Upon returning to whence they were, both of them can tell, the soldiers of Endregar are still inclining at the dungeon. If they had used the cube, abruptly the mages nearby would have to sniff their escape. In contrary to their location, Akatosh casually treads towards the west, as he constantly looks out for any scout. Once they are now out of reach, Amaragnum begins to ask questions initiating a conversation.

"Curious is to say, may I be in question on to what is that you seek on a simple pool of hot water. Clearly, I can tell the guile intention you had." Amaragnum implored.

"Hmm… it would be ponderous to reveals such details, wouldn't you agree?" Akatosh smile.

"Ahh…" Amaragnum chuckles, "A tedious way to flutter such significant plan from the eyes of your onlooker I see."

"Indeed, it would be less fun when you spoil the show. But in return, I too was allured by your past, it would be good to dugout the truth considering the old-time you had."

"It seems you're filled with pesky liars, but I don't blame you since I was the bad guy." Amaragnum sigh. "In the past I, Azageis and Elemis or the first arc sage. We were once called 'The Celestial Trio' though Azageis and I have different motives. They were my friends as the three of us traveled together honing our magic."

"So how did you gut each other's throat." Searching a bottle of ale.

"We went our separates ways, back then Maginum was ruled by a council. A bunch of senile and young sage who prides themselves as the most powerful mage. But not until the three of us challenged them. We won the battle, changing some of the rules, unlike Elemis, Azageis and I weren't interested to be an arc sage, so we handed over to him, which was then the birth of the first arc sage."

"Go on," Akatosh says, drinking on the road.

"When Elemis was crowned the arc sage of Maginum. Azageis and I traveled our own path in search of mysteries. I do not know what Azageis is looking but mine however is a little bit different."

"So did you uncover it."

"A little, I manage to learn something when…" Amaragnum hesitate

"Tragedy?" Akatosh utters.

"A part of me had been taken, when I returned to my birthright my village, there through the north. Didn't I meet a warm hug, nor a warm bed, or a warm soup from my travels but what greeted me is total carnage. Bodies staked like pigs, mutilating their flesh as their inside are rip from the outside. So, I track down the people who massacre my village, which leads me to Ilmasher, and when I arrive, in front of me was my own adoptive family butchered by my very own eyes. That's where it all began."

"And you burned Ilmasher to the ground."

"I hesitated but after seeing those people in their wicked eyes. And yes, I razed that empire to ashes. Following the destruction of Ilmasher, Elemis was killed blaming it on my hand. And through that, the killing never stops as I'm the one to blame. The world turns against me, and so I went with it, until Azageis and his lackeys finally put an end to me, but not before I killed that nuisance mage."

"And who might be that nuisance mage?" Akatosh leaned to one of the trees as he continuously drinks the conversation indulging in Amaragnum's storytelling.

"An annoying mage to be short his magic is different. It contradicts that even I had difficulties in opposing. My memories of him are but long forgotten and the only thing I remember is killing him."

"An eye for an eye I see." Drinking the last drop of ale.

And just as they begin to hit the road, Amaragnum was magnetized by something. "Wait." Implore the stillmage. "Something is cooking here."

"What are you saying," Akatosh asks, pausing his step.

"This faint essence. Yes… it's familiar…" Amaragnum chuckles. "I remember."

"Spit the crap." Implies Akatosh, annoyed by the stillmage's word.

"Looks like someone is dabbling to forbidden magic being a toy with the devil. And it's coming from the mountains opposite from our way quite surprisingly it is a potent one."

"The mountains?" Bringing out a map from his bag. "To which place is it coming from." Akatosh quickly unrolls the map.

"Hardly, I think it's coming southeast to where we are standing." Replies the stillmage.

"Oh… it's close to the village." Akatosh pause.

"So what would it be, want to play a hero."

"Mm-hmm… I'm not a hero but, I'm a human and the hot bath can wait." And before he takes a step. "By the way, you do know teleportation magic. Right?"

"What do you think I 'am!" Shout the stillmage. "I can on this range." He continues.

"Range?" Akatosh question.

Amaragnum sigh, "How much of a toddler you are. Teleportation has limits so the kingdoms had to create a place of teleportation. And as far as I know, placing your markings on random places on the borders of a kingdom means illegally."

