"What should I do with this?" Ryn sighed, looking down at the pouch in his hands.

The old lady he helped until she arrived at her farm, gave him a pouch of cookies for helping her.

‘Maybe she thought I was just being courteous?’

Even though when Ryn told her he just had breakfast she took it as him graciously refusing, that she even gave him a whole pouch of cookies.

“You are a well mannered child aren’t you? Here take this. Come by anytime I will give you more.”

He remembered how she told him she would refill the pouch for him if he ran out, so he could just swing by the farm before sunset, as that's when she heads back.

‘The sun is about to rise ha!’

Ryn tied the pouch on his side and glanced around, trying to choose a place to do his morning training from up there, before he descended the mountain.

But it was to no avail; he couldn’t see anything from up there, except the snake-like path of the carriage that led its way to and from the mountaintop.

There were also rough, narrow paths for people, but they appeared perilous to someone who had never ventured beyond the village

“I should go down first.”

Ryn took the carriage path and started running.

‘This also counts into the training.’

Since most of his morning training commenced with running, he considered it a part of his exercise until he arrived at a quiet, secluded spot to complete the rest of his training.

Talia was perched atop a truncated mountain, resembling a cleanly sliced peak. It was essentially a plateau at the mountain top, encircled in a semi-circular fashion by five magnificent peaks, all towering in height unlike Talia's own mountain.

The uniqueness of having a flat-topped mountain was the very reason why Talia village served as the gateway to the Ash Crown forest. However, its treacherous reputation deterred outsiders and adventurers from venturing beyond the village into the forest.

The top of the mountain where the village located, was still way above the ground. Which made the path from the top dangerous. But the more you go down the easier it gets to venture to other parts of the mountain.

So Ryn did that.

“This should do.”

After running halfway and sensing a decrease in elevation, he veered towards the rough path to the right and pressed on.

Despite the obstacles slowing his pace, he eventually reached an open area near the mountain's base, where a serene lake glistened invitingly.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

‘I should check around first.’

Even though he went in the opposite direction of the entrance to the Ash Crown forest, at least the path leading to the village lay in that direction, and he took that route. Nevertheless, he veered off his path to the right side. Even though he could tell he wasn’t close to the dangerous Ash Crown, he wanted to be sure.

“It’s peaceful here.”

He couldn’t find anything strange, nor did he sense anything dangerous from the lake. Not that he could see deep inside it anyway, just the lakefront. There were also a couple of huge trees that overlooked the lake at some distance away.

“I should begin now.”

Ryn took off his upper wear after removing the leather dual-strap sword holder from his back. He tied the pouch on his waist to a nearby tree branch and then began training.

As the sun ascended to its zenith, casting its golden rays directly overhead, the climate warmed gradually, signaling the arrival of midday.

Light danced and shimmered upon the surface of the nearby lake, its waters reflecting the brilliance of the sun like scattered diamonds.

Nearby, Ryn could feel the gentle caress of the sun's warmth, a comforting embrace amidst the burgeoning afternoon.

‘Finally, i am here.’

Ryn had completed his training session twice, diligently practicing the techniques his father had imparted to him on two separate occasions.

After each bout of training, he paused to engage in meditation, using the moments of stillness to rejuvenate his mind and body.

Now, perched at the pinnacle of one of the towering trees he had observed earlier, Ryn felt a sense of accomplishment and readiness to face his adversary.

But something else caught his attention.

“What is that?”

After finding a secure spot to sit, assured by the sturdy and ample branches of the tree that ensured no risk of falling, Ryn's gaze fell upon a massive nest, towering nearly to his chest in height, nestled on the opposite side.

“There are eggs in it. But, why are they like that?”

After approaching the nest and peeking inside it, Ryn found eggs in it, but the strange thing was, the eggs were all different in shape and color.

"I should take them before I leave."

Ryn started salivating, imagining how delicious those large, colorful eggs would be.

‘That's if the nest owner doesn't return by then. But first…’

Ryn believed he should leave the eggs undisturbed for now, deciding to only claim them if the nest remained unoccupied until his departure.

Growl!!

Right before he started his call for clash with the Enigma, his belly emitted an audible grumble, demanding sustenance.

“I should eat first”

Ryn glanced down his belly and fetched the pouch of cookies from his side.

‘Let’s see if they are tasty’

“hm!..This! This IS GOOD!!”

Ryn took a bite, then another, then almost gobbled it down and almost stopped at the last one to savor it.

“That was really good.”

Now that he was done eating, Ryn didn’t waste time and sat cross legged and meditated to feel the shadow entity.

But it was to no avail. He couldn’t sense him at all, he couldn’t even find him in the mind realm.

“Nothing again.”

Ryn flattered his eyes open. Ryn even called out for the entity in front of the mirror but nothing.

“I should just meditate until it shows itself.”

Ryn knew he couldn’t force it to reveal itself if he can’t even sense it. So he thought he should meditate.

He first started recalling the path he took from the village to here, just to make sure to not get lost on his way back.

Then he started rewatching his father demonstrating the techniques he taught him, since he committed it to memory.

Previously doing that, or recording things he saw so he could recall it later on would’ve required the assistance of the Enigma, but now he was doing it on his own.

As the day progresses and the sun begins its descent towards the horizon, the sky transforms into a canvas of breathtaking hues.

The sun, now tilting towards the west, casts a golden glow that covers the world in a warm light. Shadows elongate, reaching across the land as nature readies itself for the nightfall ahead.

The sky above transitions through a palette of colors, from soft pinks and oranges to deepening shades of purple and blue, signaling the approach of twilight.

“Time to return.”

Ryn muttered under his breath, almost disappointed that he couldn’t fight the Enigma.

‘I thought the outside was dangerous, but …’

Ryn was almost bored by the peacefulness outside, finding it surprising that nothing dangerous had occurred. But then...

“SCREECH”

Ryn was a distance away from the nest preparing to leave, when a screeching noise caught him off guard.

“Wh–?”

Ryn turned around only for his vision to be covered with huge talons aimed at him. He could tell from the outstretched claws not unlike deadly blades, aiming to tear through flesh with a single strike, he was done for if that reached him.

“SH*—!”