Chapter 102: Forest Circumstances

In the dimly lit room, Nyarla and Loki engaged in a tense game of chess. The atmosphere grew thick with intensity, contrasting with Nyarla's typically composed demeanor. She found herself unable to suppress her irritation, provoked by Loki's insufferably smug expression.

His smile, his gaze, and the air of confidence that seemed to accompany his every move fueled Nyarla's growing frustration. Despite her father emphasizing her importance in their plans, Loki's demeanor grated on her nerves. A sudden thought crossed her mind, a dark contemplation sparked by her vexation.

'Would it really hurt to remove a finger or two from him? Or perhaps, cutting off his tongue? He's a god, after all. It wouldn't be fatal, right?' Nyarla pondered, her gaze fixed intensely on Loki as these unsettling thoughts swirled within the recesses of her mind.

In the midst of their intense chess game, Loki couldn't ignore the visible frustration on Nyarla's face. A bead of sweat formed on his forehead as he wondered, 'Did I tease her too much? It's already my eleventh win. Should I purposely lose this time?' Contemplating this, he resolved to make a deliberate wrong move.

However, just as Loki prepared to adjust the course of the game, a sudden disruption unfolded. A dark portal materialized near them, and through it stepped a beautiful elf enveloped in purplish mana.

The ever-curious Loki felt a surge of excitement. Questions raced through his mind – how could a mortal breach this place, and more intriguingly, why was she not dead?

"Oya, who is this?" Loki inquired, attempting to capture the elf's attention. As Elowyn turned to face him, their eyes met, and Loki was captivated by her unparalleled beauty. It rivaled that of most goddesses he knew, surpassing even the elves of Alfheim. The elf standing before him was a vision of elegance that left Loki in awe.

In his excitement, Loki made the mistake of speaking aloud with his true voice, an action typically reserved for interactions with deities.

He assumed, perhaps naively, that the mortal before him could withstand it. However, the intensity of Elowyn's reaction indicated otherwise. It became evident that her soul had not shattered only due to the protective embrace of the purplish mana surrounding her.

Undeterred by the unexpected outcome, Loki, always quick-witted, sought an excuse to engage with the elven lady.

"Care to join us?" he suggested, attempting to find a reason for her to become part of their ongoing game.

The ambient darkness in the room coalesced, wrapping around Loki, as an intense atmosphere permeated the space.

Loki found himself drenched in sweat, his mind racing with the question, 'What the heck did I do now?' His gaze met Nyarla's emotionless, doll-like eyes, which seemed to penetrate into his divine soul.

"Quiet, Loki, and stop those hideous thoughts of yours," Nyarla commanded with an air of authority. Though uncertain about the situation, she continued, "I don't know what happened, but it seems my brother brought her here." She directed her attention to the struggling Elowyn, making a decisive hand gesture. In an instant, Elowyn vanished from the room, with Nyarla ensuring her transfer to a more comfortable location.

"...Why does he keep sending weird mortals here?" Nyarla murmured softly in evident frustration, leaving Loki with more questions than answers in the wake of this mysterious encounter.

"Wait, your brother can open a portal here? In your own realm?" Loki questioned; genuine surprise evident in his voice.

"Yes" Nyarla replied succinctly.

As Herton moved to carry out her orders, he couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding that settled over him.

The queen's suppressed anger, barely noticeable to others, did not escape his perceptive gaze. The impending journey held an air of uncertainty, and he couldn't help but wonder what awaited them in the mysterious forest.

....

On the northern fringes of Kaksan Forest, a large carriage, pulled by ground dragons, sped through the dense woods.

Mila, seated within the carriage, couldn't help but voice her concerns, her twin blonde tails swaying with the motion of the vehicle. "Boss, are you sure this is safe? I know it's faster to cut straight through the forest to reach the academy, but isn't this place rumored to be infested with powerful monsters?"

Siena, confidently standing atop the carriage, skillfully maneuvered through the uneven terrain, effortlessly cutting through boulders and trees obstructing their path. "It'll be fine. Besides, do you think there's any monster here stronger than me?" she replied, exuding an air of assurance as they forged ahead, bypassing the obstacles in their way.

"I don't think so, boss, but destroying the forest just because you want to hurry up and see your disciple is a bit..." Mila hesitated in her response. She contemplated whether it would have been a better idea to hire a mage to teleport them from town to town.

The destruction of the forest, especially the old and picturesque trees, saddened her. Mila knew that it would likely take another couple of millennia for such beauty to naturally return. She doubted her boss would even consider tree planting.

As Siena continued to cleave through the landscape, even the ground dragons seemed to support her, running faster and smashing through nearby trees before she could cut them down. Mila could only sigh as the once-beautiful scenery crumbled before her.

"Then you should've teleported us there directly, Mila," replied Siena, her mischievous expression unchanged as she reveled in the ongoing destruction.

Mila huffed in annoyance. While she possessed the ability to use teleportation magic, she was adamant about not being exploited as her boss's personal teleporter. Siena had a tendency to coerce anyone with useful skills into becoming her personal aide, a role Mila was determined to avoid.

"But it sure is strange; I can't see, hear, or sense any monster around this forest," Mila commented, her eyes scanning the serene surroundings.

"So you noticed as well," Siena remarked, her keen senses attuned to the subtle nuances of the environment. "Except for the dreadful mana I could feel at this forest's center, everything else seems fine."

As they continued their journey, the carriage rolled smoothly through the dense foliage. Suddenly, it came to an abrupt halt, revealing a shocking sight – a colossal mound of corpses lay in the distance. Upon closer inspection, three figures with distinct horns on their heads were discernible. Demons, it seemed, engaged in a mysterious ritual involving the gathered corpses.

Under the corpses was a massive teleportation circle glowing in a crimson red hue.

"Wait, are those demons? Why are they gathering corpses?" Mila's voice conveyed a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Let's find out, shall we?" said Siena, a determined glint in her eyes as she disappeared into the distance.