Without anything blocking their way, Zyro and Pert finally able to start their long awaited journey towards Log Wall. Although, it was delayed a few days because of Zyro's request to prolong their departure a little more to retrieve his gun. Specifically, myriads of metal parts he made the sealed sage bring to reality with magic.
Upon taking his order and waving farewell, Depter parting words were dramatic to say the least. For him, corrupted soul core bearers maintaining perfect sanity for a whole week are exceptionally resilient. However, it also means their tenancy will crumble sooner or later, after all, it can't be resisted forever. The old mage only grew more emotional when Zyro said he might not ever come back. For his next travel offer two outcomes. He will either die, or successfully scape Foggy Ring's territory. That said, the future are unpredictable. Who knows, perhaps opportunity may arise, bringing him back in the ancient sage ruined chamber.
After his visit with the mage, Zyro meet up with Pert and quickly began their departure.
The kid had long been a slave of the mine, in his years as a miner. Pert occasionally sneak into the feral forestry with one goal in mind - to go home in the Kingdom of Strays. To do so, he meticulously planned his way out. Mapping the path to freedom for years of risky scouting in order to safely cross the wilderness towards Log Wall. With the Fallen Knight unexpected support, their chances of success are higher.
They took their leave as soon as the sun fall in the horizon. Allowing them to travel through obscuring shadows of the silent night, surrounded by chilling breeze. The direction to Log Wall are away from the Great Wall of Fog and where his Starship had crashed. Erasing the Gricks from the foes they need to avoid. With them out of the game, their only adversaries are roaming monsters.
Simple minded creatures they're long accustomed dealing with, so evading the enemies attention was manageable. They venture through the wilderness for night and days with the memorized map as guide. Pert had drawn it for years, hence, he knew it's every details like the back of his hands. On the other hand, Zyro had perfect memory thanks to Aizra's mental support.
Coupled with experience, their treading progress was not that bad, albeit, slow. Moving in daytime are riskier than night, thus, they reverse their usual resting routine. Taking turn in sleeping pass that day while the other stand guard on top of towering trees. When darkness come, they continue their journey. Prioritizing survival over battles, the elusive dou only fought creatures they're confident in winning for food when needed. With all this precautions applied, their dangerous touring went smoothly for a couple of days.
However, even with a sophisticated map at hand specially made to assure their predetermine safe travel and cautiousness. Unfortunate encounters are not that easy to avoid. Sure, they knew the most dangerous areas and almost every beast abilities and habits. Still, they can't predict the future. The two once encounter monstrosities they haven't heard about and new danger zone. Thankfully, if anything Zyro was good at, that's adaptability. If running didn't doesn't cut it, he'll improvise with what he have. Using the terrain, available tools and even wandering beast. In fact, when they accidentally brush of against the unknown creature, which lead to a cat and mouse chase. They maintain distance for a while, but not long. In the end, Zyro loss the pursuing beast by leading it to invade a territorial creature ness. They almost die, but live to tell the tale nonetheless. Days later, the two stumbled on a newly made dangerous spot. Unfamiliar territorial marks are on the surroundings woods, which was not included in the map entails. So, they wisely made their around it. That turns out to be a right decision, who knows what terrifying terror had taken over that place. Zyro and Pert didn't know, nor they want to know.
After that, luck seemed to began favoring them as everything went according to plan. No surprising events or unknown enemies appearing to block their path. Untill they step into a secured region within Foggy Ring. Where beastial savages are properly eradicated.
The Foggy Ring interior are safe, however, not completely. Numerous beasts remain dwelling within it's luxuriant jungles. But those remnant creatures are manageable for main cities. Those settlements stand at the Foggy Ring center, close to each other. Unlike the Mine mountain area, which stood at the outskirts of Foggy Ring, near the wall of fog. Better settlements at the center are depended more, pushing unwelcome feral monsters away as much as possible with brute force of numerous real warriors, instead of poor mine guards. On the receiving end of this, areas far away from the middle of Foggy Ring have more monsters populating it. That's why there's plenty of roaming beats near the Mine, despite Foggy Ring being a safe haven.
After a week and a halve of warily traversing the dangerous woods, they finally reach their first goal. Steeping onto the secured land near a vampire city, the two could say they completely scaped the slaving Mine. Along the monster infested jungles surrounding it. Here, close at the Foggy Ring center area, the forest are much safer due to the settlement military overwhelming the beast forces in territorial dominance. Therefore, for wild creatures, this land are home to thousands of stalwart warriors that should not be invaded carelessly. Of course, as fellow people sharing the same human-like appearance. Pert and Zyro's presence here are welcome.
Still, that doesn't mean they're completely safe from harm. Kin or not, every species had their own issues against each other. So, the dou decided against intentionally meeting akin beings. Considering that the city inhabitants was bloodsucking vampires, the choice they made are justified. Not like they needed to interact with strangers.
As soon as they start sneaking into the safeguarded property. The difference was visible, even in day, when predators are usually more active. Here, Roaming monsters are few enough to be avoided without being overwhelmed. Let alone at night, which make it seem that beastial savages doesn't exist in tranquil darkness illuminated by moonlight. With lesser enemies to avoid, the distance they covered daily greatly improved. Still, they did not become careless. Remaining cautious as they navigated the mapped path to Log Wall.
Their dreadful journey continue as days flew by. Sometimes encountering common beast they either ignore or hunt. Luckily, no vampires were meet in their way. Mostly because they're treading the relatively safe territory outmost edge, the farthest part of the vampire city's area where adventurers rarely go.
Soon, the dou arrived in their desired destination after two weeks of venturing.
Standing on a thin branch atop one of the tallest tree. Zyro cleared obscuring leafs away, then gaze at the greeny horizon before him.
The noon sun shine brightly, in the middle of fields of crowding trees and ominous ashen fogs towering above the forest like a gigantic storm silently devouring the land. Not so far away, there stoop thousands of earthly brown timbers, all packed to form a colossal wall. The leafless woods are stacked onto each other, reaching impressive hight. The wooden wall are arranged in a cubic manner, protecting the boisterous citizens living in traditionally lavish houses. With the average of two story home made of stone and wood. Zyro's eyesight can't see that far, truthfully. To him, the sight of Log Wall from this distance are like seeing a mini town. His imagination did the rest from what little he see.
To their relief, the young Aster years of efforts payed off. For the map he drawn guided them to Log Wall, a place covered by a wall of logs to protect its rich citizens. Wealth meant owning multiple things, it won't be wrong to assume that such loaded place atleast have one airship.
'To be stolen'
A faint grin appeared on Zyro's face. His current looks was untidy to say the least, same goes for the blond kid. The long and arduous journey had taken a toll on their already rugged appearances.
Breaking the silence, Zyro spoke praises, despite his stinginess in giving praises.
"Good job kid, we made it."
He patted Pert's shoulder who's sitting close to him.
The kid put on a proud smile as he stare at Log Wall from afar, his eye becoming distant. After a while, he said with pride.
"Yup, we did it. I always knew we would eventually arrive in Log Wall, and get out here. Then, return to my home.
Zyro remain silent for a few seconds, pondering over their current problem. Sure, thier goal was in sight, reaching it won't take long at this point. However, here comes what probably the hardest part of their quest.
Entering Log Wall.
Going through the thick wooden barrier are not easy. The less beastial creatures around it's surrounding suggest just how powerful their guarding wardens are, which they have to bypass to get through.
Zyro sighed.
It's time to conquer yet another challenge.