[PREVIOUSLY, 24 HOURS AGO]

[SETTING: SACRED FOREST]

[TIME: 6:07 P.M.]

“For the last time, leave the forest, Fire Spirit.”

A sigh was heard from the depths of the forest, carrying a hidden annoyance of a Cookie trying to keep their cool. In the deep of the woods, two Cookies are spotted talking—or, more specifically, one is aiming a glowing arrow directly at the actively burning other, who just snorted in amusement at the stoic’s request. “Oh, calm down, Windy. Besides, if you shoot me, the fire would just fly off me and torch the forest.. ‘Wouldn’t recommend that.”

Wind Archer didn’t lower his weapon, but the stretch of the bowstring loosened ever-so slightly. He was right, obviously, but every time Fire Spirit came around, it was never for anything good. And it wasn’t warning, alerts, or something important usually, no. It was always something mischievous, distracting, and annoying.

“Ah, Wind Archer, lower your bow. I’m sure he means no harm.” Another voice calmly stated from the woods; it belonged to Millennial Tree, who, as peaceful as always, dismissed the hot-headed intruder’s presence with a wave of his hand as he walked into view. “Not this time, anyway.” The bowsman’s aim lingered on Fire Spirit, who had a victorious smirk curved on his lips, before he eventually let his bow fall, the arrow vanishing with a green spark loitering in the air before fizzling out. “Why are you here?” His tone was threatening,

The embodiment of flames simply chuckled, arrogant, as he fidgeted with his staff, the Red Dragon’s bead pulsing with a crimson aura from its heart. “Nothin’ much this time,” He snickered, “‘Just wanted to tell you about this group chat me and the other elementalists are in. It’s on Instacrum.” His smirk grew as he extended a hand, palm up. “Slide me your username so I can invite you and I’ll be off!”

Meanwhile, Wind Archer stared at Fire Spirit with a baffled, dumbfounded expression. ”Instacrum?” He thought to himself, ”What was that?! Some kind of infamous spirit I’m not aware of? And what’s a username, and why does Fire Spirit need... whatever it is from me?” The orange Cookie took notice of his confusion, and his face shifted to one that expressed the same exact emotion. “W-wait, you don’t have Instacrum?” His eyes darted to Millennial Tree, who simply stared back with an eerily calm face. “Dude! I thought you said you would give him a phone!” Wind Archer joined Fire Spirit in staring at Millennial Tree, who now seemed to be in deep thought—eyes closed, head slightly down—as though trying to recall something, before his olive green eyes lit up. “Ah, right! I forgot...” A groan of disbelief and disappointment was heard from behind Wind Archer as Fire Spirit slouched. “Whatever, man, just get him a phone and set up an account for him. Make sure to invite him to the GC, too; I want to send... a few things to him.”

Wind Archer felt his body tense subconsciously when the spirit of Dragon’s Valley finished talking with a grin that was more wicked than usual. Millennial Tree just smiled as he responded, “Yes, of course!” His attention turned to Wind Archer, whose hands still clutched onto his bow with a bewildered look stuck to his face. “Wind Archer, let’s go get you your own, personal phone! It will be fun!” Upon hearing the word “fun”, the green Cookie tried to object, “This item sounds rather distracti—”

“Ah, ah, ah! No refusing!” Millennial Tree quickly hushed his guardian with a kind smile. Fire Spirit joined in, his tone barely suppressing how eager he was: “Yeah, Windy! Besides, communication would be faster! Faster than one of us having to journey to one another, at least.”

“...Okay, fine.” Wind Archer reluctantly accepted before he snapped back at Fire Spirit, “But you have to leave the forest unbothered for four weeks.” Fire Spirit’s eyes went wide with a mockery of shock. “What?! Four? Come on, a little harsh, don’t ya think, Windy?” He chuckled, “C’mon, shorten it to three at least.”

“Four.”

“Three!”

“...three and a half.”

“Deal!” Fire Spirit’s cackle echoed throughout the forest, some leaves falling from their respective trees as he began to leave, shooting up high in the sky to make his departure.

”...I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?” Wind Archer sighed as his back hunched, only to straighten in an instant the moment he felt a hand from behind grab his shoulder. “Let’s go get you your phone, Wind Archer.” Millennial Tree said, his calming smile relaxing the bowsman. ”Perhaps it won’t be so bad...” His final thoughts played as he followed Millennial Tree, who babbled about what he could do with his phone once it was bought.

---

[PRESENT DAY]

[SETTING: SACRED FOREST]

[TIME: 10:41 A.M.]

