"The edge of the world? You'll go to the place like that?!"
Mazkhar made wide eyes. Even Altrez's eyes didn't widen he was frightened too. He asked,
"It's very far. How do you go?"
"I'll use the Transport Station."
The Transport Station was like the bus station of the magician. It was the center of the transport magic user's business that sent us to another town while the price was dependent on the distance.
From the capital to the edge of the world was so expensive, they couldn't follow me. But the truth, I would use Nine to sent me off. Because the destination of the Transport Station was the Transport Station at the destination town. I wanted to arrive at the goal. The cheating magic like that couldn't bring anyone with me.
"Then we should go out. High Sage needs the time to prepare, we shouldn't disturb him. Altrez? Mazkhar?"
Riche picked her things back, but they still stayed silent. Mazkhar tilted his body left and right before spoke,
"You don't need to go there. I can take you!"
He held the talisman paper.
Wait, it was…
"Are you ready Al? Let's jump!"
"Jump~~"
Altrez grabbed Mazkhar's hand. They jumped to hug me.
"Stop it right now!"
"It's for tuition fee! Quickly go. Quickly back, so we can learn magic from you. Magic Pass, Sent us to the destination!"
Mazkhar sent MP to Magic Pass. It shined and made our body shined too. The Transport Magic was going to be active.
"High Sage!!"
"No! Riche, stay away!!"
She caught my arm. Her body shined and then, we disappeared from the book room.
...
"What are you doing!"
I swore when we arrived. I didn't think Mazkhar would have Magic Pass… the Magic Tool that had the transport spell with him. The important thing, it was the pass to…
"Heh heh. We arrive, High Sage~" Mazkhar opened his left hand.
"Welcome to the edge of the world." Altrez opened his right hand.
The grey sky. The atmosphere, our visions, and our appearance became in the grey shade. This place was truly the edge of the world.
"It's… same as the book told." Riche looked at her cloth. Every color changed to the range of white, grey, and black.
"Do you never come here?"
"Yes, I… don't know why I should come."
It was true. This area had nothing. The dry solid soil, no signed of plant, and no signed of living thing.
The edge of the world wasn't a real edge. It was the border between the human land, and the demon land. The wide dry land as far as the eye can see. This place was close to the demon land, so it was one dangerous place.
"Mazkhar, send Riche back. She shouldn't be here."
"I'm sad for you but we don't have Magic Pass to Paleona left," Altrez answered.
"The more important, Auntie came by herself. I didn't invite her. If she wants to go back, she must go on her own."
"Mazkhar!!"
"It's alright, High Sage!" She made strong eyes,
"I can take care of myself. When I'm Wizard, I'm 1st Light element Wizard from my generation!"
My bad… If something happened to the daughter of one of the richest families, I couldn't repay.
[My income… That's little kid.]
Wow. Mazkhar could make Nine angry.
[But I have Magic Pass for sale if you want.]
I shook my head. With an unexpected transport, but the connection wasn't lost. His magic was amazing like the same.
I told everyone,
"Keep close to me and don't do the risky thing, ok?"
"Ok!/Yes sir."
While two kids made a laugh, Riche came close to me and gossip, "I'll look after them. I won't let them interrupt your research. You don't worry."
Even if I wanted to send her back, I wanted to save money too. What happened would happen.
One direction had the white light, it was the human town that was closest to the edge of the world. Another direction was the thick grey forest. We were going to that place.
"Oh… Thank you very much."
I put a traveler cloak on Riche's shoulder. The night wind was cold. From her walked by grabbing her arm, she might be cold, her cloth was light too.
Certainly, I bought it for myself too. It wasn't good produce, but it could protect us from the wind.
"Your cheat. We want it too."
"Me too."
Mazkhar and Altrez that walking in front of us quickly asked.
"You didn't cold, isn't it?"
"I'm cold! So cold I can't walk! Right, Al?"
"Yes, Maz. I'm… so cold."
They suddenly hugged each other, pretended that running against the wind with the short pant fewer minutes ago was an illusion. I bought cloaks for them too. Thank the tuition fee from Riche.
[Your balance is 26,730 coins. Thank you for using our service.]
Nine was in the good mood.
If I came with Nine, I might be at the goal. I was a mistake about saving Magic Pass's fee. While I reviewed myself, we arrived at the destination.
The wide thick forest. The Grey Forest.
All trees and plants were in the grey shade as the name. The inside was so dark, but it could see the path. When the wind came out to us, Makhar sniffed.
"I sense of strong… One, two, three… It looks fun. I wish they won't so weak." He licked his mouth. The one who was fun with the dangerous place was only dangerous exist.
"I'll go inside. Anyone wants to get back?"
"Nothing!~" Mazkhar pulled his hands up. Riche looked inside the forest and asked.
"Do you come for materials?"
"I come to visit the spirit."
