"I will guide you to where the corruption lurks, but I fear there will be struggles." The spirit guardian said.

"What do you mean?" Akatosh replies.

"I believe your friend in the shadows will tell you the answer." Says the guardian.

"Rag?"

"Bahh… In this kind of situation normally I would prefer to destroy it. Then again… making contact in the spirit realm will give my location from those shit Deedras. There is another way in eliminating such a task though, in simple words… You just have to lure out from its hiding place and eliminate it on the material world."

"I see and I'm sorry to say spirit guardian but I will follow what this shit guy said," Akatosh says towards the guardian.

"I understand, if that is what you do, I shall then create a barrier that entraps it here in this place."

"That will be a great help."

As soon as they were done conversing, Akatosh turns around to relay what word they've been exchanging. And for some reason, he saw his companions are on their stance ready to draw their weapons and magic.

"C'mon guys don't be so rude to our new friend here." Akatosh implores the group whose hands are steadying on the grip of their weapons. "And I like to ask if there is some magic or a thing that's good for dealing with evil and undead and so on." Akatosh continues seeing how they ease their anxiousness.

"I have five scrolls of purification and two protection from evil. Purification will only work on a single target though."

"I see then let me first explain what my nature friend and I have been talking about," Akatosh replies quickly discussing their next action.

As plan, the spirit guardian now shares its thought through Sheila and her friends requested by Akatosh. He was then guided by the spirit guardian. As a guardian who walks on two worlds, Zelus Senires uses the glowing pond. And with its power, it creates a portal to where the corruption hides.

Taking the greater risk Akatosh alone was the one who personally goes into the enemy's den. Stepping into the pond and with a splash, he plummeted quickly to the bottom. With a blink of an eye, he was now in the realms from the other side. The surroundings were much different compared to the other dimesons he encountered. Similar to the real world where trees, waters, and soil are in common. The only thing that differs was the atmosphere and the world itself.

Strange green fogs envelop the world transparent to the eye. And few spirit creatures roaming the area, friendly unless provoke. And the moment he enters the spirit realm he immediately started to feel the tingling sensation, the presence of distortion.

As deeper as he goes, where there are no more spirit creatures to be seen. With two steps ahead Akatosh was now where the spirit guardian cannot reach. Blob-like roots crawl out from the swirling mass of purple-black clouds, layering the place and its inhabitant.

Using the scroll of purification Sheila gave him and with a slight trigger from the stillmage. The swirling dark masses quickly burst. Now with the portal still open, the dying corruption in mist form hastily goes, escaping the spirit realm.

"Oof… It seems we have a slight problem." Amaragnum said in amusement.

"Fuck! We should have first destroyed those corpses before luring out." Akatosh implores remembering his past encounters with corpses and how corrupted spirits easily possess an empty shell.

Running as fast as he could to leave the spirit dimension and when he leaps out before the portal is closed his heartbeat was diminished. By the looks of their battle, his companions along with the spirit guardian easily destroy the walking dead.

Side by side, offense and defense they clean dozens of undead. And with the support of Zelus Senires, they easily destroy their enemies. Sei and Reith with their sword made out of elven steel and with a boost of their power they slice clean the enemies. Sheila's honed magic now bursting through the battleground erasing corpses in a swift wave of magic. And with Riya and the guardian in support the enemies are now but ants on their feet.

Now with no body to possess and with the portal closed, the corruption now was levitating in the air waiting for it to be purified. Combining powers with the spirit guardian, Sheila with the power of nature easily purges the sleazing darkness.

"Well, that was fast." Akatosh and Amaragnum said.

Passing the aftermath of the battle and as promised the spirit guardian gave the traveler and his companions a large sum of elixir closely at five liters. So much more than what the past adventurers have gathered.

"Um… If I may." Sheila implores. "W-we're very much thankful for the elixir that you gave us--" Sheila implores but was interrupted when the spirit guardian gave her an unusual large thorn.

