The farther they moved from the capital, the poorer and more neglected the houses seemed to Edo. They were no longer the same lavish, gilded buildings that had earlier taken his breath away. Even the neat cottages around the capital, resembling idyllic fantasy villages, were far behind them now. The landscape had changed drastically. Wooden homes with collapsing roofs and rotting beams looked as though time and poverty had left their mark. In the less fertile and poorly tended fields, people worked in tattered clothes that clearly reflected their hardship. The sight filled Edo with melancholy, though he couldn't say he was surprised. After all, they were already a good forty minutes away from the capital.
"So even in this world, the divide between the rich and the poor is clear. It seemed obvious, but I still had to see it for myself. As you can see, some things stay the same, even in another world," Edo thought, feeling increasingly dejected.
Not wanting to dwell on the somber sight ahead, he turned to look back. The capital, the magnificent city of Inormi, was now barely visible, with only a shadow of its majestic architecture faintly outlined on the horizon. Yet this view weighed even heavier on his heart because what lay ahead was their destination—the Misty Forest. The closer they got to it, the more imposing and ominous it seemed. The mist, like a veil cloaking the trees, gave it an air of mystery and dread.
"This isn't going to be a pleasant journey," Edo thought, staring at the bleak landscape. The forest looked exactly like one of those terrifying stages in video games that always gave him chills. He thought he had overcome that fear, but seeing it in real life still unnerved him. It was unprofessional—to assess his chances based on video games—but he couldn't ignore it.
"Leni, do you really need these crystals?" he asked with a slight tremor in his voice. "Can't you....I don't know .... buy them somewhere else? There must be more shops like that, right?"
Leni shot him a slightly irritated glance.
"Look, first you declare you'll help me and won't let me go alone, and now you're trying to back out? And as for other shops, don't you remember me telling you most mages don't like us, the court mages? Emil's shop is practically the only place where I can get this kind of merchandise. But if you think it's too much for you, you can go back. I'll manage on my own. After all, I'm a court mage for a reason."
Edo fell silent for a moment, weighing the situation.
"No, I'm staying," he finally said, though his voice still betrayed uncertainty.
"What's with the sudden change?" Leni asked, surprised. "You were hesitating just a moment ago."
The boy sighed, trying to organize his thoughts.
"It's obvious," he replied, attempting to sound confident. "In stories like this, the person transported to another world always sticks to the first girl they meet. And dangerous things always happen around her. So I can't let anything happen to you."
Leni looked at him with a mix of surprise and confusion.
"Another world? I don't understand what you're talking about. If that was supposed to be a joke, it was a bad one. But... I'm glad you're staying. Your help might come in handy," she said, turning her gaze away to hide slight embarrassment.
Edo smiled to himself, feeling a bit sheepish.
"Well, I let it slip about the other world, but I have a point. Whenever the protagonist meets the first girl in a new world, terrible things happen around her soon after. I can't let that happen. Besides, being with someone like her drives the story forward. And Leni, as a high-ranking mage, might speed up my search for a way back home."
Suddenly, the horse slowed unexpectedly, snapping Edo out of his thoughts. It turned right, and Edo quickly noticed that Leni was leading them toward a small village—likely the last one in the area, as he saw no other settlements in the distance.
"Why are we heading to the village?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity and slight surprise.
"And what do you think? If the search drags on or we lose our way, we'll need supplies. It's better to be prepared for every possibility," Leni replied calmly, stopping the horse near a fence.
She dismounted gracefully, using air magic to land lightly on the ground. Her movements were smooth, almost dance-like, sparking a twinge of jealousy in Edo. He tried to get off the horse himself, but his attempt was far from elegant. He nearly lost his balance and barely avoided falling, prompting a sigh and then a stifled laugh from Leni.
"Funny, is it? Sorry I don't have magic like you!" Edo said with slight embarrassment, extending a hand toward the mage as if to underscore his frustration.
"Magic has nothing to do with it," Leni replied, barely holding back a smile.
"Yeah, right. Sure," he muttered, trying to sound sarcastic, though his embarrassment was evident.
Leni ignored the remark and began leading the horse toward a nearby wall. She tied it up and then started heading into the village, gesturing for Edo to follow.
As they walked through the village, Edo noticed the locals staring at them with evident astonishment, and some even with fear. The village looked impoverished—fields were barren, houses were rundown, and the residents appeared exhausted and unkempt. Edo quickly realized that he and Leni stood out starkly among the villagers. Leni's white, pristine attire accentuated her beauty, while his own outfit—a green-and-black polyester jacket, black tracksuit pants, and yellow-striped sneakers—drew even more attention.
"I wonder if it's our black hair they're staring at? Maybe demons inspire fear even in places like this," Edo thought, observing the villagers' gazes following them at every step.
"Getting supplies, right?" he asked suddenly, breaking the silence. "So why now? We passed through much wealthier villages. Why did you pick this one?"
"Money," Leni answered without hesitation.
"Ah, just that? I thought you earned more. After all, you're a court mage, right?"
Leni paused for a moment, as if to make Edo realize how wrong he was.
"Being a court mage doesn't mean money grows in my backyard. I have to spend a lot on magical equipment and items. Besides, I'm the ninth court mage, so I don't get as much as those in higher positions."
"So that's how it is..." Edo muttered, more to himself than to her. "I guess I should've expected that."
