A hooded figure, shrouded in an enigmatic aura, strode into their path, his imposing stature enveloped in a sleeveless crop-top hoodie emblazoned with a distinctive badge. Chains adorned his jeans, and his feet were encased in obsidian shoes that whispered against the ground as he came to a halt. With a commanding presence, he halted their journey abruptly, compelling them to reconsider their chosen path with a grave admonition.
"Believe me, that place is not meant for casual tourists like you all," the hooded stranger cautioned, his words dripping with a solemn gravity. "You will find yourselves regretting your decision, I can bet that." The manner in which he spoke left no room for doubt or levity.
However, Mika vehemently rejected the warning. Persuaded that the southern route was the swiftest and safest passage to Auberyonne, Mika challenged the stranger's authority, pushing back against his ominous counsel.
"No way, who do you think you are to force us!" Mika, defiant in the face of the mysterious figure, retorted. Uncertain as to whether there existed an alternative route other than south, Mika defended their chosen path. "Moreover, the southern route is the quickest route. Why should we listen to your advice?"
"Please, calm down. I urge you to reconsider, not to demand you leave," the hooded stranger countered firmly, resisting Mika's resistance and persisting in his counsel for them to retreat.
"This place lives an immoral people's le. Once you set foot here, there's no telling how you'll stand them," the enigmatic man divulged. "I did offer this advice softly and gently. Should the three of you still be so adamant, ahead you will."
After issuing an ominous warning to the group, the enigmatic stranger dispersed into a flurry of crows, leaving them in a state of bewilderment.
As they pondered their next move, Mika stroked his chin in contemplation, his thoughts consumed by the cryptic message. With great caution, he slipped into a state of deep introspection, seeking clarity amidst the confusion.
"(I'm kinda with his warning. Those people are negatively influential. One of Granny's most hated places to visit. Salanka River may befit the safest route, but still...)" Mika doubted, torn between the two options. Eventually, Mika opted for the Salanka River, and the rest of the group concurred with his decision. "(Plus, it'll take longer to travel to Auberyonne.)" Mika mused.
Salanka River, a veritable haven teeming with creatures great and small, boasting seven winding streams and three colossal waterfalls that thundered mightily.
Its breathtaking vista stirred the soul and imbued all who gazed upon it with a profound sense of tranquility.
Yet, let it be known that even amidst this idyllic paradise, the vigilant must remain, for danger lurks in the most unsuspecting of places, and the calmest waters may belie treacherous currents.
"We should split up, for a brief," Mika proposed, unable to resist the allure of conducting research in a location that was bustling with life, as it would enrich his knowledge.
Locked in gaze with Mika, Sougo contemplated about this decision, while Luna expressed her concerns about the possibility of them parting ways permanently. However, Sougo acknowledged Mika's capabilities and allowed him to proceed with his plans, given his proficiency in handling hazardous circumstances.
Adding to their troubles, being in an unfamiliar place made it increasingly likely that the trio would become disconnected from each other. After some discussion, Luna reluctantly consented to Mika's plan but insisted that he carefully reconsider his decision.
Eventually, they decided to split up with Mika going alone and Sougo accompanying Luna.
Looking for a place to stay, Sougo rested his hand on the handle of his blade while observing left and right. The beauty of nature caught his whole sight as Luna also too while ambling beside him.
"Illusory magic doesn't work on me. You think some simple trick can fool me? Judging from your plotting I'm way out of your league to be deceived by... "That"." Mika paused momentarily and cleared away all the deceptive appearances that had previously misled his vision.
The scenery before him, which had appeared to undulate like waves, revealed its true form. He had been on the verge of accidentally plunging off a cliff, but he managed to save himself by recognizing that his perception had been deceived by something illusory.
Garnering flowers and herbs, Mika was able to detect something strange effortlessly just by the faintest hint.
Illusory magic was used to fool the prey, but Mika's wits who quickly noticed it in a split second reversed his destiny.
"Hiding in trees like some sort of Aphid. Are you aware of this place's characteristics?" Mika's arms folded, his face unamused. "The soil here doesn't suit this nature's biome. By then, of course, you would fool me if you've done it correctly." Assiduous in every field of flora, Mika outsmarted the culprit.
