"Well, well," Eziel chuckled, "this is a surprise, young bookworm. Room for one more on your hunting expedition, you say?"
****
"Alright, kid, ready to roll?" Eziel boomed, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Aether, eager to prove himself, responded with a confident, "Yeah, let's go!"
Shouldering some of Eziel's equipment, they set off, plunging deeper into the verdant forest. Sunlight dappled through the towering trees as they trekked north for nearly an hour, covering roughly four kilometers. The air thrummed with an unseen energy, a strange vibrancy that made the forest seem almost alive.
"First time venturing into this green labyrinth, eh, kid?" Eziel inquired with a knowing smile.
Aether simply nodded, the vastness of the forest stirring a mix of excitement and apprehension within him.
"One of my beastman buddies mentioned the forest has a potent unnatural mana density," Eziel explained, reaching out to help Aether navigate a slippery slope. "But you'll get used to the tingling sensation."
"Hope so," Aether muttered, his voice laced with a hint of nervousness.
After hours of navigating the dense foliage, they emerged into a clearing dominated by a gaping cave entrance.
"We'll make camp here," Eziel declared, his voice firm.
Aether eyed the cave with a flicker of concern. "Are you sure it's safe, with that… opening?"
Eziel chuckled, sensing Aether's apprehension. "Don't worry, kid. I've scouted this cave a dozen times on past expeditions. Besides, I use special herbs – ones monsters can't stand – to keep them at bay."
Aether, reassured by Eziel's meticulous preparation, couldn't help but be impressed. 'No wonder he's such a skilled hunter,' he thought, a newfound respect blossoming for adventurers such as Eziel.
As night draped the sky, they built a crackling bonfire inside the cave. Eziel, his face illuminated by the dancing flames, launched into a detailed explanation of the forest's dangers, particularly the intelligent beasts that roamed its depths.
"If you ever encounter one," he warned, his voice firm, "stay calm. Find an opportunity to escape!"
Aether, his eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and trepidation, interjected, "But can't we fight them?"
Eziel chuckled. "Fight them, yes. Hunt them, even better," he confirmed, "but only if you're an experienced adventurer, someone at the 'Master' stage."
He paused, his gaze flickering with a hint of nostalgia. "Or if you have a team of awakened warriors and experts backing you up."
Aether's voice held a tinge of awe as he asked, "Are Masters that strong?"
Eziel grinned, handing him a piece of dried jerky. "Strong? They're practically monsters, kid," he declared with a hearty laugh that echoed off the cave walls. Memories of his guild days and the awe-inspiring 'Masters' he'd encountered flickered behind his eyes.
"Alright, enough chatter," Eziel said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Time for some shut-eye. We have a big day ahead tomorrow."
Aether settled down for the night, his mind swirling with thoughts. He wondered, if he ever became a Master Mage, could he heal his mother? Could he finally free her from the painful existence caused by the mana glut?**
In the heart of the forest, where sunlight dared not penetrate, a suffocating darkness pressed down. The very air thrummed with a nameless terror, sending chills down the spines of even the most cunning nocturnal creatures. A flicker of movement caught their wary eyes – a sinuous shadow slithered past, its form an inky blot against the endless night.
This was no ordinary predator. It was immense, its obsidian body radiating an aura that threatened to consume all light. Eyes like embers glowed within its darkness, burning with a hunger that seemed to devour the very world. No beast dared venture into its domain, their instincts screaming of imminent demise.
It stalked the forest floor with a predatory grace, purpose etched into its every silent step. Hunger gnawed at its core, driving it forward in a relentless hunt for fresh prey.
As the wind momentarily parted the heavy shroud of clouds, moonlight fell upon the creature, illuminating its horrifying visage in an instant of ghastly clarity. This was Nightscale, the Whispering Shadow, a terror that haunted forgotten corners of the forest.