As he reached closer to the house Leif could feel as if the path energy was growing denser and stronger.
Leif could not help but frown at this but it was acceptable as he did not know anything about this world as he was just familiar with the basic facts about this world. He did not know anything more than that.
But he has innately had a curious nature and loved to know the unknown. Even though what happened had scarred him he still retained his curious nature.
It was a weather-beaten slat cottage. There were small cracks all over the place and was looking pretty shabby and unkempt.
Even if someone comes here they would not take another look and move on without any hesitation as it looked like a haunted house.
The people of this world held great fear towards supernatural beings such as ghosts and spirits and avoided even talking about it as this was considered as something of a taboo subject.
They also created various folk tales and stories to scare the children away from them.
It might once have been nice; it might once have been the home of an actual family. But scrub and tall weeds now covered the yellowed lawn, which clearly hadn't been cut in years.
It was abandoned and also had bushes and brambles up against the door and the windows. It had weeks in the gutters, and green slime on the walls, and a cracked foundation pierced by creeper tendrils thicker than his wrists.
To an ordinary person, this must be just an ordinary house but Leif was alarmed by the energy waves as he grew closer and closer to the house.
A slight fog covered the entire house as if it was obscuring everything from the view.
Leif silently sneaked near the entrance to the house when he accidentally tripped and triggered some sort of alarm.
As he panicked a clear voice heard from the entrance of the house, "Which friend has come here?"
When he turned around he saw a middle-aged man at the entrance of the house he had a green hunting cap squeezed the top of the fleshy balloon of a head. The green earflaps, full of large ears and uncut hair and the fine bristles that grew in the ears themselves, stuck out on either side like turn signals indicating two directions at once. Full, pursed lips protruded beneath the bushy black mustache and, at their corners, sank into little folds filled with disapproval and potato chip crumbs
" Haha, don't panic young man this trap is mainly for informing me of an unwanted guest or an unlucky mortal passing through and I can see that you are also a first ring martial artist so as the host let me introduce myself. I am a martial artist of the 'Peacemaker Union', Felix, a second ring martial artist", as he spoke in a warm tone with a tint of pride.
Leif was stunned for a bit but then promptly replied, "I am Leif, a vagrant traveling martial artist"
" Ok Ok come in ", Felix asked to come inside with a warm tone. The entrance had polished wood floors and a graceful banister that curved up toward a soaring second-floor gallery.
Leif walked in with a cautious look and was fully on guard.
He did not walk too slow and barely kept up with Felix.
"Haha please come in little friend I have not had a guest for such a long time. So, please forgive me if I was too impolite" he said in a chuckle and invited him in.
There were many parchments and strange papers spread right to left.
Then further onward there was a crude yet vast training area with a meditation mat in the center with a style that of a tiger.
There were various strange markings all over the place giving it a mysterious feeling.
After seeing the shock on Leif's face, Felix felt inwardly pleased.
He pulled two chairs out and sat down, with Leif sitting opposite of him. Noticing that Leif was interested in the markings in the wall he quickly said to him, "It's not something so impressive little friend. I shall give you an introduction to the basics of path runes. Now let's talk about something else" he smiled and started the converstation.