Journeying back to Lucius's small encampment at the clearing was a quiet yet tense one, not encountering any magical or wild beasts through the way back. Yet their activities, low growls, or small movements around the surroundings unnerved him. A small shake alone from a bush created by a small critter nearly made him jump and make the run for it back. But before rashly doing this he first asked Lark for advice on how to proceed.
'Lark, I don't like this. Wandering back to the camp in pitch black night while relying on you telling me where to go is unnerving me… Sh-Should I just drop all of these and make a run for it?'
After a short pause with the old Saints only response to correct his direction, Lucius asked aloud, confused with Larks quietness.
"Lark, did you hear me? What's your opinion? Should I just drop all of these and make a run for it, or carry it all back?"
This time, Lucius received a response, but not what he expected the old Saint replied with anger in his voice.
"Now you want to drop it?! You walked 3 damn hours back from the foot of the mountain. Nonstop, carrying all of these with your wounded back would've made a normal person, or even a novice sorcerer like you, crumble like a cookie on the hands of a fat kid! Now imagine carrying 100 pounds of bear meat along with the stack of heavy fur and skin you butchered from the wolves and that bear. All with a bruised back, do you think you managed to do this all on your own Luke? No. It was my magic that I used to help you along the whole journey, now that we're some 30 min walk back to camp. You should suck it up and walk for a bit more, I didn't waste my magic just for you to drop all of those in the last stretch you damned buffoon."
Nodding, Lucius silently accepted all of the old Saints words and quietly walked back. Not uttering a single word back on the remaining walk, on the small time back, Lucius's mind lingered on his rash decisions a few hours back. Reflecting on his actions that could've easily led to his agonizing death if his gamble didn't pay off as he expected.
'The longer I stay here alone with only a voice in my head and all of these things happening that could only be seen from fantasy shows. Might not be the best for my mental health…'
'It's like this new place is affecting how I think…'
Hearing this, Lark replied confusedly.
'Do you have anything to ask? If this world is affecting how you think then if you ask me. In my honest opinion it's just your mental health degrading Luke.'
'If you think so, Lark.'
With this small chatter, Lucius safely returned back to his camp without encountering any other magical beasts or wild animals. However the small conversation with the old Saint managed to give Lucius a new insight regarding talking within his mind.
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'Now that we're back, first drop what you have and head to the Altar. There, find a small hole at the very front of those 2 crystal tablets.'
Arriving at the Altar, Lucius caressed and felt the flat stone surface of the altar, yet now matter how much he poked and felt the flat surface. He couldn't find the small hole Lark ordered to find. In an accident he accidentally bumped the crystal tablets. In the next instant, a gust of cool and warm wind hammered him left and right. Where both of the tall hooded statues stood by, in a panic he bolted back and prepared for an attack. However nothing came and he heard the old Saints voice.
'Don't worry. I sent out a pulse of my magic signature so now they shouldn't attack you. Even all of your friends and companions of yours. I should have done this the moment you arrived but it seemed that I forgot. So now enough with the chit chat and find the small hole, this time I'll give you light. Once you find it, then you'll drop me, or more specifically. My ring-like body into the hole.'
Following what Lark said, Lucius again went up the stone foundation where the altar stood. Thanks to the old Saints numerous balls of light that illuminated the whole clearing. Finding the small hole he was instructed to look for was found easily. Just as he was about to take off the ring Lucius heard Larks voice in his head.
'I forgot to mention this. But when you take the ring off, fatigue should start to creep in along with the pain. But don't worry it isn't gonna be instant where you'll writhe on the ground in agony it'll be a slow process. After you place me here, I suggest that you start cleaning yourself up, cook some of the Magical Beast meat and eat some of those then you sleep. That way you'll heal faster when you wake up. While you're asleep, you won't have to worry about the hides that you took. I'll use my magic to process them myself.'