Moments later, they reached a building that looked like a tavern from the outside. Inside, the atmosphere was lively—several people were seated at tables, and Edo quickly noticed that all eyes turned toward them. Some showed fear, others disdain.
"You can tell demons evoke mixed feelings," Edo thought with slight sadness.
Leni, unfazed by the reactions, approached the counter where an older man stood. He was tall, with a long gray beard, a face full of wrinkles, and a clean-shaven head.
"How can I help you?" he asked politely, his tone surprising Edo, who had expected fear or hostility.
Edo looked around the tavern. To his surprise, the interior was well-kept—high-quality wood supported the roof and adorned the walls, and the light from the torches reflected off polished surfaces. Shelves with handcrafted items lined the walls, and above the entrance hung a shield featuring spiraling winds on a green-and-black background. Edo instantly recognized it as the emblem of the Kingdom of Ero.
"I'd like to buy food for the two of us. If possible, something easy and quick to eat on the go. And water," Leni said.
The man nodded and disappeared into a storage room behind the counter. Moments later, he returned with two bags filled with provisions.
"How much?" Leni asked, looking at the older man across the counter.
"Two silver coins," he replied calmly, running his hand over the counter.
Leni reached under her robe, pulling out a small pouch of coins. Without much hesitation, she handed the man a larger gold coin.
The old tavern keeper looked at her as if he'd just witnessed something extraordinary.
"Ma'am, that's a gold coin, and I asked for two silver ones. That's... that's more than eight silvers in difference!" he began explaining, his eyebrows raised in evident surprise.
"I don't have any smaller change. Take the coin," Leni interrupted him with a firm tone that left no room for further discussion.
Edo watched the entire scene with equal surprise. He knew Leni had more coins of different denominations—he had seen her pouch up close several times. He perfectly understood that she could have paid exactly what the man asked. But now he quickly realized what she was really doing. Leni hadn't chosen this village out of frugality. She simply wanted to support this poor place, which likely had far fewer customers than the wealthier settlements.
There was something noble about it, though she didn't let on that her gesture carried any deeper meaning.
"Thank you for the provisions. I hope we'll meet again someday," she said with a smile before turning and heading toward the exit.
Edo followed her, but before they could leave the building, the shopkeeper spoke again:
"May I ask where you're headed?"
Leni paused, turning her head.
"The Misty Forest," she replied, as if it were the most normal thing in the world
The innkeeper's face twisted into a sudden grimace, and the color drained from his cheeks.
"The Misty Forest? Are you sure that's a good idea? Have you heard the rumors? That place has become truly dangerous lately. Some say it might be the work of one of the Ten Demigods. You never know what's going on in the minds of beings like that..."
Edo felt his heart begin to race. He didn't need the details to understand they were heading into territory best avoided altogether.
"Relax, we'll be fine" Leni replied with a confidence that made Edo flinch. "I'm pretty strong and can take care of myself. Besides, demigods are more the type to spread chaos on a grand scale, not hunt down a few individuals in some random forest."
She smiled slightly, adding with a playful tone:
" Besides, I've got this guy with me. We'll be fine, right, Edo?"
The boy looked at her in surprise. He didn't share her confidence. In fact, he was terrified but didn't want to show it. Swallowing hard, he forced himself to reply:
"Yeah… everything should be… fine…"
However, his mind was consumed by entirely different thoughts.
"Demigods?! What the fuck next?! What am I getting myself into?! One more step, and I'll bolt before things get worse and why the hell do people talk about people like demigods like they're some kind of thugs? But... maybe this makes sense. If we're talking about demigods, maybe one of them knows a way to get me back to my world. I have to take the risk."
" Very well, but be cautious. Safe travels!"the shopkeeper said, nodding with visible concern.
After bidding the man farewell, they walked briskly back to the horse. Leni, as before, used wind magic to gracefully leap onto the mount. She tucked the food bags into the saddlebags and waited for Edo. He struggled to climb onto the horse again. Leni was about to help him, but unexpectedly, he managed on his own. Once seated, he raised his hand triumphantly.
" Idiot," Leni remarked with amusement,loosening the previously tied ropes.
Once everything was ready, they set off at a gallop toward the Misty Forest.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived. Edo felt the oppressive atmosphere of the forest bearing down on him almost physically. Massive, lifeless oaks without leaves, a dense fog, and an eerie silence broken only by the unsettling sounds of the wind sent chills down his spine. The vegetation around them was dead, and the light seemed to vanish completely within the thick mist.
" Maybe... we could still turn back? " he asked hopefully, though his voice trembled.
" No. Now that we're here, we have to see it through, " Leni answered firmly but calmly.
Edo swallowed hard, trying to muster courage. Leni guided the horse more cautiously now, moving along a barely visible path in the mist.
As they entered the forest's domain, Edo felt something extraordinary. He had never experienced anything like it before. His senses felt sharper, as if a new sense had awakened—a sensation that was deeply unsettling. He could sense there was something incredibly dangerous in this forest, but also something valuable, something worth the risk.
"What is this feeling? Is it the forest affecting me? Or is it just my own fears?"
For a moment, he tried to make sense of what was happening to him. Suddenly, it clicked.
"It's that contract with the spirit, Sirk! So this is how it works... I wonder if I'll feel something different when danger approaches. Or maybe it'll help me sense something valuable? Either way, this power might come in handy."
Edo thought as they fully immersed themselves in the mist of the infamous forest.