Laston returned the gaze from Saeldir. His hands were clenched at his sides.
'I already guessed. This bastard must have realized something.'
Laston and Saeldir stared at each other for a while. Saeldir's gaze seemed to pierce Laston's heart.
He felt the meaning of Saeldir's gaze as if it read: 'I already know everything. You're just waiting for the time to come.'
'How did he know?'
That question really bothered Laston. Could it be that Saeldir knew long ago and sending Aurdis was part of his plan?
Saeldir must have known that all the Elves in the palace would not confess. And interrogating them again would only offend them.
In the end, the Elves would rebel and chaos would ensue. So, Saeldir and Aurdis devised a plan to enlist the help of the Forest Elves.
Laston regretted his decision. He should have come up with a plan to eliminate Aurdis and Saeldir first.
Instead, he focused on killing Erend. A human from another world.
Erend is indeed a very disturbing variable. Thanks to his presence, Laston's judgment was shifted.
He used to think that Erend was his biggest threat because he had the power of a Dragon.
But it turned out to be wrong. Aurdis and Saeldir were the biggest threat.
Apart from Aerchon, they were the strongest Elf figures in this palace.
"(Uncle?)" Aerchon said.
The dreamy Laston finally came to his senses. He looked at Aerchon in confusion.
"(W-What? Did you say something?)" Laston asked.
Aerchon frowned sharply at Laston.
"(What are you thinking, Uncle?)" Aerchon asked.
"(Nothing. Don't worry about it,)" Laston replied. "(More importantly, what should we do with him?)"
"(I said it when you were daydreaming. I'll talk to him first. You can get out of here now,)" Aerchon said.
"(Oh,)" Laston said. "(Okay. But you have to remember that he just broke the King's rules. Your father.)"
"(I know, Uncle.)" Aerchon gave Laston a look that seemed to say he had said enough.
Laston tightened his jaw. But then he left without another word, leaving Aerchon and Saeldir in the room.
As soon as the door closed, Laston wanted to try to hear what they were talking about from the inside.
However, he sensed that there was some kind of barrier magic installed on the door.
Laston cursed in his heart. Realizing that he couldn't hear anything from inside, Laston walked briskly away from the room.
'Forest Elf, huh.'
Laston knew right away what he had to do next.
Even though Saeldir and Aurdis already knew that he was the traitor. But Aerchon who was the holder of the highest power in this palace still didn't know about it.
Right now it seemed like Saeldir was about to tell Aerchon everything.
However, Laston was sure he wouldn't be able to convince him that easily.
'If Aurdis did go to meet the Forest Elves', that would mean she went to Dawnwood.'
Laston knew the path to Dawnwood well.
He had to stop Aurdis immediately before she reached Dawnwood.
~~~
The night has passed but the rain has not let up.
There was a terrible storm last night. The tent that Aurdis used for shelter was tossed about by strong winds.
Star had neighed a few times outside. Even with the protective Magic Aurdis using to protect him from the rainstorm, the white stallion still felt the threat.
Now it's already morning. Even though it was still raining heavily, Aurdis had no other choice but to start her journey again.
Star's feet hit the muddy ground. Every now and then he splashed water in the puddle he passed.
Aurdis casts magic that blocks rain and wind from reaching them so that he and Star don't get sick.
Aurdis knew he had reached the Wyldwood forest area.
She was able to memorize maps accurately so she could know where her current location was.
The area of ????the rainforest that stretches is very wide. Towering trees and very lush plants are a hallmark of Wyldwood.
This rainforest has a denser plant density than other forests.
It becomes a clear sign that someone has entered this forest.
Wyldwood stretches over several thousand acres. No one knows exactly how large this rainforest is.
For a fairly obvious reason, namely, because this forest is too wide and too dangerous to explore.
Even the Elves felt reluctant to explore this forest.
On the bright side, there was a path that had been created by some creatures who had a vested interest in going through this forest.
They cut down trees and lush vegetation. So that a path can be created in the middle of this forest.
The path stretched from the east where Aurdis came to the west where she would finally meet a meadow. The place that marks the end of Wyldwood.
Unfortunately, rain and storms made the roads muddy and slippery.
In addition, there are also many fallen trees that in the end, force Aurdis to get rid of them before she can pass.
However, it didn't matter much to Aurdis because she could use Magic to get rid of the fallen trees.
But that also meant that he had to expend more magic energy.
'I can't be helped.'
In the end, Aurdis could only accept that. Because she had to quickly get to Dawnwood.
After a few hours, Aurdis was finally able to pass through Wyldwood with relative ease.
No monsters jumped from the forest and ambushed her.
That way, Aurdis could conclude that her journey through Wyldwood was quite smooth.
Aurdis arrived at the edge of Wyldwood. She breathed a sigh of relief at having gone through one of the worrisome parts of her journey.
But her relief must end quickly. That was because as soon as she came out of Wyldwood, Aurdis saw a group of creatures in black.
There are five of them. All of them wore black robes and masks.
Unlike the worn and dirty gray-robed creatures she had encountered in the Grayfog Mountains, they wore black robes that looked clean and well-groomed.
The thing that shocked Aurdis, even more, was, the pointed ears that appeared on the five creatures.
~~~