Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System
Chapter 90: The Abode In The Forest

"What is this place? It's straight out of a fairy tale—I mean, everything in this place has been, but this…" Jasper asked in awe.

The skyscrapers of bark and radiant leaves were accompanied by a calm river that flowed through the majestic woods.

"It looks much better than the caves, so I'll just be glad to be out of there," Magnus said as he began to hike.

There was a trail leading onward from the cavern and into the giant woods. It led them forth, past a bundle of foliage into a walk alongside the tranquil river. Somehow, Finn instinctively felt there was nothing nearby to worry about, able to relax as he walked.

"Is this all feeling like a dream to anybody else?" Charlotte asked while walking.

Finn watched as what appeared to be a squirrel of bright-red fur and a flaming tail quickly ran up a tree ahead, beginning to question the same thing the spellblade did.

"I'd lean towards this feeling more like a nightmare than anything else," Magnus answered.

"Yeah, I think I'm right there with you, mate. Didn't think I'd say this, but I'm missing our world right about now," Jasper claimed, adjusting the straps on his steel gauntlets while walking ahead of Magnus but behind Finn.

"What about you?" Charlotte asked, looking to the side at the assassin.

Finn answered while glancing over, "It doesn't really matter where we go, it's going to be a fight for survival. At least here, I feel like we're doing something–we're on the path to reaching answers."

"I agree there, at least," Magnus admitted.

Following the trail, it led directly to a tree, one that commanded its own clearing amidst the radiant woods.

It was larger than all of the others, with a trunk thick enough to be the width of a small town. The branches that stretched from its impressive height carried the gilded leaves, acting as a sky in itself.

What made it truly catch Finn's gaze were the carvings on its bark, along with the lanterns hanging from its branches and the door at its base.

"It's a house?" Charlotte wondered.

"A treehouse, it looks like," Finn clarified.

"That's the king of all treehouses, then. It'd put mansions to shame," Jasper said with an impressed whistle at the sheer scope of the colossal tree.

Seeing as the path led directly to the front door, Finn approached it curiously, checking out the oval, orange material of the entrance. Standing close to the tree-turned-mansion, there was an aroma that gave off from it.

Finn looked up, seeing that there was a window built into the oak, cracked slightly open to let out the delightful scent.

"Do you smell that?" Finn asked.

"Oh, do I, mate–that's the stuff of paradise!" Jasper hungrily claimed.

It was a smell of freshly baked pastry alongside the savory aroma of meat and gravy; tailored to bring the tired, famished adventurers intrigued.

"Do you think somebody is home?" Charlotte asked.

"Who would be living out here anyway?" Magnus added.

Jasper stepped closer to the door beside Finn, raising his hand with the intent to knock, "Well, it won't hurt to try–"

Before the knight's knuckles could tap against the orange frame, the door opened before the curious visitors. Though the entrance welcomed them in, there was nobody behind it, as if a gust of wind somehow turned the handle.

"Err, anybody home?" Finn called out, carefully stepping in.

The wooden floorboards creaked quietly beneath his boots as he entered, replaceing a rather intricate interior waiting. Shelves lined the walls in a circular formation to the room's shape, some stacked with books, others with prized glassware and terracotta.

It was remarkably neat and put together, almost hard to tell it was inside of a tree, besides the shaved walls.

"This place is nice–way too nice to be abandoned," Jasper observed, inspecting a clay bowl that was displayed on a shelf.

"Yeah, there's not even a speck of dust," Finn agreed, carefully walking further into the room, replaceing a giant rug sprawling across the floorboards that seemed made from the pelt of a white-furred beast.

There was a spiraling staircase leading to another floor, with hanging vines and flowers clinging to the mahogany railings. Only a single tilt of his head confirmed that the aroma of fresh pie came from atop the staircase, though he couldn't quite see where it led.

Glancing over, he saw that Charlotte was gazing at the far-spanning painting that took up the entire back wall.

A region hovered in a sky of ethereal light, with waterfalls cascading down to the world below; atop it all was a castle that glistened in the radiance, like a divine utopia. It was a scenic display of art that would easily be accepted as fantasy once upon a time, though looking upon it, Finn knew it showcased a true existence.

"Doesn't it feel weird to think about…you know, just what we knew was reality just some weeks ago," Charlotte asked while looking at the mystical painting.