"Ahh... so that's why they have those circles thing."

"Also, during my time before I was caged into a dungeon. Placing a marking to one's kingdom must have a permit, a license to be short and your markings must be visible to magic detection so visible that even a low tier mage can descry without sweating a single drop." Amaragnum Explain.

"Quite the establishment these kingdoms have to offer. But how did you detect such presence when it's far away from here."

"I'm in the boundary of the spirit realm and the living. It's like I'm in a beach once I dive through the waters there's no turning back. And I'm to be careful when fishing on the waters who knows I might fish a hell hound."

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"So is that how you get your powers."

"Correct it's like a human fishing for its meal to sustain its life only a little bit different. And the essence of the Deedras is inconsistently in the boundary realm, which is easy for me to detect."

Sticking on the side of the road little by little few people and adventures are starting to fill the road. Occasionally Amaragnum lay hidden in his grimoire. Akatosh knew that both of them might have a hard time dealing with this type of situation unless if Chifya is still around. And as he steadily marches towards the guild receptionist, some of the people are looking at him in tension cold eyes.

Barley holding the pressuring atmosphere, Akatosh ask the receptionist. "What can I do for you today sir." The receptionist replies.

"Umm… I'm looking for a gold-tier adventurer, a woman name Chifya."

"Ahh… her. It seems you might want to ask the innkeeper she might be around." The receptionist kindly replies.

"I see you have my gratitude." Akatosh nods, going towards the innkeeper.

"She's in the same room." The innkeeper sigh, cleaning a tankard.

Immediately as he was climbing the stairs towards where Chifya is he can tell the other adventurers are constantly preying their eyes to him. "Oh… I sense something here." Amaragnum chuckles, now telepathically communicating through their minds.

"Shut up," Akatosh responds, knocking on Chifyas door. And when Chifya opens it, she was filled with pleasant happiness and at the same time anger. Masking her warm emotion to ire audacity right away Akatosh remembers their disagreement.

"Ah… I completely forgot." Akatosh reckons.

"Tough love?" Amaragnum laughs.

"We have our own stern agreement which led me to reprisal her."

"So, what is it that you want," Chifya says, with a torpor face.

"I think that dungeon thing from last time is still active." Akatosh reply, a dull respond.

"And?" Chifya strife.

"You do realize she wants an apology." Amaragnum giggles.

"Bahh! I had enough of this, apology my ass I had my fill for apologies. She was the one who acted first not me, and I will not solace her like I'm a donkey."

"Ohh?"

"Just-just forget about this." Akatosh sigh, casually stepping away from her.

"C'mon why are you leaving?! I want to see this continue." The stillmage insist.

Just as he was about a few feet away from her, Chifya calls. "Wait!" but Akatosh is in a hurry ignoring her call.

"She's calling for you." Amaragnum implored.

"Nahh… trust me she'll be the real bossy one. And we should concentrate on this one, know anything about it." Akatosh reply, changing the topic.

"Very well." Amaragnum sigh, and as he was about to explain little of the details. Chifya quickly packs her necessary things and hurriedly runs towards Akatosh.

"Why did you stop," Akatosh respond but Amaragnum had quickly reinstituted into his hiding place. And before he knew it Chifya was already right beside him.

They were still inside the inn, and Chifya knows that Akatosh isn't fond of creating a fuss through an open crowd. "I need you to follow me for a minute or we can indulge ourselves through this crowd." Whispers Chifya in a fomented tone.

"She's serious." Amaragnum interrupts. "I think you need to follow her, given how noxious these people are.

Akatosh casually sighs. "Fine."

Sitting alone peering through Chifya's interaction with the reception. Unsure of what they are saying but Akatosh can foresee that it might be linked to their past mission as he hopes to have no involvement of him in their discussion. And when Chifya finishes her discourse, undoubtedly, she right passed Akatosh with no word whatsoever.

Leaving the tavern in complete silence, "I do hope I haven't been involved in your discussion with the receptionist." Akatosh ask, patiently waiting for her to respond until he stops. "I'm just asking for yes or no, and I'm not going to move until I hear a respond—"

"No, and I didn't do this to help you. I did it for the safety of these people. And what's up about you being so concern to yourself." Chifya interrupts

"There are some things you should be careful about." Akatosh smiles.

