The second, tone cautious, almost weary, replied, “Nothing. I’ve scoured the camp, the retinue, everything; however, no sign of that power’s source. Are you sure it wasn’t the forest’s energy playing tricks?”
The first figure’s hood shifted, ambition glinting in his unseen eyes. “I’m not sure anymore. Day one was our chance to kill the girl, but that pressure… nigh insurmountable, like a Saint watching from the shadows. It forced my delay, made me send you to scout. If a Saint is here, the risks outweigh our plans.” He paused, voice hardening. “But we’re already behind schedule. Tomorrow’s our last window to take out the girl. And that boy, Nerion. His eyes, that spark of power… he could be moulded into an assassin. The best are trained young. The Leader would be pleased.”
The second figure stiffened, pragmatic. “Focus on the girl, or the Gran Maestre’s wrath will bury you, whether the Leader wants to protect you or not. The orphans are a bonus, not the mission.”
“You’re right,” the first admitted, cooling. “What of Rhys?”
The second scoffed, scorn dripping. “That beast-man’s chasing energy spikes, obsessed with the Millennium Stone Vein. I acknowledge that, if the vein is real, it could be worth more than this mission. However, it’s nothing but a rumour. What else can you expect from Beast-men? Half-man, half-beast, too stubborn to see the bigger picture, always chasing shadows.”
The first hissed, “I despise their kind, strong-headed and blind. Better he stays out. If things go south, Rhys is backup, but I don’t trust his judgment.”
The second nodded. “Tomorrow, the girl is no more. Be ready.”
The chat ended, darkness swallowing the clearing, as heavy as the treachery in their hearts.
By noon the following day, the Corina retinue, weary from their journey but invigorated by the promise of their quest, finally arrived at the Green Crystal Lake. It was a breathtaking sight, a sprawling hundred square kilometres of shimmering water, pulsating with an almost palpable abundance of Natural Energy. A thick, cool mist, glowing with a soft emerald hue, rose from its surface, giving the impression that the primal force of the land itself breathed with a gentle sigh. Fairy-like orbs, luminous and ethereal, drifted lazily above the water, their melodic hum a subtle, almost hypnotic pulse that cast prismatic light across the vibrant flora below. Orchids pulsed like miniature heartbeats, their petals unfurling in a silent rhythm, while vines, ancient and gnarled, curled like living runes, their tendrils swaying in the still, energised air.
From the dense, verdant foliage that fringed the lake, a guttural snarl occasionally echoed, a stark reminder of the Magical Beasts drawn to the lake's potent energy, their hidden nests guardians of this mystical domain. It was precisely in such places, saturated with raw, untamed power, that treasures like the elusive Green Crystal Flower were nurtured. Even the Capital guards, men accustomed to the gilded spires and towering, impenetrable walls of Ansem, stood mesmerised, their eyes wide with awe at the lake’s otherworldly beauty, their hushed whispers mingling with the soft, ethereal sigh of the mist.
Nerion, his senses sharpened by his awakening Mana, led the way with a quiet confidence. He could feel the intricate flow of energy through the forest, a symphony of unseen forces. “The Green Crystal Flower grows at the lake’s outskirts,” he announced, brushing a speck of dirt from his tunic, his gaze sweeping across the misty expanse. “It’s notoriously hard to pinpoint. We’ll need to circle together, moving as one unit. There are many Magical Beasts’ nests nearby, and they are not known for their hospitality.”
Julieta, whose delicate silks snagged on a thorny bush, let out an exasperated huff. “Are you sure you’re not just lost, beggar? This forest is a tangled maze.” Her tone, though sharp, held a hint of playful banter.
Nerion grinned, pointing at her dirt-streaked hem with a mischievous glint in his eye. “Look who’s talking, noble girl. Your fancy clothes are more mud than silk now.”
She playfully swatted his arm, a smirk gracing her lips. “I’d summon a breeze to blow you into the lake first!” Her green eyes, however, softened, reflecting the strong, quiet bond they had forged through the trials of the Woods. It was a friendship that transcended their differing social statuses, born of shared peril and mutual respect.
