Chapter 007 

The sun rose to horizon and sent blinding brilliance to all creations, awakening the still asleep people that camped outside the Everborne City.

Some of them immediately started packing their belongings the time the sky turned bright, leaving in hurry in fear of staying longer on the place. Some returned to the Balvion City and continued towards the Allcenhiem Marsh, while others awaited for their friends and families that had been trapped inside the city when the Witch Domain enclosed the city to come outside, hoping that they were still alive.  

Looking from afar, a group of merchants and traders neared the city gate and were waiting for it to open. After a few minutes, a sound of metallic cogs rolling echoed as the two hinges of the huge french iron door screeched in very ear-deafening noise while it opened, creating a wide entrance. 

The people who heard it, shouted and cursed as they protected their ears from the screeching sound. As it opened widely, a loud boom reverberated, followed by footsteps of people running outside.  

They were the merchants, traders and travellers that were trapped inside the city. They cried and expressed their joys to the group of Witch Hunters that did their best to keep them alive.  

After them were the citizens of Everborne City. Freed from the curse of the Black Witch Mistress, they set their foot out of the wall and were filled with contradicting emotions. 

They couldn't express their joy and sorrow. It was like they were depraved of their control over their minds as they stood and seated on the ground like lifeless corpses. 

The people around them couldn't touch them to express their sympathy as it might only make the matter worst. Like people said, physical pain would heal in time, but emotional pain would stay in the mind and everytime you recalled that memory, it would revived the pain like an opened old wound.

There were no medication that could cure it, only if they forget it and accepted it as a vanishing part of their lives. If not, the pain would stay forever. 

Fate was such a cruel thing. They have chances to free themselves from her playful hands, but rather than going against it, they live along with it, following the turbulent current towards the deep whirlpool, a road of no return. 

However, God seemed still not closed his eyes. Due to an individual that had power to battery against fate, they were saved. If it could be said that what happened was a miracle for them, but for others, they looked like a lucky beings. 

The darkest arc of their lives had passed and a new door was opened for them. But this was not the end. As long as people live, they would encounter predicaments, most were small but when accumulated could become huge, a mountain wasn't made of a single lump of rock.

Being alive after what happened seemed a curse with no corrective. The curse of loneliness. However, as time passed by they would realized that loneliness was after all part of life, they must experience it to be able to live in happiness once again.  

"Merlin, Merlin. Do you know a person named Merlin?" ask someone from the band of merchants.

The people they asked only shook their heads on their questions.  

The merchants sighed as they gave up, and readied themselves to depart towards Darviory City for a business deal about their product. If it was successful they could build a company at the next city and settled down there.  

After what happened, most of them thought of the same thing. Even Old Omar and Old Caesar. They had enough of near death experiences, they were not warriors and their old bones would break if they crossed another Kingdom.  

Ambrose Kingdom was already enough for their bones to break as it had many territories than other neighboring kingdoms near it. Coupled with the military might it possessed. They didn't need to be afraid that other kingdom would invade them.  Specially, if they were all part of a alliance against the greedy Twin Star Empire. 

Being a citizen of Ambrose Kingdom also had advantages, apart from the financial charge or other levy imposed upon any legal citizens that needed to be paid annually. 

An evasion was possible though, but punishable by the law of the kingdom. Most punishment was confiscation of all properties and belongings of the person, as well as imprisonment for a lifetime. 

Ifit was like this, who would dare not pay? Those few coins could still be earned again, not important as their lives and all properties they had. 

Cruelty for foreigners, indeed. However, for the legal citizens it wasn't. After all, the other revenues were being used for the development of the kingdom, and other necessities needed by a legal citizen like free education, medicaments, roads, factories for production of materials such as iron, copper, silver, gold, specially mining mana crystals and many more which were essential for the growth of an kingdom like Ambrose Kingdom.  

As such, no one had been made as precedent as no one dared to evade paying taxes, or no one were still yet to be found evading taxes. It wasn't that huge either and so it was easy to pay.  

"Let's go! Merlin is a magician! He won't die easily. Who knows, we might encounter him at the road." Old Omar said as the band signed and nodded.  

"Alright. Let's go." Old Caesar said as he saw that everyone had boarded the caravan.  

Then, when they were about to leave, a familiar voice came from other direction. "Hey, wait!" 

They all turned their heads 180 degrees and eyes filled with joy as they found him. They stared him as he get on the carriage and sat on his seat. 

"What? Hey, I know I'm handsome, but you don't need to look at me with those kind of eyes. It's creepy you know?" Merlin joked and the band burst into laughter. 

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"Hahaha!" Old Omar laughed and hit Merlin's back. He said. "We're just happy you're not dead yet. That's all. Anyway, what's your plan now?" 

"We're next to Allcenhiem Marsh, right?" The band nodded and Merlin continued. "Just drop me off there and you can continue on your journey." 