Pausing for a bit. Lucius eventually took out the ring and inserted it to the small hole the old Saint mentioned. With only the glittering and decorated top of the ring revealed to the outside, and as Lark mentioned, he began to finally feel pain and fatigue from his legs and back. Not wasting any more time, Lucius vacated from the area and started to unveil his harvest from his last expedition. After separating the meat and hides, they began to float, with the bear meat heading near his small camp. While the hides and furs headed to another direction along with some wood, crude fibre ropes made from the surroundings, knives and a whetstone. Though surprised at first, Lucius then concluded that it was just Larks doing and continued to do what he planned.
As Lark continued his activity to process the skins Lucius harvested from the magical beast and wolves. Some words escaped his mind while he observed Lucius finish drying himself washing up.
'Smart, calculative, talent that could propel him to higher levels, yet stupidly daring. Or just outright crazy….'
Unaware of Larks growing opinions. Lucius proceeded to have his dinner that could at that point be counted as a midnight snack. As Lucius ate the bear meat, different from what he expected, the flesh of the Magical Beast he hunted wasn't tough. Although it was still gamey the meat in itself wasn't tough or hard to chew on like what he expected of a behemoth animal. One that needed lots of muscle to support itself, especially as the meat was prepared a bit hastily than usual to prepare bear meat. Asking audibly with more force than usual.
"Lark, are the meat in this world like this? This magical beast meat is unlike what I expected, it's not chewy and tough, unlike the deer meat I ate. This bear meat which I expected to be more tough due to its size."
After a short pause, the old Saint decided to entertain Lucius's question. "I'm surprised Luke. I thought that you experienced eating bear meat back in your world. If you did you'd know that bear meat is unsafe to eat, they have worms in them. Well I assume they are, because here bears that haven't yet to become a Magical beast are full of worms and parasites that are unpopular. And due to this, their magical beast counterparts also get a bad reputation of being full of worms. But the general public doesn't know that once they evolve. Every impurity or parasites that are magically weak gets cleansed in that time of evolution."
"Well, you could say that hunting and eating wild animals were just but a hobby for me. Hunting wildlife really fascinated me, you see. Along the way I picked up skills, the learning to tan was one of them, setting up this small shelter too. To the point staying in the wilderness even became my second life when I was out of my job in my early years."
Not hearing a reply to what he said. Lucius quietly finished his meal, just as he was about to head to his improvised bed. He asked Lark for advice.
"Tomorrow, what should I do after? Wait until I heal then explore to find the road you talked about?"
the old Saint replied, annoyed. "Well, isn't that obvious? you're not a man with super healing powers or something. So rest for a day and after that you explore. After the disastrous expedition up north this day, your next destination should be the road or west and east. But I suggest again to focus more on the road while you explore and map that direction out, do all of these with caution and alertness. As in these times I will not be with you, so when you get caught up with another magical beast. It's all or nothing. So sleep and have a good rest tomorrow, because after this you'll have a long week ahead of you."
Quietly listening, Lucius noted all of the old Saint within his mind. Although he was wary at first, especially exploring all by himself without Lark to warn him. The need for exploring the surroundings and finding the road is still a priority before the others woke up with or without Lark, he'd still need to explore.
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After a day of rest and idling, Lucius awoke from his sleep and readied himself to again headout the wilderness, due to his bow damaged and in need of new string and arrows. Lucius instead decided to leave the bow at his camp and brought out his hunting rifle along with a dozen rounds that he deemed enough for this day's schedule.
"Going out? And with what I assume to be the bigger and stronger variant of your little gun, correct?"
"Yeah it's my hunting rifle I frequently used back in my old world. I was avoiding using this to save on ammunition, same for my pistol but as you know my bow broke so now I have to bring these out."
"I see, well I suggest that when you use your guns to quickly move after. As a magical beast might get attracted to the noise those things make. Again I'll say this. I will not be able to come with you for today and tomorrow, I advise that you postpone the journey to the road for last when I am finally free to go with you."
Nodding to what the old Saint said, Lucius took a large gulp of water he then stood up and took with him his bag with all the things he possibly needed while exploring the forest. Taking heed of what Lark said, Lucius made his way to the western direction of the clearing. As he arrived at the edge of the forest, Lucius heard the old Saints voice.
"Safe travels Luke."