Alvein, Kaydan, and Calverd, who were now beneath the lush canopy of the southern forest, continued their steps to venture even deeper. The three youths, still under the protection of their invisible forms, walked together with rhythmic steps, traversing a terrain that grew increasingly dense with wild vegetation.
For Kaydan, this mission journey offered a unique sensation of its own. He, who throughout his life could only see the cold walls of the Victoriaz palace without being able to go outside, thoroughly enjoyed his first experience exploring the wild firsthand.
Kaydan was endlessly amazed and enthusiastic about the green panorama now stretching out vividly around him.
In his invisible form, his head kept turning to the left, to the right, upward to gaze at the canopy of leaves filtering the sunlight, and then downward to look at the moss growing on the rocks. He acted like a kid visiting a vast playground for the very first time.
Is this what it feels like to be inside a forest? Kaydan thought with an overflowing sense of happiness in his chest. His eyes never stopped observing his surroundings. All my life, I was only locked up inside that luxurious palace prison as a tool, without ever being able to step out and breathe air this cool.
However, amidst his awe, a logical reality suddenly flicked his mind. He felt worried because, for the time being, he still could not live normally like ordinary people out there, even though Arvin had granted him absolute freedom.
Right now, Calverd and I must have become the most wanted international fugitives by the Victoriaz Kingdom. Kaydan thought again, suddenly understanding his current position and situation. Both our faces must have been distributed across various guard posts due to the chaos that occurred in the capital. At the very least, I must be able to restrain myself and be patient for some time so as not to burden my husband, who fought so hard to save us.
The three youths continued walking in silence, passing through the lush trees with great caution. The deeper they went, the more natural obstacles there were. Besides the path beginning to be filled with waist-high thorny shrubs, there was an abundance of large tree roots jutting out irregularly above the ground surface.
They walked deeper and further away from the bustling crowds at the outer borders of the capital, solely to seek the existence of a cave or underground structure that Dalvanel might use to conduct his immortality ritual.
Once they felt they were far enough and safe from the tracking radius of ordinary humans and adventurers, Alvein's footsteps slowly came to a halt in a fairly quiet open area.
"Now, we are completely far away from the capital's crowds." Alvein said, breaking the silence, as he canceled his invisible magic.
The figures of the three youths slowly became visible again in the middle of the forest. Alvein then turned his body, his eyes looking to the left, staring at Calverd who was standing beside him.
"Calverd, the terrain ahead of us is too dense and will greatly slow down our movement if we continue on foot." Alvein stated, providing a tactical assessment. "Could you use your telekinesis to make yourself and also Kaydan?"
Hearing the sudden question, Calverd was a little hesitant. He stared at his own two hands.
"I... I've never made anyone or my own body fly with my telekinesis magic thus far." Calverd answered honestly. All this time, he had only used his telekinesis to block attacks or move inanimate objects.
"That's not as difficult as it seems!" Alvein explained in a calm, guiding tone. "You just need to direct your magic toward yourself and also Kaydan."
Calverd fell silent. His forehead furrowed slightly, feeling even more confused about how to apply the power of his mind to living beings without hurting them. He did not know what to do as a first step.
Realizing Calverd's facial expression was filled with confusion, Alvein smiled faintly and decided to give him a clue to make it easier to understand.
"Don't think of the human body as something complicated!" Alvein explained patiently. "Try to imagine that Kaydan is just an ordinary inanimate object that you wish to lift and carry, without you having to feel heavy at all when supporting him with your mind. The same thing applies to your own body."
Calverd fell silent again for a moment. His brain tried to digest, visualize, and think about what Alvein had just said.
"Just give it a try first, Calverd!" Kaydan chimed in suddenly, patting the youth's shoulder casually. "If something undesirable happens and we end up falling from above, the three of us will also never be injured even the slightest bit, let alone die, right?"
Hearing Kaydan's realistic argument about their immortality, the tension in Calverd's shoulders instantly loosened. What Kaydan had just said truly eliminated his doubts and made Calverd decide to brave doing it.
"Alright... I'll try it now!"
That decision successfully made Alvein and Kaydan smile in relief at him. The two immediately took a step back to give him some space.
Calverd closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and then stared straight at Kaydan. He activated his transparent elemental magic.
Instantly, his telekinesis magic enveloped the entire body of the gray-haired youth.
Slowly, Kaydan's feet began to lose their pull to gravity. His body began to lift a few centimeters off the root-fibered ground surface.
However, upon seeing Kaydan truly levitating due to his telekinesis magic, feelings of fear and anxiety suddenly sneaked into his mind. What if I lose control and end up hurting him with this power instead?
The worry of injuring his own family member caused Calverd's focus to shatter. His telekinesis magic became slightly wobbly. Kaydan's levitating body was also tossed about unstably in the air, like a ship struck by ferocious waves raging from a storm.
Seeing that, Alvein did not stay silent.
"Strengthen your resolve, Calverd! Focus on our goal!" he exclaimed, giving mental encouragement in a firm yet supportive tone. "Don't let doubt overpower you! If you manage to control this power perfectly, I'm absolutely certain that your power will be immensely useful to help our husband in the future later!"
Alvein's words were like a magic spell. Hearing the phrase 'immensely useful to help our husband in the future later' instantly triggered a burst of adrenaline in the indigo-haired youth's chest.
That reason was more than enough to eliminate all forms of his fear.
He is right! Calverd thought, with a new spirit and resolve burning brightly in his eyes. My husband has saved me and given me a new life. I must be able to control this power so it can be useful to him and also to protect my family!
With one long drawn breath, Calverd refocused his mind, locking his mana flow without the slightest gap of hesitation.
The state of Kaydan's body, which was previously wobbly and tossed about in the air, immediately went still and became perfectly stable again, levitating calmly in the air.
After ensuring Kaydan was safe under his control, Calverd began to divide the focus of that telekinesis magic to himself.
Slowly but surely, Calverd's body began to feel incredibly light. His body was also lifted, joining Kaydan in levitating stably in the air. His two feet were now no longer stepping on the forest ground filled with tree roots.