The very next morning, Paul and his brothers prepared to depart from the City of Paran. Their destination was the Forest of Timul—Paul's birthplace and the site of his beloved home, or at least, what it once had been.
Paul couldn't shake the feeling that they needed to make haste. As he shared his concerns with his brothers, each of them nodded in agreement. Before leaving, they informed the King of their journey.
When Homer met them, his face showed both pride and worry. He expressed concern about the dangers that lay in their path. The King's gaze lingered on each brother, acknowledging their strength but still feeling the weight of wanting to stop them.
"Take whatever supplies you need," he insisted, gesturing to the servants nearby. "And if you change your mind, I'm more than willing to send a detachment of A and S-rank hunters to accompany you."
Paul, though grateful, shook his head and respectfully declined the offer. This quest, to him, was a deeply personal one—a mission he wanted to face with only his brothers at his side. "Thank you, Your Majesty, but this is something I must see through with my brothers alone. I don't want others drawn into this matter."
Seeing their resolve, Homer sighed but nodded, accepting their decision. Despite his concerns, he had faith in their strength and unity. "Very well," he said with a hint of resignation, "though I can't deny my concern. I'll be praying for your safe return."
He then placed a hand on Paul's shoulder. "Also, if you really choose to hunt the Crocodile Dragon, do retrieve its blood—but most importantly… be careful."
Paul met the King's gaze and, with a slight smile, assured him, "We'll return, and when we do, the city will need to prepare for another festival. The Crocodile Dragon's blood will be ours." His brothers echoed his determination, bringing a flicker of hope to the King's worried face.
With a shared bow, Paul and his brothers expressed their gratitude and departed the palace. They spent the morning packing supplies onto their carriage in preparation for the journey. Soon, word of their departure had spread, drawing a crowd around the city gates. Familiar faces filled the crowd—the people they had rescued from the bandit cave, townsfolk, and citizens of Paran all gathered to wish them well.
Among the well-wishers stood Juna, dressed beautifully in a new gown, her face glowing with pride. Paul noticed her and made his way over, greeting her with a warm smile. "Juna, you look wonderful. I'm glad to see you're doing well."
"Thank you, Paul," she replied, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Life is much better now. I'm working at the tavern with Mrs. Lorry."
"That's great to hear. Keep up the good work—you're in safe hands now," Paul said with a gentle nod.
As Juna turned back to the crowd, she exchanged cheerful waves with Mrs. Lorry and Sir Chris, who had come to see them off as well. Paul approached Chris, who greeted him with a big smile. His brothers joined him, with Jeyel inquiring about Chris's well-being. Chris assured them he was doing well, despite a lighthearted cough from his wheelchair that elicited laughter from the group. "Take care, boys. This city will always be your home," he said with a proud smile.
In response, the brothers grinned, knowing full well they had a home to return to. After that, Mrs. Lorry handed them a freshly made meal, still warm, as a parting gift. "You've done so much for this City," she said. "Here's your favorite stew to keep you energized on your journey." With gratitude, Paul and his brothers accepted the meal, recognizing it as a token of the bond they shared with them.
After exchanging goodbyes, they took one last look back and climbed aboard the carriage, a sturdy vehicle provided by them by King Homer. The carriage featured a robust wooden frame with iron reinforcements, painted in deep green and gold, showcasing intricate carvings along its sides. Four powerful horses pulled it, their coats shining in the sunlight as they set off with a rhythmic trot.
The carriage was covered with a thick canvas top designed to shield them from rain and sun alike. The entrance at the rear was only draped with a long white cloth, offering a modest barrier while remaining open, inviting fresh air as it fluttered gently in the breeze. Inside, the benches were cushioned with worn but comfortable fabric, allowing the brothers to settle in for the journey ahead.
The townspeople cheered as the guards cleared a path, their voices echoing in farewell as the carriage set off. The brothers waved until the city's walls began to fade in the distance, the towering spires of Paran disappearing behind them.
After a few hours, Rhyz took the reins to drive the carriage, guiding it smoothly along the winding road. Paul, filled with curiosity, leaned forward to try his hand at the reins. However, in his eagerness, he inadvertently spooked the horse, causing the carriage to teeter dangerously until Rhyz quickly steadied it. Chuckling, Rhyz reclaimed the reins from Paul. "Looks like he doesn't like you, bro," he teased.
Perplexed, Paul shot back, "What's wrong with him?" Zaell, unable to suppress a grin, chimed in, "Nothing. He just doesn't like you, that's all."