Finn observed it alongside her, "Yeah. I always wanted magic to exist in some way, you know. I would try and convince myself magicians I saw were real, or supernatural videos online weren't fake. But, I'd do anything for it all to be "fake" again."

Amidst being entranced by the painting, they both turned as the cannoneer called out from behind.

Magnus was standing by the wooden table near the room's center, picking up a note that was left on it, "Look here. It seems our arrival was expected."

Finn walked over and inspected the paper for himself, replaceing only a brief message inscribed on it with pretty handwriting: "Welcome yourselves to my abode, weary travelers from afar. All I ask is that if I am away or in slumber, please lock the door before dusk."

"I don't know if I like the fact whoever this is knew we were coming," Magnus remarked.

"To be fair, we're not the only ones meant to come to the First Order. I don't know if we're the first ones here, even," Finn reasoned. "So they were probably just expecting anybody sooner or later."

"I'm not passing up on a good pie either way," Jasper claimed with barely hidden excitement as he began to ascend the stairwell.

"You have the nose of a dog to discern that so easily," Magnus remarked as he took the first step. "And the manners of one, as well."

"Rather be a dog than a cat, mate," Jasper playfully said.

Finn didn't hold back either, both curious of what awaited atop the stairs and letting his stomach guide him.

"If it's pie, I might have to dig in," Finn remarked, taking the next step right behind his helmed friend.

Behind him, Charlotte added while caressing a flower hanging from the stairwell, "It doesn't smell sweet—I thought pie was a dessert."

"You haven't had a meat pie? Really?" Jasper asked up ahead, glancing back.

Charlotte shook her head, "Nope."

"That's a travesty! Well, today is the day," Jasper enthusiastically claimed.

Each step closer to the second floor of the grand tree made the enticing aroma even more intense. Upon entering the room above, Finn had to stop himself from salivating as the fresh smell greeted him.

It was a quaint dining area, with a table decorated with an olive cloth with plates and utensils set up by each seat.

Oozing steam as if fresh out of the oven, a massive pie sat on the table.

"There it is, I knew it—let's dig in!" Jasper excitedly proclaimed as he sat himself down.

"Have you considered that maybe it's poisoned?" Finn said, sitting down as well.

Jasper shrugged his shoulders, "I seriously doubt that, mate. If it is, we have ambrosia either way."

"That's a seriously bad way to think of it," Charlotte laughed, taking the seat across from Finn.

The prospect of the massive pie brought them not to waste any time serving a portion to their own plates.

"You know, maybe this world isn't so bad," Jasper said while still chewing.

Magnus stuck his fork into his slice of pie, more so playing with his food without eating it, "I'll have to disagree."

"C'mon, mate. A world with meat pie this good can't be that terrible," Jasper lightheartedly claimed.

The simple, forward attitude of the knight was one that brought a smile upon Finn's lips as he shared in the dish. Though there was no face he could put to Jasper, who steadfastly wore his helmet, a part of him likened the knight to an old friend.

"What about you, mate? Do you agree?" Jasper asked, pointing his fork at the assassin to his right.

Finn swallowed the savory bite he took before shrugging, looking at the half-opened window. The tranquil view of the golden-leaf trees was accompanied by the singsong chirping of birds in the distance.

"Good food doesn't hurt, I guess. I can't say this place is any worse than our world," Finn admitted.

"You get it, mate," Jasper celebrated, giving him a nudge on his arm.

For the time being, Finn tried not to place the burden of other thoughts on his mind, instead enjoying the meal alongside his companions in a place that almost felt like a real home.

There were two jugs, one of ice-cold water and another of warm tea, which Finn chose the brewed option.

"I wonder who owns this place," he said after sipping his tea.

"That would be me."

The answer to his question came from an unfamiliar voice. It instantly brought them all to stop their pie eating and turn to face the unexpected presence.

Coming down from the stairwell that led to an even higher floor was an older gentleman of rather short stature. The unknown person didn't just possess an unusual height, but long, pointy ears with fluffy, silver hair.

The small-and-old man wore brown breeches and a white-sleeves tunic with an olive cloak around his shoulders, though possessing a certain youth yet in his eyes.

They were not human; decipherable from a single glance. Finn stood up from his seat, keeping his hand ready at his side with his dagger called to his grip.

"Settle down," the pointy-eared man said tiredly with a yawn, scratching his head. "I am not your enemy. Quite the opposite, in fact. I am Gurmo, just an elf that lives alone."