The Elder continued, explaining that to the north of the forest lay towns and villages, forming the Atezia Kingdom. This kingdom was once a mighty nation that held power from west to east.
However, hundreds of thousands of years ago, they were invaded by a faction calling themselves the Revarents, who now occupied the entire eastern region.
"In conclusion... Atezia is the land of the Holy Knights. It has a king, Baldric Atezia, and his kingdom lies to the northwest of the forest. The Revarent faction, an army of undead and black magic users, dominates the entire east. Their leader is Vampire Lord Markel. Beneath the continent lies the gigantic forest we are currently in, and each land possesses a different key," Sonata concluded, slowly and clearly so that Alto did not miss any detail.
"According to Atezian belief, the Gate of Void is considered the Gate of Blessing. They firmly believe that whoever successfully opens the gate will receive a divine blessing, empowering them to defeat the Revarents," Flora explained.
Alto pondered, "I assume the Revarents have a different perspective on the matter?"
"Indeed, the Revarents refer to it as the Gate of Hell. They are convinced that it leads to another world, brimming with formidable powers waiting to be harnessed. If they could open the gate, they believe that the entire continent would be theirs for the taking," Flora responded.
Sonata and Alto listened to the entire tale with rapt attention, exchanging a knowing glance when it was over. Though Sonata was intrigued by this mysterious world and the secrets concealed behind the enigmatic gate, he had no intention of interfering in their ongoing conflicts.
However, the Elder once again caught him off guard by showing one of the three keys.
"Wait, the key!" Sonata exclaimed, realizing that it was one of the three keys that the other party had deemed incredibly significant - the very key held by the Hermit.
"We would like to entrust it to you," the Elder replied serenely.
"Is this also a part of the prophecy?" Sonata inquired, his brow furrowed. The whole situation felt too convenient, and he could not help but wonder if there was more to it than met the eye. As a cautious person, Sonata always kept his guard up and sought to uncover any nefarious schemes, but he could detect no trace of malice from the hermits.
"We are holding onto this key as a bargaining chip in our negotiations with Atezia and Revarent. We will entrust it to you once you have obtained the other two keys," the Elder explained.
Alto's expression turned serious as he asked, "Aren't you concerned about the consequences of giving all the keys to this guy? What if he opens the gate?"
Alto understood that Sonata suspected a connection between the gate, which even the Empire's advanced technology could not penetrate, and the Zerrian. If that were the case, Sonata would undoubtedly attempt to unlock the gate to prove the link. Alto was unsure if he could prevent him from doing so.
Sonata initially considered refuting Alto's point, but ultimately chose to remain silent. Deep down, he knew that his people had been trapped in a time warp for the past four centuries, and Zerrian technology might be the key to bringing them back to their own era.
Even if the gate had nothing to do with the Zerrian, Sonata was still curious and eager to unlock its secrets.
"No problem, we do not believe there is anything behind the gate. If you can gather all the keys and unlock it, those who seek war will discover the truth and lose their interest in the gate," the Elder replied. However, his words did not reassure Alto.
... What if there was something beyond the gate?...
***------------------------------------------------------------------***
Sonata's top priority was to acquire the key in the possession of Baldric, the King of Atezia. Initially, his plan was to explore the city and then devise a strategy to secure the remaining keys. The Elder offered to provide a "guide" to assist them.
Together, they exited the tent.
Alto anticipated that the guide designated by the Elder would be an elderly man garbed in a mole-colored robe like those commonly found in the village. However, he was taken aback when someone pointed out a young girl playing with a squirrel.
She appeared to be around seventeen years old, contrary to Alto's expectations. Her demeanor had a mischievous undertone, and her manner of speaking was peculiar. She was engrossed in playful banter with the woodland creatures, oblivious to Sonata's approach.
Despite the brown and green tones of her robe that blended seamlessly with the forest surroundings, it was unique in its design. The fabric appeared brighter than any other, and it appeared to be brand new. She held a magic staff in one hand, which seemed to be made of wood at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it was constructed of metal. A large blue gem, twice the size of a man's fist, adorned the top of the staff.
