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Legacy of the Ancient
Chapter 12 - Marel Forest and Kingdom of Farferis

Chapter 12 - Marel Forest and Kingdom of Farferis

They finally arrived at the outer post of Arozora. The sun was high, and the scenery was calm.

“Thank you, for escorting me, guys," said Cain.

“You’re welcome, Cain," Dradia nodded.

“It’s really surprising though, we thought you’d be a man with few words. But on the trip, you proved us wrong," said Kaden.

Cain smiled and shook their hands.

“Don’t forget, when I return, treat me your wife’s cooking, Kaden," said Cain.

“Absolutely," Kaden hopped onto the carriage, followed by Dradia.

“Take care, Cain, though I know you will do just fine.”

“You too, Dradia.”

“Well then, off we go," said Kaden.

“Yeah, don't forget to tell Lady Caral not to get married yet!” said Cain.

Dradia and Kaden were laughing as the carriage started moving.

Cain stood there for a moment.

“Goodbye Arozora…” he turned around and walked south.

To reach Krevias, he had to pass through Marel Forest. A dense forest on Farferis Kingdom territory. South of Farferis, lay the Krevias Kingdom.

If he were going on foot all the way to Krevias, it would take him one month to reach Krevias. Cain planned to take a few Hunter quests in Haneama, Farferis capital city, located right beside the forest, to save some money. He couldn’t just waste the money he brought. Then he would go to Krevias.

Cain entered the forest after two hours walk. He had no difficulty surviving in a forest filled with beasts. Igo taught him about hunting and such. But Igo was not the only teacher he had.

The Book of Gomara taught him what Igo didn’t. First half of the book was almost empty. On the revealed pages, not only magic and techniques filled it, but also knowledge. Lost knowledge and knowledge that had been discovered by Gomara himself.

Cain walked in the forest while reading the Book of Gomara.

He was looking for a poisonous flower called Hineru flower. In the common knowledge, Hineru flower used for a deadly poison. Assassins often used them. The petals from the flowers were grinded and brewed with its leaves. Whoever drank or got this on their wounds would meet their end only mere within 20 seconds.

Hineru flower was rare because it couldn’t be cultivated. And only fully bloomed had poison in it. While it only bloom at night, it would wither after 3 hours and lost its poisonous effect.

But Cain wasn’t searching that kind of rare flower. He’s looking for young unbloomed Hineru flowers. While matured Hineru flowers were very rare, young Hineru flower was common in south of Valfikr and had no poison in it, or people thought.

There was actually poison in its stem, if one knew how to handle it.

“That’s the last one," Cain cut and collected some of the young Hineru stems. Then, he dried them in the sun for an hour, after that, the stems were soaked in his own saliva and blood, then he dried them again for an hour. This made Hineru stem poisonous, but not lethal, for him that was.

In the Book of Gomara, young Hineru stem was the easiest way to have an absolute poison resistant body. Consume three stems each day for a week straight, one would have an absolute resistance body towards poison.

The blood and saliva were used as a catalyst for the poison in the stems. So when the poison spread to Cain’s veins, it won't be considered as dangerous element by his body immune system. Instead, it would accumulate in his body as a poison countering substance.

Although not lethal, consuming each stem would paralyze his body for one hour. So if he were to consume 3 stems everyday for a week, he would be paralyzed for 3 hours each day. Cain carefully timed its consumption.

More than three stems a day would cripple him because even though there were the catalysts, having too much poison-processing at once would harm his organs.

The Book of Gomara hinted him to get this ability as fast as he could. The book also taught him to never underestimate poison, and some techniques in the book also required the absolute poison resistance body as the prerequisite to learn some of the techniques.

He also picked up a Balfet fruit, it was a good monster repellant if it processed correctly. Human couldn't smell the fragrance, but beasts and animals tend to avoid this fruit because they could smell its fragrance. They didn't like it.

He put Balfet fruit near his camp. So no beasts that weren’t afraid of bonfire would attack him when he was paralyzed.

Regarding the native beasts of the forest, Cain was fascinated by the sight of the wild beasts he had never seen before. From a Two-Headed baboons that never ate the same food as its other head to a Giant Bullet Ants that was as big as a coconut.

Cain hunted small animals like rabbit for his meal. He also didn't neglect his training.

“(It’s lonely, being out here alone,)” thought Cain, he felt lonely. Just a few days ago he wouldn’t go anywhere without his best friends. But now, he was venturing the world all by himself. He sighed, all he could do now was move forward, without hesitation or regret. And just like Lexa said, live happily as always. He let out a smile, then continued his walk.

After three days of living in Marel Forest while tracking his way to Farferis, Cain sensed humans aura near him.

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He carefully investigated it. And stumbled upon a man, cornered by three fully armed men.

The cornered man wore fancy clothes, with a goggles hanging on his neck, while the armored men looked like knights with an emblem on their armor, Farferis Knight emblem.

Cain knew about the emblem because Igo taught him about the Kingdoms of Valfikr.

“You’ve nowhere to run, Calbot!” one of the knights pointed his spear at this cornered man called Calbot.

“Shit, come on! Do I have a problem with you, gentlemen?” Calbot looked around for an opportunity to escape.

“Your revolution will end with you, Calbot!” said the knight.

Cain was watching this on a tree.

“Tsk, come on! It’s a necessary revolution!” said Calbot.

“You will talk no more!” The knights were closing in.

