Year 2031, Ferrum Mensis
Terreus, Anagol Region - Forest of Tulus
"I am stuck for months now..., I should have asked master about this forest", Nin said irritatingly.
After parting with his late master. Nin is now stuck inside the Forest of Tulus, Caelum was to blame for this. Caelum loved the "beauty" of the forest and wanted to live there as his retirement home.
Considered by the Imperial Arms as inaccessible and difficult to explore, the Forest of Tulus or the Flowing Woodland can change its geography and vegetation from time to time.
Currently, there is no available map or layout of the forest. You can only traverse through this forest if you have an advanced perception of shuk or the artifact called Shifting Compass. Still, even with all of these, it is still possible to get lost.
" I just want a proper bath......and some proper food", For months, Nin's source of food was fruits and small boars. He regretted that he could not bring some of his master's livestock. It seems that other creatures of the forest that Nin has encountered are unedible. Most beasts are either filled with poison, or their meat is just indigestible.
Nin continued walking; he wanted to run but was soo tired and bored that he could not even feel his feet. After a while, He noticed there was a road. Nin's body was suddenly filled with energy, ecstatic by what he saw. Nin shouted, " AAAAAA, Lady luck......thank you".
Nin then ran; he ran so hard that every leap crushed the soil and roots of the tree. His steps rustled and echoed through the forest. With a smile on his face, he jolted from the forest.
Driven by his excitement, he forgot to land and crashed on the road. He was so happy to see the dusty road that he started rolling, unbeknownst to him that a man was looking at him and was very much weirded out by his action.
"uhmm...., Excuse me, sir, why are you putting soil on your face?."
Nin was startled and slowly realized that someone was watching him. Nin looked at the man and smiled but deep inside, the humiliation he felt was eating him up. Nin took a big gulp and answered.
"aaaaa, just so you know..... I am not crazy, and what you saw was me just being happy, that I got out of that hell of a forest".
After Nin answered, the man had this puzzled look. It's like his understanding of the world shifted. He then asked Nin.
"Are you some sort of a hermit or a sage?",
Nin confusedly answered, "No, What do you mean by Hermit.....? I'm a 15-year old boy..... I can't be a hermit or a sage" Nin then laughed as if the man's question was some sort of a joke.
"WHAAAT!!!, you....a 15-year-old boy, and you were from THAT forest?". The man was having a hard time understanding the situation. Nin did not know that the man mistook him for a hermit because of his ragged clothes, disheveled hair, his body that is uncommon for a 15-year old boy, and the fact that he got out from the Forest of Tulus. The man felt that this kid was bad news, he slowly walked towards his cart, but Nin noticed and approached the man.
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"Hey, where ya going...... oh you had a cart", the man knew that something was coming.
Nin then grabbed the man's shoulder and smirked, " Can I come along with you....hehe."
The man then answered, "No!! I don't think you even have the money to pay for the ride, and I don't need someone to escort me," but in reality, he does need someone to escort him. This man is currently carrying goods that need to be safely delivered. Right now, this man is at risk of being attacked anytime.
Nin pleaded, "Come on, please..... I mean I can guard your goods as compensation for the ride, and I.... can sense that some of the goods are pretty valuable". The man thought that Nin would be able to protect his carriage. He reasoned that maybe Nin is a capable person cause only those who are adept enough can survive the Everchanging Woodland. He looked at Nin and Replied.
" Ok, My name is Lorenzo...... I'll accept your request. In return, you will guard me and all the goods within my carriage, do you understand, kid?".
"yep, I'm Nin, and can you add some food within the agreement."
" What!?.... What food?"
"That you will provide the food throughout our journey, cause I notice that you have some food crates and I cannot protect the carriage.........if I don't have the strength......... and I don't have the strength if could not properly eat....".
"ok, ok.....crafty brat....", But even for what he said, Lorenzo still feels that this journey will be something.
They immediately drove off, as they were talking to each other,
Lorenzo then asked, " Do you train some ARTS?"
Nin replied, "yep, but only the basics."
Lorenzo felt that the world is crumbling upon him. " WHY!?..... didn't you say that you only knew the basic...Aaah"
"Just Relax, I promise you; Lady luck is on our side, this ride will have no problem at all!".
After Nin exclaimed those words, A huge Crystalback Viper jumped out from the side of the road. It was at least 20 meters in length. It has this colossal crystal attached to its back. This crystal processes shuk that will give the viper some ability.
"Oh, come...on!",
The viper looked at their carriage with an intent to attack; Lorenzo was panicking. He didn't know what to do; he thought that how could Nin fight this beast when he only practiced the Basics. At that moment, the only thing inside Lorenzo's mind is death.
Nin got down from the carriage. He emptied his emotions. Nin then positioned into a crouching stance, tensioned his muscles, and filled them with shuk. He created some sort of space in front of him; he filled his hands and every tip of his finger with shuk and moved them like flowing water. It felt that the space within his hands is distorting. The Crystalback viper did not hesitate; it immediately crystallized its body and lunged towards Nin. As it was about to reach Nin, the boy slowly bent the shuk within his palms, and with enough force: Endless Nihility: reflection.
It twisted the head of the snake and continued to warp and mangle its body until it reached the tip of its tail. Every crystallized skin that protected its body is crushed into pieces. Every ounce of blood is squeezed out.
The Crystalback Viper was twisted just like a wet crumpled paper.
Lorenzo could not believe what he saw; he was dumbstruck by what happened. He was amazed by what Nin could do but at the same time scared of the child.
Nin approached the cart; he looked tired.
"You are...AAAA....what kind of basic training did you do?", Asked Lorenzo
"HAHA, I just tested out a few things. Can I rest up a bit?" said Nin
"No problem, you could rest at the back."
"Will you not be needing any help? It would be possible that we could get lost."
"Don't worry, I just need you to guard, and plus, I have my trusty shifting compass, "Lorenzo answered confidently.
Nin was shocked that Lorenzo had a rare Artifact. He wanted to ask Lorenzo how he obtained it, but Nin was too tired after trying a powerful technique. He just smiled at Lorenzo and headed inside the carriage.