As Noel ran, the roars behind him gradually grew fainter. He finally stopped to assess his surroundings, only to realize he had ended up somewhere completely unfamiliar.
It was a terrible realization: he was now lost in the forest. Under normal circumstances, he might have recalled methods from books, like marking his path with stones or using conspicuous objects as markers. But in the chaos of fleeing for his life, there was no way he could have spared the attention for that.
Now that he had ended up in this unknown place, it meant all his previous efforts were in vain—his traps, his treehouse—they were now out of reach.
He felt a pang of regret. He had worked so hard, only to lose everything.
Going back was no longer an option, and Noel had no idea where that monster that had chased him off would be hunting now. Judging from its behavior, it was powerful and held grudges.
He had no confidence he could defeat a monster like that. More importantly, his magic couldn't even scratch the creature's defenses.
If he could break through its defenses, he might consider risking a fight, but under these circumstances, why would he willingly throw himself into such danger? That would be nothing short of gambling with his life.
Noel sighed heavily.
A breeze, heavy with moisture, drifted past him. Noel sniffed the air lightly. It carried the scent of wind elements, mixed with water elements.
At least there was one piece of good news in this mess: even if he was lost, he was now close to a water source. All he had to do was keep moving forward.
But the environment ahead felt…odd. Along with the dense water element, other elemental energies were unusually concentrated.
It was normal for energy to fluctuate in nature, but this level of activity was excessive, almost as if the energy had a will of its own.
The energy density was so high that Noel thought he saw a faint green mist ahead. Strangely, he didn't find it unpleasant; instead, it felt vibrant, full of life.
What should I do?
This place was clearly unusual, but his body was in no condition to argue. After fleeing for so long, he was dehydrated to the brink of collapse.
He needed water—and food—but the waterbirds that had flown from this direction suggested it wasn't too dangerous.
After a moment of mental struggle, Noel decided to take the risk. Pushing through the faint green mist, he found himself facing a stunning sight.
Beyond the mist was a lake.
Without hesitation, Noel rushed to the water's edge, cupping his hands to scoop up the clear water, greedily drinking the precious liquid.
He had never tasted water so delicious before. It was sweet, with a rich, layered taste that seemed to wash away his exhaustion.
Moments ago, his body had been heavy with fatigue, but now he could feel his strength returning. Even the scratches from his escape were healing at an unnatural speed.
Is this the secret behind that mist? The energy here is so dense it's manifesting as life itself…
Noel instantly understood the value of this lake. The water was priceless, and its usefulness was beyond question.
He recalled reading about something like this in his alchemy manuals. The only thing that matched this description was the Water of Life.
Could this be the Lake of Life?
If so, there should be a spirit guarding it. A lake like this without a guardian spirit was unthinkable.
If there really wasn't a spirit guarding it, did that mean this lake already belonged to someone? Was he stealing by drinking this water? The thought made him uneasy, as if he were suddenly burdened with a crime he hadn't intended to commit.
Pressing his hands together, Noel prayed:
"Spirits, I didn't mean any harm. I was just too thirsty and only drank from the Water of Life out of necessity. I don't wish to claim this lake for myself. Please understand, and don't blame humanity for this."
He didn't know if any spirit would hear him, but it felt necessary to explain himself. Spirits were usually kind and gentle, and some were friendly toward humans, though there were others who despised them.
Still, one thing was consistent: spirits were pure and unconcerned with worldly matters. A small trespass like this was unlikely to anger them, Noel hoped.
But he also knew many spirits were displaced, often killed in wars waged by humans. To many spirits, humans were nothing more than selfish, greedy, domineering creatures.
Please let the spirit here be one of the kind ones…
He waited a long time, but no voice of reproach came. Perhaps his prayer had worked, and the spirit had forgiven him.
Or, another possibility occurred to him: this might not be the Lake of Life after all. Perhaps it was simply a lake with water that had similar effects.
Spirits weren't common creatures you could encounter anywhere. Yes, this forest was vast, but for it to nurture a spirit would be unlikely.
He was probably overthinking it.
At that moment, something else caught his eye—a stone slab nearby, covered in strange, ancient carvings resembling a mural.
Why is there a stone tablet here by the lake?
He couldn't figure it out, but his curiosity got the better of him. This was an opportunity to learn about ancient culture.
At first glance, the carvings looked like a chaotic mess, but upon closer inspection, he could begin to make sense of them.
The spirit depicted looked oddly familiar. It seemed to resemble Sylph, the wind spirit with whom he had signed a contract just days ago.
Though the carvings were faded, that aura of elegance and nobility was unmistakable, an intrinsic quality that could not be hidden.
Beside the spirit was a young boy—and this boy looked quite a lot like himself.
Could it really be me? Am I some kind of prophesied child meant to resolve the troubles of the world?
There was also a monster on the mural, one Noel recognized instantly. It was the same creature that had chased him here earlier.
Thinking back, he still felt a cold sweat at the memory. He had no desire to face that beast again. Its hide was thick and tough, impervious to his magic, leaving him feeling helpless.
There was another spirit on the mural, too. At first, he wondered if it was Sylph again, but the differences were too great.
This spirit didn't have that noble, serene aura. Instead, it seemed lively and mischievous, a personality that would ruin the image of spirits if applied to Sylph.
Interesting…
Noel found himself deeply absorbed in studying the mural. Even if he couldn't read the ancient script carved into the stone, the images alone were captivating.
If the protagonist on this slab really is me, does that make me some kind of hero?
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