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Crack! A small white rabbit with 2 horns on its temple stepped on a small branch and attracted the attention of the young girl.
Aurelia looked over and smiled, explaining cheerfully "Whoah, thats a two-horned rabbit! I've only seen a couple in the many times i have been here, how lucky!"
Storm who was walking proudly next to the girl only casted a glance towards the small beast and it immediately fled back between the dense trees, hopping frantically.
After walking for half an hour, they had seen only a few beasts. A silvertail squirell resting on a nearby tree, a flock of crimson-eye sparrows flying above not minding their presence and a small amount of insects. Most animals were keeping themselves hidden upon sensing a stronger predator; Storm.
Yselda was walking a few steps ahead and was silently guiding the ghastly young man back outside the forest, her mind full of thoughts.
Kael, walking leisurely with his hands behind his back, was taking this opportunity to ask questions about the surrounding area, seemingly lacking all basic knowledge of everything outside the forest.
After gaining some insights on the Dawnblade family and other forces around them, he changed the topic.
"Can you also tell me a little about this forest?" Kael asked the distracted girl. Her face became one full of confidence as she looked over and started gesturing with her hands.
"Of course, everyone living close to the [Forest of Disasters] knows about this! The entire forest is divided into three layers, with seals in between each one that function as barriers. Right now we are in the outer layer, where the mana density is only slightly higher than outside."
"As you keep going further in, you will see the edge of the outer zone, a wall made of light which indicates the entrance to the middle layer. This wall forms a huge semi-sphere all around the middle layer, but you can casually walk through it."
Her face turned a little more serious as she continued "The reason this forest is so scary is because anyone can enter it, but its very hard to come back outside. The seal will allow anyone to walk inside but you can only force your way out. The durability of the barrier is very strong and even if you manage to make a crack in it, you need to move quickly because it will mend itself almost instantly."
She turned her head to look at Yselda's waist, where a small orb was hanging on the waist of her dark dress.
"Our family has an artifact that can temporarily keep a small section of the barrier broken, however..." her face was showing a certain level of doubt as she paused her words. In the next instant, Yselda spoke, not letting her disciple continue.
"This artifact was given to the Dawnblade Estate by the Queen of Astraea, Queen Selene. It seems that she does indeed have a tight connection to this place..." she let the meaning behind her words seep in, with the recent events still in everyone's mind.
Storm, seeing the gloomy appearance of his partner, lowered his head and touched his snout to the girl's palm, and she started stroking his head.
"Indeed, only a handful of people have the ability to make an artifact of this caliber." Kael commented casually, indifferent to the suspicions of the two girls.
"I have only entered the middle layer of the forest a couple of times, and the mana becomes incredibly dense, three times as heavy when compared to the outside." The atmosphere became a little more relaxed, as Aurelia continued answering the man's previous question.
"There are strong monsters everywhere, beast kings and mutated animals. The forest is incredibly big, with each section covering less and less land. But despite that, the middle layer is still a huge area with mountains and lakes; fights break out everywhere, fighting for food, elixirs or territory. We occasionaly send in some of our people to gather different herbs and other materials that only grow in this place. There have been many accidents where we lost strong warriors, even a four-circle mage a few years back."
Her young heart was unable to deal with the grievance of losing people she would see and interact with in her daily life. However, her face was solemn. Even as a spoiled child, she was still born into a warrior's family, blood and death were all too common, but not any less painful.
She continued without pause "As for the inner layer, it is extremely dangerous, incomparable to the middle layer. The beasts inside are all incredibly intelligent and dangerous, some even using advanced magic and traps. Many elites and family elders have died there. The mana is almost ten times as condensed compared to the outside, making one dizzy when staying inside for prolonged periods of time."
"But because of the amount of mana, among other treasures, a mana lake has formed inside!" she exclaimed, a face full of interest.
Of course, such a phenomenon is natural. What is a mana lake? A condensed form of mana to the point that even ordinary people can interact with it. Drinking this water can help any mage increase their affinity with water magic and cleanse their body of almost all impurities, a magician's rebirth!
Aurelia, almost salivating spoke again "We only have a tiny amount of mana water and its stored in the estate with other treasures."
Her azure eyes focused on Kael "Ah, don't worry, this is not a secret or anything! Since everyone can enter the forest, there are other people who have discovered it and spread the news."
"If only i could get a little bit of it to drink, but its only given based on contributions~." the girl complained, with an annoyed expression on her beautiful face.
Kael smiled and without turning to face Aurelia spoke in a composed tone "And why would you need such a thing?".
Aurelia looked at Kael in disbelief, feeling like she was facing a child, not knowing the importance of the item she was revering; the dream of many magicians.
Yselda turned around for the first time in a while, her black dress swaying along with her beatiful black hair that resembled waterfalls.
"Indeed, as a Dawnblade, her connection to light magic surpasses all her other affinities. Even if her connection with the water element became stronger it would still be suppressed because of her bloodline."
Kael closed his eyes and spoke with a mysterious intent "That is also true."
