Levin was just the start of his story when they suddenly heard an injured howl.
"We cannot go further. The forest guardian is angry now. My horses are so scared and refuse to even move at all. We can only hope the forest guardian will soon calm down." The old farmer said, obviously scared but still managed to puff a smoke from his pipe. Even more so probably, to help him calm down.
They had just crossed the desert and came to a plain. Now there was a vast forest in front of them.
The howling continued, without showing any signs of stopping, making Jaana and Levin worry greatly.
Suddenly Elvire jumped out of the carriage and ran aimlessly.
Jaana hurriedly jumped out to chase after Elvire. When she caught Elvire, she saw that her daughter's eyes were unfocused like she was mesmerized.
She hurriedly asked in worry, "My dear, is everything alright, what happened? Where are you going?"
At this time, even the old farmer and Levin came to the spot where Jaana and Elvire were standing.
"Vicimar is telling me to go there. Someone is calling him. Someone is calling us to the forest. It is getting fainter and fainter when every second passes." Elvire said out, and the old farmer suddenly gasped before suddenly kneeling down.
"My lady, sorry that this old fool didn't recognize you I wondered why my instincts suddenly told me that I should go this way. I didn't think it was a call from Rodona." The older man suddenly started to weep.
Elvire looked at the old farmer, who trembled on what he saw.
At this time, the black on her eyes had gone entirely. The eyes that were all white were looking at him directly, causing his very soul to shook, almost suffocating him.
The old farmer lowered his gaze, but his body did not stop from shivering.
"Tam, your family had done greatly by protecting my holy maiden. You had helped her escape from the city of Liondell and the people's wrath. I have recovered some of my power just to sent this message. Follow this girl and protect her. When she's worthy, take her to that place, that only you know the path. For now, I have a mission for you. The guardian of the forest is calling for us for our help." Elvire said in a voice that did not belong to a child's body.
As soon as she finished speaking, she collapsed on Jaana's lap before slowly getting her conscious back.
"What happened to me? It felt that something controlled me..." She asked out.
"My lady, this loyal servant, will now serve you. Rodona, our lady, asked us to go and see the guardian of the forest. Later, when you are ready, I will take you to a special place for Rodona." The old farmer knelt down before introducing himself.
"My name is Tam, and my family has served under Rodona as guardians for generations, protecting specific things that you will get to know when you are ready for it," Tam said while still kneeling down. Yet, now the roaring was getting fainter but more agitated.
"We will ask more questions later, but for now, I think we should start moving," Levin said while looking towards Tam.
"Yes, I agree, honorable father, we should hurry as if Rodona wants us to check out the guardian," Tam said. After that added, "I will move first to protect you as we don't know what the guardian can do." Tam started to lead the group towards the area where the roaring was last heard from.
They were now traveling inside the thick forest, when Jaana asked out, "Where are all of the beast? Are there none because the guardian of the forest that you have mentioned so many times?"
"Yes, the guardian usually keeps the beast away from the roads making this area safe to travel, but sometimes some of them still manage to pass through. However, I never have heard the guardian this agitated before." When Tam finished saying, they also arrived on an open spot.
There was a huge round and fluffy spirit beast. It was surrounded by lots of other beasts that kept attacking it, halting every movement or escape. This huge fluffy spirit beast is the guardian of the forest.
"Let me handle this. I will be quick," Tam said before he pulled out his sword.
Because of this, the spirit beast immediately turned their gaze at their group and rushed towards.
"How you dare to attack fluffy?!" An angry voice was heard out of nowhere. Suddenly, a massive Raven manifested from Elvire.
"I, the great Vicimar, will now personally deal with all of you!" The Raven announced as it attacks the group of spirit beasts.
The spirit beasts were already panicking from the aura that Vicimar was releasing. Some of them immediately run away. Those who were unlucky fell on Vicimars or Tams attacks.
Finally, when all the remaining spirit beasts died, Vicimar rushed at the guardian and asked,
"Fluffy, what is wrong? What happened to you?
How did you get yourself in that state?"
The guardian just opened its arm, and there was a mini version of it sleeping peacefully without any worry on its face.