***Rhalyf POV***
“Those two…” after Aesar and Ryfon left, I told the remaining elites with me to guard the manor. Amara and Agis’ safety was a priority for me. Incurring Aesar and Ryfon’s wrath would not be a wise move.
With my order, my elite guards made their way to the manor and met with Agis’ personal elite guards.
Soon after, Amara and Agis exited their manor with worried expression to seemingly question me, but I did not have time.
“Lady Amara, and chief Agis, I’m sorry, but I have to back to you later. Right now I have attended to an urgent matter.”
With that, I left the two with now disappointed, yet understanding expressions.
In mere moments, I was able to arrive back to the barracks with my breakneck speed. I could only see a few soldiers around and 2 of the Four Generals, Mylaela and Varan with troubled faces.
Upon arriving, the two generals questioned about the current circumstances.
“What of Aesar and Ryfon?” Mylaela questioned, as if knowing where I took off hastily.
“They went to find the source of this anomaly. I’ve sent some of my best soldiers with them. Under normal circumstances I would probably have gone with them, but I trust their judgement and ability. So, where are Ralnor and Zaos?”
“Zaos is on the northern wall along with Ralnor. They both acted quickly after the strange mana gathering started,” Mylaela answered, then questioned “do you know what is happening? Did Aesar and Ryfon know what is happening?”
This hit me. I was not able to question the two due to the hurried and urgent circumstances.
“I didn’t ask, but from the way they acted, they probably know just as much as us.”
Legion Three had no better luck then Aesar and Ryfon when we attempted to delve deeper into the northern part of the forest, because of this, we were not able to find the reasons behind the increase of appearances of monsters.
My thoughts shifted to the events in the north.
I could sense an uncountable amount of creatures coming from the north. They didn’t just number greatly; they had overwhelming power. Normally, I wouldn’t be able to sense them from this far away, but the sear numbers and the great amount of disturbances they created made it possible. I felt my spine chill and I struggled to swallow my saliva as if there was a lump stuck inside my throat. Mylaela and Varan looked at me and had the same feeling plastered on their faces.
“I assume that most of our forces are located on the northern part of the wall,” I said.
“Yes. Although, there are few soldiers scattered around the villages to protect and inform the villagers,” Mylaela answered. “Rhalyf, what should we do?” Mylaela’s voice had a hint of worry and fear.
I, too, was at a loss. Just what is happening inside this forest? And whatever is happen, it’s scarring some powerful creatures towards us. This indeed was frightening.
***
In the cover of the night, Aesar and Ryfon were swiftly manoeuvring through the dense forest. With their incredible speed, the 4 elite soldiers from Legion Three fell behind. But the two pressed on, not worrying about the group that was not able to keep up with their speed.
The cold night chills engulfed their bodies as they ran unfazed by it. Their quick and rhythmic breaths could be visible from the chilly night. And only focus were on their faces; it was almost frightening.
Loud activities could be heard ahead of where they were facing. But the two did not make a single sound.
In mere moments, a spine-chilling amount of monsters appeared before them; Lesser Hydras (young), Cyclops, Giants, High Bears, packs of Great Wolves, the list would go on and on. Their appearances were truly terrifying.
Their hearts ached at the rapid beats, and frustrations covered their once determined and focused faces. The thought of such a large amount of monsters were headed towards the village caused their teeth to grit loudly and their skin to lose color. But they did not engage the monsters.
The village soldiers’ adversaries were formidable and they were plenty. However, just as they did not engage the horde of monsters, the monsters also paid no mind to their presence and parted away from the two as the monsters were repelling from the anomaly. Such circumstances would allow all the soldiers in the village to protect the village. Aesar and Ryfon were confident of their power and capability.
This gave Aesar and Ryfon a sense of relief as the monsters may also ignore the village and continue to distance themselves from the anomaly. But this was also worrying as such a large amount of monsters, as well as powerful ones were deterred from the strange occurrence in the northern part of the village.
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Growls, howls, hisses, and various other noises engulfed their surroundings as they made their way through the tidal wave of monsters. Above them were scally, winged creatures roaring in the sky while majestically soared through the air, wyverns.
After making their way through large numbers colossal trees for 40 minutes, Aesar, with his quick reflex and incredible sensing ability, shoved Ryfon by surprise as they were traveling swiftly.
Briefly after Aesar shoved Ryfon to his right, he shifted his entire body to the left causing his muscles to bulge and ripple from the strenuous amount of power and speed he put on such a move.
Not a moment after Aesar’s acrobatic feat, a large, black, spherical orb, five times the size of their 3-floor manor, whirled pasted between the two of them.
Form a closer inspection in the corner of Ryfon’s eyes, he could see many little, twinkling lights inside the black sphere - almost like a clear midnight sky where stars would sparkle in their great numbers.
***Ryfon POV***
Aesar and I were hastily making our way to the source of the anomaly. Something was happening big, and it was nerve wrecking. This has been the first time for me and probably father, to experience something like this.
Such a large amount of mysterious mana was being gathered north of the forest. The amount was terrifying, and that lead me and Aesar to find the cause fearing that something terrible might happen.
After we passed a tidal wave of monster, something inside me clicked. I finally found out about this strange sensation.
This sensation was similar to the way casting a spell would be. It took me quite a while to recognize it because of the unfamiliar form of mana. At a closer inspection, it would almost seem familiar to Aesar’s mana.
No wonder me and Aesar were so driven on trying to go to the source, it was instinct. This familiar feeling was like casting a spell. Meaning, something will be unleashed. This was what’s wrecking us internally.
Still contemplating while manoeuvring through the dense forest, I sensed something with my sensory skill. But before I could react, I was suddenly pushed to my right at an incredible speed; my neck whip-lashed from the sheer force of the push.
In the corner of my, I saw it. A large black sphere flew past us at lightning speed. I was able to see the blurring twinkling light inside the orb, similar to what the star-filled night sky would look like.
Soon after the black sphere pasted us, I tore through several trees from being pushed by Aesar.
What in the damnation happened? Between me and Aesar was now a large trail of dirt where the mysterious black sphere made way.
I tried to quickly process what had just happened, but while contemplating, deep thundering booms and crackles reverberated through the night sky where the large, black sphere came from. It was difficult to see because of the thick leaves blocking out most of the sky, but I was able to see large, dark blue lightning.
At this, I turned towards Aesar’s location, but his attention was elsewhere.
That was right! The village, that’s where that strange black sphere was headed.
Neither of us had to say anything.
With a now clear path from the mysterious black sphere made, we were able to move twice – if not thrice the speed we moved previously.
Soon after we made our way back to the village, a large sphere similar to the one we saw moments ago, but its size was comparable to that of a mountain appeared. But in a blink of an eye, it vanished silently.
We zoomed past the forest at an outstanding speed, causing the trees we pasted of bend and the wind boomed.
After traveling at great speeds for a while, our heart stopped. A head of us we could see a large opening.
After nearing the large opening in the forest, our hearts pounded rapidly against our chest and our pupils dilated. But soon after standing in the large opening, our heads turned everywhere and our eyes wandered around erratically.
The area where our village used to be was nowhere to be seen.
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This is the map of the Forest of Asteria + the area affected by the mysterious black sphere.
http%3a%2f%2fi.imgur.com%2fgIHburZ.jpg%3f1 [http://i.imgur.com/gIHburZ.jpg?1]