Lucius then made up his mind to go exploring, but this time with more caution after applying with what he learned from the memories he viewed. Lucius made himself a new batch of arrows with leaf as a improvised fletching. Glued together by hide glue Lucius created from the left over hide he didn't tan. With everything he needed safely tucked in a small pack. Ready to set-out when the first ray of the sun showed itself.
With nothing to do all Lucius sat on a stump and talked with Lark in his mind. Discussing about His former world, while reading a book, a book that catched The old Saints Attention. 'Is that a book containing knowledge about your former world Luke?'
'Yeah. A book about engineering, it's only freshman level though. I've read this back when I was a student, but as I became an adult, most the things in this book started to become more useless and useless so it just sat there gathering dust in my book shelf. But as now I'm here, having a re-read may be in need.' Said Lucius as he turned over a page.
'The knowledge in that book is really interesting Luke. If I was alive I'd have do anything in my power to snatch this. For all we know you could create a magic equivalent of what I witnessed in your memories! A carriage that roared past with no beasts pulling it, a metal bird powered by a steady jet of fire flying high up in the air, near instant communication! If all what I saw in your memories could be implemented. I am certain that a new age of magic would begin! But there's a tad bit of a problem to implement it....'
'Have I ever told you about the Union of Nations Luke? No? Well let me humor you, it is a Union made up of nations. Says in the name itself, I was once the leader of that said Union, 2 continents are part of it. All nations of these 2 continents. The twin continents of Lentia and Luchia. In there, mostly every sorcerers on top were against the possiblity with the integration of Science, I pressured the council myself a few times, but my pleas were always vetoed by the majority.'
'So spectating how you'll tread this path without angering the Union would be really interesting to see Luke. And please let go of what worries your mind, live and live freely Luke.'
'Hmm... Well the sun is finally showing itself so I think its finally time to begin exploring. For now I think I'll head south , tomorrow would be north next day east while for the last day it would be west.' Answered Lucius dodging Larks words.
Playing along, the old Saint revealed the location where he and Lucius resided, the region, the forest, the nearest point of civilization. 'To save you the hassle. There's nothing up north, other than wandering magical beasts and mountains, same for east and west. While this forest is known as the Teryut Forest. If you venture for some time at south-west , I think, you should be able to find a clearing with a road that leads to a Union owned city up north if you follow the road south you should find yourself in the County of Augstadt.'
"should have told me sooner Lark. This could've been a major help." Said aloud by Lucius, pissed off at Larks action of withholding information.
'Tell me Luke, what would have been the use of telling you sooner? You'd leave your friends and companions alone? No right? So in my mind I deemed it necessary to only tell you about this if you planned exploring or when your friends woke up and had the intent of leaving.'
'You sure do have many reasons Lark. But I guess there is no use for those details for the mean time. So at the least I'll do some exploring on the 4 cardinal directions. With more focus down south.'
'Explore with caution Luke, don't want to have another close-up encounter with another magical beast now do we?.' said Lark while laughing at Lucius as he made his way down south of the forest.
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As Lucius mapped out an area of the forest, while making sure to put noticeable marks on trees he passed by. He asked Lark a question after putting down his journal. 'You say there was a road that lead to a county or city. I've walked for hours on and I still haven't seen the edge of the forest.'
'I remember telling you to venture somewhere south-west. Not straight south, but the travel might be a bit longer. As my last memory of that place was probably a century and half ago. So things could've changed. For all I know the road itself was overgrown or now unrecognizable due to time.'
Hearing what The old Saint said made Lucius sigh in fatigue and hint of disappointment. 'Well everything isn't all that bad, though I couldn't find my way over to the road I still mapped out this direction.' Lucius thought in his mind
'Yeah, everything isn't that bad. So after you mark a tree and a short break we should then make it back to the clearing with haste. Looking at where the rays of the sun comes from, the sun should start to set at 2-3 hours. Making it back there in that time frame should be possible but lets hurry up to be careful.'
Taking heed of what Lark said. Lucius started to make his journey back to the clearing with increased pace. And with Larks help, alarming him of any possible magical beast to come close. Lucius made it back to the clearing in a safe manner.
After arriving back to the clearing just before the sun went down. Lucius immediately sat down and started to eat some smoked deer meat. While eating, he thought to himself. 'All this meat probably isn't gonna last for another day after tomorrow. Either I finish eating all of these tomorrow or they all go to waste. If only freezing was an option.'
'Ohh it is Luke! Just channel your magic and visualize. That specific area should then become colder and colder until the object you wish to freeze, becomes frozen. I am truly excited to see your reaction when you see magic in action. ' Said Lark thrilled to see Lucius perform actual magic.
'You make it sound as if I'm just a little kid excited to see magic. Besides I've already performed that quickening magic for the hide, and sharing my memories with you. What's so different from this?' Replied Lucius as he picked up a stick to experiment on.
