It's me again, your favorite multi-billionaire turned child turned prisoner... looks like you really can't take the money with you. Anyway, today is a great day–today marks the first day of freedom in this new, hellish world filled with unimaginable dangers, stuff straight out of sci-fi. "What's first on the agenda?" you might ask yourself in my position. Let me think… after being transported to this world, thrown into confinement, forced into gruesome labor, murdering somebody for the first time, escaping a forest straight out of the Paleozoic age of Earth and basically meeting a deity(?)--the first thing that comes to mind is training. Weird right? You know, after all these events, something has died in me. I'm no longer the person who was climbing a meaningless ladder on Earth. I was forced to see my powerlessness in the face of this reality I was thrown into. A reality I didn't want to accept. Aurius had said I was brought here because of my "Will to change," and I think I can see it now, I want power for the sake of something other than entertainment. Speaking of Aurius, I don't know what he's done exactly, but after that grand show he put on before zapping me out of his apparent 'domain'–calling my mana siphon ability, "Leech." My memories have been less of a jumble between Chiara and I and more of a pick-and-choose situation. Anyway' let's get back to the journey; I'm just yapping away now.
I looked around the vast landscape ahead, a grin plastered across my cheeks. We had done it. We overcame confinement in Dracovenia, we survived that dreadful forest, and now–it was time to carve my path in this world. "So, where to n–?" I began asking when Elias cut me off.
"Ah! The sweet flicker of youthful exuberance has once again dawned itself upon my soul! Reed, Aeloria. Let us rejoice in our triumphant victory!" Elias exclaimed in a tearful fray of excitement–completely void of his usual scholarly behavior. Aeloria chuckled at this development.
Seems I wasn't the only one in good spirits. With our morale securely boosted, we began devising a plan. "We are currently in the eastern region, just beyond the Carboniferre's edge. If we continue eastward, we will reach The Silvanic Order. A monastic people whose lives follow an eremitic lifestyle, occupied by martial arts and inner enlightenment. Through deliberate renunciation, their 'order' is mainly detached from the rest of the world–sustained and continued from within."
Here's scholarly Elias I know, his knowledge of this world gained through academic study would be a huge benefit for us now. I'm glad we made friends. "Why detached?" I asked, intrigued by the idea of a group so self reliant–it reminded me of those tech startups on Earth, thriving in their own rules.
Elias paused, his eyes lighting up with that youthful exuberance he had claimed before. "The Silvanic believe inner sustenance–Vis drawn from self-mastery–frees them from external chains. Transcending worldly ties to forge your fate. Perfect for training, especially your unique power, and perfect for neutrality from Dracovenia."
These Silvanic people sounded like monks, a peaceful, secluded bunch. A thought came to mind. Why not take this place for myself? Start my rule here? Like an independent startup, it was an opportunity–though risky. I've come to learn–what is life without risk? Considering the explanation from Aurius, I basically had the power to fulfill my goals here when honed correctly, right? I could begin building an empire with a docile group like this as my first act towards the power I wanted. But as the words formed in my mind, I rejected them. I have to carve a path, not a throne, so I decided to keep these thoughts to myself.
"That sounds like a great place to begin training again. It sounds like we also won't have to deal with Dracovenia. Aeloria, what do you think?" I replied to Elias's outburst of an explanation.
"That works for me, let's begin over now. The Order's beliefs suit my goals." Aeloria said, her voice carrying a quiet resolve.
We did just that, beginning our trip toward the Silvanic Order. Elias said it would take us over six months on foot, but utilizing Mana and Vis to enhance our speeds for bursts of time, as well as hitching rides with travelers or traders, we could probably cut it down exponentially.
Apparently, there were small villages and towns along the way where we could stop for attire, nourishment, and rest. Universally but not formally called Silvanic Neutrals–self-sustaining havens thriving on small trade and independence. Our plan was to reach some of these neutrals first to find new attire; we couldn't wander around wearing the attire of a knight and slaves of Dracovenia. Even if these towns and villages were technically neutral, when word spread about what had transpired during that riot, there's no telling what kind of measures the Kingdom will take to save face. Maybe bounties on our heads, who knows? For now, it's best to stay as discreet as possible. Especially Aeloria; her knightly armor stood out way too much.
"Aeloria, I think it's best if you shed the armor before we reach the eyes of the public," I said as the three of us traveled along a dirt path leading in our desired direction–the crunch of gravel underfoot mixing with distant bird calls.