Paul gave them a sulky look, which made both of them laugh. This prompted Eijay and Jeyel to join in, continuing the playful banter, their laughter echoing in the open air. As they chatted, Paul's gaze drifted to the sky, the vastness above reminding him of the journey ahead. He pulled out his hunter's license, now an E-rank hunter.
Noticing this, his brothers also took out their licenses. "We're all B-rank hunters now," Jeyel said, gesturing to Rhyz and Eijay. "I'm also E-rank," Zaell added, pride evident in his voice.
Paul smiled, feeling a sense of warmth as he glanced at his brothers. "We've come so far together," he said, his voice filled with determination. "Let's keep pushing ourselves to grow stronger, so we can tackle more challenging quests and earn greater rewards." Rhyz added,
"Remember, ranking up takes more than just strength; it requires completing many difficult quests."
Eijay, grinning mischievously, chimed in, "So, if we're getting stronger, does that mean I can finally learn to fly? You know, like you do?" He leaned forward, eyes sparkling with excitement. "My grimoire only lets me copy abilities at 30% of their original power so that's the reason I can't fly well.
Intrigued, Paul asked, "What do you mean by 30%? Could you explain how your grimoire works and the word spell you always use? I'm not quite clear on that."
Eijay grinned, eager to share. "My grimoire is a gift from the gods. It's a book that contains powers, like the ball of light I've used in our battles. The word spell? I just invented that name; it's another term for the copied ability."
"Boo, cheater!" Rhyz chimed in, eliciting laughter from the brothers.
Eijay laughed at the teasing and continued, "When I met Rhyz and Jeyel at the orphanage and shook their hands during introductions, my grimoire glowed, indicating I could add new spells. I discovered that I can copy others' abilities as soon as I touch them and add them to my spell list. However, there's a limitation: I can only use one spell at a time, and the maximum power of any copied ability is just 30%. Still, I find it remarkable!"
"I still don't get it," Paul said, confused.
"Imagine this: you can fly high above the sky without any limits, while I can only fly a little above the ground. Plus, my flying speed is slow, and I can't land right either. I either fly and fall face-first or land and then fall face-first onto the ground," Eijay explained.
"Show me," Paul requested.
Eijay flew out of the carriage, but as he followed behind, he couldn't match the speed of the horse-drawn carriage and fell face-first onto the ground, just as he had described.
Rhyz stopped the carriage as Paul flew beside Eijay, who was wiping the mud off his face. Paul helped Eijay to his feet and said, "Maybe you're just too heavy, bro. You're a half-giant after all, and you're so tall."
"But don't worry about it. You'll get the hang of flying soon," Paul encouraged him. Eijay chuckled and nodded, feeling more determined to learn and improve.
Puffing out his chest with pride, Eijay declared, "Oh, by the way, I call myself a sorcerer."
"What is a sorcerer?" Paul inquired while they went back inside the carriage.
"He just made up that name; don't mind him," Jeyel interjected, rolling his eyes.
"Eijay, have you mastered Rhyz and Jeyel's abilities yet?" Paul asked.
"Whose abilities?" Eijay responded, looking puzzled.
"Rhyz and Jeyel's, of course," Paul clarified.
"No, they won't let me use them," Eijay said, a hint of sadness in his voice.
"We never said that! We just said you're a cheat, bro. Your ability is cheating," Jeyel explained with a smirk.
"See, they won't let me," Eijay reiterated playfully.
"You can use it whenever you like, bro. Don't make up silly stories," Rhyz chimed in, shaking his head in amusement.
Paul laughed at them. "Say no more. I'll teach you everything I know." As Rhyz continued to drive the carriage, Paul provided Eijay with guidance at every step until he could master the skill independently. Afterwards, he enlisted the help of his other brothers, including Zaell, to teach Eijay, aiming to harness their collective abilities to create a wider range of possible combinations of spells in the future. Following a brief break to enjoy Mrs. Lorry's packed lunch, they resumed Eijay's training as they journeyed on.
***
After days of traveling, Rhyz found himself uncertain of their path. It was then that Zaell stepped in, confident in his idea for their next direction. They arrived at a familiar place where Zaell and Paul had first encountered each other. Black barked, as if he also remembered the location.
"Where do we go now?" Zaell turned to Paul and asked. Paul couldn't remember either, feeling just as lost as he had back then. He flew above, scanning the surroundings in hopes of recalling something. As he looked farther ahead, he felt uncertain that he had come from that direction before meeting Zaell. Gliding down, he shared his hunch with the group.
They continued in that direction for a long time, with Jeyel driving the carriage and Paul soaring high above with Black, leading the way. Inside the carriage, Zaell examined the ring they had bought in the city of Paran, while Eijay and Rhyz slept peacefully beside him.
