“You are late Eris,” Victor looked up at his cartographer and her ‘assumed’ lover coming towards their party of seven.

Eris and René stopped a little distance from Victor, as they hugged each other bidding farewell.

Eris, although had little combat abilities to show for, is the most important person of the party even counting his own sister and healer, Lily.

He might rival Cynthia in strength, but it is for a fact that, none of his six party members including him, would survive what the great Ellara Forest could throw at them.

However, if anyone have a decent chance in this dammed village, to not only cross it safely but, exploit it’s riches; then it’s these two.

“—don’t care about Cynthia much, but, don’t become too cheesy with Jon. I have no idea what you see him in for real.”

Victor stopped in his tracks abruptly as Eris’ words fell onto his ears.

René glanced at him for a moment before pulling Eris’ nose towards sky.

“Owowow…”

“Those are called intrusive thoughts. And we DO NOT say them aloud. Do you understand?”

“oww… I do I do… stop pulling my nose, you girly bastard.”

“Ahem,” Victor coughed interrupting the two’s banter bringing their attention to him, “you look ready Eris.”

Looking at the tidy and professional attire of Eris, Victor felt both relieved and a little embarrassed.

Eris had equipped a belt on her curvy waist which had a rope attached to back along with a hook, cutting knife and skinning knife on both sides, a compass, and some more pouches attached to belt. Even the belt pockets looked full and tight.

He could see, some scrolls and other unknown things and vials that he couldn’t recognize attached to her bag she had brought with herself and the bag itself seemed full.

God knows they wouldn’t even know where to start with the compass thing.

“Well, yeah,” Eris flexed her back looking at her backpack which was almost half her size, “Or I sure hope so, atleast. Fey knows we’ll need all the help we can have.”

“Aye!” Victor replied trying hard to ignore her red plum lips, drop of sweat on her fair neck and her protruding cleavage that showed off in her brown jacket.

“You calibrated everything properly?” René asked in a light tone.

“Yes, I did,” Eris said in a confident tone as she flicked her wrist in Victor’s face surprising him.

Two thin shiny black metal rods extended horizontally from Eris’ hands with one unified *Click*. With another *Click* Victor’s eyes locked on to a pointy end aiming right for his forehead.

“See,” Eris retracted her hand back showing the hidden crossbow to René.

One could tell she was in a good mood as she did a little hop or stood on her toes everytime she talked or even as much uttered a single word.

Stolen story; please report.

“Good,” René replied with a small smile, “When are you guys leaving?”

So you do remember me, Victor thought as René eyed him for the answer. “Well, we are ready with our gears and all the supplies. Melissa had gone to buy extra potions from Mahesh’s trading Caravan.”

“Oh, they are early this quarter? That should be good for your journey,” although there was some surprise in his words, Victor couldn’t spot any in René’ voice or expression. He never had.

“Aye. We were lackin’ in medical supplies some,” Victor decided to try his luck once more, “are you sure, you don’t want to come with us? I know you three also want to get out of this shit hole. All of our journey would be a lot easier if we travelled together. Seven knows, we could use your and Cynthia’s skills.”

At Victor’s suggestion even, Eris couldn’t help but look at René expectantly.

“It’s a good offer, but no,” René declined politely and stared deep into the eyes of Victor almost making him shudder. “Although… we could trade, if you want that is.”

“Hmm? What trade?” Victor was quite surprised hearing his words.

“Information about this decade’s last Magister exams,” words emitted from René’ mouth were as cool as his own expression, but the value in those words were expressed by the bewildered expressions of Victor and his entire party.

Grand Magister Selection Exams!

The first Chhatrapati or Monarch had instructed the 9 Heavenly Sects, 7 religious septs, and 4 Imperial Empires to organize Grand Magister Selection Exams across the continent of Euthania three times within a span of every 10 years. These exams are the most important events in Euthania, as in these events a generation of mages-to-be are selected, or rather prophesized. A gamble, that the ‘giants’ of Euthania makes. Once selected, candidates are showered with innumerable resources, knowledge, and what not; all in the hope that mana may bless the individual.

“…”

Victor had no words for René. These exams were no joke. It’s said that to be a mage, one must have fortune first, than life and than knowledge and skill.

Maybe because of this none knew about these exams. They were held randomly in random locations. Once who knows what messed with the heads of these exams, all three exams were held within 6 months of each other. The chaos that was ensued then, was still taken about in taverns.

“Only a fool would believe your words,” a dark skinned tall and skinny man approached the three from Victor’s party. He had dark red bandana on his face but his green eyes sparkled suspicion at René. His hands that came out of his sleeveless shirt, showcased his slender yet muscle-toned arms. His legs long and light, never making any sound at any step. Two large daggers hung at his lower back and a quiver of arrows at his side.

“Yes,” Victor agreed with Marcus, “Those exams happens randomly, too random if you ask me, only people in extremely high places can try to know about their dates.”

As he said those words, Victor searched René’ face to no avail.

“Hmm,” for the first time René flashed a wicked grin to Victor, “sure, I agree with Marcus too.”

Victor felt his eyelid twitch at his words.

“Only crazy 15year old fools who think they can cross the Great Ellara Forest, will believe my words.”

René’ eyes never left his, and Victor didn’t know what to make of the situation.

Looking back at Marcus, he only received a shrug that said you are the ‘leader’.

“Well, I’ll take the bait I suppose,” Victor said with uncertainty, “What do you want in exchange?”

Victor felt his eyes twitch harder as he saw René close his eyes and open as his face went back to his usual cool and non-smiley expression.

He knew he fell in trap.

“Eris, will barter that,” René waved at Eris and turned his back on them as he began to leave, “change your exit point to south gate, cross the great river and exit through the Great Ellara through swamp. Enter Kingdom of Qarth and exit in Great Dessert of Lys. There in the desert of Lys, if you are lucky you’ll find the ruined city of Mythras. Loot it if you can. If stayed alive and able to cross the desert, you’ll enter the Free city of Lumos. The Grandé of Goddess Sylv. Also, the current host of the 7 Septons, who are getting ready for the upcoming exams.”

Both Victor and Marcus had wanted to ask questions, but René hadn’t given them time. He measly walked away lazily yet, fast enough as he walked away.

“How does he know all that?” Victor asked absentmindedly staring at the strange person’s back.

“I have no idea,” Eris replied pulling the attention of all seven towards her.

To Victor’s surprise Eris was scribbling down in her diary.

‘Ofcourse she knows how to read and write.’

Victor was glad that he had taken the effort to convince her to come along with their so called party.