Manke, the loyal steward, guided them with a gentle smile, his gaze warm as it fell upon the two young people. His dark, practical cloak brushed the earth, a stark contrast to Lykos, who barked orders with a dismissive air, his gaze pointedly avoiding Julieta, clearly disapproving of her familiarity with a low-status orphan like Nerion.
Elisha, the young Praetorian, watched Lykos closely, his own suspicions stirring. The captain’s arrogant tone and commanding stride grated on him, fueling a growing unease. Elisha sharpened his focus on the captain, his gut twisting with a well-intended doubt, reinforcing a decision he was swiftly forming in his mind.
After another kilometre of walking, a sudden skittering broke the fragile silence. Several Rank 2 ten-legged spiders, their obsidian-like carapaces gleaming ominously in the dappled light, lunged from the dense canopy above. The guards, hardened by the gruelling days in the Woods, reacted with swift, practised precision.
Lykos, with a flash of unexpected skill, unleashed a secret sword
Lykos smirked, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. “Good work. Let’s move faster. The sooner we find the Flower, the sooner we leave this plague-infested place. Any suggestions from our young Praetorian?” The last remark was laced with a thinly veiled challenge, a test of Elisha’s judgment.
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Elisha met Lykos’s arrogant gaze, his suspicion flaring at the captain’s dismissive tone. He saw an opportunity, a way to isolate Lykos and confirm his growing doubts. “Splitting up could help,” Elisha said, his voice calculated, his youthful judgment fixed on Lykos. “If you, Captain, Kael, and I were to take a separate route, an elite group, we’d be faster, more mobile, and better able to escape trouble if the situation arises. Nerion and Manke could then lead the rest through a more secure route. This way, we could cover a significantly larger area much faster.”
Julieta pouted, clutching her staff nervously. “Split up? With so many Magical Beasts out there? Is that really a good idea?” Her concern was evident.
Nerion, though uneasy, nodded, his trust in Elisha unwavering. “Big Brother knows best, Julieta. If we’re lucky, we could find the Flower in the next couple of hours.”
Lykos considered the proposal for a moment, then grunted in reluctant agreement. “Fine. Don’t slow us down, boy. Manke, we’ll stay in touch through communication runes.” With that, Lykos, Elisha, and Kael set off in one direction, their figures quickly swallowed by the thickening mist, while Nerion, Manke, and Julieta led the others along the lake’s edge, the emerald mist swirling around them like a living thing.
The two groups separated, their bootsteps fading in opposite directions, each becoming a faint echo around the vast, mystical lake.
"You know, this mist feels... nice," Julieta confessed, adjusting her grip on a sturdy walking stick. She paused near a cluster of orchids that pulsed with a faint emerald light, her fingers reaching out to touch the cool, damp air. "It feels like cold silk."
"Don't get too comfy, Julieta," Nerion warned, kicking aside a patch of moss. "It's still dangerous. The mist is thick because of the Natural Energy, and that just hides the nasties." He paused, pulling a small, dried herb from his pocket and crushing it under his nose, checking its pungent scent against the floral, energised air.
"See, that's what I don't get," Julieta said, following Nerion closely, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Manke says I have the talent, but I can barely make a wisp of air move. I can feel the Natural Energy around me, but I fear it doesn’t hear me."
Nerion, remembering the immense energy Manke had effortlessly wielded with his , was fascinated by the raw, untamed potential within Julieta. "You're the Adept, not me. But Manke said you sometimes lose the 'listening' part. Perhaps it’s not about the World listening to you, but about you listening to the World. Why don't you try to just the air, not push it?"
Julieta nodded, taking his advice to heart. She closed her eyes, focusing her concentration with a fierce intensity, and raised her hand, whispering a soft command into the humid air. A faint blue shimmer, like captured moonlight, appeared around her palm, gathering the ambient Natural Energy. Then, her focus broke. The shimmer dissolved with a sharp, abrupt .
"Drat!" Julieta stamped her foot, frustrated by her failure.
"You lost your breath," Nerion diagnosed with a sympathetic smile, tapping his own chest. "Try again, Lady Julieta," Manke encouraged gently, his voice a soothing balm. "But this time, seek the wind's permission, don't demand it." His eyes lay on Nerion for a bit, surprised by his ingenuity and ideas.
