We arrived in one of the towns in the Terra region, the Bratus. This city is known to be loyal in using woods as most people living here can innately manipulate and control any woods.
Wooden houses, wooden streets, all that can be seen were made with wood. No metals, no stones in the surroundings. Just pure woods but different in textures, color, and the tree origin.
Tall and huge trees were striking from soft brown to dark brown. The place smells refreshing, a combination of sweet yet smoky. A smell of freshly cut out log, the fresh woody aroma. Though, few air came with the smell of burnt wood.
The place is so alive and loud. People seem energetic, laughing and chuckling to one another. They really seem very friendly and outgoing.
I am already accustomed to it. I am already used to the different cultures of the four regions. And, Terranian are known to be like this, playful and full of energy. People would never question Tellus' personality if they already met the Terranian people. It really tells a lot.
To conceal our identities, we used a simple cloak used by many travellers. We were acting like we were travelling and just passing by or stopping by in this city.
As much as possible, we don't want to get any attention or receive any special treatment when they get familiar to me.
"Lady and Master, we are here in the town," an Epsilon said. He is one of the Epsilons who knew Blake's existence.
"Thank you, Xelva," Blake stated his gratitude. He got used to that Epsilon, I would never question him if he picked that Epsilon as his personal Epsilon.
We quickly started to blend in with the people, acting as travellers who were checking some items on display. All of them were made with wood.
"Miss, do you want to try our latest wood oil? This is created using vernicia fordii," a woman offered, handing me one bottle of the wood oil. "This is non-toxic and food safe. Very good for high quality wood furniture."
"No, thank you," I calmly rejected the offer.
Blake leaned in my ear, trying to whisper something. "On Earth, I saw some of those wood oils too."
I chuckled. "Some things here are similar to the Earth."
He nodded, continuing roaming around and checking some items. I let him, a few minutes would not hurt. He never got a chance to explore any places, even in the Elysium palace. He only got into Alpha's sacred chamber and to his training chamber. He looked enjoying seeing things here.
Another merchant blocked me, carefully holding a bottle. "Hi, Miss. Would you like to try our wood oil perfume produced using agharwood?" He started to spray it on his wrist, smelling and acting like it had a pleasant fragrance.
A perfume? I gazed at Blake, looking at accessories displayed on a board full of vines. I should get him a gift, a gift to celebrate his successful training.
"Can I try?" I politely asked. The merchant did not hesitate to hand over the bottle he was holding.
I tried the perfume. Despite having an intense fragrance, it is quite pleasant and not scathing in the nose. Over time, it smells like a smoky-sweet aroma.
"I like the smell," I complimented while nodding. It makes the merchant smile widely as if I am his first buyer. "I'd like to buy two, please."
"Right away, Miss," he stated, rushing to get me my order.
"What did you buy?" Blake asked, as we started to walk again in the streets.
I stared at the paper, smiling widely. "Nothing, just some woman things."
He only responds with a nod.
"Would you like to buy something?" I quickly asked. He might have seen some interesting things to buy.
"I don't have any gems," he murmured.
Ohh… he knows what we call the currency here.
"I can buy it for you," I suggested. I'm
He stopped midway. "No… I would buy that when I got my own gems."
I blinked repeatedly. "Hmm… then how about borrowing gems? Pay me back after you get your salary."
I saw hesitation in his eyes. He scratched his hair. "Hmm… the one that I want to buy costs 2 gems."
That cheap? I immediately got 2 gems in my bag, and handed it to him.
He smiled, quickly moved toward the accessories merchant that he was checking earlier. Would he buy accessories? Well, he does not bring anything from the Earth, even the watch that he always uses.
I watched him childishly tip toe while walking and smiling widely as his lips nearly reached his ears. How happy he was.
"You look so happy," I stated.
"I made my first purchase in this world," he energetically announced, raising the small wooden box he was holding.
I watched him be happy while staring in that box. He even forgot he was walking, so I held him to guide where to walk and avoid people who he nearly bumped into.
He stayed like that until we reached the forest in the back of the town, it was crowded and full of tall trees. The ground was filled with dried leaves which fell down from the trees. The noise from the street slowly faded but the woody scent got intense.
Blake's mind came back to reality. His hand started to sweat.
Silently entering the forest, carefully walking in order not to make any loud noises. I looked around, trying to sense any energy.
Minutes passed, I lifted my right palm to gesture to Blake to stop. I use a mind link to Blake, who was also trained on how to use it. "They are near."
We started to communicate using the mind link, not giving the enemies a chance to sense us.
"On the left side," I said, directly looking in that direction. "Go there alone. I will watch you," I gently commanded, staying calm and collected.
Blake started to move slowly, not rushing to not create any loud noise from the dried leaves.
I swiftly jumped in the branch, silently following Blake. In this high position, I already saw blood dancing in the air, in sync and flowing like a river. The Blood Scribes were standing, forming a perfect circle with their rigid and still bodies.
How eerie.
