Days turns into weeks, the ward keeps emerging and becoming larger and powerful.
"Your dummy is getting wrecked huh, maybe because your magic is getting stronger Celia" compliment by Gureus.
"Yes Dad, I can feel my ice affinity is getting more powerful" Celia said.
"Would you mind assisting me to gather some wild toad venoms?" Gureus inquired. "Your big brother once said to me it decreases the magic damage of a caster, it's really essential for the dummies so it won't get destroyed easily" Gureus informed
While Celia and Gureus went to the forest to gather some wild road venoms, Kizuya and Elaris do a mock battle as always.
"Pretty tough mom huh?" Kizuya compliments.
"You think so?... Thorn vines!" Elaris casts
Meanwhile in the forest.
"Oh look at that hoard of beasts, do you think you can handle them?" Gureus inquired.
"Why can't I?" Celia answered.
Celia killed two hoards of wild beasts, 18 of beasts in total.
"That's my girl!" Gureus compliments
"Hahaha..." laughed interrupted.
Celia feels an uncanny aura nearby, they are near the heart of the forest where the ward is continuously growing.
"Dad, let's go... now!" worriedly said by Celia
They rushed back to their residence to inform Elaris and Kizuya.
"Mother, Big brother... there is a really really strong aura in the heart of the forest!" Celia informed.
"What?!. Stay here, I'm going to investigate" Kizuya said
"Wait-" said by Elaris
Without hesitation, Kizuya rushed to the heart of the forest.
(Celia is right, it's aura is pretty strong... I can use bone flamen to destroy it immediately but it will cost large part of the forest) Kizuya thought.
Once he got in the root of the ward he saw a girl trying to fight the ward.
"Hey-, you're gonna die there!" Kizuya shouted
Before the girl hear his warning, she passed out.
(This is bad, she can't pass out here, too dangerous) Kizuya thought.
"Vanish!" Kizuya casts
He teleported with the girl to their residence.
As Kizuya reappeared in their residence, carrying the unconscious girl, his family was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events.
"Kizuya, what happened?" Elaris exclaimed.
"I found her in the heart of the forest, she was trying to fight the ward, but she passed out," Kizuya explained, a hint of urgency in his voice. "We need to help her."
Gureus and Celia rushed over to see the unconscious girl lying on the ground.
"Who is she?" Gureus asked.
"I don't know, but we can't leave her here," Kizuya replied, his concern evident.
Elaris quickly sprung into action, using her healing magic to assess the girl's condition. After a few tense moments, she let out a sigh of relief.
"She's stable now, but she needs rest," Elaris announced.
"We can't just leave her here, especially with that ward nearby," Gureus stated.
"I know. We need to find out more about her and why she was fighting the ward," Kizuya said, determination in his eyes. "I'll stay here and watch over her. The rest of you should head back to the heart of the forest and deal with that ward."
"But Kizuya..." Elaris started.
"Don't worry, Mom. I can handle it," Kizuya reassured her.
Elaris hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright, be careful."
As his family left to confront the ward, Kizuya focused his attention on the mysterious girl. She seemed to be in a deep sleep, her breathing steady and her expression calm. He couldn't help but wonder who she was and what had led her to such a dangerous situation.
Hours passed, and the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the forest. Kizuya remained vigilant, his eyes never leaving the girl's face. He couldn't shake the feeling that their encounter was significant, that their fates were somehow intertwined.
Eventually, the rest of his family returned, exhaustion evident on their faces. They had managed to suppress the ward's growth for the time being, but the threat it posed was far from over.
"We managed to weaken it, but it's still not enough," Gureus said, frustration evident in his voice.
"We'll need to come up with a plan to deal with it once and for all," Elaris added.
Kizuya nodded, his gaze still fixed on the sleeping girl. "Agreed. But for now, we have another issue to address."
Celia approached her brother, curiosity in her eyes. "Who is she, Kizuya?"
Kizuya let out a sigh, his thoughts heavy with uncertainty. "I don't know, Celia. But I have a feeling that she's connected to all of this somehow."
As night descended upon the forest, Kizuya's mind was filled with questions and possibilities. He knew that their lives were about to become even more intertwined with the mysteries of their world, and he was determined to uncover the truth.
Kizuya spent the night keeping a watchful eye over the mysterious girl, his mind racing with thoughts of her and the implications of her presence. The soft glow of the moonlight filtered through the trees, casting an ethereal light upon the scene.
In the quiet of the night, the girl stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. She blinked a few times, clearly disoriented, before her gaze landed on Kizuya. Startled, she sat up abruptly, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Who... Who are you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kizuya offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, you're safe. My name is Kizuya, and you're in our residence. You passed out in the forest, and my family and I brought you here."
The girl looked around, taking in her surroundings. "Your residence? I don't remember..."
"It's okay, you don't have to push yourself to remember right now," Kizuya said gently. "Focus on resting and recovering."
The girl nodded, her expression a mix of gratitude and confusion. "Thank you for helping me. I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't found me."
Kizuya shrugged off her thanks. "Anyone would have done the same. We couldn't just leave you out there."
They fell into a comfortable silence, the sounds of the forest filling the air around them. Kizuya couldn't help but be intrigued by the girl, by the aura of determination that seemed to radiate from her despite her current vulnerable state.
"I should introduce myself properly," the girl said, breaking the silence. "I'm Ren. Ren Luminara."
Kizuya nodded, offering a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you, Ren. I'm Kizuya."
Ren glanced at him curiously. "So, you have a mark too?"
Kizuya chuckled softly. "Yes, I do. My family and I are casters."
Ren's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Really? That's interesting."
Kizuya tilted his head. "What about you? You mentioned your last name, Luminara. Does that mean you're a caster too?"
Ren nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yes, that's right. I have a mark as well."
Kizuya's curiosity was piqued. "So, what were you doing out there in the forest, facing that powerful ward?"
Ren sighed, her expression somber. "I sensed its power growing, and I wanted to stop it before it became a bigger threat."
Kizuya nodded in understanding. "It's brave of you to take on such a powerful foe. But next time, don't hesitate to ask for help. We're all in this together."
Ren's eyes softened, appreciating his words. "Thank you, Kizuya. I'll keep that in mind."
As the night wore on, Kizuya and Ren talked, sharing stories and experiences. Despite the circumstances that had brought them together, a sense of camaraderie began to form between them.
Little did they know, their encounter was just the beginning of a journey that would lead them to uncover the secrets of their world and their own destinies.