As soon as they step inside the Zerah forest the light orb held by Ryu becomes shinier, when they moved forward the big snakes and lizards are as big as a crocodile both with sharp fangs and eyes that shine in the darkness of night, they all fled as soon as the light from the orb was seen by them or its light fell on them
"Amazing!!" Snow said as she looks toward the orb
"It is the power of Goddess, who thought we will get to see the Goddess in this life" Lana said
"It is a silver lining to dark cloud tonight was" Hina chimed in carrying Aiena over her back
As they said this orb was the biggest help in getting through this forest, no monster was coming towards them due to the light of the orb and it turns into purple color whenever they were going to move in the wrong direction. If this could be turned into a mana device the creator would end up becoming super-rich. Lina who was finally having a calm look after this night of despair said
"I still cannot believe I meet the Goddess I was worshipping since childhood"
They were having an easy walk now it would hardly take a while to reach the edge of the forest. Ryu thought 'that Goddess really did make our way easier, should I try praying to her?'
While in confusion he tried focusing on the darkness he feels inside himself towards the orb in his hand which makes it shinier he did it a few times as if he was playing but then something happen which turns his mood low again
"I hope Ralph was there when we met Goddess," Lina said
The atmosphere got a little dull everyone was quiet again Ryu thought again
'Ralph, I know you would want me far from danger, but I will take revenge and make that Holy Knight pay'
He hardened his resolve once again and began planning evil plans of what he is going to do with the Holy Knight in his mind. The Brightest star had disappeared after a few minutes of them arriving here and now the sky was turning a little blue and night was coming towards an end and they decided to take a break and drink water sitting near tree Hina said
"Young master is very responsible; he has not slept since he is holding the Light Orb"
"I am a bit worried about him," Lana said with a worried look
"Baby" Snow said while touching Ryu's cheek
Lina was just drinking water from the robe bag pours a few drops in Ryu's mouth too and spoke
"Lana, Hina you both should stop calling me Viscountess and Ryu young master we need to hide our identities. And also we should decide on a few other things before we reach the village or town"
"What things are we talking about Viscountess… no I mean…. Lina big sister??" Hina asked with a curious expression while Lana nodded and Snow was focusing her all attention on Ryu
"First we need to get you, Lana, and Aiena new clothes all of our things were destroyed with the carriage and we will look suspicious with three maids, then we need to find a place to sleep we all are exhausted beyond our limits we will think further after that"
After she said this, they come to realize how much she is thinking for everyone's sake and even planning as far as they once reach the village or town, they feel like they've seen a glimpse of The Lina of Crimson Flames the well-known Adventurer who adventured solo and even conquered The Hell's Flame dungeon solo. An adventurer needs to be thorough in preparation while reaching a new town or place and seeing this side of Lina make both the maids think
'She sure is a legend among adventurers' and Ryu thought
'Isn't mom more awesome than the main character of that English treasure hunter movie Indian joes'
As their rest finished, they began walking towards the edge of the forest again the sky was almost welcoming sun now so the Light from the Orb in Ryu's hand was not that effective but it was still as effective as before. The majority of monsters that appear are reptiles with crazy razor fangs but they all escape as soon as they try to come near Ryu.
"How far it will be, my legs can't take it anymore" Lana complained in a low voice
"Sun is almost up I want to run towards exit now" Hina added with an exhausted look as well the sun was coming up the horizon Ryu was starting to feel drowsy too but he remains awake 'Just a few more minutes,' he was repeating in his mind. Soon they saw the end they couldn't help but start running towards it and soon as the sun was coming up, they come out of the forest a paved soil path nice grass-covered earth on another side on the other side of the path.
They were finally out of Zerah forest and relived Ryu who can finally sleep thought
'Mission successful going down' as she closed his eyes and let the orb fall something happened which was beautiful and serene the Orb as soon as it hit the ground it emitted bright oceanic blue light similar in color to Ryu's hair. As the brightness fades away slowly they see the crystalized small blue orb of similar color as Ryu's hair being surrounded by mud color of the ground it falls on it turns into a Holy orb
"It is a miracle of Light Goddess," Lina said with an expression of awe
"This must be the gift from Light Goddess to the young master," Lana said as she was picking it up and putting it into the bag they received earlier from knights and Ryu thought
'That Goddess sure is surprising but surprise aside I won't be waking up for hours now, Good night' and he falls asleep,
Hina woke up Aiena who was sleeping, and then still drowsy Aiena said
"Good morning, Viscountess mam, big sisters"
"We come out of the forest Aiena want to race me on the path," Hina said with enthusiasm one purpose behind her this out of place proposal was that she wanted to change Aiena's mind from the chaos of last night and then started running while pulling Aiena's hand as Aiena was shouting
"Hina big sis, slow down you are too fast!!!" but Hina did not stop and kept pulling fast Lina was looking at them warmly as she walks behind and Snow had already fixed and wore her robe again. On a new day, they all were moving towards their new destination. They come across few people while walking on the path which serves them as a relief that they were going in the right direction.
"People looking back," Snow said to Lina as she notices the people who they had just passed by were looking back at them but it was understandable because a group only consisting of females, on top of that all of them were wearing expensive clothes and there were 3 maids with them this all things were making passerby curious about them most of them were adventurers.
"Just keep moving Snow, if we stop and look at them, they might question us," Lina said
"Yes, Viscountess… mean Lina sis" Snow replied while quickly changing her words and after a walk of an hour they finally reached a village. It is a Village that is in the progress of developing into a small town Zerah Adventurer's village.
A village which formed due to adventurers wanting to reduce the traveling time it takes to reach Zerah Forest, it finally began setting up 30 years before, with a retired adventurer as Village chief and a recently set up small Church of God of Valor and fight. The God that is worshipped by most of the adventurers. The village also has an Inn and Adventures guild branch. The main reason for this rapid progress is that the materials provided by monsters of Zerah forest are used for making many sorts of medicines so the quests here are highly profitable. Having a lake and 40+ families living here makes it a nice Village.
While standing near the gate Lina, maids, and Snow finalize their plan
"First we will buy new cheap clothes to blend in," said Lana
"Then we will go to the Inn for rest" followed Hina
"Nice, for now, this will do we have enough of silver to last a long time but we will have to think further," Lina said and as the finalizing ends, they finally set their foot inside the Village which does not have any guard at the entrance.
Following their entrance inside the Village, their plan went smoothly they buy new clothes from a vendor and sold all of their maid clothes Ryu was sleeping all this while and they ended up in the Village only Inn for the night and took two rooms in one Snow and Hina stay in other Lina, Aiena and Lana.
Lina cried at night, everyone still got sadness of last night in their heart but all of them prepared themselves for their new future in this village mentally. Lina said while patting sleeping Ryu's head
"Mom will make sure you will live properly Ryu"