Chapter 21: Encountering Two Strangers in the Forest
An amber sunrise illuminated the dense forest as veiled insects chirped lightly amidst the crackling campfire, emanating a column of black smoke that rose beyond the trees to taint the gorgeous morning backdrop.
Above the lush green canopies floated a man and a woman, silently gazing down at Ain.
The man was draped in intricate black robes that swayed lightly in the breeze. The fabric was accentuated by silver and gold embellishments, embodying an ancient and mystical charm. Long silver hair adorned his elegant and handsome face, contrasting the deep blue eyes surpassing the grace of lapis lazuli. His chiseled jawline and high cheekbones seemed to be the work of a master sculptor, exuding a scholarly and mysterious aura.
Floating beside him, the woman's bright and dazzling purple eyes held an amethyst glamor, matching the purple hair cascading down her back. Her exquisite face, with a refined nose, fluttering long eyelashes, and rosy cheeks, reflected stunning beauty with infinite allure. She was adorned in a light silver robe with dark blue highlights, appearing delightful and pleasing. She radiated stern yet gentle confidence, possessing great capabilities.
The pair appeared to be in their early thirties, or even late twenties. Even without any aether fluctuations, an invisible grandeur surrounded their being.
Floating in place, they observed Ain with gentle smiles, their eyes depicting hints of joy and relief. Their gaze paused at Nox momentarily, taking note of the black stone floating inside it.
Ain, still seated on the fallen tree trunk, held an unfinished meat skewer, staring at the two figures with his mouth slightly agape. His eyes widened in both surprise and fright. He was stunned by their appearance and frightened by their ability to fly.
Throughout his life, he'd never beheld such beautiful people. Their mere presence aroused intense inferiority in all those who laid eyes upon them. Floating there silently, they appeared to be otherworldly celestial beings.
At this moment, his own appearance couldn't help but manifest in Ain's mind. His clothes were mismatched, torn, and unkempt. Every patch of exposed skin was grimy and stained, emitting a filthy stench. It was the difference between gods and mortals, and having to gaze up at the pair further reinforced this inferiority.
He couldn't fly at Rank-1, and neither did he know when it became possible. But it was definitely beyond a Rank-1 Spirit Master’s capabilities.
With his thoughts racing, Ain quickly dropped the skewer and stood up vigilantly. Nox understood his intentions and immediately used Possession. Losing its support, the Prismatic Void Stone fell onto the forest floor, rolling next to the dusty skewer.
Ready to use Phantom Claws, he addressed the floating pair, "Who are you? What do you want?"
He'd considered running, but despite his inexperience, his instincts told him it was futile. This wasn't a simple conflict in the slums. How could he outrun someone capable of flying? Communication held a greater possibility of leaving unscathed.
The woman revealed a hint of surprise at Ain's inquiry. For a moment, her expression shifted inexplicably, appearing hesitant to say something. She glanced at the man beside her, whose expression remained unchanged. Realizing his intent, she faced Ain with a smile as she brought up her hands in a show of peace and goodwill, "Do not feel threatened. We noticed the smoke and came to investigate out of curiosity. We mean you no harm."
Her voice seemed to contain a magical enchantment, relaxing Ain's tense nerves. He observed as they gracefully landed atop the carpet of forest soil and fallen leaves. They maintained harmless smiles throughout, greatly pacifying his vigilance.
If a modest part of him credited their superior aura to their ability to fly, then once the pair stood upon the same soil as him, Ain still felt like an ant in comparison. And this fact contrarily served to appease him.
He'd observed a phenomenon whilst living in the slum.
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When encountering local gang members, guards, or residents with greater status, even if only slightly greater, it was best to mind your own business and behave. These people observed their surroundings like hawks, waiting to pounce at any signs of provocation and weakness.
On the contrary, the major inspectors and famed celebrities that visited sometimes didn't share this characteristic. The difference in power and status was too immense. They'd have to crane their necks just to glance down at the slum residents. It was too bothersome.
The prerequisite to even gain attention was to be within their sights first; the disparity in power and status couldn't be too large.
Similarly, Ain didn't find himself worthy of the pair's attention. It was likely, as they'd stated – curious of the smoke, they came to investigate.
With these thoughts, he remained silent while staring stoically, trying to appear unperturbed.
