Slowly walking through the forest with trees that towered over Carlos, he made his way to the small hut and held the sword tight in his hands. If worse comes to worst, he'll do what he has to do to survive.
The lights in the hut were dim but showed that there were people living in them as footsteps and mumuring could also be heard in the hut.
Carlos hid his sword behind his back and knocked on the door gently. It soon opened, revealing a old couple standing, holding the old wooden door. They looked confused at first but their face soon turned to a face of shock.
Not wanting to do this, Carlos grip his sword tighter, before he could even knock them out, the words that came from their mouths shocked him.
"Oh my, what happened to you dear? You're stained with blood all over! Please do come in." the old women with white hair in braids frantically said, pulling Carlos arm.
He reluctantly came in and eyed the interior of the hut, it was much cleaner than he thought. He then focused his attention back to the old couple in the hut who was now asking if he was fine while they grab bandages and cloths from their drawers.
"Please sit down child." the woman gestured as she gently forced Carlos to sit on the couch. While she was wiping off the blood off from the child, she reached for his head and removed his cloak.
She looked at his hair and smiled, "My, what marvelous hair.. I never knew that people who had these genes were still alive." she remarked casually as she continued wiping off the blood from Carlos face.
Carlos kept quiet the whole time when the women was fixing him up. He was far too shocked by the fact that these people didn't even recognize him as a member of the Vuiton Royal Family.
"What do you mean by these genes?" he asked while looking around the room, looking for any signs of modern items.
"Genes of the glorious Vanite Tribe that ruled these vasts forests." the elderly man replied as he placed clothings that were too big for Carlos on his lap.
"Ah, thanks.. I don't-" he than paused and realized that the clothes he bought were far too noticeable and were not anything a commoner would be able to afford.
Carlos gripped the items on his lip tighter and smiled. "Thanks.. I do have a favor, would you mind if I stayed over tonight? I just can't seem to get out of these forests with those terrifying monsters after my neck." he sheepishly asked.
"It's quite alright for you to stay over. After all roaming these woods at such a time for a kid like you is surely dangerous." the old man replied with a kind smile that warmed Carlos heart.
After the women had patched Carlos from his head to his toes, she then gathered up a blanket and placed it on the couch beside him. "Make yourself at home dear. Are you hungry by any chance?" she asked as she tilted her head.
"Ah! No, I've got food on me.Th- thanks for asking." he replied as he took packets of bread from his bag and showed them to the lady. "Would you like some? It seems like I overdid it with the spending." he asked.
The lady smiled and nodded, she walked over and took 2 packets of bread from the child and walked away to a room where the old man had went into. "Goodnight than child." she said with a soft smile before entering the room.
Carlos heaved a sigh of relief as he sluggishly stood up and walked over to the window. "How do they survive like this? I can still hear the monsters crawling around outside.." he mumured, he had never let his guard down the moment he had entered the hut. It was obviously the right choice to do as he had figured out that he shouldn't sleep tonight as to avoid a tragedy.
Focusing back on the bread, he took a bite of it as he walked over to the candles that kept the hut dimly lit and extinguished it with a blow. After that he then gabbed his bag from the ground and took out the map he had stuffed in and made himself comfortable on the couch.
Forming a light crystal with magic, he shoned it on the map. The map he had was special as it can only be accessed by ice users, it was gifted to him by Aiden after many arguments with father.
The map was incredibly small but Carlos could see the ice continent was in the east while the fire continent was west. The greenlands where wind and earth elements collide were in the north. The other continents were completely out of the map so he couldn't even locate where the others were.
These continents are named after elements as the core of the continent are made and rule by that specific element. Their rulers are often specialized in that type of element as to show their faith and strength.
However, the continent Carlos favoured the most was the Themis continent in the south where there were no criticism towards an element and all it's people are well united.
Carlos had always wanted to visit the continent but it was too much of a far fetch dream currently, but if he did attend the best Conjuring Academy in the future, he'll be able to visit the continent he had always wanted to go.
Satisfied after seeing the map, Carlos rolled it up and placed it back into his bag. He was exhausted and drained of his energy, but he couldn't let his guard down as he knew monsters were still roaming rather near the hut along with the knights that were still frantically searching for him.
Only an idiot would rest and sleep at a time like this, so Carlos sat down and practiced increasing his mana core capacity. Breathing in a specific pattern, the mana in his viens rushed around at a terrifying pace. He closed his eyes and repeatedly trained his mana core, waiting for the sun to rise.