As Rain and Leonara travel together, the dense trees of the Elven forest gradually begin to thin out.
The towering Trees gives way to open skies, and soon, they approach a downward slope.
From the top of the hill, Rain sees a vast expanse unfold before him—a seemingly endless grassland stretching across the horizon.
A faint silhouette of a grand structure stands in the distance, barely visible against the vastness of the plains.
'Wow, I can finally see a wall. A tall, grand wall that hides everything behind it,' Rain thought as his gaze lingered on the distant fortress.
Leonara, noticing his curiosity, adjusts her robe and begins to explain. "The forest we just left is the outer edge of Elven territory," she says.
"This plain marks the border of the Western Territories, and that fortress ahead is the only connection between the Elven lands and the human kingdom."
She pulls out a map, showing him the strategic position of the fortress.
"This fortress maintains the fragile peace between humans and Elves," she continues. "Its walls extend all the way to the northern and southern Rocky Mountains, which divide our lands."
Rain takes a closer look at the map, understanding that the fortress is the only way to travel between the two realms.
The mountains act as a natural barrier, and the fortress ensures that the peace treaty between humans and Elves is upheld.
After studying the map for a moment, Rain shifts his focus. "What about magic?" he asks, recalling the fireball she cast earlier. "Can you tell me more about it?"
Leonara nods and shows him a badge pinned to her robe, the symbol of a 3rd-circle red mage. "Magic is common," she explains, "but it's limited by natural talent. Every child is tested for their magical aptitude at a young age. Those with potential are trained in their element, like I was with fire."
She glances proudly at her badge. "I only reached the 3rd circle a month ago, but it's rare for someone to achieve this in their early twenties. I'm one of the few geniuses to do so."
At that moment, Sunny, the little sprite accompanying Leonara, chimes in, "Her Majes...Um, Miss Leonara reached the 3rd circle at just 21! Isn't she amazing?" Leonara puffs her chest, clearly enjoying the praise.
"The average mage doesn't reach the 3rd circle until their late twenties or early thirties," she adds, her tone confident.
Rain raises an eyebrow, intrigued. They take that long to reach only the 3rd circle? he wonders.
"So, the 3rd circle is related to magic?" he asks, seeking confirmation.
"Yes, the 3rd circle of magic," she clarifies. "Mages have magic circles stored around their hearts, allowing them to cast spells. In contrast, aura users need stars to harness their power."
Rain still feels like something is missing. "What about mana circles?" he presses.
Leonara's eyes light up. "Ah, mana circles. Those are formed when a mage reaches a certain level of mastery. You'll earn your first mana circle when you've mastered enough magic to handle spells across multiple attributes. Some mages don't gain their first mana circle until they reach the 5th circle of magic."
She continues, "You see, a mana circle is only granted when you can cast nearly all the spells from the lower circles. For example, once you're capable of casting all the 1st-circle spells, you'll finally gain your first mana circle."
As the conversation deepens, Rain becomes more intrigued by the intricacies of magic in this world. Still, one question lingers in his mind. "Why were you in the forest in the first place?" he asks.
Leonara smiles, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "I was returning from the Magic Academy, located deep in the southern region of the Elven forest. The Elves run the academy, you see, and they're the best at preserving magical knowledge. Their lifespans are ten times longer than humans', so they're able to store and manage ancient magical texts that would otherwise be lost to time."
Rain listens intently, realizing just how vast and complex the world is beyond the forest he once found himself in.
'Interesting,' Rain mused, his thoughts churning. 'So mages are limited by their mastery of spells, and it takes years to build that power. I wonder how far I can go in this world.'
As they continued toward the fortress, Leonara glanced at him. "Do you need an identity form? I can make one for you right now if you want," she offered casually.
Rain raised an eyebrow. "How do I get one?"
Leonara pulled out a small magic crystal. "Just touch this, and it will generate your identity. Simple."
Rain's heart raced. I can't let them see my true stats, he thought. Quickly, he cast an illusion spell to mask his identity.
His status window shifted, hiding his real information behind a crafted lie.
[ Name: Doran 'The Explorer'
2 stars aura user
No criminal record
Age: 21 ]
Satisfied with his work, Rain smirked. 'Too easy.' He confidently touched the crystal, his illusion spell perfectly in place. The magic crystal read only what he wanted it to.
Leonara smiled as she examined the results. "Alright, Doran, you're all set."
Rain kept his polite demeanor, nodding. "Thank you, Miss Leonara."
But inside, his thoughts revealed his true nature. 'If they knew what I really was, they wouldn't be so calm. No one can stop me from doing what I want.'
As they approached the fortress gates, Leonara led the way, her presence commanding attention. The guards glanced at her but did not question her authority. As they neared the entrance, Leonara suddenly turned to Rain, her expression light but with a warning hidden in her tone.
"My visit here is confidential," she said playfully. "If you spread any rumors, I'll have to use my authority to arrest you. And trust me, I'll make you show your real status window." She winked, but there was an edge to her words.
Rain chuckled politely. "Of course, Miss Leonara. My lips are sealed."
Inside, though, his thoughts betrayed his calm exterior. 'As if anyone could make me reveal my true power. Arrest me? I'd like to see them try.'
Leonara, though smiling, had already noticed something odd. 'He used illusion magic,' she thought. 'That status window is far too simple for someone with his skills.' But she chose not to press him on it, knowing she, too, was hiding something.
Both Rain and Leonara continued toward the fortress, each concealing their true identities, each aware of the other's secrets, yet neither willing to reveal them.
As they approach the gate, a guard steps forward, scrutinizing the pair. "Halt. State your business," he demands.
Leonara steps forward confidently, raising her hand in a friendly gesture. "We're travelers passing through. I've been here before and seek shelter within the city. My companion is new to these lands."
"I'm Leonara, a mage from the Western Territories," she says calmly, pulling out a small insignia from beneath her robe. "I've passed through here many times. The Duke knows me well."
The guard's eyes widen as he recognizes the insignia, his stern expression softening. "Ah, I see. You're with the Duke's trusted circle. Very well, you may pass."
Leonara smirks as she puts the insignia away, leading Rain past the gate. Once they are safely inside, she looks over at him with a wink. "Sometimes, it's all about who you know."
Rain chuckles, relieved. "I owe you one."
"Just don't forget it," she replies, her tone playful but laced with meaning. As they walk deeper into the city, Rain feels the weight of his new life settle on his shoulders. The journey ahead would be long and uncertain, but with allies like Leonara by his side, he felt more prepared for the challenges to come.