A faint smile formed in my lips as I sensed more people around. They are playing hide and seek while lingering in the shadows. Abyssal Circles, huh.
"The ritual started. There are some Abyssal Circles in the surroundings. You know what to do," I informed him.
Without replying to anything, Blake summons his double-edged sword, staying on guard and roaming his eyes around. A grin formed in his lips. Then, swiftly ran towards the Blood Scribes, slicing the dancing blood in the air.
Abyssal Circles cannot follow immediately, stunned how Blake moves fast.
I did not let them step forward. I summoned my water bow and arrows, targeting and quickly releasing my arrows to them. It hit them in their legs making them unable to move.
Abyssal Circles… done.
I gaze back at Blake, who is now in the center of the circle formation, grinning to the people surrounding him.
He stretched his arms. "I want to fight you guys… but I was told to talk to you first," he sadly said. "So, what's the purpose of the ritual? If you don't mind answering," he added, smiling while innocently looking at the Abyssal Courts, hoping to get an answer to his question.
Blake didn't get a single word and answer. "How disappointing," he said. He sighed after not getting any reactions and answers. "I thought my first mission would be exciting… How boring," he added, sitting down with the chin in the palm of his hand.
I silently chuckled upon hearing him. This man is so silly. Does Tellus influenced him to be like this? He wasn't like this in the mortal world.
"Go away, don't come back to our land," he boredly commanded, expressing his disinterest to them. But, those people didn't follow him, they continued staring at him intensely.
"Come on, go away!" Blake nearly shouted at them while waving his hand, starting to get pissed and annoyed by their stares.
"Aren't you stupid? They will never follow an order from a weak Elysiumian," an eerie voice echoed through the forest. A man in a black cloak showed up, leaning his back to a tree and not looking at Blake. His whole face cannot be seen as it was covered.
What? I did not sense him! I came closer to give fast assistance to Blake if he needed it. I need to stay calm and composed in order to provide a fast back up. I remained hiding but ready to strike any minute.
Who is he? His strong aura, and quiet move. I observed his whole appearance, so I saw the crest mark of an Abyssal Order. Who among them?
The mission doesn't say that an Abyssal Order would show up. Anyway, it doesn't matter. It wasn't surprising, a mission can turn out in a very unexpecting manner. Popping somewhere is one of the weirdest hobbies of these people.
"Go. Report this to your Order," he commanded the Blood Scribes who listened to him and immediately ran. They immediately vanished in the deep forest.
Report to their Order? So, that man isn't Sanguine. Well… Sanguine is a woman based on the mission reports.
Blake, who's first time encountering an Abyssal Order, heightened his guard.
"Aren't you the human fire bearer?" The unknown man laughed and made Blake's skin crawl. His tone is questioning yet sounds so sarcastic. "Aren't those things powerful? Picking a human as a bearer sounds like a joke."
Blake felt like that unknown man just looked down on him. He looked at him intensely. He was staring at the unknown man while not putting down his guard.
"I love the look on your face. Aren't you scared?" the unknown man said in a mockery voice, trying to piss Blake.
"Tss. They never taught me that these disgusting Abyssal Order were so talkative as hell. How noisy," Blake said, sounds irritated. He gave back the mockery, and tried to pissed back the unknown man.
The unknown man didn't reply, he slowly took off his gloves. In an instant, that unknown man ran at an incredible speed towards Blake.
I quickly moved as I realized who might be that Abyssal Order, running at a fast speed as if we were in a race and Blake's position is the goal. I need to move Blake away from that man.
"Run," I murmured to Blake using the mind link.
He might not have heard it or he decided to follow it. As he does a stance of blocking any attack coming from the enemy. He did not follow my order, he remained standing in his spot, waiting for the unknown man to get closer.
I took a deep sighed. My mind works intensively in trying to think and plan any ways to save Blake. Think. My ideas are getting narrowed, I am running out of ideas. I cannot think of anything.
I did not have much time. I need to distance Blake from that man. Time seemed to slow down. The distance between Blake and the man got closer. He is so close to touching him.
To our surprise, another unknown man showed up, suddenly popped and appeared in the thin air. A man riding on a black horse, wearing a white cloak.
Is that… teleportation?
He is the White Knight they keep on talking. He is unknown, the whole Aetheria doesn't know him. No one even knows his face.
I did not quite catch the action he did… but Blake was saved. Too fast. The White Knight moves Blake away from that Abyssal Order.
All of us were stunned. I and that Abyssal Order stopped midway in our sprint.
Without saying anything, the White Knight vanished, leaving us questioning the action he did. The unknown man who's taken aback by the White Knight's sudden appearance, didn't continue what he was trying to do.
Still not recovering from the sudden change of the happenings. I quickly move, positioning myself in front of Blake and putting him in my back as if protecting him.
The Abyssal Order hissed, and sarcastically laughed. "Oh… I waited for you to come out. Thank you for taking down our Circles."
"Verminous…"