'When I was a young sorcerer the thrill of doing explosions with my magic brought pure joy within my mind. Even when I became a Saint. I destroy as much as I create Luke!'
While listening to Larks ramblings, Lucius on the other hand focused within his mind the process of freezing the tip of the stick there a frosty smoke formed around the tip. While doing this snow and ice started to form on the tip. Though he was impressed with the effects, but while trying to break off the tip thinking it formed to actual ice. Lucius was disappointed, although the outer layer of the stick was frozen, the inside was unaffected.
This time, instead of only visualizing the process. Lucius became more meticulous, making sure that the frost didn't just stay outside of the stick. In result, the frosty mist started to seep inside of the stick. Making it brittle and cold to the touch, with Lucius satisfied, he broke the frozen end of the stick to pieces.
'This could prove deadly. While this should be enough to freeze and preserve the smoked deer meat I have' Said Lucius content with the result of his small experiment.
'Just mind that if you decide to freeze too large of an area. Inside and out, your magical energy would be depleted much faster. I guess now with this all you'd have to do is explore the other directions, secure food and stay alive now huh? By the way when you leave this forest, I would suggest heading down to the County of Augstadt.' Advised Lark to Lucius.
"Yeah. Tomorrow I'll explore west, next day would be east, the day after that would be north. For the last day I'll set-out to find the road."
'A sound plan. But before you set-out, as I have already said this morning, before you set-out. There is nothing note worthy in west and east. While north There's a river, a tributary of the Fluss Nystic, as it is a tributary, at the end of it there's a huge mountain. If you're brave you could try climbing up it! Who knows maybe there's a dungeon there of a Dragon HAHA!'
While Lark talked, Lucius already finished his meal, cleaned his scraps, and finished doing his basic hygiene. "I'll talk to you tomorrow again Lark, I'll sleep early tonight and wake-up early tomorrow. Before my friends wake-up I'll make it my goal to have a rough map of this place." Saying this Lucius then went to slumber. With the plan to wake up early for his daily routine in the next following days.
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As Lucius walked up to a exceptionally large tree, he took out his machete from his pack and started to put a mark on tree. After doing this, Lucius then took his journal close to him. So that he could start mapping out this section, after drawing all these, to be extra sure of the distance. He took out his monocular scope and set the distance to some odd number above the 100m distance. All while looking at a tree he was at previously, after seeing the mark. Lucius then again made his way.
Appalled at Lucius meticulous ways too meticulous to which The old Saint blurted out. 'You look like a damned fool Luke. Doing all these so what? To scribble a tree and some line on a piece of paper. Of some land you're gonna leave in the next several days, chances are you probably aren't gonna come back here soon! Once this batch of people wakes up the next would arrive, I estimate at 5-6 months. So doing all of these is pretty much unnecessary.'
'Unless you have a map I could use I would rather use that than drawing these. Since if I ever make a mistake I'd get lost, possibly eaten or mauled to death by wild life here. Furthermore, I'm starting to see a huge figure up ahead. Which I'm sure is the mountain. After I reach it I'll do a small climb to get a vantage point to overlook the area. Then I'll return.' Replied Lucius in annoyance to Lark.
Following this minor bickering between the two. Lucius made his journey to the edge of a clearing, as he left this clearing. The sight of the Rocky surface and white top of the mountains amazed him.
While hiking his way up to an area some 400 meter up the mountain, Lucius took a quick break feeling tired from the long journey. Taking advantage of this small break, he took out his monoscope and started to survey the area down below. Though he couldn't see the edge of the forest. The view of endless green still mesmerized his mind. When he took a look at the sun to check on the time, Lucius quickly found out that he only had a couple hours again before he could return. Making up his mind, Lucius packed his things and started to make his way down. Without forgetting to map out every detail while leaving marks.
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Looking at his rough map, comparing the marks he made, Lucius took note that all he needed to walk for was shy 2 miles. As he completed halfway through the remaining journey, Lucius then saw a sleeping deer. When he saw this, his alarm went off and his guard heightening to the extreme.
Frantically turning and observing his surroundings for any possible ambushes. Behind a tree he saw a Behemoth like bear. With each step it took, the ground shaked, but despite the Behemoths majesty and aura. When one looked at the bears face and certain body parts proved that he was weakened.
'Its the same bear we saw last time. A rare bear that specializes in mind attacks, weakened and tired from the wounds from the fight he sustained while having a duel with that other behemoth. If you ask me I think you have quite the chance to kill it Luke.' said The old Saint to Lucius.
Feeling conflicted whether or not to attack, Lucius instead became quiet and started to hide among the bushes. Spying on the bear as it made its way over to the slumbering deer. While monitoring the bear, Lucius noticed that it was breathing erratically, its face nearly mangled with a huge and deep scar on its right cheek with its left eye closed due to a claw mark. Feeling that the fought was worth it and winnable. Lucius took a stance and fired an arrow aimed to its eye.