"I believe this is the other thing that you seek." Says the sentinel offering Sheila the unusual thorn it created.

"H-How did you know," Sheila says.

"It was time. I had met people such as you, adventurers and felons who come seeking the elixir from this body of mine. And the horns of my power, however through this day you're the first to come in a different approach. Conversely, this day will never be the same."

"The deepest apologies from my guild." Sheila bows along with her friends.

"What if, we could make an arrangement from the adventurers guild." Sei Implores. "I will make a request, to change the sequence of the mission. We will ask the guild to provide protection from this place and in return… You could provide the guild with an elixir. Even if it just a small amount."

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

"Oh… this guy sure is good at doing business." Akatosh implores.

"Hmm… I understand." Says the guardian intently sighting Sei's eyes, eyes full of relegate. "If that will end this endless disunion, then I will abide by your word human."

Before they depart, Akatosh first lets his companions went ahead and when they are out of the cave. "I was curious, why didn't you attack me when you sensed a threatening spirit with me?" Akatosh implores.

"Then I ask you, does every clear water you see, drinkable? Does every single person's warm smile hold compassion? Everything has its own, and everyone has their own place to be. But to answer your question is just simple, it was merely the passing of experience. If you live long and learn how to grasp what everything holds, then you will see what I see. But I can tell… you're already beginning to see what I've said."

Akatosh smile. "Not going to lie, you sure did saw right through me… Then again, that's all I have to say. May we see each other again, if there's a chance."

"Hmm… so am I. Farewell, thee, and have a safe journey, mortal." The guardian said watching Akatosh, aware of something within him, far deeper than he can imagine.

After warping up their treaty the party parted with a smile written on their face and a new learned experience to add up from their growing adventures. And upon their arrival, Akatosh was surprised since there were no piles of snow lingering in the area.

"Magic. Druids sure are a part of nature."

Coming back from the druids' grove, the group disperse from their hut for some preparation as requested by the druid elders.

Not having a slight interest to join their festivity, Akatosh goes to sleep although Sheila persistently pleads to him. A request that Akatosh can't take her dramatic entreat.

"Fine, but I'll be outside. I'll just wait for you all at the bonfire."

While Akatosh and his companions are preparing, changing their gears to decent clothing. Chifya on the other hand unknowingly awakens from her bed. Feeling something burning through her chest she takes a look to see a crescent moon engraved on her flesh design in druid form. Knowing the meaning of the symbol she quickly barges through the elder's council demanding an explanation.

"WHAT!" Chifya exclaimed towards the elders after they've spoken their words. "You want me to stay in this place for the rest of my life!"

"Chifya please, it's not like that--" Galish implores.

"Like what! You want me to be bound here for the rest of my life, a priestess." Thwart Chifya

"But we have no other choice Lord Hackrash had chosen you. I'm sorry Chifya."

"But I don't want to! I trusted you Galish." Says Chifya before walking out of the room leaving the elders and Galish in difficulties.

"Chifya wait--" Galish called stepping to follow her but Zeymah quickly grabs hold of his shoulder.

"Let her be." Zeymah implores.

"But the ceremony--"

"That will have to wait for today. There are still three days before the blue moons will disappear. Let's wait for her to ease her emotion for the time being. She had already received Hackrash's blessing, talking to her will not solve her feelings. Rushing things over will not solve everything, she'll soon have to accept what's best for her and for the two of you to be together after the ceremony."

Four hours before sundown, Akatosh aimlessly wait for Sheila and her friends after they went to deliver the spirit guardian's horn. And while waiting he notices unfamiliar surroundings. He saw the druid's village drastically change; decorations were at every place even the druid people are wearing bloom designs. Glowing flowers were used as bracelets and crowns, not even that their apparels were floret and beautiful to look at.

Doing nothing but looking he pulls out his book, tearing one piece of paper he began folding a paper plane.

"This odd feeling," Amaragnum said.

"What about it," Akatosh reply slowly making a paper plane.

