by : BlackbeardtheBear
As Shinna disembarked from the train at Arakeel Station, her family was waiting for her at the exit. Her mother, Claire, known for her kindness and dedication, and Erik, who was Claire's boss, greeted her with smiles and waves.
"Shinna! I've missed you so much!" Claire exclaimed, rushing to hug her.
"I've missed you too, Mom," Shinna replied with a smile.
Erik gave her a warm smile and lightly patted her shoulder. "So, you're home now. How was your trip?"
"It was fine, thank you for picking me up," Shinna responded.
After brief greetings and conversations, the three of them headed towards the floating carriage waiting for them. They left the station and headed towards their new home.
The journey from the station to their home was smooth. Shinna looked out the floating carriage's window, taking in the familiar suburban scenery and feeling the warmth of coming home, much like when she was in Wildly Wind Village. Arakeel still looked beautiful, with its lovely houses and lively streets bustling with activity.
Upon arriving at their new home, Shinna noticed that it was different from their previous house. The new house was a two-story residence with a large front garden. The front door opened, revealing a cozy and welcoming interior—a recent birthday gift from Erik to Claire.
"Come on in," Claire said as she opened the door for Shinna.
"Wow... Is this the new house?" Shinna asked, her eyes widening.
Claire smiled and nodded. "Yes, it is. It's a gift from Erik."
"Just a small thank you for your hard work," Erik added with a smile.
Shinna entered the house, marveling at the beauty of the new home. The interior was beautifully decorated and well-equipped. She explored each room with excitement.
"Your bedroom is upstairs," Claire said, leading Shinna to her room.
Upon opening the door, Shinna found a spacious and bright bedroom with a large window overlooking the expansive garden and the beautiful view beyond.
"Wow! It's so beautiful. Thank you!" Shinna said, clearly thrilled.
"Glad you like it. Rest up, and I'll prepare dinner," Claire said with a smile.
"Erik will join us for dinner too," Claire added, turning to smile at Erik.
"Of course," Erik replied with a grin.
After Shinna had some time to rest and explore her new room, she came downstairs to join her family for dinner. The dining table was beautifully set with a variety of dishes prepared by Claire.
The three of them enjoyed a pleasant dinner together, though they were missing Largas, who was on a special mission with Astra in Moonwood Forest.
"Mom, where is Largas?" Shinna asked with curiosity.
"It seems he went on some kind of mission. I'm not entirely sure," Claire responded, her expression uncertain as she placed a hand on her cheek.
"Does Erik know?" Shinna asked, turning to Erik who was sipping tea.
"Hm… Largas is on a special mission with Princess Astra," Erik answered in a calm tone.
"Wow! A mission with the princess?" Shinna said, her eyes wide with excitement.
"Ha! Largas must be thrilled," Erik chuckled, clearly amused by Shinna's excitement.
But moments later, Erik's smile faded, and his expression grew serious as if he had just received some troubling news.
"I'm afraid I need to leave. There's an urgent matter," Erik said, standing up and bidding them farewell before leaving the house.
Shinna watched Erik leave with concern. "He seems to have something important to deal with."
Claire nodded. "Erik has many responsibilities. Sometimes he has urgent matters to handle."
After dinner, Shinna went upstairs to her room to rest. The exhaustion from the journey was catching up with her. She lay down on the soft bed, and as soon as her head hit the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Shinna awoke to the sunlight streaming into her room. She felt refreshed and ready to explore Arakeel again. She went downstairs to find her mother preparing breakfast.
"Good morning, Mom," Shinna greeted.
"Good morning, dear. Did you sleep well?" Claire asked with a smile.
"Very well, thank you," Shinna replied as she sat at the breakfast table.
After breakfast, Shinna decided to take a walk around Arakeel. She said goodbye to her mother and left the house.
Arakeel in the morning was lively, with bustling streets full of people on the move. Shops were open, and the lively chatter of the townsfolk created a vibrant atmosphere. Shinna wandered through the market, where vendors sold a variety of goods, from fresh produce to household items.
As Shinna walked through the city, she noticed a notice posted on a wall. Erik's face was featured on the notice, with the message: "Rebel." The notice stated that Erik had been missing since the previous night and that his whereabouts were unknown.
"Erik is a rebel and has gone missing?" Shinna said to herself, shocked.
She hurried back home to find her mother. Upon arriving, she rushed into the kitchen. "Mom! Erik is missing!"
Claire looked alarmed. "What? Erik is missing?"
"Yes. I saw a notice saying he's a rebel and has been missing since last night," Shinna explained.
Claire frowned. "He was here for dinner last night… What could have happened?"
In Moonwood Forest
Moonwood Forest was renowned for its distinctive appearance, resembling a full moon's glow each night. The vast forest was fraught with dangers within its forbidden zone.
Entering the forbidden zone, towering ancient trees stood majestically. The forest floor was covered with various plants, vibrant moss, and mushrooms. Streams wound through the forest, home to numerous monsters near the water.
The forbidden zone housed high-level monsters such as four-armed bears, dryads, basilisks, and the ultimate creature of the zone—the Behemoth.
At this moment, Largas and his team were in the dangerous forbidden zone, with Largas severely injured after fighting a four-armed bear and falling into a coma with Meridion. Fortunately, they had found an old wooden hut where they could rest.
Astra, the team leader, used her fire magic to cauterize Largas's wounds as best as she could, though she had also exhausted much of her mana during the fight.
"When will Largas wake up, Astra?" Myla, who watched Astra work on Largas, asked.
"It may be a while. How about we rest for now?" Astra, looking pale and drained from mana depletion, suggested.
"Alright. You and Myla get some rest. I'll stand guard," Syrus said, heading out to take his position at the hut's entrance.
With Syrus outside, Myla and Astra began to prepare sleeping arrangements, trying to make Largas as comfortable as possible. Myla set up the bedding quietly, while Astra lay back on the bed, exhausted. The hut was filled with a quiet, uneasy calm.
"We need to find a way to recover mana quickly," Astra murmured. "If Largas wakes up now, we may have to deal with the remaining monsters in the forest."
Myla nodded and handed Astra a potion. "Drink this. Resting and taking potions will help restore your energy."
Outside, Syrus kept vigilant watch in the dark forest, using all his senses to ensure no threats approached and scattering protective ash around the hut.
Inside, Myla watched over Largas with concern, hoping the situation would improve soon and that they could complete their mission in the forbidden zone.