2:15 AM | HUNTER’S FOREST MAIN GATE

Principal Caster stood like a shadowy statue in the moonlight, right in front of the steel gates of Hunter’s Forest, his long leather coat flapping dramatically in the breeze. I approached him cautiously, but his head turned slightly, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. “Always the troublemaker,” he remarked.

I positioned myself beside him, the chill of the night air biting at my skin. “Why did you alter my memories before?” I asked, my voice a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

The moon cast a soft glow on his pale, thin face, highlighting a surprisingly serene expression. From this angle, he almost seemed at ease, his usual sternness softened by the silver light.

“Certain matters are best kept private,” he replied, his tone cryptic. “Particularly when those matters would provoke questions that are, shall we say, rather inconvenient to address.”

“You don’t exactly strike me as the kind of guy who’s short on answers.” I countered, searching his face for a hint of truth.

He chuckled softly, his voice laced with a touch of amusement. "You give me far too much credit, my dear. While I have indeed witnessed a great deal in my years, I remain humble before the vast mysteries that the world and magic still hold."

“What brings you here tonight?” I asked, cutting to the chase.

“I’m here for you,” he replied simply.

“I figured you’d be guarding the other entrance, the one I used last time, so I chose this route...” I began, but he cut me off with a wry smile.

“I may not know everything, but I do possess a bit of common sense.”

I couldn’t suppress a scoff, prompting another amused chuckle from him. “Come now,” he instructed, his voice shifting to a more authoritative tone. “We must consult Keilia about that overwhelming scent from your memories.” With a smooth, practiced gesture, he effortlessly dismantled the gate’s defenses, its locks and steel thorns collapsing to his unspoken command.

With a final glance at the moonlit path behind us, we stepped through the gate and entered Hunter’s Forest.

The path from the main gate to Hunter’s Circle wasn’t the same as the long stretch I had traversed yesterday, mere hours after this time. The forest was alive with the echoes of creatures and nature’s nocturnal chorus, a haunting melody that greeted us as Principal Caster began his ritual acknowledgment of the forest's guardians, much like I had done before.

“I know you didn’t do it solely for me... but thank you, for altering the projection of my memories,” I blurted out as he finished calling upon the protectors of Hunter’s forest.

“I still have an obligation to protect my students from unnecessary trouble,” he replied calmly.

“Thank you,” I repeated.

“I must also express my appreciation for crafting those creatures for Amathaisah. It appears she has found a measure of comfort in their presence,” he remarked, casting a thoughtful glance in my direction.

I turned sharply toward him, “You saw them?”

"Following the events at Alaalencia, I discreetly instructed Chrysorion to slip from my office to the dungeon, where he positioned himself on a modest ledge overlooking the cavern. From this vantage, he observed a white marble nisse, a sand pixie, and a pygmy, made from the waters of the Aethere Pool."

"Cool." I grinned sheepishly, “Kaede dragged me out before I could see their final forms.”

“And with an imitation of your voice,” he added.

My eyes widened. “Uh...”

“It’s of no concern,” he assured. “The creatures effectively regulate her emotions. Though she retains her imposing presence, she is no longer a hundred feet tall. They serve her well.”

“That’s good to hear,” I said.

We continued deeper into Hunter’s forest, the glow of Hunter’s Circle becoming faintly visible ahead.

“Legacie, your magic is impressive, but you handle it poorly,” he remarked.

“How can it be poor if you find it impressive?” I countered.

“You cast an Illusion Ward Enchantment in the library, targeting three students—Colgrasse, Atvers, and Lingo—making them appear as if they were cramming and stinking up the place,” he recalled. I bit my lip, trying to suppress a hysterical laugh.

“It was decidedly not amusing,” he said sternly.

It was to me.

“I didn’t mean any harm. I mean, sure, maybe it was a bit much, but I couldn’t exactly create Imaginary Illusion Figures in the library—my magic is restricted there. So, I had to use people I knew. And my intentions were different, but harmless. If Ms. Kovo saw my friends and brother asleep, she’d whisk them away to who knows where. It’s the intention that matters, right?”