Julieta nodded, her determination rekindled, and tried once more. This time, she whispered the command: "Ουρανο? Αναπνο?!" ( - Breath of Heaven!) A small, controlled pocket of air—her natural Heaven Gate element—condensed with a visible shimmer and suddenly with a sharp, surprising .
One of the nearby guards, startled by the unexpected sound, fumbled his weapon, his eyes wide.
"Success, Lady Julieta!" Manke exclaimed, a genuine smile gracing his lips. "That was precise and efficient. That is the elegance of TIMBER."
“Not bad, noble girl! Keep that up, and you’ll outspell Manke,” Nerion added, a wide, genuine smile adorning his face, proud of his friend's accomplishment.
Julieta beamed, her frustration momentarily forgotten, basking in the warmth of their praise. But her controlled spell, though a triumph, had inadvertently disturbed a nest of Rank 1 Mana Hornets, small and fast, clinging to the underside of a large, iridescent lotus pad nearby. The wasps, agitated and territorial, rose in a furious, buzzing swarm.
"Run!" Nerion yelled, his voice urgent, immediately crushing a Mana Bloom he had thoughtfully saved and throwing the repellent scent into the air. The swarm, momentarily disoriented by the pungent aroma, scattered in a chaotic frenzy, leaving the group shaken but unharmed.
"My fault," Julieta whispered, chastened by the close call. "I didn't consider the consequences."
"Now you're getting the Wisdom part," Manke replied with a knowing smile, his eyes diligently checking the surrounding foliage for any further threats. "It's all connected."
They continued their search, their steps slower now, their senses heightened by the recent encounter. Julieta, her guard lowered by the shared experience, confided in Nerion, detailing the cruelty of her older half-siblings who constantly undermined her, despite the Marquis’s profound love and protection. She feared that even her success here, her contribution to the mission, would be twisted into an act of selfish ambition by her spiteful family.
"I don't know my parents, Julieta," Nerion whispered, his voice laced with a deep-seated vulnerability. "I have to be strong enough so no one ever leaves me." His words were a poignant reflection of his own fear of abandonment, a driving force behind his ambition.
"We won't leave you, Nerion," Julieta promised, squeezing his hand, her gaze firm and sincere. "We're friends now. No matter what." Their bond, forged in the crucible of their journey, deepened with each shared moment.
Finally, a triumphant cry broke the misty silence. "There! I see the energy signature!" Nerion's voice was filled with exhilaration.
Tucked beneath a veil of shimmering mist, nestled against a vein of glowing quartz that pulsed with a faint inner light on the lake's very edge, sat four vibrant stalks. Their leaves were long and fine, delicate emerald blades that tapered to a point, and at the crown of each stalk bloomed a flower of crystalline emerald and blue.
It was the Green Crystal Flower, its petals translucent like polished emerald glass, radiating a powerful Rank 3 Natural Energy. Its beauty was the stuff of a noble’s dreams, a coveted adornment for grand mansions, and its essence a pill-master’s ultimate treasure, capable of boosting the effects of potions below Rank 7 by nearly a full rank. Demand for this rare bloom always outstripped supply, with prices soaring in the exclusive auctions of the capital.
"We found it," Julieta breathed, her eyes shining with triumph and profound relief. The mission, it seemed, was complete. Now, they just had to wait for Lykos and the others to rejoin them, and they could finally return to Ansem.
Nevertheless, their elation was short-lived. Soon, a terrifying ruckus erupted from behind them, echoing through the misty air.
A large group of Magical Beasts, their forms indistinct in the swirling fog, appeared almost out of nowhere, running towards them with alarming speed. Their guttural yells and savage snarls gnawed at the hearts of the Corina retinue, chilling them to the bone.
The Corina camp stood frozen, paralysed by the sudden eruption of sound and the sight of the approaching horde. "Defence. Protect the lady, set up a perimeter, quick!" Dennis, a loyal Praetorian and the third in command, took charge immediately, his voice cutting through the fear.
Nerion’s heart sank, a heavy stone in his chest. The beasts were too fast, too numerous, and they were heading straight for them. By the way things were transpiring, something very wrong must have happened to Elisha and his group. A chilling premonition settled over him, the promise of the Green Crystal Flower overshadowed by the imminent threat.