The ring appeared to be an ancient artifact, adorned with intricate carvings and emanating a faint, ominous glow that twisted in unnatural ways, as if whispering secrets from ages long past. Although they had purchased it for its rumored mystical powers, none of them had dared to test its abilities beforehand.
As Zaell continued to inspect the ring closely, faint whispers slithered through the stillness, echoing in the recesses of his mind. Looking around, he noticed that the only ones nearby were his sleeping brothers, their faces peaceful and oblivious to the sound.
Then, a strange compulsion washed over Zaell, urging him to slip the ring onto his finger. The whispers intensified, almost seductive, coaxing him to embrace his fate. Unable to resist any longer, he slipped the ring onto his finger, and as soon as he did, his surroundings began to blur and shift, the world twisting into a shadowy haze.
Suddenly, Zaell found himself alone in a dark, desolate expanse. The carriage had vanished, and his brothers were nowhere to be seen. Panic surged through him as he tried to make sense of his eerie surroundings. A faint whisper caressed the still air. "Who's there?" Zaell called out, his voice trembling. A deep, unsettling voice responded, "Welcome, friend. Come closer..." The voice faded, leaving Zaell feeling both intrigued and unnerved.
"Where are you? Show yourself!" he demanded, struggling to sound brave as his heart thundered in his chest. When he reached for his shields, he realized with a jolt that they were missing, leaving him defenseless in this chilling void.
"Don't be afraid, friend..." The voice continued to weave through the darkness, its haunting tone sending icy shivers down his spine. Gathering what little courage he had, Zaell ventured further into the shadows, driven to uncover the source of the mysterious call. In the distance, a flickering torchlight beckoned him, and without hesitation, he ran toward it. As he approached, the flames transformed into an otherworldly white, illuminating a metallic room filled with strange, intricate objects that pulsed with unsettling energy.
As Zaell surveyed the room in awe, the white flames extinguished abruptly, and a figure emerged before him, cloaked in an ethereal glow that felt both inviting and sinister. "Do you seek power?" the figure asked, its voice echoing as if it originated from a realm beyond his comprehension.
Caught off guard by the question, Zaell hesitated, his gaze irresistibly drawn to the ring on his finger. "Yes," he replied, conviction lacing his words. "The vendor mentioned that this ring can bend any object. I want that power—to protect my brothers."
"Indeed, it possesses the ability to bend reality to your will," the figure acknowledged, a knowing smile playing on its lips. "You could be the one I have been seeking."
Zaell's instincts flared with caution, sensing a hidden agenda behind the figure's words. "I can sense there's a price to pay for this power," he stated, his voice steady despite the unease pooling in his gut.
"You are remarkable, my friend," the figure replied, a glint of amusement flickering in its otherworldly eyes. "To wield this power, a sacrifice is required. I seek your life force in exchange for my ancient gifts. I have been collecting life forces for eons, and in return, I offer extraordinary control over all objects."
Zaell weighed the consequences of the offer, grappling with the gravity of the decision before him. "Tell me, how does this pact work?" he inquired, his gaze unwavering.
The figure's eerie laughter reverberated through the metallic chamber. "Fear not, for the pact is simple. You shall wield my power at will; however, the more you use it, the more life force it craves," it explained, its voice echoing with an unsettling finality.
Lost in contemplation, Zaell wandered through the metallic room, his thoughts ensnared by the weight of his choice. After a prolonged silence, he made his decision. "I ACCEPT," he declared, his voice resonating with determination.
As soon as the words left his lips, the figure erupted into a merry laugh before disappearing, leaving Zaell exactly where he had started, surrounded by the familiar sights of the carriage. However, as he examined the ring on his finger, he noticed a sinister change. The once innocuous artifact now dripped a dark substance that resembled fresh blood—his blood. Horrified, he attempted to remove the ring, but it refused to budge, binding itself to him with an unyielding grip.
At the same time, in the air, Black suddenly woke up, barking sharply at the carriage as if sensing something ominous. Concerned, Paul descended to investigate. Upon entering, he found Zaell to be the only one awake, but his troubled expression raised a sense of unease in Paul's mind. "Are you okay, Bro?" he asked.
Zaell concealed the turmoil within, masking the true nature of his encounter. "I'm fine, just thought I saw a spider," he lied, his mind racing under the weight of his newfound burden. "By the way, are we there yet?" he asked, hoping to divert the conversation.
Shaking his head, Paul replied, "No idea." Unknown to him, a dark and sinister presence now lurked within the once innocent ring, its influence poised to ripple through Zaell, forever altering the course of his fate.