The three kingdoms of Lucariaus—Velgrath, Raveryn, and Zyphora were connected by official routes that ran through Celestria, the city where the royal palace stood. However, the kingdoms themselves weren't directly linked to one another. Vast lands and wild zones separated them, filled with dangerous terrain, untamed creatures, and pockets of civilisation. One such region was the Forest of Ferudden, the great woodland that stretched between Velgrath and Raveryn.
The Forest of Ferudden was one of Lucariaus' most vital natural reserves. It was known for producing rare herbs, magical plants, and mineral sources found nowhere else in the nation. Traders, alchemists, and mercenaries often ventured inside, although rarely without a native guide. The forest was ancient, unpredictable, and filled with its own secrets.
Velgrath itself was surrounded by massive, enchanted walls, indestructible barriers forged with old magic. There were multiple gates across the kingdom's borders, but only one led directly to Celestria. That gate, however, was reserved for royal or high-ranking officials. The common folk, travellers, and merchants used the other gates, which connected to outer regions and shared roads toward neighbouring kingdoms with multiple outposts along the way.
Shirou stood in line before one such gate, his path leading directly toward the Forest of Ferudden. Dressed in his black cloak, the hood pulled low over his face, he waited patiently as the queue slowly advanced. Thanks to Highlord Cedric's influence, Liam had arranged all the necessary identification papers for him. Without them, a person born in the outskirts like Shirou would've had to undergo several rounds of questioning and verification, a process that could take days.
He had managed to enter Velgrath before only because of Varan. As a known trader from the outskirts, Varan's presence had softened the officials' scrutiny. But this time, Shirou would be travelling alone. This time, he was doing things properly.
"Almost our turn," muttered a man ahead of Shirou.
"You'd think they'd remember our faces by now," his companion grumbled. "Why check every single time?"
"Because we're not nobles," the first replied. "If you were someone important, maybe then they'd remember."
"Like you're one to talk," the other man scoffed.
Shirou listened silently, his golden eyes scanning the gate ahead. There were three large archways. Two of them were open, one for incoming traffic and the other for those leaving. The third gate, still sealed shut, bore intricate engravings and pulsed faintly with enchantment. Shirou guessed it was the exclusive gateway for officials. It made sense. No commoner would ever be allowed to pass through that.
Eventually, the two men ahead reached the gate. Shirou watched closely as they handed over their documents to the officers in charge. After verification, they were instructed to walk through a circular platform set a few feet before the actual gate. The outer rim of the device glowed white.
"A detection array," Shirou thought. "But what exactly does it detect?"
He had already stored Ashbringer and its scabbard inside his inventory. Carrying weapons wasn't illegal, not in a world ruled by magic and danger. But he didn't want to attract unnecessary attention.
The two men passed through the array without issue and continued on their way.
Now it was Shirou's turn.
He walked forward and handed his documents to the officer.
"To Raveryn?" the man asked after skimming through the paper.
"Yes," Shirou replied.
"Purpose of visit?"
"Visiting a friend."
The officer eyed him for a moment, then handed back the papers. "Proceed through the scanner."
Shirou nodded and stepped onto the circular platform. A soft light passed over him, and then another officer waved him forward. "You're good to go."
As Shirou passed through the open gate, a long road stretched out before him. The paved route cut through open land, devoid of trees, leading deeper toward the distant edge of Ferudden Forest. On either side of the road, the trees rose thick and tall, a natural wall that whispered with the wind.
From what Shirou had heard, small native villages were scattered throughout the forest. After the war, they'd been given the option to relocate to the kingdoms, but most refused. The forest was their home. Their families had lived there for generations. And because of that, their knowledge of the terrain was unmatched. Even the kingdom's own scouts relied on the natives to safely traverse the woods.
Shirou kept walking until the last checkpoint faded behind him. Once he'd gone a few kilometres down the road, he stopped and turned toward the forest. With a quiet breath, he summoned his sword and scabbard into his hands. Then, without hesitation, he stepped into the wild.
----
Shirou sat beneath a large tree, biting into an orange-colored fruit. Juice dripped down his fingers as he chewed slowly.
"It's already been eight days," he muttered, tossing the half-eaten fruit aside. "Still nothing."
He stood, brushed his cloak off, and stretched. His movements were fluid, effortless. Then, with a quiet breath, he dashed forward. Trees blurred past him as he sprinted, wind brushing his face.
"Mana Detection," he whispered, his senses expanding instantly.
Dozens of small mana traces blinked in his mind: small creatures, birds, and other forest dwellers. He frowned.
"Come on… There has to be something."
He kept moving, faster now. Then skidded to a stop.
His eyes narrowed. A cluster of unfamiliar mana signatures flickered to the north, chaotic and unstable. But more than that, their positions were scattered.
"These past eight days, I've encountered three different groups—but they were all natives," Shirou muttered, eyes scanning the treeline. "But this is a forest... and the natives aren't the only ones who roam here."
His gaze sharpened.
"This time… the mana signatures are scattered. Which can only mean one thing, humans" he muttered as he changed direction.
Then he came to a halt again.
The forest around him had gone still, eerily quiet.
Reaching into his cloak, Shirou pulled out a small pouch and let it drop to the forest floor. It landed with a soft thud, spilling open. A few aether coins rolled out across the dirt, catching glints of faint light as they settled.
He bent down as if to pick them up, but then
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
Shirou jumped back as a dagger shot straight at him, stabbing into the dirt where he'd just been crouched.
Figures emerged from the shadows, roughly dressed men and women, their armour patchy and worn. Bandits.
"Five visible," Shirou noted, eyes scanning. "But fourteen in total. The rest are hidden."
One of the bandits stepped forward, a smirk on his face. "Drop the coins and walk away, kid. We'll let you go."
Shirou stared at the man, his expression unreadable. "Is this all of you… Or do you have a hideout nearby?"
The bandit gave a smug grin. "And what if we do?"
"Good," Shirou replied.
The moment those words left his mouth, the air around Shirou changed. His mana surged outward like a wave.
The smirk vanished from the man's face.
Before any of them could react, Shirou moved. Ashbringer ignited in a flash of red, flames swirling around the blade.
Then the forest lit up with fire.