He glanced at me, his expression serious. “Wielding magic, particularly one as singular as yours, must extend beyond mere intentions. Your intentions are fueled by your underlying motivations, which, I must caution, appear to be driven by an appetite for power. While this particular prank may have been innocuous, it is not to my liking. Should such behavior recur, Chrysorion may find it necessary to impart a more forceful lesson.”

I fell silent for a moment. Fine, I thought. I’ll just have to come up with new tricks.

"Your abilities surpass the confines of conventional grimoires and codexes," he remarked, his voice resonating with a blend of authority and introspection. "You find yourself unable to wield a grimoire or articulate the spells it contains with any semblance of order. The chaos that ensues from your attempts indicates that your true strength resides beyond these traditional methods. You have already discovered this through your own experiments. Persist in your explorations, but I advise you to refrain from involving your fellow Warlocks."

"Fine," I replied.

"Now, before we proceed to Hunter's Circle," he said, pausing as we arrived at Aluini’s Tree—a solitary sakura tree, unparalleled in the forest, standing sentinel just before the entrance to this part of Hunter's Circle. The depression in the ground was only a few feet away from us. "You weren’t sleepwalking yesterday, were you?"

"No. I simply couldn't sleep."

"You crossed paths with Thormortigan and Mikkelsen, who were already on patrol, alerted by the Guardians of Evergrass. It’s possible that the Infernals passed through the area and left the forest just as you arrived. Consider yourself fortunate that you did not encounter them."

I looked at him, puzzled and a bit shocked. “But I did. I almost did.”

He whipped his head toward me with an expression of shock, his brows arched high. "What do you mean?"

I stared back, equally confused. “At the balcony. Right after I went back to my dorm and was about to head to the bathroom, I saw the Infernal perched there. We locked eyes for a moment. I figured it wasn’t in Alaalarga anymore, so I thought you’d removed it. Anyway, I went to the bathroom, and then Jairen kicked the door and blasted the thing.”

He looked genuinely troubled.

“I did not witness it.”

“What does that mean?”

A chill settled in my stomach. How could my memory have slipped through Alaalencia? I still recalled the event clearly. I traced the spot where the petal had brushed my knuckles. "Pallena. The petal that touched my hand must be linked to this. I still retain that memory, but you evidently did not project it through Alaalarga properly."

“Your cousin may indeed be onto something. It appears that a more obscure and enigmatic force is influencing the situation at hand.”

I winced inwardly, “What did you think before?”

He adjusted his dark blue leather cloak, its silver feather design gleaming in the moonlight. He strode towards Hunter’s Circle and summoned Keilia, who appeared with a burst of magical energy. I hurried to catch up, standing and bowing to Keilia as Principal Caster did the same.

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“Greetings,” her voice echoed with a deep, velvety resonance that seemed to make the very ground breathe. “Valdome, Cici,” she smiled, her blue luminescence glowing brightly and vibrantly.

“Keilia, concerning the fragrance emanating from your forest, might you have been subjected to poisoning?” Principal Caster inquired with a perceptive gaze.

Keilia’s face twisted into a scowl. “Yes. Noxlaeth Poison,” she replied, her gaze turning delicately westward. “It was there, a creature—its claws infused with poison, tearing into my very soil, weakening me.”

Noxlaeth, I knew, was the lethal counterpart to Azulaeth.

“A creature?” Principal Caster echoed. “Infernals are not known to possess claws.”

“Precisely. It would be wise to consider Jairen Volguardsen’s concerns with due seriousness,” she added with a note of caution.

“Wait. You don’t suspect a werewolf was involved like what Jairen said? And Raiver Thormortigan’s pack, no less?” I interjected, defending their honor as both Principal Caster and Keilia fell into deep contemplation.

Keilia pointed towards the direction where Valteron Bandkarsen’s stone obstructed the path. “Follow. There are lingering traces I have not eliminated.”

Principal Caster sighed and grunted in resignation. “Very well. I shall cleanse it myself. Stay here, Legacie.” With an almost ethereal grace, he glided across the circle and ascended the slope leading into the forest, vanishing without a sound.