"Blue moons, that horn, the people and the decorated place. Damn, I have totally forgotten this kind of thing."

"Obviously, they might be celebrating some sort of festival."

"I know that dumbass! I'm just regaining my knowledge from these people."

"Do know. Ceremony about some god of nature or so I've heard. It's very startling from what they told me."

Amaragnum snorted. "Druids… Spending the rest of their lifeguarding nature. Sitting in circles and moaning their words of 'halleluiah' to that God of nature. I just find it a boring life."

While he was busy with the stillmage's conversation, didn't they know Aryl was standing two meters away from him, hiding in a tree mesmerizingly watching his work? He stares back at her with a blunt expression not knowing what to say.

"Okay, this is awkward." He thought.

Having nothing to say from the young druid girl, he slightly curves his lips and then lifts the paper kite. With a placid breeze, all it takes was just a gentle pitch to send the kite flying through the open plane village. And as it flew Akatosh trails it, so too Aryl follows him.

It first flew in a straight line but with the swirling wind, like a tornado the paper plane curve through the air. And while it still levitates in the air Akatosh aimlessly monitors it turning around like a clock.

"H-how did you do that without using magic. C-can you do that again." Aryl said with an overflowing fascination.

"There's no magic involve; sure, I can do it again but--" Akatosh pauses seeing the druids are somehow gawking at them. Not only that he notices they are ogling at them in disgust and shame. Feeling uncomfortable if he was to blame, he continues a key question. "Well this is plain simple to create however if I teach you how, can you go play with those druid kids over there."

The moment he finishes his words, the once fascinated face, and excited eye quickly turn to despondent misery. She couldn't even stand to stare at him moreover to her other kind. All Aryl could do was stare at his boots.

"Okay? What seems to be the problem here." He asks Amaragnum.

"If she's not a stillmage why did she had a suppression mark."

"Suppression mark? What's that."

"To suppressed magic, you idiot. There's one on her forehead but the person who cast it hides the marking. I can show it for a second if you praise me, my boy."

"Fine…" Akatosh grunted, "Oh, mighty stillmage Amaragnum kindly show this man something to fill his inquisitiveness."

"Now that's more like it."

"Hope you get your ass eaten by Karangax's hound."

Without hesitation Akatosh lowers himself, crouching to better face Aryl. And just a glimpse he saw a triskelion mark at the center of her forehead. And for a second, her long bronze hair shimmers through the sunlight creating sparkling stars.

"You see stupid."

"Well if she's not a stillmage why put a suppression mark on her. In addition--" Akatosh reply glancing towards the druids. "Might be a gifted child, don't you think Rag."

"Might be or--" Says Amaragnum analyzing Aryl's energy and aura. "So that explains why."

"Spit it out."

"You're right she's a gifted one."

"How did you know."

"I just bypass the seal without tampering with her energy. She's more like a stillmage, but her mana is unstable, similar to that bitch sea queen. And this could be the reason why her kind cast her out from their society."

"Society huh…"

For a minute of silence, Akatosh gently offers her the paper plane.

"Forget what I said about earlier, here I'll show you how to fly this thing. Don't worry about those people."

Once accepting his offer, Aryl mutters in gratitude. Still, she didn't return to her first expression.

"What's your name." Akatosh implores.

"Aryl."

"Good name… That aside--" He sighed sitting on the grass which he again rips another sheet of paper and used his book as a folding bench. And while he's busy folding the paper, Aryl sits with him, watching how he folded the paper.

It was slow progress but right after Akatosh taught her how to gently flew the paper plane Aryl's face quickly change. He can now see her jovial face while chasing the flying kite. Too, Akatosh began introducing her different types of paper planes and other various paper art.

Adding magic, Aryl cast wind magic sending the paper plane higher through to the closest small hill.

"Leave it be, there's more paper to make." He calls but Aryl was far ahead of him excited to retrieve the paper plane.

He walks faster to stop Aryl but a woman stops him at his track, it was Faylinn.