Havald was just one of many things to consider. Castus started to wonder. How many transplants were seeded throughout the world, hiding, living normal lives. He contemplated it for a while. Something was going on in Echon and Castus considered what Havald had done. He could do the same. After running away he could hide for the rest of his life. But what about magic and mana. The alure of that mythical fantasy always corrected his thoughts back to getting stronger and learning more, but that meant danger. Castus sighed and mumbled to himself. "I'll just see what happens and where I end up." He then stood and returned to bed.
The next morning the group confronted Mary and Havald in the kitchen. He hadn't told the group about what Havald revealed to him and he didn't plan to. The promise he had made meant the less he revealed the lower the chance that someone could leak the information. They told Mary and Havald of their plan. Castus and Shi would return to Ryden for his siblings, but the other three would work to find a way far away. Mary looked to Havald and spoke in Morden. Havald nodded and left, returning with a map. He unfurled it on the table.
"If you want to leave you need to first understand that this is an island. While I don't know what lies out side of this island your best shot to leave is to head to Afeerbah. Its a small town that isn't owned by the Ryden's or Morden's, but by a third nation that exists beyond the waters. Most ships, trade, and international passengers go through here. Your best bet is to head there." Mary pointed to a small point on the island. "Now fair warning its not cheap." She looked at the children before her. "But please just stay until your older. You're so young. There's no need for such a journey." Mary pleaded. The group looked at each other and Rys on his single leg spoke up.
"I'm sorry Mary but we must. Thank you so much for your hospitality, but we need to leave. Its for the best. We promise." Rys asserted.
Mary seemed worried, but she realized that these were not her own children and relented. "Fine, but you will need food and new clothes." She quickly left the room to grab something. She returned with five pairs of generic clothes that looked like they would fit them. She then started to root around in the kitchen packing up a bag. Once it was filled to the brim with food, she packed another slightly smaller bag. Handing one to the group of three and one to the group of two. She seemed sad. "It was nice to have some children around the place while we could. Please come back again if you get the chance." Mary spoke somberly. Havald looked directly at Castus and nodded. Castus looked at him and nodded back. An unspoken understanding between the two of them. Then the group left. Rys had been given a crutch to walk on until they could find a healer.
Taken a first true step into freedom the group of five walked to the edge of the village stopped. Three on one side and two on the other. "Stay safe everyone and Shi, Castus, make it to Afeerbah as soon as you are done. Don't take unneeded risks. There is a mail system here but it slow and expensive. If you have urgent news you can mail a letter to Afeerbah for a Celeste Bond. I don't know if we will have a lot of time to check for mail, but we definitely won't be able to sent letters to you until we know where you will be." Cerone spoke. She, Alyssa and Rys then turned and started to walk in the opposite direction. Castus looked to Shi. "Shall we start walking?" Shi nodded her head and they began walking back to the Ryden kingdom. It would be a long journey back to where Castus came from, but it would be worth it.
Castus took out the map that Havald had given him. He had made two copies for both groups. Squinting at the markers on the map he lined it up with a mountain in the distance to figure out where he was. Castus and Shi had been traveling for five days. They had made it across the border into the Ryden kingdom without problem. They did discover a serious concern though. The monster that was born of the umbral had left a wake of destruction and despair along the path it took. They were currently following it.
Castus folded the map back up and turned to Shi. "How are you feeling? Can you feel anything returning yet?" Shi sighed depressingly. After they left Shi discovered that her normally effortless transformation had now been stunted. It was far more difficult to do and to maintain. Shi brushed it off as simply losing levels in the umbral, but Castus knew that something about it was bothering Shi more. Something Shi wouldn't talk about. He shrugged it off.
"We are about another week away from our first stop." Castus spoke while he summoned some firewood for the fast-approaching night. Shi cast some fire magic to light the wood ablaze. Shi had tried to teach Castus fire magic, but he could never make it. He attributed it to his blessing as using fire on someone would directly harm them. Regardless he was enjoying the practice. They both sat down as Castus conjured up some food. He handed some to Shi and they ate. The travels so far had been decently easy. They had to a take a longer more round about way to avoid any trouble from the people left in the wake of the monster. They also tried to avoid entering into villages or towns, extending their journey's time. They hadn't run into much in the way of danger though. The woods and plains they traveled on had most of the creatures in them spooked. Nothing was left to threaten them as they moved towards Castus birthplace.
Castus had decided when he saw the map to stop at his old home and recover the metal box his father had left as it was on the way to where his sisters were attending school. Once he had made sure they were alright he would leave for Afreebah. If they came with him that would be great, but if they didn't Castus didn't mind. Shi and Castus sat next to the fire and enjoyed each others company for now. The time they spent traveling brought them closer together. Castus would now consider Shi to be his best friend in this world. Once the fire started to dwindle they both fell asleep preparing for the long walk the next day.
Waking up earlier Castus loaded his pack up. Most of it was sleeping materials, but he also had a gun, premade and loaded in there, just in case. He could make one whenever he wanted, but if he was low on mana the spare would help significantly. Today was a difficult part of the travel. Castus recognized the area they were in. The marshes. The same ones he had trained in with Grant so long ago. He and Shi entered into the wood, Castus had a spear out and a gun conjured in his other hand, already on guard as the memories of constant ambush helped to keep him in high alert.
"Shi stick close to me. These marshes are wide, but if we move slowly we can avoid most of the ambush predators." Castus whispered to Shi.
"How do you know that?" Shi wispered back, constantly looking around the trees that grew here.
"This is where Grant took me to train when the church first got me." Castus responded.
Shi nodded her head in understanding and they continued in silence, slowly, but steadily trudging through the muddy marsh.
After twenty minutes the familiar feeling of danger alerted Castus. He dropped low and looked high. He noticed a silverish blur fast approaching where his torso had been. He stabbed forward with the spear, nailing the creature in the head, ending it's life instantly. Raising to a standing position once again he looked at the kill. It was a rather medium sized creature, covered in silver fur and sharp fangs. It was rather cute though. Castus looked to Shi. "Kinda a wimpy thing huh." He joked about it, but Shi didn't laugh. Shi started to take steps back. "Castus...run." With that Shi ran off into the marshes.
Castus looked back noticing hundreds of the little creatures cropping up in the trees staring daggers down at him. Castus cursed under his breath and analyzed the dead creature before firing off the one round in his gun. It hit its mark, obliterating the tiny creature. Castus turned and ran after Shi.
They dashed through the marshes quickly. Water splashed up behind them as they moved. Branches on trees threatened to slow them down, but they pushed through, just staying ahead of the army of creatures for the time being. Both of them could hear the frantic chittering and jumping of those things. Castus had learned they were called carnivorous vettles from his analysis. Not like that would help much though. Shi took an abrupt turn ahead and Castus followed. The turns helped to slow down the army that pursed them, but not by much. They were slowly gaining and would catch them soon. They needed a change. Castus looked around quickly, noticing something familiar. A simple wooden house, suspended over the water. "Shi follow me. It's our best shot." Castus turned and ran towards the wooden house.