“It sought you, Cici,” Keilia said, her form floating to my eye level. She tenderly brushed her fingers against my cheek. “It called for you. Spoke your name.”

“The Infernal spoke to you?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

“Not directly to me. The trees and creatures carried its plea, incessantly.”

“Really? I didn’t think Infernals could talk. Aren’t they supposed to sound like dying car engines?" I wondered aloud. "“Even the highly dangerous ones? Oh wait, they screech, like in those creepy horror movies,” I said, shivering at the mental image.

“It was not their voice. They conveyed someone else’s.”

“Who?” I pressed.

“I . . . don’t know.”

I mulled it over for a moment. “Grammy Lor said I should follow that voice,” I fibbed, hoping to seem more in control.

“Nonsense. Lorace? Why would she? That seems absurd.”

I shrugged nonchalantly, “Yeah, she didn’t exactly specify. So, will you transport me there?”

“Where?”

“Where the Noxlaeth led. You must’ve traced it.” I articulated carefully, with the precision of a diplomat at a negotiation table.

Noxlaeth, when at rest, bears no scent—a silent, invisible poison in its quiescent state. It starkly contrasts with Azulaeth, whose very aroma possesses healing properties. However, once Noxlaeth is employed upon an object or individual, it emits and transforms into a noxious, overpowering stench that could knock out a herd of elephants. Guardians such as Keilia are endowed with the ability to detect this malevolent essence, tracking its origins through the gifts bestowed upon her by Bahthalla.

“It pervades everything. The earth, my very soil—it's in turmoil,” she lamented.

“Focus, Keilia,” I urged.

“Its potency surpasses that of its primary variant. It rendered me incapacitated for hours. I scoured Arckwar Forest and the skies, yet I have not found a definitive path. The Guardians of the West, East, South, and Northern woods are also in a state of disarray.”

“Have you given up?” I asked, trying to hide my concern. I could feel Principal Caster’s magic weaving through the earth nearby.

There was only one place where an Infernal could be concealed. And as much as it makes me cringe to admit it, “Then send me to Red Rock.”

Her eyes widened with alarm. “No!”

“I need to track that Infernal.”

“You are but a child... and a Volguardsen. A Volguardsen to whom I have pledged my allegiance and protection under Adalhard. I cannot permit it,” she declared with unyielding resolve. “Sending you to that forsaken and darkened place would breach my oath to your ancestors.”

I could’ve transported myself, but Red Rock is a tricky realm nestled between a Majestean Dome and a Mortallum Border. Only a Guardian’s magic could get me there safely and in one piece. I should’ve worked more on my transportation spells instead of obsessing over ward enchantments. Rookie mistake.

“I’m sure they wouldn’t mind. Besides, Grammy Lor’s orders were pretty clear.”

“Lorace is not a Volguardsen.”

I sighed, frustration bubbling up. “Then why bother telling me the Infernal is after me if you’re not going to help?”

“It was a warning, child!”

I rolled my eyes. “A warning? Are you worried they’ll come back?”

“If these Infernals were under high orders, they will stop at nothing to fulfill them.”

“Then help me. Transport me to Red Rock now. I can mask my scent and go unnoticed, they'll never follow me. I’ll activate White Veil. And if things get messy, I’ve got Sunburst and Ragna to back me up.” I flashed a hopeful grin as Keilia was about to launch into another protest. “Plus, ff they come looking for me and I’m not here, then you have an advantage.What do you say?”

“I acknowledge your command over White Veil and Sunburst, but summoning Ragna into this realm would be imprudent.”

“Fine. The midgets and wings will have to do,” I said, referring to my denizens.

Keilia’s gaze locked onto mine. This tactic usually worked. If I show her my resolve and my powers, she tends to relent. It was the same way I convinced her to transport me to Castelvetra Stronghold, the old Merceri Family fortress in the Arctic, now a ruin. I spun a tale of curiosity and adventure, mentioning Sunburst and White Veil to seal the deal. I was twelve then, and I managed to summon Keilia with a perfectly crafted speech that morning in the Volguardsen Bloodwoods.

“No. I am well aware of your intentions.”

