Having recovered after a good night's sleep, Leylin and Elna along with his trusted steed re-entered Zeb'Nowa. Compared to the refreshing breeze on the lake, the dark forest of Zeb'Nowa had a damp, cold, and sticky feeling.
Two months of combat experience taught Leylin that this place was filled with a lot of witchcraft. Elna was amazed by how Leylin maneuvered within the forest even with a mount. She even wondered whether he actually treats this mission as a walk for his mount who's giddy and skipping along.
The dark forest was quite quiet, which was not a good sign. The two mages riding the black war horse, casting the [Greater Invisibility] on themselves and their lovable mount, slowly walked towards the north. They moved very quickly, perhaps because they were lucky enough, they did not encounter any trolls along the way.
Leylin, who was alert enough, obviously noticed that something was wrong. This was completely contrary to common sense. He patted his old friend, signaling them to stop.
"It's very depressing and strange. I always feel that something bad is going to happen." Elna frowned. She felt uncomfortable in this forest.
"A powerful aura of witchcraft permeates this place. A troll witch doctor is performing a powerful sorcery. I can sense it." Although Leylin wasn't a spell breaker, his perception of other magical energy was far superior to Elna's.
Elna knew that Leylin was no longer the Silvermoon Council's affiliated mage who had just departed from Silvermoon City on a mission. He was an elite magister with even more combat experience than an old ranger.
This was evident from his reputation points with the Silvermoon Council: in the past two months, Leylin's reputation points had reached 4,000. He was a complete quest fanatic.
"Where is the range of this sorcery? Should we take shelter for a while?" Elna pondered.
Leylin noticed that the aura of witchcraft grew stronger the further north he went. It was clear that the trolls were attacking the elven camp near the Sanctum of the Sun.
After a moment's contemplation, Leylin shook his head. He pointed his staff at the road ahead and said calmly, "Keep going. This is our perfect chance to escape."
Elna, trusting Leylin immensely, nodded and followed him forward.
A wave of negative emotions washed over the dark forest: damp, cold, gloomy, and desolate. Leylin and Elna had entered the area of effect of the sorcery.
Leylin looked up and saw a massive dark cloud looming over the dark forest, perilously close to the ground. Clearly, this wasn't a natural change in the weather.
"Come closer to me." Leylin said, pulling Elna closer.
Unable to be shy, Elna leaned against Lylin's arm. "What's going on?"
"Listen." Leylin heard the distant rustling of the forest. It was the sound of raindrops hitting leaves.
"Raining?" Elna exclaimed in surprise. It was deep winter, how could it rain?
"It's a powerful sorcery from the trolls' ritual. This rain must carry a special negative spell effect." Leylin had no idea; he could only guess.
Of course, the enchanted winter rain wasn't stingy with its fall, generously showering upon Leylin and Elna.
Leylin kept observing and immediately analyzed the situation. He picked up the pieces of information, based from the changes of magical energy within him.
"A ritual spell, that could actually suppress magical energy of mages, thus preventing it from being released from the body. " Leylin said quietly, this was the effect of this massive spell.
While not overwhelming for Leylin, it was a nightmare for the other mages.
Elna was already beginning to lose consciousness. Without the spell's insulation, her body temperature plummeted under the chill of the winter rain.
"The constant temperature spell's effect is gone. It's so cold, so cold." Elna tucked herself into her mail, her lips trembling.
Leylin wiped the rain from his face. Empowered by his magic mastery, he harnessed the magical energy from the outside world to cast a constant temperature spell on Elna.
"Are you feeling better now?" Leylin helped Elna settle down while riding the black war horse.
"Yeah, but I can't seem to use magic anymore," Elna said bewilderedly. Most elven mages suffer this loss due to the witchcraft done by the trolls' ritual. Unless their magical prowess is strong that the negative effects doesn't work.
Taking a black cloak from his space backpack and draping it over Elna's back, Leylin ordered his war horse to continue moving forward.
Soon, he spotted traces of blood in the rain, trickling down from north to south. Not only that, but there was also the smell of blood.
A battle had begun up ahead.
"Hold on tight!" Leylin whispered.
Elna, with her remaining strength, held Leylin's waist. Leylin let his mount galloped fast, darting through the forest at breakneck speed. Soon, hoarse cries and painful wails filled Leylin's ears.
According to the map, the elven camp outside the Sanctum of the Sun should be just up ahead.
After crossing the forest and completely exiting Zeb'Nowa, Leylin marveled at the sight before him. He took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.
"Stay here and don't make any noise. I'll be back for you in a while, take good care of her my friend." Leylin dismounted the war horse and said gently to Elna.
Hiding under a massive tree, Elna, sheltered beneath her black cloak, let the rain drip down around her. She nodded obediently, saying nothing. She had little strength left, even her mind was hazy.
Leylin, staff in hand, slowly walked toward the camp ahead, confronting the troll soldiers who were using the witch rain to attack the elves.
As the raindrops keep falling, Leylin and his gleaming golden staff rushed towards the battlefield.
The trolls, observing someone emerging from Zeb'Nowa, raised their broken blades, releasing the captured mages weakened by their witchcraft. Hundreds of trolls rushed towards Leylin.
[Flamestrike] + [Blast Wave] + [Arcane Explosion] Leylin bursted out with a powerful magical energy and casted these spells simultaneously, large explosions wiped out the charging trolls. A few luckily survived due to them being too far back in the rear.
"Kill this mage, and nothing in this camp can stop us the Amani Empire!" shouted the leading witch doctor.
More trolls ran through the rain, wielding long blades and spears, charging at Leylin.
As Leylin charged forward, casting multiple spells. A surging flame erupted from the ground, large fireballs blasted the trolls, arcane orbs homing through their targets, a large blast of wave cleared and incinerated the trolls up ahead. The areas affected by Leylin's spells were totally destroyed.
Soon, the first explosions went off. The troll soldiers at the forefront were torn apart by the powerful spells, their bodies shattered by the explosions some leaving nothing behind but ashes.
However, the trolls were not frightened. Stimulated by the smell of blood, they opened their blood-red eyes and tried to tear the lonely mage to pieces!