You've already investigated the smoke's cause. It's time for you to leave, Ain mumbled inwardly. He didn't dare to make his thoughts known, keeping them to Nox and himself.
After the pair landed, an unnerving silence prevailed. Even the ever-present critters didn't dare to disturb the silence. Only the crackling fire nearby still continued its piece.
A few seconds elapsed, seeming like a few hours.
The silver-haired man glanced at the roasting fire with a light smile, "The meat is going to burn soon. You should remove it from the fire."
Ain subconsciously glanced at the fire. Indeed, some of skewers were already cooked. Following some hesitation, he slowly nodded before removing the cooked skewers and placing them on a large leaf he'd laid out earlier.
Once Ain began his task, the white-haired man observed and said, "My name is Sage."
"And I am Livia." The purple-haired woman continued before adding, "Can we join you for this meal?"
Livia appeared interested as she watched him.
Ain paused, unsure of his response. After a couple seconds, he glanced at the remaining meat before responding, "My name is Ain… you can join."
It just occurred to him that Rank-1 meat shouldn't be cheap. For a moment, he wondered if they coveted his meat, but he quickly disregarded this thought. They were definitely beyond Rank-1. Hunting a Rank-1 Earthen Boar should be well within their abilities.
Hearing Ain's name, Sage's expression shifted for the first time since their arrival. His smile widened slightly and his eyes brightened, displaying visible joy. Livia expressed similar emotions, her gaze containing immense relief. As he was attending the skewers, Ain naturally failed to notice these changes.
A gentle breeze rustled their clothes, the sky now completely brightened.
Sage closed his eyes, silently reminiscing to himself. Livia took note of this and just smiled. A few seconds later, Sage opened his eyes, the seemingly ever-present smile back on his lips, "Ain, you are injured."
At this point, Ain finished replacing the cooked skewers with some uncooked ones.
"It was the boar," he said briefly, gesturing at the partially harvested Earthen Boar's carcass.
"I see. Let me heal you," Sage replied kindly.
The puncture wound on Ain's waist was the only visible injury, but the dried blood smears, alongside signs of prior battles on his garments, alluded to far more. Despite these traces, Sage refrained from digging deeper, readily accepting Ain's statement.
Ain was bewildered at the unexpected treatment. Under his gaze, Sage pointed a finger and released an emerald beam of light that struck his chest before he could react. A vital green radiance surrounded his body, drowning him in a warm and soothing current.
Ain's muscles instantly relaxed, his eyes almost glazing over at the pleasant sensation. The puncture wound on his waist began wriggling as new tissue magically regenerated, rapidly healing the injury. Even the residual snake bite, and the dull ache in his ribs, completely vanished within seconds.
Sage observed the process while saying, "The spell will heal your recent injuries and remove the residual toxins within you. You are in excellent condition otherwise."
The emerald glow drowning Ain dissipated within moments, much to his regret. The soothing sensation was unlike anything he'd felt before. He couldn't help but think of a mother's embrace, despite his lack of such memories.
Ain opened his eyes, sensing the prime condition of his body. Even the accumulating fatigue and drowsiness were no more. Turning to Sage, he mimicked something he'd seen before, bowing politely, "Thank you for healing me."
Sage and Livia watched Ain's callow gesture, smiling to themselves. His initial cautiousness was gradually diminishing.
"You are welcome," Sage replied. He glanced at the skewers and continued, "Let's eat while they are still hot."
Ain nodded his head in agreement. Just as he was about to take a seat on the fallen tree trunk, Livia suddenly snapped her fair fingers, fetching something out of nowhere.
Under his astonished gaze, she placed three padded chairs around a dining table, complete with the necessary utensils. Numerous seasonings appeared in small containers in the middle of the table as well.
Ain was aware of how she'd achieved this. He'd heard of storage devices capable of storing items beyond their perceived volume. Only rich and powerful people were said to possess them. Finally witnessing a storage device in action left him in awe.
When the preparations were complete, Sage and Livia each occupied a chair. Just as Livia was about to beckon Ain, she paused. She observed him for a while before saying in a grave voice, "Ain, don't move."
"Huh?" Ain was puzzled, taken aback by the sudden shift in her tone.
Did he do something wrong?