"Yes, I was thinking the same. Your tunics aren't much different from the common villagers but I will definitely stand out here. Let's head over to that grove in the distance so I can rid myself of this tainted armor."
Upon arrival to the grove, Elias began scouting for a safe spot to rest while Aeloria and I spotted a pond and walked over. "It's been days since we could cleanse ourselves, wouldn't you say?" Aeloria said while rinsing her face with the pond water, droplets streaking off of her beautifully pale skin. Golden eyes piercing into mine. Soon after she began to remove her armor.
Normally you look away at this point, but her beauty was mesmerizing. I had dealt with all types of models and appealing women, but none could compare to Aeloria's strict beauty. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. "Hm. Reed? Is there something on my face?" She asked while sliding the chest piece off.
"N-no, it's nothing!" I stammered out. Caught off guard by her charm.
She laughed. "Oh, you're still a child; you probably haven't seen a woman's body before, is that it?"
"Of course not; I've seen plenty!" Was she accusing me of being a virgin? I can assure you I've taken the most beautiful women to bed in my time of glory. But here, with her, it felt different–less conquest and more of a genuine connection. I averted my eyes, cheeks burning, reflecting on the difference in those pointless relationships on Earth.
With a giggle, she slowly removed the rest of her armor, revealing a thin gambeson, black and gold. "Though there was nothing beneath this tough armor," she giggled again. "Silly boy."
Her laugh echoed, lightening the moment. I chuckled too, the tension breaking into shared warmth. She pulled me into a quick hug, her embrace firm yet gentle. "You're not like them Reed–seeing beyond the 'Beast'. It hit me–we were both dealing with new emotions, beyond our pasts.
Soon after, I decided to join Elias in scouting for a rest space, but we didn't find anything suitable. "No matter; let us travel through the night. Be wary of monsters and beasts along the path." So we continued traveling for the night. Aeloria taught me how to enhance my body and keep pace with them while avoiding whiplash from the wind. "Focus the mana ahead of you like a shield–let it cut the air, not fight it," she said, her voice steady as glowing auras tailed our bursts, shimmering like comet tails in the dark.
By midnight, trouble arose–the glow of a lantern shining through a halted wagon, a person wounded nearby–seemingly the owner. We decided to check it out. As I walked closer, the ground near the wagon had an unnatural amount of vine spread along. "Reed, to your right!" Elias shouted. A glowing tendril snook out from the path like a snake, charging directly for me. I leaped back, body still enhanced with mana. At the same time releasing a wind blade towards the vile plant, cleanly slicing it in half… but it continued moving. "!!!" With a gash, the vine went straight through my leg. "Ahh!" I yelled as I fell to my knees. In that moment, a memory of Chiara's made itself present, like a revelation. It was a freezing gust, one which froze whatever was in its path. Aeloria and Elias had jumped in to defend me against the vines as I fell, quickly warding off the tendrils slashing at them from every direction. "Move!" I yelled. Pointing my hand towards the original patch of vines. I used Chiara's memory as a guide and imagined the fog of dry ice back on earth. Below negative. "Frozen Mist!" I shouted, releasing a cloud of dense white gas which completely blocked the view of the vine patch. Though I could see the vines flying at Elias and Aeloria had slowed substantially, as they began to freeze all together.
When the mist cleared up and the enemy was frozen, Elias came over to bandage my leg while Aeloria looked over the remnants of the wagon and its inventory. This was the first time I had felt a pain like this, blood drenching my leg, but it wasn't as bad as I had thought. My entry to this world has really changed me. Aeloria returned, explaining that all members of the wagon were merchants from Dracovenia and had been killed days ago, vines protruding from all of their bodies, slowly eating away at them. She emptied the wagon, and guided it away from the recent battle which had occurred. "I don't see the land drakon anywhere so it may have gotten frightened and fled, I will search the surrounding areas." She said after sitting me down in the wagon with my leg bandaged by Elias, I was in no condition to move. 'drakon,." that must be the reptilian-dino creature pulling my carriage on the way into Dracovenia.
By dawn, Aeloria had made her way back with the drakon in tow. We began riding in the same direction as before, my injury preventing fast paced trouble through mana enhancement. After a while we spotted a small village, of which we decided to make way toward. The eastern horizons stretched beyond, promising more, but danger loomed. My path to carve.