I slowly open Verei's eyes to look out for any trouble down below. With nothing of note, I proceed to climb down the tree, keeping the vine rope I made just in case I'm not close enough to civilization and must spend another day in a tree.
The current height of the trees reminds me how far I've gotten from the valley. These trees are much smaller and farther apart than those in the valley, though it may just feel like that because the valley's trees are much thicker and are clustered together, which made it impossible to see over 50 meters at best.
Veda stretches so I try not to fall asleep. My shift began three hours ago but I still feel tired, allowing Verei to keep his eyes closed in hopes it would help her stay awake but I don't know if that made it better or worse.
But as a positive, I think Uldrei casting that sleep spell on me so many times before helped ease me into the habit of sleeping between the two interchangeably, else I really would've passed out trying.
'But in that case, the mattress may've spoiled me for being overly comfy. Not that I want to get used to sleeping on the dirt or tree trunks but despite letting Veda sleep in a sleeping bag, the rough bark on Verei's back just makes us both stiff.'
The moment the sun rose above the mountain pass I followed her request and woke Serci up to continue our travels. She recovered from her drowsiness quickly compared to me during my shift change, though she still had some hair stuck to her face she hadn't realized was there till about a minute after we got everything together.
Along the way, I caught something with Veda's eye. I've seen it a few times before as Verei but now that I get to see it as Veda, I can actually ask the question without bringing it up out of the blue. "Hey Serci, what's this marking on the tree?"
When I point it out, Serci looks closely. "A hobgoblin marking, or more specifically, a marking that tells of a nearby camp or outpost. Though it's more of a warning than a reminder as not all hobgoblins are in the same clan. I've read a book about the different markings in the Capital's library but I haven't studied enough to remember the direction this marking points to. So be on guard."
I nod my head as we proceed further with caution while I pray we don't run into a hobgoblin party worse than Verei.
... 'Maybe I should've prayed for no scouting party at all...'
A scouting party of two wolves and three hobgoblins spot us while making their rounds. Not bigger but I wouldn't call it small either.
One hobgoblin gave a screeching cry, the wolves following whatever instruction the cry was meant to portray as they split up to charge us from both sides. Serci grips the handle of Uldrei's sword slowly with something on her mind while I come up with the first spell to cast. I notice she doesn't pull the blade out of the sheath yet, imitating movements that squeeze at my heart.
The two wolves aim for me over Serci, their smaller size would make it harder to hit them whether close or far, but I've been trained to use spells against foes such as these by Uldrei, his words ringing through my head.
'A Caster must ensure no foe reaches them, so never forget this spell.'
[[Dirt turned liquid, from ground to mud]]
A mud pit forms between me and the wolves, one's paws sinking in, but the other leap after me. In one swift motion, Serci unsheathed the blade as the wolf's head came clean off without the blade touching it.
The image of Uldrei unsheathing the blade against the red light flashed in my mind, and I lost my concentration over the "Mud Pit" spell. The spell ends from my carelessness only for the wolf to be stuck in the solidified earth. The wolf is yelping as it tries to get out of the hardened ground while I take a deep breath.
'I need to work on my focus. Verei doesn't need much considering he moves on instinct but Veda is the opposite, every spell requiring a certain amount to keep spells active.'
Strengthening my resolve once more, I proceed to end the wolf before it can free itself.
[[Ball of fire, erupt and burn to Consume my foes]]
Heat rises into my outstretched hand, the fireball forming an inch from my palm before launching to erupt on the stationary wolf. The only thing left remaining of the four-legged beast is the charred remains sticking out of the dirt.
The hobgoblins were petrified with fear at the sight of both wolves caught and killed in mere moments after being sent out, making them second guess charging forward. Two appeared fearful enough that they took a step back but the third wasn't ready to give up as it charged forward with a battle cry.
When the hobgoblin swings at Serci, she sheathes her blade as she did moments ago. The Hobgoblin's weapon bounced off air, the monster's chest completely exposed for Serci to swing the blade across it to deal a fatal blow.
Uldrei's weapon, the 'Counter Blade'. This power Serci just showed must be why it was given that name. Blocking anything and everything in front of its swing upon unsheathing the blade while also having the ability to send a cut forward for an offensive strike. A versatile weapon all in one move.
The other hobgoblins lost all remaining will to fight, turning to run. Unfortunately for them, I already prepared another spell to catch them.
[[Wrap the body and halt their movement]]
The rope I pulled out of the knapsack rushed through the air like a thrown snake only to latch onto both of their arms. 'Good thing it was a long rope or one could've gotten away.' With both of them having one arm gripped by the rope, they end up dragged by the tree between them, giving a long enough opening for Serci to catch up and cut them down.
The fight was over quickly.
The only thing lingering in my mind by the end of the fight slipped out of my mouth. "You aren't used to using just a sword, are you?"
Serci's face snaps red, "Was it that obvious?!"
I try to hold in the laughter by focusing my attention on the wolf carcass that was cleanly decapitated by the sword's power, trying to come up with how I could see her fighting style's flaws despite being a caster. "I've... seen Uldrei train my brother for a long time so I'm experienced in picking up unnecessary movements."