Seeing this, Cain was disgusted, how could those knights have no honor, attacking a defenseless man. Kingsmight corrupted members flashed on his mind.

He jumped down and walked towards them.

“Yo, fellas! Something’s going on in here?” Cain emerged from the bushes.

“Huh!?”

“Who are you!? Why I didn't sense you coming!?”

The knights were startled when they see Cain.

“Me? Oh, I’m just a Hunter,” said Cain calmly.

“Hunter? Huh, move along then, this none of your business,” the knights dropped their guard after they heard he was a Hunter.

“Hmm… what’s this man problem then?” asked Cain

“This man is wanted by Farferis Kingdom. He’s a criminal.”

“Hey, hey! I’m not a criminal!” denied Calbot.

“Silence! Or I will cut you down right now!”

“Wait, wait! Can you just take him back without killing him? You know, he’s defenseless,” Cain tried to talk this out.

“Huh!? Scram Hunter! This is not your problem!”

“Mr. Hunter! Please talk to these gentlemen!” Calbot was still trying to find a chance to escape.

“Shut up!” one of the knights thrust his spear to Calbot.

Cain reacted swiftly by kicking the knight’s hand before the spear pierced Calbot. The spear fell to the ground.

“Guh!?” The knights were shocked, Cain suddenly stood between them and Calbot.

“You! You attacked the Knights of Farferis! Death awaits you!” the other two knights attacked Cain.

Cain easily knocked them out.

“Sh-shit!” one knight ran away.

“Thank you, Mr. Hunter!” Calbot’s face lost its worry.

“Yeah, goodbye,” said Cain.

“Huh? Wait, wait!” Calbot stopped Cain that was about to leave.

“Where are you going?” asked Calbot.

“Haneama,”

“Ahh… I will not go there if I were you.”

“Huh? Why?”

Calbot scratched his head. “You see, you just attacked the Knights of Farferis. You’re in the wanted list now.”

“What!?”

“Yeah, and you just said you’re a Hunter, they will freeze your permit for taking quests.”

“You’re kidding, right?"

“Nope," said Calbot.

They both were silent for a moment.

“Whaaaatttt!? How can this be!?” Cain finally fully grasped the situation. “So, I’m a criminal to Farferis now!? Just like you!?”

“No, you’re not, if… you follow me," suddenly, Calbot’s tone became serious.

“Why should I follow you?” Cain was annoyed.

“Just follow me, besides, I have to reward you for saving my life.”

“Hmm? If I can get money from other than the Guild’s quests…” Cain mumbled to himself. “Fine. How about these two?” Cain talked about the two unconscious knights on the ground.

“Leave them be, c’mon. My name is Calbot Han by the way.”

“Cain, just Cain.”

They started walking to a different direction from the knight that fled.

“So, Cain, why did you decide to save me?” asked Calbot.

“I don't know, my body was moving on its own.”

“And you’re strong! You flat them out in just a second!”

“I was triggered when they attacked a defenseless man. Probably.”

Calbot laughed. “Where are you from?” asked Calbot.

“Palvaran.”

“Huh? Never heard of it, where is it?”

“North from here," Cain gave him vague details as he did not trust him yet.

After two hours of walking. They arrived at a cave. They stopped at the entrance.

“Two people are aiming at me from the trees. Your friends?” asked Cain calmly.

“Yep. You’re sharp, aren't you?” Calbot made a hand sign sequence.

Two archers jumped down from the trees. They bowed their heads to Calbot.

“Looks like you’re a hotshot or something," said Cain after he saw the archers bowed to Calbot.

“Hehe, you’ll know soon.”

They entered the cave. It was a pitch black cave.

“Hold on to my shoulder and don't make any sound," said Calbot while putting on the goggles on his neck.

“Huh?”

“Questions later," said Calbot.

Cain did as he said. They walked into the pitch black cave. He couldn't see anything, only their footsteps could be heard. Cain regretted he hadn't mastered the Abyss Lurker yet, a technique from the Book of Gomara. A technique to see in the dark and blend with the shadow.

Calbot was moving left and right. Like some sort of route. Cain could feel the cave was a natural maze.

Finally after a few minutes of walking, they finally saw lights and found themselves outside of the cave.

Cain squinted his eyes to adapt to the light.

A big camp, bustling with armed people.

“Prince! You have returned!” a man came to them.

“Yeah, I’m back," Calbot took off his goggles.

“Prince?” Cain was still squinting his eyes, he was looking at Calbot.

“Who’s this young man, Prince Calbot?”

“This is Cain, a Hunter and my savior. He saved me when I was about to get pierced to the death by some knights.”

“You what!? Prince! You were trying to enter Haneama again!? You said you'd just take a look at their gate defenses!?”

“Chill, Jared. Cain, this is Jared, he and his knights are my personal bodyguards," said Calbot.

The man called Jared shook his head and turned his attention to Cain.

“On behalf of the Sun Knight Order, I thank you for saving Prince Calbot," he slightly bowed.

“Prince? Sun Knight Order? And a camp that looks like an army? What the heck am I stepping into!?” Cain was no longer squinting his eyes.

Jared weirdly looked at Prince Calbot.

“Ahah… hahahah…” Calbot scratched his head. “You must be tired Cain. Come to my tent. I’ll answer your questions there," said he.

“Alright… I wonder what other surprises you have on your tent," said Cain.

“Prince, are sure you can trust this man?” asked Jared.

“Yes, Jared, I trust him. Now, let's go.”

“If you say so," he nodded.