"The spirit? You mean… Spirit of Borderland?"
I nodded.
"I see… Your research might be a complex topic."
Altrez pulled my shirt, "High Sage, please explain to me."
"High Sage!~ Al~ What are you doing? Come here!"
Mazkhar waved his hand from inside the forest. He didn't go far, we followed him. The way inside wasn't so dark. The shade of difference grey color made us saw things.
I used the light ball to light the way. We didn't walk fast, around us was filled with bushes and roots. Mazkhar walked in front of us alone, that's why Altrez held my hand. Maybe the reason they always held hand was Altrez liked it. The kid's hand was small and soft. I didn't familiar.
"High Sage, explain."
Altrez begged again. It wasn't like I lost to the kid, but he was different from Mazkhar. It was for his seeking knowledge.
The spirit was mystery magic exists. No one knew how they were born but there was one accepted theory. The spirit was the will, the protector, and the master of the land. Everything in the spirit land received protection from the spirit. Who could pass the spirit test would receive a blessing. The blessing was so varied, such as special magic or authority to transport to the spirit land.
The Magic Pass that Mazkhar used was the one example. I didn't know where he gets it but the creator must be passed this land test so we could arrive nearby.
The Grey Forest was located between two lands. The spirit of this land was the Spirit of Borderland.
"So… you want the spirit's blessing, right?" Riche guessed.
"No, I just want to talk."
The owner of the land between Light and Dark. I didn't want to think how hard the test was but just a small talk, I might do. The spirit who was alive many thousand years would have the answer I wanted.
Rustle Rustle Rustle.
Caw.
Tweet!!
"H… High Sage, I heard monster's sounds but…"
Riche held the spear staff. Even it wasn't Vagnar it looked a bit beautiful and strong.
"Careful."
I held Color of the Sea Staff too. Those sounds rang at the far distance and fade away. Even we walked a little while, but we didn't meet any monster.
Mazkhar was still in front of us, maybe he kicked them out.
Suddenly, he stopped a walk.
"Al… Left for me just one."
"I can't Maz. They disturb me. I want to listen to High Sage more."
Rustle Rustle Rustle.
Stab!
Tweet!!
The sound of leaves followed by animals' cries was from behind. They were pained and creepy. I stopped walking and point the light to the back route.
That was so dreadful.
The corpses of monkey monsters were left along the way. Each body was many holes and the blood in the grey color bled out. On my cloak too, it had the grey drop from above.
I looked up. At that time, Riche screamed.
The monkey monster with sharp teeth was above us at fewer meters. He filled with bloodlust and tried to escape from vines that lock him in the air. Many thorns grew from vines, stretched out to stab him to the death.
The corpse felling down in the moment of shock. Did this attack come from Altrez? While we talked, the boy that held hand with me was the one who took down all the monsters?
He smiled as usual.
"The next three monsters are coming. I leave it to Maz."
Rustle Rustle Rustle.
The bushes in front of us were shaking, something was going to come here with the full speed.
"Tweet!!!!"
Three monkey monsters appeared. They were so hungry and bloodlust.
"Thank Al! Hey hey monkey! Look at me!"
"Ha!!!"
Mazkhar roared. After that, the monkeys were turned their head to him.
[It's a taunt skill.]
Nine's voice felt enjoyed. Before monkeys used their sharp claws to attack him, he attacked first. Mazkhar called dual blades to his hands and slashed them rapidly.
[It's a critical hit.]
I didn't know the meaning, maybe it was some praise.
"They got me!"
The monkeys were collapsed. Mazkhar didn't get the wound, he wasn't tired too. His red eyes that became grey shade were shining with a fun attitude.
"Wait a bit, High Sage. I want to slice their fangs. They can be sold!"
He was like a kid who found a toy.
Mazkhar sat down and cut the monkey's mouth. That wasn't good for looking, Riche used my back to hide. From my aspect… Mazkhar was familiar with the knife.
[Tell that kid to cut tongue, it's material for medicine.]
As a stingy person.
"You forgot about the tongue. It can be sold too."
"Wow. Thank you!"
He smiled and sliced again. While he did that, Altrez used vines to drag bodies from behind to Mazkhar. His vines magic grew from his hands and the ground nearly his feet.
"Maz, I give it to you."
"Ok!~"
Altrez didn't help Mazkhar. He knew I doubted so he smiled and told,
"I want to help him, but I can't. Look at this."
He opened his eyes. That was the first time I saw them.
"I can't see anything."
It was nothing. He hadn't eyeballed.
"Why… your eyes…"
"Because I'm too weak."
He held my hands and talked with sincerity.
"High Sage, please don't ask anything just trust us. We don't want to lose things anymore. When we return, when we pay your tuition fee, you have to teach us. You have to make us stronger."
He closed his empty eyes.
"The precious jewel from Knowledge Tower, you're our last hope."