When their last conversation fades to silence, they can hear people murmuring. "I thought that the guild had resolved about our problems but why are our crops still in blemish."

"Not only that I heard there were people missing again."

"The guild said they would fix this, but I see no fit to it. Particular to their drunken demeanor."

"Haa… society" Akatosh sigh.

Trekking nearer to their destination again they had to cross a forest. Besides, it gets even darker considering the alps preventing the sunlight from lightening little of the forest. For that time, Amaragnum finally realizes what they are dealing with when they are walking through the thick mist but kept his silence at bay.

The two however weren't very particular in what surrounds them. It felt very normal for them, not knowing the mist had already taken possession. It wasn't long before Akatosh saw Chifya in her uncontrolled self. Shivering on her knees as if someone had shown her a grim vision. Not knowing what to do, Akatosh initially goes to comfort her.

"You alright?" He asks, where out of sudden Chifya clutches desperately and tightly wrapping her arms to him.

"Rag!" Akatosh calls for the stillmage except Amaragnum didn't respond thinking he must've again been discreet in his realm amusingly watching them.

"Don't leave me! Why are you doing this to me!" Chifya cries, still struggling to overcome her dream.

Akatosh however was more daze to this unexpected particular situation, rather than solacing Chifya's drama. It took her minutes to finally quench her sobbing tears but still stuck to him unable to let go.

"I-I'm sorry," Chifya whispers, as she breathes a warm air.

"Okay, now will you let go of me." Akatosh says, "Look there's a person amusing himself right now, and we should best be on our track."

Yet little by little Chifya's appearing warm breath fluster his desire. Her thin leather clothing that fits her luscious body lush to his senses. Absorbing him into submission of explicit desire. Akatosh's body grew numb much as his mind brim in temptation. Submerging him to the ground as Chifya slowly inches her way to his face and when she does she slightly undoes her apparel.

In moments of sweet indulgence, Akatosh unexpectedly felt oddly different. He realizes the surroundings he where emits a foul play. He looks to his sideways ignoring the woman, to see a pile of loot waiting to be recovered. Surprisingly, Akatosh easily recovers going towards the piles of treasure. And when he happily grasps the coins into his hand, he found himself kneeling, returning to reality.

"Wait, where's the loot." Worried Akatosh and to see Chifya lying on the ground, still in comprehend by her dream.

"Ahh… that some nice meal," Amaragnum said, and before Akatosh could make a question Amaragnum quickly interrupts him. "Both of you are in her illusion right after you both crossed the mist." The stillmage said.

"And why didn't you warn us from the beginning."

"Well, I wouldn't miss this opportunity to take a piece of her supply. For you to understand the mist is her doing. Shastra the master of desire and illusion. And someone made a pack with her to became her puppet. See, when you are dreaming through this mist created by her you are procuring energy that feeds her power, so I secretly branch the energy taking some for myself. And you should you be grateful I was the one who dispels the illusion unlike you your friend over there was the one who mostly donates large quantities of energy."

"Okay, I understand so by dispelling such illusion. One must put something more desirable than the dream."

"Not necessarily, you can break it by also showing some of her gruesome past. I can show you although, this might be inappropriate for her considering how nice her dream was." Amaragnum chuckles casting his magic towards Chifya.

Upon her awake both Amaragnum and Akatosh can see how flush her face is. And without further ado Chifya quickly stand and begun floundering without knowing where she was heading.

"Is she alright?" Akatosh ask watching her struggle.

"She's fine though. She's just recovering from her dream." Amaragnum giggles.

"Wait-wait the minute you saw both me and her our dreams, right?"

"But of course…" Amaragnum can barely contain his laughter. "It's quite amusing."

"Hmm… by the way can you tell me Chifya's dream." Akatosh insists.

"Nahh… I think you should be ready, your friend there has recovered." Amaragnum said avoiding his question. And just like that Chifya returns to her sober attitude.

By the help of Amaragnum they were able to emerge from the mist. While Akatosh is in lead, "By the way Chifya I'm quite inquisitive to what your dream was—ARGHHH!"

A hard club smack through his head, not enough to injure him but enough to cause pain. He turns around to see Chifya holding a club made from her magic and a cold aura emitting from her.