Serci fidgets about in embarrassment at being called out on her lack of skill in swinging a single-edged sword. "I... just wanted to try out swinging like I've heard how Uldrei swung. But I guess I'm more used to Siltria kingdom's swords, primarily the sword/shield style taught among all knights."
"B-but...!" She proceeds to change the subject to me. "...speaking of skills, you're a very capable caster for someone who lived far away from society! Fireball is a spell only C-rank and above casters perform, a deadly spell against most creatures but also a spell not many have access to learn. I'm confident you'd do well if enrolled in the University. After meeting up with your brother of course!"
While she was babbling on, I decided to use the rope to tie up the headless wolf carcass to turn it into today's meal, but I'm left confused by the information she finished with, "...University? What's that?"
Serci realized she spoke like I was someone from society. "A-ah right... Oriel University is a city built in honor of the Goddess of Knowledge, Oriel. A place holding all the knowledge of the world for the men and women who seek to learn."
"It's considered a wonderland for any caster who wishes to discover their capabilities using the library that holds all the collected knowledge, especially the variety of books holding all the known spells conceived by Oriel's firstborn child, Thea, Goddess of Magic."
"But it's commonly used to send the noble and commoner children for their education, as well as help them gain experience for their desired careers. Because of that, it's recognized as neutral territory, open to all factions, closed off from all conflicts of the outside world, and accumulated knowledge of thousands of years that no one dares invade, nor attempt to destroy due to the repercussions that would come from such stupidity."
She went on about the thing called a university, the only thing I was able to understand being that 'It's a place of learning comparable in both size and importance to the capital.' Though its lands are limited, its importance is in everything it holds. Knowledge from all around the world brought to a single place. A place that sounds too good to be true.
"Why bring something like this up just after killing a bunch of Hobgoblins?" I ask.
"It was just something that came to mind from the variety and high level of incantations I've seen you pull off. Most mages have the immediate desire to register the moment they learn of the University's existence. Even I attended back five years ago with my own desire to learn magic, but I don't have enough mana beyond the common incantation such as 'Light Spark'."
I think that was the spell Uldrei first taught me when he saw Veda's capability that first day. "Well... I wouldn't say I'm not interested..."
Serci was happy it caught my interest before coming to help pick up the headless wolf carcass before continuing to tell me more about what the university holds. After what happened yesterday, you can never have enough meat.
I listen intently about the University, getting more and more convinced of its capacity as a place to reunite both halves the more I hear about it.
If Veda and Verei are as powerful as the hints left behind would lead me to believe, then they must've been well-known somewhere. Maybe even legends of another land similar to Uldrei's fame in this one. "Applying seems like the best option."
Serci's smile grew wide when she heard me. "I know you will enjoy your time there! With your good looks and well-known bloodline, I'm sure you'll learn everything you want and make many friends in no time! It happened for me and the princess too while we were there, or at least for those who weren't intimidated by our positions but that just made the friendships we did make that much more special."
With how much she's been talking, it almost passed over me that this was probably the first time since meeting her that she's this out of her shell.
'Will she be willing to talk more about herself if I give a light push?'
"So, you studied there alongside the princess of Siltria?"
She immediately returned to being shy, but she wasn't opposed to the topic. "Y-yeah. We've been friends for a very long time. And given I gained the position as her personal bodyguard at that time only recently... it was only right that I join her!"
She tried to put pride in that statement, but she was visibly breaking down till she broke and told the full truth. "Though it wouldn't have happened like that without the Queen's help. She took the initiative to ensure we started the same year. I may have even failed to enter if it weren't for the Queen's recommendation."
'A neutral territory everyone from everywhere is allowed entry to. And with a letter of recommendation, you can access the extensive collection of knowledge from the library. That the University is South-West of Siltria makes it more probable as the perfect place to reunite...But she mentioned that the recommendation was the reason she got in in the first place, so how capable can I?'
The passing hours felt short after the ice finally broke between us till we arrived at the edge of a clearing where a road and river meet. "Here we are, the previous campsite us Keepers took up on our way to Varen Valley!"
Serci points out the area used alongside the other Keepers next to a tree with the top half hanging after she mentioned was apparently made like that because the Keeper of the Hunt hit it with her bow. 'Would a bow even be able to break a tree like that?'
While questioning the truth of Serci's claim, I'm still left on edge due to Verei not yet escaping the outer edge of the Hobgoblin hunting grounds. Or I'm yet to loosen my cautiousness due to spending practically my entire life in that valley.
However, Verei has been making great progress already, the trees around him beginning to reach only a hundred meters in height. It's even smaller than the ones I slept on last night and nowhere near the Valley's thick sea of 300-meter-high trees.
'Sadly, it looks like I'm sleeping in another tree before getting out of danger...'
With the wolf being skinned and herbs Serci discovered the last time she came here, we'll have a full stomach today with a satisfying nap, so long as Verei doesn't need to sleep in another tree.