“Oh, come on. The last time you did something like this for me, it actually worked out,” I said with a grin.

Her face fell faster than a lead balloon. “You were chased by four Griffbears.”

“True. But, um, Ragna ate them?”

“Exactly.”

The wind howled around us, rustling everything in its path. “Keilia,” I said, my voice dripping with desperation. “Please, consider my plea.”

“You request a perilous endeavor. Red Rock is a treacherous journey. You cannot invoke Ragna’s aid. And—”

She was interrupted as the winds surged, growing stronger. Was it my imagination, or did I hear the faint sound of wind chimes in the distance?

Keilia’s eyes went skyward, and I followed her gaze. The moon hung high, its brilliance so intense it nearly rivaled the sun, yet the forest below remained cloaked in shadow. A dove glided overhead, its wings luminous and graceful. Under the moonlight, it shimmered, casting a glance at Keilia.

“I understand,” Keilia whispered, with a resigned nod.

The dove ascended into the moon and vanished, the winds quieting in its wake. I could hear Principal Caster approaching again.

Keilia turned to me, her expression filled with concern. “Very well. But know this: once I send you to Red Rock, I will be unable to retrieve you as I did in Castelvetra.”

“Uh, okay, I didn’t actually know that.”

“Only you can decide whether to proceed. Please, think carefully, Legacie. Do not go.” She implored. “You will face this alone.”

I looked up at the place where the dove had vanished. It felt weird, but I recognized its significance. Ancient texts spoke of Bahthalla communicating with His guardians through such beautiful creations. I didn’t want to get too ahead of myself, but a dove often signifies divine affirmation. My heart raced. Did this mean the Highest One acknowledged the path I was to take?

“Send me,” I said, resolutely.

Keilia’s face went even paler, if that's possible, and she swallowed hard. Her fear and agitation were palpable. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and sighed. “Very well.”

Keilia raised her hand gracefully, and with a deft flick of her wrist, a white lilium flower materialized, hovering between us. “This is Lunarys, a flower native to Alabast Town, east of Red Rock. I cannot transport you directly into Red Rock Mountain due to certain reservations on my part. Instead, you shall be conveyed to this location to recover and formulate a plan. Legacie,”she continued, her hands gently cradling my cheeks. “Exercise utmost caution. While you may possess abilities beyond those of others, it does not render you immortal. Use your gifts wisely.”

“It’s cleansed now, Keilia. We should return Le—”

I thrust my arm skyward, and Warbec descended swiftly. Grasping the flower before Principal Caster could react, everything around me dissolved into a blinding white light.

******************************************************

I jolted awake, gasping for breath like I'd just tried to inhale an entire ocean. My body shook uncontrollably, my fingers clawed at my chest, and I fought to draw in a breath. I choked and coughed, feeling bile rise in my throat, and nearly slipped back into unconsciousness if not for Warbec pecking at my head to keep me alert. It was daylight, and I was smack in the middle of a dense forest, lying in a bed of a thousand Lunarys flowers. Their scent filled my nostrils, and I felt a sudden warmth spread through my body, easing the tightness in my chest.

Where on earth am I?

My head was still pounding, and all I wanted to do was lie back down. But Warbec flapped his wings insistently in my face, forcing me to stay awake.

In the distance, I heard the sound of hooves and carriages. Hold up. Did I just time travel or something?

The air was crisp and cold. Yep, I was definitely somewhere in the Arctic. Keilia did transport me. I got to my feet, and Warbec took to the skies, surveying the area. The trees were sparse on this side but grew dense to the west, just beyond a narrow road. I stumbled out to the edge, just in time to see a car zoom past, followed by a horse-drawn carriage.

Looking north, I ducked back into the woods and through Warbec’s Gaze, I saw what he saw on the horizon. Red Rock Mountain loomed to the east, beyond the glaciers, its red tip poking out from the snowy ice caps like a cherry on an ice cream sundae. Warbec hesitated to fly any closer and instead veered northwest toward Alabast Town.

I started down the side of the road. This is it—my first adventure.

I just hope I don’t die.

At least not yet.