After a hearty dinner, the three of them sat around the still-burning campfire. The forest night felt unusually calm.
In that quiet stillness, a question slipped from Úlrey's lips.
"So, Vaingard," he began. "When are you going to tell us where exactly we're going?"
Lys, hearing Úlrey's question, chided him gently. "Úlrey, you should be more respectful."
"Relax, Lys, it doesn't matter how he calls me."
Vaingard met Úlrey's gaze.
"You'll see tomorrow morning."
"Tomorrow?! You really enjoy keeping us in suspense, don't you?" Úlrey retorted.
Angga, his voice deferential, added, "Sir, is that place… still the same as the last time we were there?"
Vaingard nodded slowly. "Yes, that place has never changed."
After that conversation, they rested inside Vaingard's Protective Box. The campfire still burned, warming the cool night air. Outside the Box, the fog thickened like a curtain of secrets.
Angga, leaning back near the fire, stared into the dancing flames.
Úlrey, sitting beside him, noticed Angga's expression. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Angga nodded slowly. "Yes, just… still a little dizzy."
Lys, checking their remaining supplies, looked towards them. "We need to rest well. Tomorrow's journey will be long."
Vaingard suddenly stood. "You sleep. I'll keep watch."
"But… Sir Vaingard—" Lys started to protest.
"Don't worry, Lys. I don't need much sleep."
They finally lay down, though a sense of unease lingered. Lys fell asleep first, but Úlrey and Angga remained awake. The two young men gazed at the fog-shrouded night sky.
(I can't sleep…)
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from outside the Box. Angga raised his head, trying to locate the source. Úlrey, though lying down, had his hand ready to grasp the knife at his side. (An animal? Or… something else?)
Vaingard, sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. "Don't go out."
Angga nodded, but his curiosity burned. Slowly, he approached the edge of the magic box. From beyond the fog, a pair of glowing red eyes stared at him.
(What is that?!)
His heart thudded in his chest. Then, without warning, the shadow vanished into the mist.
…
The next morning, fog still shrouded the forest. Vaingard woke them before sunrise. "We'll continue our journey; we'll arrive soon."
The four of them walked again, this time at a faster pace than yesterday. Angga, still feeling the lingering effects of yesterday's pain, struggled to withstand the forest's influence. Úlrey occasionally glanced back, making sure Angga was alright.
"Are you okay?" Úlrey asked.
"Yes, I'm fine," Angga replied with a smile. "The pain isn't as bad as before."
Although fog still covered the forest, sunlight began to pierce through gaps in the leaves. Slowly, the fog began to dissipate, little by little.
"We're close," Vaingard said.
"That mountain?" Úlrey asked curiously.
Vaingard nodded. "Yes, that's where we're going."
Lys beamed. "You'll be amazed!"
The journey became steeper. The ground turned rocky, and suddenly, the fog thinned, revealing a breathtaking sight.
A majestic mountain, its peak shrouded in golden clouds. A strange light emanated from its slopes, as if the mountain itself were alive.
"Wow…" Angga was so awestruck, his mouth agape.
Úlrey, seeing a mountain for the first time, was equally stunned by the grandeur of the place. Growing up, Úlrey only knew of the world outside Mergorian through his mother's stories.
It felt strange, though, considering that such a massive mountain wasn't visible from the city or near the Cathedral.
Suddenly, Vaingard shouted loudly. "All three of you! Reach at least halfway up that mountain! I don't care how long it takes! You must get there, no matter what!"
Vaingard vanished as suddenly as he appeared.
The three were startled by Vaingard's sudden outburst and terrifying aura.
Even Lys, who had been to this mountain many times with Vaingard, was shocked by his abrupt change in demeanor.
Úlrey, furious with Vaingard, threw his knife to the ground. "What's the meaning of this?! Ordering us around like that—we're not your slaves, you damn old man!!!"
Úlrey's shout was so loud that even Vaingard, who had already reached the top, could hear him. "Huh? What's going on with them?"
Angga quickly calmed Úlrey down. "Hey, Úlrey, calm down."
"Calm down?! It's because of you I'm stuck in this cursed mess!!"
"What?! Why are you blaming me?! I never intended to be summoned here!"
"What?! Is that how you act, human?!"
Úlrey approached him, grabbing his collar. His expression was furious.
"You… don't make my problems worse."
Angga, his anger building, grabbed Úlrey's clothes in return.
"You want a fight, huh?"
Seeing them about to fight, Lys stepped forward and slapped them both.
"SLAP"
"SLAP"
"Enough!"
The two, having received Lys's slaps, lowered their hands.
"Why are you two about to fight?! You're not the only victims! Why…" Her voice broke. "Why can't humans and elves ever… coexist?"
Lys wiped her eyes, still shedding tears, feeling guilty about everything that had happened.
Although Úlrey and Angga were still angry with each other, they swallowed their pride, apologizing to Lys for the near-fight, though they still had to restrain themselves.
***
Meanwhile, in the Mergorian Royal Palace…
The High Priest's footsteps echoed in the silent palace corridors. He knelt before the nation's leader.
"King Gravile Standice I!"
"What is it, Priest? Why have you summoned me? Is it something urgent?"
"Your Majesty… there's a report from the Cathedral guard leader in the northern part of the city."
"Reporting that a magic circle has reactivated."
"What? The magic is active again?"
"How is that possible? Wasn't that magic long dead?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. We don't know how or what the magic is releasing."
"But… my intuition tells me something big is about to happen. What should we do, Your Majesty?"
The King fell silent for a moment, disbelieving that the magic was slowly revealing itself again. He felt caught off guard for taking it too lightly.
"Very well. Tighten security across every region. Keep a close watch on all citizens… especially the Elves."
***