"That's all? Can you survive alone in that beast infested marsh? You know, the Allcenhiem Marsh is a breeding spot for all kinds of beasts around this prefecture. Although, it's one of the territories of Ambrose Kingdom, powerful beasts claimed that marsh their own. I even heard-" 

"Samuel, I know Merlin is aware of the danger in the Allcenhiem Marsh." Old Oscar said. 

"Although, this is my first time to see Allcenhiem Marsh with my own eyes. I actually already studied thoroughly about it. I even have a mental map of the whole Allcenhiem Marsh. So there's no need to worry. What you should be worried about is yourselves." Merlin looked at the window and saw the forested place from afar. He closed the window and spoke. "Your journey might not be pleasant this time. I heard, a nest of Blood Wasps has been found at the Amorous Misty Water Falls, a body of water near the Cobblestone Bridge, the only bridge towards the inner sanctum of Allcenhiem Marsh where Darviory City is located."

"B-B-Blood Wasp?!!!" Samuel asked in fright, his complexion aghast he quivered while tightly hugging the scar on his left arm. 

"Oh I've heard of it too. But, I also heard the Blood Wasps Hive had been destroyed?" Anaki said as he changed seat, to the rein of the carriage. He looked saw Samuel and shook his head in sympathy. 

"Yes, it was destroyed completely, but the group of magicians that fought in that battle did not killed the Blood Wasp Queen. A queen is the mind and heart of the Blood Wasp Colony, as long as its alive, the problem would still remain. Blood Wasp Queen is smarter than an average wasp, more like an 5 years old kid. Apart from instincts, it can also think." Merlin stated. 

"You mean, since its wasp army and hive has been destroyed it went into hiding in order to protect itself?" Old Omar asked and felt goosebumps. 

"That's right. Blood Wasps Colony is composed of Blood Collector, Hive Guardian, Blood Wasp Soldiers and the Blood Wasp Queen. A Blood Collector has been killed at the nearby villages around Darviory City and Bounty Hunters were everywhere, for they could earn Emperial Gold Coins from just a sack of its blood." Merlin smiled lightly and continued. "A Blood Collector could be killed by simple swords made of ordinary iron and an easy target, but when they sense danger they would flee. The absence of Blood Wasp Soldier amongst the wandering Blood Collectors indicates that the Hive is far from the Inner Sanctum of Allcenhiem Marsh and thier numbers are still low."

"So, they're in reproduction state as of now? If so, isn't it the right time to thoroughly erased them? The economy system of the whole Allcenhiem Marsh might be damaged because of them." Old Omar asked. 

"Correct and wrong." Merlin answered. Old Omar looked at him and he continued. The others from outside were also listening. "The last sentence, therein lies the problem. Blood Wasp Queen can lay hundreds of eggs per day, but only quarter of them can live while the dead would be eaten. The strongest in that quarter that lived will become a Hive Guardian, 10 -15 will become Blood Wasp Soldiers and the remaining will become Blood Collectors. Their lifespan range from 1-5 months, the Blood Soldier lived for 5 years and can evolve to Blood Wasp General that have the same status as the queen, while the Hive Guardian's lifespan is connected to the queen. They won't be able to damage the economy system with that slow reproduction. Furthermore, this is Allcenhiem Marsh were talking. Blood Wasps aren't the only colonizing insects that lives here, there are also the Death Worms, Holocaust Ants and etc. There are also the top predators, the Tyrant Hoof, Grizzly Dark Bears, Porcupine Frog and etc. Not just that, there are also the-"

"Wait a minute... Where did you learn this knowledge?" Old Oscar asked as he found it very astounding. It was like he wasn't listening to an magician, rather a Scholar. 

"It's all thanks to a certain someone... Anyway, what I want to say is, there's no need to bother them as the Allcenhiem Marsh will do the job. All humans have to do is to protect themselves when those things come knocking. And this is where I come." Merlin said with a smile. 

"What do you mean?" Old Omar said. 

"Old Omar, I think we should return! It's very dangerous to continue!" Samuel commented. 

"Too late, we're already here!" Anaki said from the outside as they stopped before the very entrance of Allcenhiem Marsh. Not just them, there were also several caravans that stopped before continuing further. 

"There's no need to be afraid." Merlin said and tossed something to Samuel. "Here take this." 

Curious, Old Omar snatched the thing and asked. "What's this? A block of wax? And it stinks!"

Merlin smiled and get out of the carriage. He said. "That thing can scare away a Blood Wasp. All you have to do is run it on your body. The only side-effect is the smell remained for a week, but it can be wash away by a hot water. With that kind of smell, other beasts like the Wreece Crooks will do everything to avoid you. Isn't that great?" 

Old Oscar heard it, his eyes immediately turned bright as he thought that this thing could be sell! He grabbed Merlin before he went too far and asked. "How did you make it, kid? I'll buy the recipe for a 1,000 Mana Crystals! What can you say? It's already a very fair price!" 

Seemed interested, Merlin closed his eyes and think, while Old Omar, Samuel, Anaki and the others only shook their heads. "Ummm... That's very low. Let's make it 5,000!" 

