Early morning after the third day, five people take leave from Barred Forest with big packs strapped on their backs.
It would take a few days' time to travel to our destination. We didn't take food that would accommodate us for the rest of the travel. First of all, we cannot deplete the camp's food by that much, and second, we could simply hunt on the way.
The main location of Barred Forest is just beside Lycan Kingdom, separated by a wide mountain. The both of them make up the whole north which separates them by a very long and wide mountain range from the rest of the continent. Using Lady Amani's gate, we can cross the mountain range directly and end up in the edges of the Great Eastern Forest of Garath; the same place Letitia and I were previously rescued from. Unfortunately, we cannot take this path as it's the same path nearest to the borders of Lycan Kingdom. It would be too taxing to run and hide from the hunting pack while travelling. We can't lead the hunting pack to the Faerie-kind either.
Therefore, we head through the opposite direction and travel through the mountain range.
A day later, we pass through Kelfer Coastal Arch which connects the Barred Forest mountain range to the long mountains of the Great Western Forest of Isgard. The whole Arch was like a large scale durdle door, arching to let meet the waters of Kelfer Coast and the waters of Selkie Loch.
According to Laris, though the outside may seem quiet, but Selkie-infested waters are always dangerous, much so at their favorite places akin to a main underwater city like Selkie Loch and Silent Man's Islands on the far east of Lycan Kingdom. He said that even the Lycan-kind don't dare occupy Silent Man's Island, where the sea forest is so lush, it reaches the surface of the waters. The Selkie-kind are more territorial compared to the Undine-kind. They drag the people who cross their territories into the water and drown them, thus the name of "silent man".
Taking back my sight from those waves and fighting the churning feeling inside my stomach, I catch up with our group. I don't need anybody to tell me twice to stay away from those waters.
We walk down the mountains for less than half a day. There's a river that separates Isgard Forest and the beast forest of Jurell; Agno River. Following downstream, Laris also explains that at the end of the river was the border of Faerie Valley.
"Should we camp here for the night?" Raguk surveys the area. There isn't much clear space but it's enough to lay our bed rolls and make a small campfire. Everyone unanimously agreed to avoid camping at the river bank where all creatures, dangerous or not, gather to drink water.
"Here is fine", Laris acquiesces, grabbing a few dried branches around us and putting down his bag to search for most probably a flint stone.
Grabbing Obrecht's collar and pulling him to present to Laris, I say, "You can use him."
Laris gives me a puzzled expression, "Use?"
Although he looks puzzled, I catch a hint of wariness in his eyes. Obrecht's previous act of antagonizing Laris must have gave Laris his reservations against Obrecht.
You really reap what you sow.
I throw Obrecht a look immediately. His face lights up after, as if having realized something.
"Please use me as you see fit, brother-in-law." Obrecht grabs both of Laris' hands in his, eyes eager.
Leaning my head to the side, I try not to laugh after noticing the raised hair on Laris' arms. Despite the goosebumps, Laris still has a smile playing on his lips though.
He's like a pro-level politician, always having a professional smile dangling on his lips and never displaying his real emotions.
"Use, you say", Laris hesitantly turns to me. I ignore his plead for help to remove Obrecht from him. I know Obrecht doesn't really understand the concept of personal space, so when he forgets to imitate others, he tends to be sticky. Surprisingly, I don't mind that. But that isn't the same for others.
"...I'm hungry", I whisper, taking pity on Laris.
"Oh." Hearing me, Obrecht releases Laris, and takes out his sword, letting it catch fire after a chant. He lights the branches afire.
Surprise is painted on the faces of the other three.
A portable fire gun, I think to myself as I glance at the other person who looks proud and eager.
"...I'll go hunting." Putting my own bag to one side, I turn to leave.
"M—"
"I—"
"I'll come with you", Obrecht says, beating Tukare and Laris. They both flinch to a stop when they realize this.
"Hm." I hum in agreement, giving a side glance at Laris' smiling dark face. I even hear Tukare clicking her tongue.
"The beasts at Jurell Forest are high ranking. Isn't it a bit dangerous? How about I go instead?" Laris tries to persuade me, however, his charm just bounces back off my expressionless face.
"You should let him hunt. He's a far better hunter than any of us here", Raguk unexpectedly speaks up.
"That's why I'm proposing to go hunt instead of Videre", Laris responds.
"I wasn't talking about Obrecht. I was talking about Videre", Raguk retorts, a dull look pasted on his face.
I can see question marks surrounding Tukare and Laris.
Laris, "Ah, you mean using his shadows? Indeed, it's formidable."
"He doesn't need to use his hereditary power to hunt. Just give him two daggers and hell beat the crap out of you." Raguk snorts at his obliviousness.
Of the people from Lumea, only Raguk and Obrecht came with us. The rest needed to safely bring the amulet Amani made to Inferis at the fastest possible time. Along with the original Virgil, Krael and Vera, I heard that Theo, Girtro, and three of Serena's men were going to escort them back.
I observe Raguk, the least person I thought would praise my hunting skills.
"Here", he gruffly says, offering his katana. "Don't you need a weapon to hunt?"
Wide-eyed, I take glances at his sword and at him. In a Hunter-kind's life, there is only one weapon given at the coming of age ceremony. And yet, here he is, willing to lend it to me.
Obrecht suddenly presses his lips in a thin line. He grabs my wrist and pulls me away to the trees while saying, "He doesn't need it. I have a spare."
The last thing I saw was Raguk wordlessly sheathing his katana before the trunks and greenery cover away my line of sight.
What was that? An apology? An acknowledgement?
Travelling in Vera's group, I suppose Raguk would've known the truth about our escapade outside Lumean border one way or another. Offering his weapon, isn't that the greatest trust a Hunter-kind could give?
"I can give you my sword too", Obrecht mumbles grumpily.
"...It's heavy. I don't need it."
He looks at me, pouting. The inflated cheek urges me to poke, and so I do.
Pfoo —
The air in his mouth makes a sound as it gets forcefully puffed out.
"...You're with me. What do I need to carry it for."
Obrecht lags a few steps behind. Finally, a smile blossoms on his face as he runs to catch up to me.