The Forest of Death was a forbidden area—a dark expanse within the Golden Triangle Trail that had never been touched by human feet. Caravan traders had always avoided it. Not only was the path impassable, but there were also whispers of the horrors that lurked within.
However, someone had dared to venture into the forest. A resident of Idell City supposedly wanted to conduct research there.
William looked at Hannah calmly, though his mind was racing. He asked casually, as if he were making small talk.
"Who is that man? What did he bring back from his perilous expedition into the Forest of Death?"
"Oh, his name is Sir Gillberd," Hannah replied softly but clearly. "He's not a native, but a traveler who chose to stay in Idell City for a while. He said he returned with an ancient notebook. If I remember correctly, Sir Gillberd once showed me a notebook and said it belonged to the Aethral family."
Elizabeth straightened up but didn't react further. The noblewoman's face showed only confusion as she tried to grasp the meaning of an unfamiliar name.
But to William, the name wasn't just unfamiliar. The Aethral family name struck a chord in his memory.
That book. An ancient record that should have been lost long ago.
"Hannah," he said, his voice deepening and filling with seriousness. "When exactly did you see the Aethral notebook?"
Hannah frowned, trying to remember. "About ten years ago."
William paused. His thoughts returned to the timeline of his life.
Fifteen years ago, Morgan Welshman—his former self—had died. Before that, his respected commander, Captain Alexander Wardell, had shown him an ancient notebook that he had seized from a mysterious group. It belonged to the Aethral family.
Ten years later, while he was still confined to his deathbed, the notebook resurfaced. This time, it was in the hands of Gilbert, a researcher who had rescued him from an expedition in the Forest of Death.
Apparently, the traces that should have been buried lived on.
"Will, what's with Aethral's notebook?" Elizabeth asked, her eyes filled with curiosity.
William smiled faintly, trying to hide his inner turmoil.
"Nothing. I was just curious."
His casual answer was just a cover. He knew the truth about the notebook was something he couldn't share with just anyone, not even Elizabeth. Only he and Captain Alexander knew Aethral's secrets. Now, another name had emerged: Gillberd.
The conversation slowly subsided. Hannah had shared what she knew—fragments of information that might hold the key to finding William's friends, who were separated by the storm, as well as to the strange, magical puzzle involving the dice that separated them.
William, Elizabeth, and Anna all took only a short break. However, they knew their time was limited. The grim city of Idell—a ghost town with Hannah as its sole remaining resident—did not offer a sense of security. The night lingered, the air was cold, and the ruins of the buildings only reinforced the idea that the city had resigned itself to its fate.
Hannah took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She leaned back in the old, brittle chair. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry you have to listen to such a grim tale."
Elizabeth leaned forward slightly, a gentle smile on her face. "It's no problem at all, Hannah. We're the ones who are grateful."
Hannah stared at them, hesitating for a moment before finally asking, "If I may ask, who are you really? And where are you from?"
Elizabeth glanced at William, then answered calmly. "We're the escort for the merchant caravan. I'm Elizabeth. This is Anna, the daughter of one of the merchants, and this is William, my friend." She paused, then added, "We got separated from the group by a sandstorm. We've been traveling ever since until finally arriving in this town to rest."
"A merchant caravan, huh..." Hannah furrowed her brows. Her gaze hardened as if she were remembering something. "I didn't actually see them a few hours before you arrived, but my Spirit Bees were constantly on guard around the town's outer perimeter. They reported seeing five to seven groups of people in purple robes moving through the area. They were heading east, the opposite direction of the Golden Triangle Route."
William noticed the change in Elizabeth's expression. He could sense a surge of excitement emanating from her.
Elizabeth asked immediately, barely able to conceal her enthusiasm. "Hannah, did you see anyone among them wearing the elegant white robes typical of nobility?"
Hannah shook her head, her face serious. "No, my bees didn't find anyone matching that description. Most of them were merchants. However, there was one person dressed in luxurious attire who was clearly not a merchant. He was rather stocky."
Anna was startled, her eyes widening. "It's...it's Uncle Roster!" she exclaimed, clenching her fists to suppress the urge to run out and search for her uncle.
Unlike Anna, who was filled with hope, Elizabeth looked gloomy. A faint disappointment was evident, as if she were hoping for news of someone more important to her. William sat beside her, quietly observing the change. He knew that beneath Elizabeth's steadfastness, a lingering anxiety remained.
Elizabeth took a deep breath and calmly looked back at Hannah. "Thank you for this valuable information, Hannah. We can't stay here any longer. We must continue our journey."
"You guys, shouldn't you rest here for a while?" Hannah asked softly. Her fine, lined face was sincere. "Stay at least one night. Tomorrow morning, you can continue your journey with renewed energy."
Elizabeth smiled, though her eyes held a stern look. "We are very grateful for your kindness, Hannah. But we can't stay long—let alone wait until morning. The desert is too hot during the day—we'll be safer traveling tonight."
Hannah sighed softly. She knew there was nothing she could do to stop them. "Then..." Her hands rose, fingers interlocked in front of her chest. "May the Goddess of Light protect your journey."
Elizabeth bowed her head respectfully and mimicked the gesture. "Thank you, Hannah. May we meet again."
William stood silently behind them with his hands in his coat pockets. He snorted softly and averted his eyes to the star-studded night sky. "Prayer, huh... If the Goddess of Light really existed, the world wouldn't be this bleak," he thought sarcastically.
Outside, the cold desert air bit at their skin. The town of Idell slowly faded away behind them, leaving behind the silhouettes of its crumbling buildings, illuminated by the faint moonlight. Elizabeth and Anna waved one last time while Hannah stood in front of her small house. Her figure shrank until she finally disappeared into the night sand mist.
After walking a short distance, William turned to Elizabeth. "What now? We can't continue at this pace. We'll be stuck in the desert before dawn."
Elizabeth glanced at him, a faint smile forming on her lips. "My mana has recovered. It's no problem if we fly." Then she bowed to Anna. "Anna, climb on my back. Hold on tight, okay? The journey will be fast but high."
Without hesitation, the little girl nodded, then climbed onto Elizabeth's back. She wrapped her tiny arms around the young noble's neck.
In seconds, a pale blue mana aura enveloped Elizabeth and William. The light formed a thin, glass-like barrier over their skin. The wind swirled around them, stirring up fine dust. Their bodies slowly lifted and shot through the night sky.
From above, the stars seemed close, but the endless desert below felt vast. The expanse of silver sand glistened in the moonlight.
Elizabeth tried to activate the Teleportation Rune, but the magical symbols in the air quickly faded without a trace. "The teleportation magic didn't work," she muttered in frustration. "Even after marking east as the exit. It's as if something has severed the mana network in this area."
William looked at her from the side. His face was calm, but his eyes were sharp. "Then this area is indeed locked by something. I suspected as much when I first arrived in Idell."
Elizabeth took a breath, then broke the silence in a serious tone. "I thought the disappearance of the merchants on the Golden Triangle Route was just a simple robbery. But after hearing Hannah's story, I realized it's much more complicated than that. The town of Idell wasn't just forgotten—it was wiped out."
William fell silent for a moment before answering flatly, "Someone wants to erase that city from history. That means we're getting too close to something they want to hide."