The morning sun shone through the gaps in the closed drapes of Lanthim's room. Having fallen asleep on the floor the night previous, he awoke changed and in bed. It required no effort for Milty to change and put him to bed when she found him on the floor the night before.
There appeared to be no familiars present this morning which was unusual to Lanthim. Who had become used to Lanhou and others being around him? However, he could not worry about such things now. He needed to rush to the library for some information.
His experience from the night before still remained vividly in his mind. The old man, floating like a ghost in front of him. But not maybe a manifestation of some kind may be an illusion due to exhaustion.
These questions brought him to the main library this morning. His first piece of information he desired was concerning the location of the Forest of Legrcstim. Just knowing the name of a place was not enough. The actual location was needed.
So he delved into every book he could find until around midday he was surrounded by books, this maze of books deterred some of the maids who had come to bring him lunch. Even though he had not built this monstrosity on purpose. The way the books had been placed after being read. Had been in such a way that he had, built a small maze in the library.
"I can sense the young master in there somewhere. However, if he is, this invested in a study? It would be best not to disturb him." [Felyma]
Said Felyma, after arriving to see what had happened to look inside the library.
'Something must be wrong for Master Lanthim to act in this way.'
She thought to herself before leaving Lanthim to his study.
"I think it's better to leave him to his own advancement in the ways of magic, for he may be far beyond any of us, however when it comes to the world and how to live in, it then he will require us then." [Milty]
Milty had said this to Felyma after the battle days before, and in her mind, these words were very true. Suddenly a loud bang and the sound of things shuffling about could be heard from the library.
Returning to the entrance, she stood ready to strike if someone was trying to harm the boy. However, as she came through the open doors, all she saw was a clear room with Lanthim sitting at the centermost table in the library.
'I wonder sometimes. What is not capable for him even with so little mana that he can use?'
Thinking this as she continued further into the library. She could see many books levitating to their correct places like invisible hands instantly and silently placing each book away. The sound she had heard must have been the initial movement of all the books from where they were sat.
On the floor, all piled on top of each other. Looking now, on Lanthim whose face bore a frown as if he had lost something precious. His hair black like his father, then turning a deep Emerald at his temples when allowed to grow, which his mother insisted it should his hair would curve sharply backward.
So when one looked at him from the side, it looked like emerald fangs coming off the side of his face that said. When he ever showed a negative emotion of any kind. Just looking at him made one feel the dread.
"Why can't I find this damned forest, six continents with countless woodlands. All of which have some name and yet nothing." [Lanthim]
His frustration could be felt almost as if it was a living thing. Still, he continued on, reading a large atlas lay open on the table turned to the maps of the Alfriena Continent. Far to the west of the Grelfaus Continent, where the Empire was located.
"Young master, what are you looking for?" [Felyma]
Asked Felyma as she arrived at his table. The size of the atlas was impressive filling, the table it sat upon being when fully open over sixteen feet. A truly frighting thing to behold, admiring it as she was, she did not notice Lanthim looking at her.
"Forgive me, young master. I was distracted." [Felyma]
Lowering her head, feeling slightly embarrassed for the distraction she caused Lanthim since he seemed so deep in thought before.
"I need to find a location in these maps. It seems sad I can't see it Felyma, describe to me what you know of the Forest of Legrcstim." [Lanthim]
Lanthim's expression did not change as he asked this question with a dangerously gentle tone. Not even looking from the book to see if she would answer, his gaze just continued to scour the maps before him. Felyma just stood shocked by the question presented to her.
'That cursed forest the place the Forsaken or Great Magi came from a place so dense in natural mana that any person would suffocate due to over-saturation that forest?' {Felyma}
She could feel a cold sweat slide coldly down her back as she thought about what it was he was actually asking.
"From your reaction, it tells me a great deal, Felyma. However, I must know of this place." [Lanthim]
Looking to her master as he spoke, Felyma could feel the determination in his voice while at the same time damned his ability. It would be better if she could just keep her emotions to herself and not have this almost constant pressure to give information.
Milty and Reiflin rarely gave any emotional response that he could sense. So he rarely got specific information from them. Felyma, on the other hand, was like an emotional dictionary. He could get almost anything out of her.
However, knowing this, he was careful not to go so far as to push her into a mental state that would hamper her work or would cause her to leave. That being said, he needed this information, and from the response so far. It seemed something quite dreadful had happened in the place he wished to know about, eventually, after sometimes she finally spoke.
"Young Master, the place you ask about is not one happily remember by my people. Or it would be better to say that the memory of what came out of that forest is not something that we have easily forgotten." [Felyma]
Her voice became almost silent as if she was saying nothing. However, as she continued, the room filled with a deep feeling of despair.
"I was not alive in that time. Only lady Mynrea would be able to tell you more since her kind has a greater recorded history of the events." [Felyma]
She stopped for a moment, taking a seat on the other side of the table.
"Almost ten thousand years ago, the beings that are known by most as the magi. Who lived in this world as the Forsaken came from the forest of Legrcstim. And after leaving there, they began their domination of the world." [Felyma]
The silence that was in the library made one feel like they were in a tomb. Anger filled Lanthim's heart as he remembered the things that had happened to him at the hands of one of these forsaken. Still, he continued to listen to the tale Felyma told.
"It is said that forest contains the densest concentration of natural mana in the entire world and that any who come even a mile outside of it will die from overexposure to it. Since there is a limit to how much natural mana a person can purify when entering a place that has high-density natural mana. There is always a danger of the body taking into much. Due to the greater density of the mana around them." [Felyma]
As Felyma finished, she looked to Lanthim to see what he thought of what she had told him.
'That is right since most people live where the density of natural mana is not that intense. Once they enter a place with greater amounts. Their bodies are unable to handle it, and they die.' {Lanthim}
Thinking this to himself and noticing the maid looking at him, he spoke.
"I thank you, Felyma, this is something I needed to know, but I need to know one last thing." [Lanthim]
His face grew serious. Like he intended to have this answer at all costs.
"Where is the forest located?" [Lanthim]
Felyma fidgeted with her skirt, wondering whether to tell him or not, sadly. His gaze had her pinned, and she would have to answer.
"On the Dethymel continent in the region of Jemlren is where the Forest is located." [Felyma]
Her answer was clear, but she felt nothing good would come from giving the truth, but she did so anyway. Looking at each other, Lanthim seemed to have a smile on his face. Stand to make his way out, he looked back to the maid who still sat at the table.
"You have done well, Felyma. I am fine now Thank You."
With that, he left the library leaving, an emotionally drained Felyma behind little did she know that this was the last time they would meet like this for almost ten years.