Allen and Alrian continued their pace, slowly making their way through the increasingly dense forest. The atmosphere, which had initially been quite lively with the presence of beginner adventurers, slowly faded, replaced by the authentic tranquility of nature.
In the depths of this forest, the only sound was the chorus of daytime insects calling out to one another, singing tirelessly as if refusing to let the woods drown in absolute silence. Every so often, the crunch of dry leaves and twigs snapping beneath their boots became the sole rhythm faithfully accompanying their journey.
Despite the peaceful atmosphere, the two youths did not lower their guard in the slightest. Their eyes darted watchfully, sharpening their gazes to observe every inch of the area around them. Imprinted in their minds was an absolute mission: to find and destroy any suspicious cave or location.
However, time continued to pass. The further they ventured and combed through the area, the less they saw any indication of a cave. The scenery laid out before their eyes consisted only of rows of giant, towering trees, with massive roots spreading wildly across the ground.
Alrian let out a long sigh, staring at the seemingly endless expanse of green before him.
"Allen, we have been walking for quite a while without a break in this forest. Are we going to continue the search along this path?"
Hearing the question, Allen could not deny the reality of the situation. He also felt the exact same way.
"Yeah, you're right." Allen replied in a calm tone.
The pink-haired youth slowly brought his footsteps to a halt.
Seeing his companion and family member stop, Alrian also halted his steps.
"I think we should turn around and head back." Allen continued as he pivoted his body, turning to look toward the expanse of trees to the south. "But before we do that, we need to cross the main road and inspect the forest sector on the opposite side. We must make absolutely sure that we don't accidentally overlook a single thing."
The logic Allen presented made perfect sense. Investigating only half of the western forest certainly could not be considered a completed mission. Without a second thought, Alrian nodded in agreement.
"Yes, you're right! Let us go and explore the area across the road right away!"
As soon as the agreement was reached, Allen and Alrian wasted no more time. The two of them immediately changed their course of travel, cutting through the dense woods toward the main road that divided the capital's western forest area.
Their footsteps moved at a steady rhythm, tracing the dry-leaf-covered dirt path shaded by the tree canopy. In the midst of a journey filled only with the sound of their own footsteps, Alrian suddenly turned his head toward Allen. A question had been swirling in his mind.
Hey, Allen." Alrian called out softly, his tone sounding a little wary. "If you intend to use your power again... will you lose control like what happened during that inter-kingdom tournament?"
The question made Allen fall silent for a moment. The memory of his husband's story about how his power had once overtaken his consciousness in the tournament arena flashed through his mind again. He let out a soft sigh, having not the slightest intention of hiding his weakness from Alrian.
"To be honest... I don't know." Allen answered in a slightly lowered tone, implying pure honesty. "I also don't dare take the risk of using that power if our husband is not with me. I'm afraid... I'm afraid that my power will end up destroying everything without me being able to control it."
Alrian stared at the side of Allen's face. He could clearly see the look of worry in the eyes of the youth who usually always appeared so calm and humble. He thoroughly understood the burden Allen bore. Possessing immense power yet lacking control over it was a terrifying curse.
If I were in his position, I would certainly also think a thousand times before using a power I could not fully control.
"In that case, when he returns later, you must ask him to guide and train you." Alrian suggested with an encouraging smile. "With his guidance, you will definitely be able to master that power soon."
Hearing the sincere support, Allen's facial expression gradually softened. His eyes radiated conviction once again.
"Yes, of course, I will do that!" Allen replied firmly. "But for now, for the safety of everyone, I only use the magic I've fully mastered. I will not use that terrifying power unless the situation is truly desperate."
Alrian smiled broadly and nodded in agreement. "A wise decision. I will always support you!"
....
Some time later, they had crossed the main road and begun entering the western forest area on the other side. The exploration resumed with the same intensity of vigilance.
The two youths once again dissected the forest, observing and inspecting every corner of the area they passed with utmost scrutiny. However, nature seemed to provide a consistent answer. After hours of exploring the area, they did not succeed in finding a single cave or any suspicious location.
Until finally, their footsteps came to a halt when the dense trees began to thin out, replaced by the sight of a massive stone structure.
"It seems we have arrived at the final boundary of this forest's exploration." Allen said while looking up, staring at the towering, sturdy protective wall of the capital in front of him. "Let us head back to the city immediately."
"Yes, let us go back. Besides, it's already getting late into the afternoon and we did not find what we were looking for here." Alrian replied in agreement. "There's no use in us wasting energy lingering around here."
"Hahaha." Allen's crisp laughter suddenly broke out, a laugh that sounded so relieved and unburdened, shattering the silence of the afternoon. He then turned his head. "You're right! Furthermore, I also don't want to spend time lingering around trapped in a quiet and boring forest like this."
Allen began to pivot his body, stepping away from the boundary of the city wall. "Come, let us go home!"
"Yes!" Alrian replied full of enthusiasm as he moved to catch up with Allen's pace.
Walking side by side at a relaxed pace, the two youths traced their way back through the forest to return to the capital's gate.
The orange tinge on the western horizon slowly began to descend, providing a warm nuance to their journey.
Even though technically they were returning home without finding what they were looking for, neither Allen nor Alrian felt disappointed in the slightest. On the contrary, they felt incredibly relieved for having successfully carried out and completed the mission given by their beloved husband smoothly.
And most importantly, now, the two of them could confirm that this western forest area was clear of any cave that Dalvanel might use to do his heinous ritual.