"I can't just let you off the hook now, can I?" Mika declared, his voice laced hostility. "Show yourself and I might go easy on you. If that's not a preferable option for you, then so be it, my arrows can follow any non-stationary targets. No matter how good you are at hiding, you can't run!" With a warning hanging in the air, Mika conjured a crackling lightning arrow, directing it towards south.
No sign of the enemy in sight, not an inch of a movement, Mika escalated the stakes by firing a warning shot perilously close to a nearby tree. The tree shuddered as if a hidden figure, on the brink of discovery, recoiled in fear of imminent peril. Slowly, the illusion dissipated, unveiling the culprit standing revealed..
With hands raised in a gesture of surrender, the man emerged from the concealment. "I give up!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with panic, acknowledging the futility of resistance.
"Well now, were you trying to rob me?" Mika inquired, his arrow poised dangerously close to the man's chin.
The man, adorned with a collection of knives at his waist and clad in rugged leather attire, stood before Mika, caught in the act.
"Bandits twice in a lifetime? Never have been so sure that my day is getting worse ever since I met Sir Sougo. What're you up to anyway?" Mika probed, intent on unraveling the man's true motives.
"Look, I'm just trying to make ends meet, please don't do this, I beg of you!" laid bare his desperation, appealing for mercy
"You don't seem like a bad guy. Your looks says it all. Your name?" Mika asked for his name.
"My name is Tooru. Don't kill me please!" Tooru quivered in fear. "I have a family to feed." he plead.
"I understand, but doing this is wrong. You should do better!" Mika advised, his bow dropped lower and so his hostility.
"I just can't. Taxes this, taxes that, what am I supposed to do?!" Tooru conveyed his reluctance while experiencing defeat. "If it weren't for those disgusting nobles, our lives would be easier."
Mika, cognizant of the man's distressing condition, gathered botanicals and drew upon his grandmother's insights to familiarize himself with the area. Subsequently, the man departed after receiving both financial aid and forgiveness from Mika.
"(A place acquainted with the riches... hmm... Then again, it pains me to leave after seeing them in such a state. I should head back to Sougo and Luna.)" Contemplating the disparity between wealth and poverty, Mika's glass was poured with worry for them.
Minutes after the strange encounter, Mika reunited with Sougo and Luna at last.
"Yo! Just finished garnering."
"You're back so early? What happened?" Luna questioned, concerning Mika's early return.
Mika later described the situation, simplifying that he changed his mind.
"Nothing much happened, but a change of plans. I'm here to see the village." Mika's words shocked Luna but Sougo, insisting that they should go where Mika did not advise them to. Nothing made much sense to them as they had question marks above their heads.
"I know it sounds quite like I'm tricking your heads when I did strongly urge you not to go there, but c'mon, a person can have second thoughts, no?" Due to having the intention to find out about the man's history behind his hometown, he needed ways to help him.
Believing that the village may hold a connection to the ominous warning they had received, Mika determined that decisive action was necessary to resolve any looming threats. Drawing upon his early grasp of politics and economics, acquired at a remarkably young age, Mika navigated the situation with a keen understanding of strategic planning.
Leading his companions through the potential danger, Mika guided them towards their destination. Upon arrival, a sign greeted them: "Welcome to Lalapila!"
"Lalapila? Wasn't it supposed to be Avalaya?" Mika mused, momentarily confused by the discrepancy in names and striving to recollect the events that led to this alteration.
Having remained distanced from news of the village for two years, focusing primarily on essential matters, Mika's curiosity was piqued, prompting him to question the unfolding circumstances.
"In some manner, to pinpoint this answer link to the nobility. Their dominance over law is often... Discriminating, not to mention using money as a weapon. Quite the cruel world," Mika reflected, recognizing the pervasive influence of the nobles and their manipulative tactics.
Spotting a town on the horizon instead of the expected village, Mika found the situation peculiar and suggested investigating further. Abandoning fruitless speculation in the absence of concrete clues, he proposed exploring the town alongside his companions to unravel the mysteries that lay ahead. Without hesitation, both agreed to venture forth into the unknown, united in their quest for answers...