After turning back around, the woman gestured with her hand "This is the exit of the [Forest of Disasters], and the beginning of the territory of the Dawnblades. I officialy welcome sir Kael to our home" Yselda stepped to the side to reveal a spectacular sight between the trees; A vast area covered with fields of various crops and in the middle of it all, a grand and imposing fort, surrounded by a sizeable city.
Surrounding the estate of the Dawnblades is the town of Sunvale where members of branch families, warriors and visitors live, the farmland owned by commoners and servants, making a living by cultivating the land or hunting inside or around the forest.
After walking a little further, one by one everyone left the shade of the trees. Aurelia squinted as she placed her hand above her eyes to guard from the sunlight, with Storm next to her wagging his tail.
Kael looked up, his sightless eyes unbothered by the rays and took in a deep breath through his nostrils and smiled.
"Its been a while." As he finished his words, a slight breeze blew past them, just strong enough for everyone's long hair to slightly sway in the wind.
The group continued to walk casually through a dirt path, fields surrounding them in both directions.
As they approached the city, the path they were treading on was slowly changing from dirt to gravel and finally, near the outer gates of the city, from gravel to stone.
"And, in Sunvale there is also the Starfang family. They have taken a different direction compared to our family and they are one of the strongest branching families of the Dawnblades." Aurelia kept answering the unending questions coming from Kael.
Kael's thirst for knowledge was unquenchable, asking for detail after detail about general information on the surrounding territories, other branching families and the structure of the Dawnblades.
A while had passed after exiting the [Forest of Disasters], they had arrived at the entrance to the city. Sunvale, the city around the oppressive fort, had another layer of walls, shorter and thinner than the first yet sturdy and impressive nontheless.
A guard spotted them from a short distance away and recognized the striking appearance of the two ladies, accompanied by the gigantic wolf.
"Lady Yselda, young miss, welcome back! I must inform you that there is a meeting underway in the estate because of a phenomenon in the forest. You are to return to the estate with haste!" The guard made his report while bowing to show his respect.
Yselda was the only one to respond with a cold tone.
"Thank you, you may return to your duties".
The guard gave an affirmatory reply, before returning to his position, his expression serious as always.
This cold attitude was completely different compared to when she was facing Kael. This was after all, the difference in ranks.
"Ice witch indeed!" Aurelia made a snarky comment under her breath and she was immediately met with the gaze of the pitch dark eyes of her teacher.
"Eek, sorry!" She immediately apologised, her timidness showing clearly.
Her cold attitude, combined with her affinity with water and ice magic which contrasted clearly with the other Dawnblades, had earned her many names, Ice Witch being one used behind her back, as no one would dare to say it in front of her, save for her unruly disciple.
Yselda simply sighed, knowing the girl's attitude and temperament, choosing to ignore the fact.
"Ria, you will come with me to make the report to the matriarch since you were closer to the scene before i arrived."
"Sir Kael, would you please follow us into the estate, you can temporarily stay there under my authority" she said in a casual tone, while shifting her attention to the pale young man.
The gaze of the injured looking Kael was filled with calmness and a sense of authority, making Yselda slightly more worried. How is it that she couldnt sense a hint of mana from this man? Is he really just a mortal?
"Then i won't be polite. You have my thanks." Kael replied with his rough, dry lips while extending his arms and covering his left fist with his right hand, leaning forward ever so slightly.
The pace of their steps increased as they walked through the quiet town.
Most people had already gone inside their home, those that still lingered outside were vendors that hurriedly packed the items and boxes of their stalls.
After only a few minutes, they were now standing in front of the magnificent and imposing walls of the inner fortress. Inside here stood the Dawnblade Estate, which functioned as both living quarters and a garrison, a defensive line against escaping monsters from the forest.
Yselda stretched out her hand. Out of thin air, on top of her thin black glove a token appeared and shined with a dim golden light.
The plaque was a finely crafted rectangle, engraved with intricate patterns and a polished look. Its embossed edges were decorated with gold, and the emblem of the Dawnblades was etched in the center.
This was the safest and easiest way to guard against impersonators, as the token itself is a magic artifact that will only give out light when the owner pours inside his own mana.
The two knights quickly bowed and gave greetings, repeating the message that was already mentioned by the guards outside the city. However, the feeling they gave off was completely different compared to the guards outside; to guard the estate, one must be at least a three-circle magician or have rank four aura.
The two of them were both rank four knights, their strength was formidable.
Kael looked at the knight closest to him with his usual serene gaze.
"How amusing..." he muttered silently as the corners of his mouth almost formed into a smile, the group passing through the grand iron gate.
After walking a few steps, Aurelia showed a warm expression. "We are finally back!" she exclaimed, excited to have arrived home after the wild events that had transpired so far.
Before them stood the Dawnblade Estate, a building that gave off a pressure of indomitability; The wide and thick walls used all sorts of materials and methods to strengthen the building itself, in the tall tiled roofs there were also magic devices hidden.
In the courtyard in front of the building was a small army.
Several hundred soldiers were armed and standing in rows, their spears and swords sheathed on their hip, ready to be unleashed. The blood of the warriors was boiling thinking of the impending danger, the silence was like the calm before the storm!
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