…Sonata and Alto shared a mutual thought: could this girl also be a hermit?
"Hello, my name is Vanay," the lively young hermit greeted them.
Flora revealed that Vanay was her sister, and they were orphans of war raised by the Elder and other hermits.
"This is my friend," Vanay announced, twirling her staff. Tiny flickers of light radiated from the gem, catching the attention of Sonata's soldiers, who mistook it for an attack. They instantly aimed their weapons at her, but Alto intervened, halting their misguided actions.
As the brightness faded, the nature of the lights became evident. Each little speck of light was a miniature human with insect-like wings: fairies from the pages of a fairy tale.
"Wow, are these fairies for real?" Sonata marveled, reaching out to touch one that hovered near his hand. However, it flew away with an angry buzz, indicating that it did not appreciate being touched by anyone.
However, not all the fairies were the same. One delicate-looking female fairy took an interest in Sonata, landing on his shoulder and grinning.
Both male and female fairies resembled little children, with some appearing tidy and cute while others exuded mischievousness and energy. Several fairies cowered behind Vanay, giving off an apprehensive aura. Sonata was convinced that they were genuine creatures, not simply the product of magic.
"The magic staff is their home," Vanay explained with a grin, gesturing towards the gem atop her staff. Everyone stared intently, awestruck as they gazed upon a forest and miniature village within the gem.
"A miniature dimension," Sonata muttered, taking the staff from Vanay to inspect it further. Although he did not comprehend how the gem created the Fairy Village, he was confident that the same individual who crafted the black sword he had received was the creator of this magic staff.
...Very intriguing. The individual who created such bizarre and wonderful objects must have been an accomplished expert in numerous fields...
As Sonata returned Vanay's magic staff, the young hermit grinned. They had just added a temporary member to their party who could summon the aid of the fairy army.
"Do you really know the way?" Alto inquired, not intending to belittle her, but aware of the hermits' reluctance to leave the forest unnecessarily. He was not certain if Vanay could safely lead them all to the capital.
"I know the way for certain. If Vanay isn't aware, no hermit will be," she whispered confidently.
"Where does that confidence stem from?" Alto pondered aloud.
"I have a dear friend in the capital whom I used to visit frequently," she responded, causing both men to grow even more convinced that she was no ordinary hermit. She defied their expectations.
Perhaps... they should not classify her as a hermit.
***------------------------------------------------------------------***
Vanay was well-versed in navigating forest paths. Once their journey commenced, those who had initially underestimated her were taken aback by her speed, which exceeded that of the five soldiers. Vanay disclosed that the people who resided in the forest had hailed her for her agility, bestowing upon her the moniker "Squirrel of Prewood."
"The hunters in this region are no match for me when it comes to trekking," the young girl chuckled. Her speed was due to a combination of hermit magic and the fairy's blessing, which increased her strength and swiftness.
Vanay elaborated that there were various types of magic in this world, and magic training was a formidable task that only a select few individuals undertook. Magic was classified into seven elements and categorized based on white or black lines. In addition, there were many distinct kinds of magic, such as God-powered Magic, Summon Magic, and spells passed down solely within specific groups.
Hermit Magic was an exclusive form of magic, with its spells developed and transmitted solely amongst the hermits, rendering it a rare ability, considering the total number of magic users.
"I can use basic white magic, natural magic, as well as some super special spells that only I am capable of," Vanay boasted cheerfully. Sonata found her talkative nature engaging, but Alto did not share the same sentiment.
"So, you have a unique magic as well?" Sonata inquired curiously.
"A unique magic? Indeed, but should I divulge it?" Vanay teased, appearing as though she desired to reveal more.
Alto shook his head in frustration, deeming the young girl as unguarded.
What kind of person would expose their strengths and weaknesses to people, particularly to strangers? He surmised that she would not survive in this world for long.
In contrast, Vanay felt irked by Alto's disposition. She sensed that he viewed her as a mere trivial girl, similar to how most hermits regarded her. Alto always appeared burdened as if carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He was the kind of person she wished to avoid.