The tall mountain where the Mine is located can be seen, close by, a smaller one towered above the forestry. As always, the root lifted land owned by Gricks stood at the landscape middle, while the entire region was surrounded by massive walls of ashen fog. Its scenery was bathed in a reddish light, as the departing sun shines brightly even in it's leave. Soon, dusk is over, giving way for darkness to accompany the world.
Zyro watches the sun take its leave with a distant expression on top of a tall tree. Not that far, the Mine mountain, where he and Pert used to serve enter his periphery vision.
After a long and arduous journey, they've return to where they had come from. So as memories he made within this particular region.
After a while, Zyro gaze drifted somewhere else, to the direction of the Highland. The Gricks sky island held by enormous roots to reach the heavens still stood, as magnificent and eerie as ever. The circular castle and the crimson tree planted at its center was visible, too. Albeit, small in his current view. Then, his gaze shifted where his precious starship had sunken. The lake was calm and tranquil, fully hiding the horrible abomination that electrocuted it's cold waters resting beneath its peaceful facade.
Then, there's the tall rocky mountain where he meet Pert, and the other nearby mountain where the mysterious sage are sealed.
It pains him to return here after a wasted trip to Log Wall, but there's just nothing he could do against fate. Who would have known that there's no airship in Log Wall? Well, the royal princess knew thanks to her rich knowledge politics, laws, economic, etiquette etc.
Thinking of Scarlet, their trip to Log Wall didn't seem a complete waste anymore. After all, it's because of that they meet the princess.
Scarlet was truly a blessing on their team. If not for her addition, their journey back here would have been much harder.
In their days of traveling, Scarlet mostly took responsibility for everything. Having assumed the leader position of her two follower, she led them wholeheartedly. In times of danger, similar to what happened on the first day of their leave when a walking snake attempted assaulting their camp. Scarlet defended them with all her might.
They encountered numerous dangers on the way, but all of them are within the group capability to handle. After all, Foggy Ring internal was considered safe. The wilderness within included. Because ferocious monstrosity are indiscriminately eliminated by entire legions of fearsome warriors deployed by the land rulers. So, no powerful beast are left alive within Foggy Ring. Even now, once a exceptionally powerful creature emerge, it will be reported and killed.
That's why the Blinker despite possessing lethal ability lay low in it's attack. It feared the main army too, the only reason it survived for so long was thanks to the Blinkers gift, which it's mostly used for speed. Unfortunately for the creature, it meet Zyro.
As for the electrical leviathan in the lake, where the fallen knight vessel crashed. Although the Gricks are hellbent of eliminating the Fallen Knight, they are not dumb. The monster in that lake are too mysterious, it haven't emerge from the water or attack anyone except those who got electrocuted and died before sinking in the lake. Therefore, it's regarded as harmless for centuries. The Gricks could challenge the monster to confiscate the Fallen Knight ship. However, no one knew how strong it really is. They're reluctant to awaken a mysterious slumbering monster, for it may bring horrible consequences to Foggy Ring. Besides, the Fallen Knight would have been dead if his still inside the ship till now.
The majority of beasts in this land are manageable for Scarlet, there are some troublesome creatures too. By that time, she'll subtly rely on Pert's excellent archery for support.
With Pert aiding from long range, the burden Scarlet had to bear visibly lessen. Of course, that only account to the beasts they faced. If circumstances allows it, they won't battle the monsters they see.
Overall, Scarlet being in the team fasten their travel. With her lead, the feral woods doesn't seem that dangerous anymore. Allowing them to march a little brazenly towards their destination despite the threats of numerous dwellers.
Those foes are dealt by Scarlet and Pert cooperation. Needless to say, they've become the cohort fighting force uncharged of subduing the hurdles ahead so they can move forward faster. Meanwhile, the fallen beasts are butchered by Zyro.
Zyro wasn't a cook. His a soldier, probably the most elite warrior humanity could produce. And yet, he served as the cohort chef along the way. Since cooking that dish before they left the hunters camp. Scarlet and Pert seemed to find it satisfactory, so urged Zyro to cook more. Truth be told, that delicacy he made back then wasn't an actual delicacy at all. It's a collection of alien ingredients he could get his hands on, Zyro just made it taste relatively good using myriads of strange spices left by the hunters. Some tasted similar to earth common flavorings, while some were new and different. It gave an otherworldly feeling on the tongue, Zyro can't even explain it.
Fortunately, meat from whatever edible abominable they slayed along their trip was always available. The taste of meat didn't vary much, rather, it's dull without external spicing. Making flavoring it somehow easy.
Although, Zyro isn't a good cook and lacks innate talents in culinary. He at least received training on how to make food taste better in the wilderness.
Although, what he serves was results of trial and failures of his experimentations on this world ingredients. Scarlet and Pert accepted it with delight. Mainly because they didn't want to cook themselves, afraid of wasting precious food. Scarlet, a princess of royal origins is born to be served, so she never needs to cook her own meal. While Pert, is merely a young Aster. Shackled and forsaken in this land without parents to care or educate him.
Their days of traveling past like that. They slept during the day, then tread at night. The princess and the archer fought the enemies hindering their advance or threaten their safety while resting. While Zyro took care of their meals. Pert would often watch him cook, occasionally asking questions as he made Zyro teach him the art of creating satisfactory meals. Zyro wasn't stingy, and taught Pert freely. However, sometimes, the kid would give him the odd look.
For the infamous Fallen Knight to prepare their food. He found it a little uncomfortable and strange.
Speaking of strange, Zyro behavior had been really odd lately. At first, he asked Pert for suitable types of leafs to write on. Which he happily fetched for Zyro, even though he didn't order him. This shows just how much respect he had for the Fallen Knight, Zyro even has to deliberately stop Pert's obedience sometimes.
They had nothing to do but travel, giving them a lot of free time when resting. Scarlet would reside in her tent to meditate quietly or train swordmanship and her blood projectiles accuracy. Pert would sharpen his arrows tip, replacing them if needed. And perform simple maintenance on his bow or create some new arrows.
While Zyro...
He mostly secluded himself to draw on selected leafs, the things he drew were no secret. When Zyro didn't pay them any attention, as he fully concentrated on completing his work. Scarlet and Pert sometimes look over, curious about his drawings content. Only to see sophisticated lines connected to each other, forming an architectural art made of thin lines using dark charcoals. It's a collection of varying illustrations of two dimensional and three dimensional shapes with numbers and labeled everywhere. Even Scarlet, who's received lectures about buildings structural arts can't understand what his creating. It's too random and complex.
Obviously, his creating a blueprint of a certain weapon. Using suitable leafs to draw on, and charcoaled sticks with pointy tips to serve as pencil.
The masterpiece was created diligently, having no flaws in every detail. Because each mistake he made, even the slightest was tore off and redo again. After all, such sophisticated manual have no room for faults if he want his desired item to be brought to reality without fail. Furthermore, he didn't want to draw this again.
One time, Scarlet asked what his trying to make, because it looks like a blueprint.
But Zyro simply said that it's something she rather not know.
Eventually, they ignored Zyro's strange drawings and continue on normally.
Their journey went on for days, until they saw the Mine mountain summit. Announcing how close they are to their destination.
Bringing Zyro to where he is now.
The group had stop nearby a small mountain, unbeknownst to everyone except Zyro. Their location was really close to where Depter, the mysterious sage are sealed from existence.
ending his reminiscing, Zyro deemed it's the right time to sneak out without his companion noticing.
Before the sun fully disappeared and Scarlet and Pert awoken to resume the long travel. Zyro made a quick trip to meet the sage.