The final day of preparation ended yesterday. It's now today where we go to that forest. Why is everything horrible always happening in the forest?

At any rate, I got out of bed, donned my clothes—my black trousers, button up t-shirt and... Light armor? It has two parts—one to protect my chest and one to protect my shoulders. Anyway, I wore everything, including my cloak that Minnie had modified.

The glow of the cloak was a large horizontal line from across the cloak. I mean, it's good that Minnie thought of an idea to prevent us from being lost. But at the same time... Was Leo's braces necessary?–

— "You brat!"

A sudden voice vibrated from my trouser's pocket... It's that thing, isn't it?

I took it out of my pocket and I was right, it's the cloth. I thought that I didn't put this thing in my trouser's pocket. Must've been hell being washed, huh.

— "What happened?"

I asked sarcastically.

— "That's what you get for eating twenty silver coins and making me look like I was losing my mind over a piece of cloth in front of Leo."

— "*Sigh* Look, kid. I can't help it. If you aren't going to use me, then I'll it's your loss and I get to do as I please with your money."

It said in a matter-of-fact tone as if I was being scolded by my parents... My parents. I really couldn't care less about them–this shouldn't be the time for that!

— "Oh? Do you even have any uses besides seeing through walls? Honestly, if I'm being serious with you, you're useless. The last time I used you was when I was lost in this castle and you could only see through walls and not the things in front of you. What more could you even do?"

The cloth didn't speak for a good few seconds. What is it with this thing and dramatic pauses?!

— "I'll tell you everything for a price."

I'm tired of this game. I'm starting to hate this thing. Why did Lida give this to me? Speaking of Lida, I haven't seen her in a while.

— "What say you, oh so great wielder of mine."

It said, clearly sarcastically.

— "*Sigh* What's your price...?"

— "Fifty silver coins."

— "I'll think about it when I come back."

I won't.

— "I'll be waiting for your answer then."

And after that, it actually went quiet. So I went out of my room and went down to the large room with the large table.

There were three sets of backpacks with our supplies and ration inside.

— "Owens, you are late."

Said Minnie whilst crossing her arm and her expression tensed and furrowed to an agitated glare. What's with her today?

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— "Ah, sorry, sorry. I just couldn't sleep properly yesterday."

— "Whatever, just get Leo down here and let us get on our way."

Speaking of which, Leo hasn't come down.

I went back upstairs on the flight of stairs and went to his room to find him sitting down on the edge of his bed with a necklace on his hand.

As soon as I opened the door, he immediately looked at me.

— "I know. Let's just go."

He's not in his usual mood today. What gives? What's with these two today? It's not as if we're going to go on a suicide mission... At least, I hope not.

After that, Leo and I went back downstairs to find Minnie still there sitting, waiting for us.

— "You two, grab a backpack each. We are leaving promptly."

We did as told. Leo put on his backpack without saying a word and so did I. The backpack was creating a lot of glass rustling noises. Maybe it's from the potions.

A question popped in my mind and so I asked.

— "Minnie, are we going by foot?"

She then looked at me for a few good seconds before answering.

— "Yes. Yes we are."

And before we knew it, we were already out of the castle and walking down the road of Aevum. The people were looking at us quietly. From all classes of hierarchy, everyone was looking at us in disdain, especially Minnie.

But we still walked regardless... Until a sudden bottle of alcohol was thrown at us. Although, it didn't reach us but it was aimed at Minnie and has ultimately shattered not too far from her.

*Shatter!*

We looked at the direction where it was thrown...

— "Get outta here, you three scoundrels! Especially you, you damned princess! Why dontcha get married off to another kingdom's heir?! That's what yer only good for!"

...It was the kingdom's infamous drunkard. I always encounter all sorts of people but a drunkard was definitely on my bingo card.

And as if the attention wasn't enough, people started throwing at us—from rocks and stones, to bottles to lit torches.

— "What the hell is wrong with these people?!"

Leo yelled. We immediately ran to a random alley and wouldn't you know it, we ended up in Cassandra's "hut".

She was instead laying down on the sofa reading a book with the same thing she always wears when we first met her.

She doesn't budge as if she was expecting us three to come.

— "What a coincidence–"

— "It wasn't a coincidence."

I got shot-off in the air that quickly? Man, she's an actual piece of work. Or maybe I'm just that predictable.

— "Look, Min-Min! We met your aunt again."

— "I can see that... You know that, right, Leo?"

— "I heard you three are going to the Mystical Forest, am I right?"

— "You are. We needed a specialist from there to cure my mother from that curse."

— "I will not allow you."

Cassandra's voice echoed throughout the room and shutting down aunty conversation and room for debates.

— "Why? I need to save my mother! She is your sister, is she not?!"

Minnie was outraged and rightfully so. I decided to not say anything so as to not pry into family problems... And to my surprise, Leo also didn't pipe up. But I doubt he was keeping quiet to not get involved with their problem but to ease his boredom.

— "She is. But I cannot—and will not risk my nephew, the heir of a kingdom, to venture to foreign lands."

— "But my mother is bound to die because of this! Don't you have any guilt in your heart?! I'm strong, am I not?! I have defeated multiple foes despite being a sheltered princess! You have seen it, right?! Right?!"

The two of them looked at each other. Minnie's eyes were welling tears whilst Cassandra remained stoic and unmoved.

— "You are weak in front of something unknown. Those small, pesky, vermin will mangle you as if you were a dead meat in front of a school of piranhas."

— "Then come with us!"

Surprise was written all over Cassandra's face. She wasn't expecting her to be so front about it.

Her eyes wander to a staff. She was looking at it as if she was reminiscing past memories.

— "Are you coming with or not?"

— "*Sigh* I cannot let you out of my sight. I will guide you all through the forest and find whoever you were trying to find in there. We will leave when the night is young so as not to be ambushed or killed by those vermin. You three rest until the night to preserve your energy."

And with the tensed air settling down, I finally spoke my mind.

— "But where are we staying?"

I asked, whilst I looked around the "hut" since I couldn't see any other rooms in here. It might be lavish, yes. But I still can't see any bedrooms anywhere...

— "Uhm... Did you hear what I just said?–"

*Clap!*

*Clap!*

...But before I could ask her, she clapped her hand and the interior of the "hut" was shaking and expanding to make more rooms before the room itself was creating a staircase that leads upstairs.

— "You three will be staying there."

And with that, we finally took another rest in our newly-made rooms. We're going to leave at night because of her warnings–which was vague at best, in my opinion. But oh well.