"Kid, that's too expensive. What's this thing made of? Gold? But since we've known each other for a long time, I'll make it 2,000! Take it or leave it." Old Omar did the business talk. 

The others watching them couldn't help but looked at Old Omar with disdain as they look down in shame. They just knew Merlin few days ago and it wasn't even a week, but Old Omar said it was a long time. Furthermore, Merlin saved their lives! 

"Okay, 3,000!" 

"Deal!"

The two shook hands, no contract, to seal their deal. Merlin took a rolled paper in his pocket and gave it to Old Omar and Old Omar did the same, with pouch filled with Mana Crystals. 

Old Omar looked left and right, and entered the carriage, while Merlin turned to Old Omar and the rest. Merlin bid farewell. "It seems we have to part here. Anyway, when we meet again, let's have a fun talk at a restaurant, not in a curse city. See you again!" 

Merlin turned around and disappeared from where he stood, a moment passed and Old Oscar shouted as he came running out of the carriage. "Kid! You trick me!" 

Seemed angry, Old Oscar asked Old Omar. "Where is he?!" 

"Who?" 

"Of course that kid!" 

"Oh Merlin? He just disappeared a moment ago. Looks like we won't see him for a long time. What did he sold you?" Old Omar said, smiling. 

Old Oscar's face turned ugly as his eyebrows twitched. "Arggh! Merlin! He sold me a blank parchment!" 

Old Omar sighed and shook his head as he walked towards the carriage. "It's your lost, you believed in him." 

"My 3,000 Mana Crystals!" Old Oscar shouted that echoed and heard by every people nearby. 

Merlin heard Old Oscar's shout grin and play with the pouch filled with Mana Crystals. "Hehehe... He'll definitely strangle me once we meet again. Anyway, I shouldn't stay here. Finding a secluded place is what I should do." 

Disappearing from his spot again, with Mana Sense he found a large cave 300 miles away and 593 meters under the ground. Is was filled with strange ores that glow in the the darkness as it made the pitch black cave dim. There was a sound of water and the cold air seemed moving towards east. 

"Light." 

From his palm, a small sphere of light came to being and gave colors to everything inside the cave. The luminous ores lost their light as a brighter source emergred. 

With the informations he received from God made it easier for Merlin to know what kind of materials these ores were. The luminous ones were mana sensitive metalloids or known in this world as 'Magic Metals' while the others were earth metals composed of natural elements known as 'Element Metals'. 

It could be useful for Merlin in the coming future, but this was the reason he searched such a secluded place. It was to examine the Mana Crystals he had. 

Taking out an eye size crystal glowing with blue color in diamond shape, a deep blue vapor revolving at the center. "Mana purity is Vapor Level. It's higher than I thought... One level higher than my current mana. Hmm.... If I use this, I can accelerate my progress, but 3,000 pieces are not enough for my current Mana Pool... Wait..." 

Merlin noticed something. He emptied the pouch and scattered the Mana Crystals before him, only then he found out about this obvious thing. "Hmm... How come they didn't know how to differentiate Mana Purity levels? Come to think of it, all they said is Mana Crystals. If they knew the difference of purity level, they would not say such general word." 

Touching his chin, a smile crept on his face. "Mist Level, Vapor Level, Cloud Level, Liquid Level... All levels are here, but these won't be enough... Oh that's right! I have a Crystal Card and it has 100,000 Mana Crystals. If that won't be enough, I'll just make more myself. Alright, I'll use this Liquid Level Mana Crystals first."

Sat in meditation, Merlin started absorbing the Mana of Mana Crystals according to their levels, towards his Mana Pool and starting the refinement. These happened after and after, before he knew it, the 3,000 Mana Crystals were already gone. But it left something, a 23% Vapor Level Mana Purity in his Mana Pool. 

Nodding to himself, Merlin tried to cast a Magic Spell to see how strong his Magic had become. Weaving mana through the air, a scorching pillar of light came out from his pointy finger as he invoked some words. "The light that bestow life, I call upon thee solely, for destruction and death. Tier 7 Light Magic Spell-- Light Beam!"

A fingernailbsize hole was made through the ground and pierced through to the outside world. The fingernail size light beam wasn't that conspicuous, and so, none had seen it. Only the earth was aware of what it could do. 

Looking up to the hole, Merlin could see the clouds in the sky although he was 500 meter under the ground. "Hmm... It improved significantly. I should continue on my journey now. I'll visit that place first before going to Darviory City." 

"Teleportation." Merlin disappeared from the cave and appeared up above the ground as he proceeded on foot. 

Unknown from him, a small venomous snake proficient in concealment magic fell on the hole directly to the cave. This hadn't been detected by his Mana Sense. It's body had wounds and at the verge of death. This lifeform's surivival instincts kicked in and gnawn on the Magic Metals and Element Metals. Until it had eaten away all things inside and entered hibernation afterwards. It was unknown when would it woke up again.