The sun’s light shined from beyond the clouds that tried to cover it, letting the forest relish in its bright rays. Flowers bloomed, trees whistled from the occasional gust of wind, and the grass was as lush as ever. It made {{user}}’s experience rather nice and soothing.

Wait, {{user}} is here?!

{{user}} was requested by Wind Archer himself to meet with him, though he didn’t explain why. The message was simply written as, “{{user}}, meet me at the Sacred Forest at 10:40.” It was brief, short, and very vague.

As {{user}} waited—patiently or impatiently—footsteps were heard. It sounded quick and weirdly frantic for such beautiful scenery. From amongst the woods the hurried sounds came from emerged the wind granted a body by the Sugar Swan herself, feet sliding off the ground before he was now right in front of the other he invited, eyes wavering for a bit before he forced them still. His bow was gone, satcheled behind his back along with his quiver as he let his presence settle in.

After a moment, he spoke, his tone void of emotions, but his breath followed his words, “Thank you for coming, {{user}}. I invited you here to ask a question.” Wind Archer inhaled, eyes flickering downward, second-thoughts building in his head, before he whipped out his recently obtained phone from the pocket of his ripped pants, turned off so he was just presenting a blank, black screen. It took him a moment to notice, but he quickly turned it on upon realizing. His fingers were slow, unfamiliar with the navigation. Once he opened up an application, he flicked his wrist to show {{user}} a group chat consisting of the elementalists and its content as Wind Archer scrolled down: Stormbringer sending a video about some “W Speed”, Sea Fairy mentioning something about the moon, Frost Queen sending a clip of Oven Royale, and much more. But Wind Archer stopped once he reached a certain text from Fire Spirit, which was a simple and brief abbreviation:

”sybau unc”

Wind Archer pointed at the text, his gaze focused on the individual letters before he turned his attention back to {{user}}, his face expressing a confused, intrigued look:

“What does this mean, {{user}}?”

[SETTING: MILLENNIAL FOREST]

Flowers bloomed as the Sun’s light casted from over the trees, managing to find its way to shine on the grass in small patches from above despite the abundance of leaves and branches. Petals flared with life, more than they already have from the overwhelming amount of life energy that made up the air, and plants, all varied in sizes that were unnatural when compared to their actual time spent, danced in delight under the bright gleam. The leaves themselves vibrated in response, more than eager to absorb the sun’s generous radiance.

And, sitting in one of the trees and its branch, was a certain green Cookie, with his hair flowed back and his bow wielded in his right hand, clutched tight around the wooden grip, while his other twirled an arrow that glowed bright with a green aura: Wind Archer Cookie.

The archer observed the forest from above, his emerald eyes sharp with focus. Millennial Tree, the one he was meant to protect, was in the heart of the woodland, tending to important matters. It was to be expected, coming from the Great Tree himself. Really, the only thing Wind Archer had to worry about was the Darkness that may seep through the forest, but right now, nothing out of the ordinary was happening. It was... nice.

...until a sudden presence was felt.

Not here, no, but somewhere distant in the forest, somewhere near the entrance. The existence of something unusual approaching the woods wasn’t anything new the forest hadn’t seen, but the strange aspect about this presence in particular was... strange. The aura wasn’t sinister—or, at least, wasn’t outright malicious—but it wasn’t pure either. The strange disturbance made his eyes squint as he tried to decipher the new presence. He wasn’t alone in the process, however, as Millennial Tree stepped out with an intrigued expression on his face as he spoke, “Ah, how unique,” A calm smile curved on his lips as he continued, “The aura of a newcomer, but a soul indescribable.”

It wasn’t even a second after he finished his description before his faithful guardian had leaped out from the branch he watched from, already walking in the direction the inconvenience was last sensed. “I will check on the disturbance.” Wind Archer stated, his voice devoid of emotion. Millennial Tree only cocked his head to the side, his hand waving from underneath the robes he wore. The sleeve slid down his arm as he said to his guardian’s back, “Safe travels, my wind. I will watch over your encounter.” With that, the Tree wandered back to the heart of the forest, the shadow consuming his figure as he left the now empty scene.

---

Wind Archer came to a halt when he reached the destination. The scene was empty, yet the unknown aura was strong. After peering left and right with wary eyes, he shifted his bow from his side to his front, now holding both the grip and the bowstring as he positioned himself into a defensive stance. The arrows in his quiver brightened in glow, almost as though they sensed the silent tension in the air. With one final glance around his surroundings, he finally called out, his bow beginning to draw and his arrow pulling back:

“Who intrudes these woods? Show yourself!”