After leaving the town, I walked for a few minutes until the town was no longer in view and then opened a map of Fiore to check the location of the quests. I decided to do material finding quests first as they are close to each other and bandit subjugation in the end.
During the past few years, I didn't just get stronger, I also learnt a variety of things which I thought would be necessary as an adventure like reading a map, hunting, cooking, setting up tents etc.
After memorizing the location of the quest which was in a mountain range East from here, I turned into light and flew there at a very high speed. Flying at such high speeds that the world seems slower, 'it's amazing'.
I reached the mountain range after half an hour even though I was not going at my full speed. I feel like I could have reached here in half the time if I had gone all out. 'Sigh, but I am still a long way from reaching the true speed of light'.
According to the quest details, both materials are found on the highest mountain peak so I went towards it and used my observation haki to scan the whole peak. It would have been difficult for even the most proficient haki users but like I had told earlier, I have quite a talent for this type of haki.
I quickly found the 1st material which is a rare herb called reflexia located deep within a natural cave near the top of the peak and quickly went there to collect it. I also sensed a few life signatures inside the cave which feels like magic beasts, moreover they are of different species.
The reason I could locate it this quickly is because it is a herb used for healing purposes which is a branch of my light element so I could feel it as soon as my haki sensed it.
Unlike the dark and dampy atmosphere I was expecting inside the cave, what I got was a warm interior and light could be seen reflecting off the cave walls.
I continued walking and reached the end of the cave only to find a small patch of the reflexia herbs growing from within a crevice in a rock shining brightly in a white light.
Surrounding the herb were a variety of magical beasts laying on the ground. The only similarity between them being that they all are injured. I walked slowly towards the herb.
Tap~ Tap~
On hearing my footsteps, all the beasts looked towards my direction and on seeing me, they took a fighting position while roaring at me to not come closer.
"Now, now, no need to be so angry" I stopped and extended my hands from which a white light shot out towards all the beasts. They panicked as soon as my magic touched them, but then their wounds started healing at a speed visible to naked eyes.
They lowered their wariness on seeing this and as soon as they healed completely. "I am here for that herb but I know now that it is very important for you guys so how about you just let me take a single one from that group and we can all go our way" I said while pointing at the patch of herbs and releasing my magic power to scare them.
"You have 10 minutes to make a decision" I reeled in my magic and gave them some time to discuss.
Roar~
Hiss~
Maww~
After some time, it seems they came to a decision and parted ways to allow me near the herb. I went near the herb and picked only a small one from the group just like I said and stored it in my space ring as time doesn't flow in there and herb will not lose its effectiveness.
"Thank you" I showed my gratitude to the group of beasts and was just going to leave when, I felt a tug on my trousers and looked down to find a cute white coloured fox cub rubbing her head on my legs.