Two weeks have passed.

It is almost October, the month where most Mages' Banquet is held. If a new mage is going to pass the leader role, the process is also held in the banquet. It is my day when I become a new leader very soon.

Then, the "wedding" for me and Brian has hosted this November. I am still thinking about what I should do. I just feel like everything is being forced, even when I don't want to.

Before the banquet, I still hold one mission with Miguel.

Soi went outside as soon as possible, as soon as the sun rises. The pathway to Krieger City is a tiny forest and it has a very nice view when the sun is about to rise.

But then, I saw a person in the far distance, but I can't identify who he is. He suddenly stopped walking, and slowly said,

"Don't get close to him."

Then, he disappeared into the forest. I'm just confounded about if that was an illusion. That voice seems to be familiar, but I just can't make sure who that is.

I kept walking until I reached the gate of Krieger City. When I arrived at the gate, I saw Miguel standing next to it.

"Hey, Sharon," He said with a warm voice, "I never expect you to be this early."

"When did you arrived? It's like, almost before sunrise! I left early because I didn't want to see my mom."

"About a few minutes ago. We are trained to be early when I first arrived and took my first training."

The mission target is to clean out the monsters around the Dark Forest next to the Paladin's City.

Oh, I forgot you didn't know about the Dark Forest. It was supposed to be a normal forest just like the others until the Earthquake after the Second War occurred. The collapsed gaps released some energy from the Nether, or Maikai we call it, and spilt out some unknown source of energy, polluting the forest to be dark, absorbing sunlight. It turned out better after the God of light found it out purified a part of their energy. It remained unknown that the mobs they create or who will come out suddenly.

I and Miguel are told to kill the monsters in the middle of the forest. There's a huge flat stone in the centre of the forest, and a pillar showing the north direction of the forest, leading to Paladin's city.

So we all arrived so early, then we started to go there early. Nothing could go wrong, right?

But somehow, something went wrong.

When we entered the Dark forest, some black snakes suddenly came out and rushed at us.

"Careful!" Miguel shouted and pulled out his sword in an instinct.

I ran far away from the snakes and gave them a good strike of bolts. it seems to be dead, then revived to be alive again.

"I guess there has to be a formula to kill them properly, "I claimed.

"Hmm, do you know any?"

He asked me with a kind look, I'm sure those emotions only appears when he's with me. It seems, so appealing...

I found the bottle I bought in the Mages' Market, the pure light dust which can purify some dark substance. I carefully put it at the blade of my weapon and shot another bolt at them.

They magically burnt into dust! I guess some stuff in the market still works.

"Woah, I guess the magic variety improved a lot when I'm gone," Miguel said in surprise, softly took the bottle of light dust and gave his sword a little wipe. The dust is a bit rusty, however, it still works to purify dirty objects.

We started sprinting into the forest and began our killing spree. As I trained a lot during the summer period, my bolt's shoot range has enlarged to almost 45 meters, although it is still not far enough.

Everyone has their potential on anything, and perhaps my potential hasn't been discovered yet.

I just took a look of the forest. I see a lot of strange stuff happen, and then slowly I see an unclear Paladin helmet walking around us, but its all in a blur that everything cannot be clear. I stayed silent and continued to kill the mobs.

And in a sudden, I hear a cracking noise in a distance. Miguel stopped sprinting forward, stood and try to find where that noise came from. A woman with a warrior helmet walked out of a giant tree.

"Ugh, that hurts.." She kept walking out until she sees me and Miguel standing still looking at her.

"Rogue? Why are you here?" Miguel asked.

"Huh? Oh, Miguel! I was just hunting some precious loot on the tree." She replied, handing us a bottle of golden liquid. The liquid inside is filled with tiny dirt, but it should be the substance which can create the light dust I carried.

"Why are these liquid in Dark forest? They shouldn't be here." I asked with confusion.

"Hmm, Miss Sharon, This isn't the Dark forest! It is the Forest of the Lost. It's known for the precious loots on the tree. Just that it looks like the Dark forest because we are near the boundary between them." Rogue answered my question, giving a tiny giggle on my lack of knowledge in the wilderness.

As I was about to blush for my stupidities, Miguel just shouted in slight anger, "Dude, I legit thought I was in the dark forest. We have stayed here for hours!"

"I don't recommend to come to the dark forest right now. The Gap of Corruption started to grow rapidly recently, and you should only go there if you are going to the Shaman's city." Rogue explained, "I guess the Mylia Maiden is investigating the issue here, but I never heard anything from her anymore."

For your information, the Mylia maiden lives in the area of The Mylia Mountains belt. It is located at the north side of the Krieger City. The Mylia maiden is a shrine maiden of the Mylia temple, related to the faith of a rumour that Believing the power of the stars grant them magical power and spells. They say it is very powerful, and it has similar spell systems with the Water spells. They even set up a school for it. However, As the rumour that the current Mylia maiden has a curse that it will cause diseases around the world if she speaks anything. This remains the information of the bloodline of Mylia Family and their school into unknown states, and no one is willing to visit there anymore.

"Cause she was never allowed to leave or speak again since then, right? maybe we should take a visit there sometime." Miguel suggested. "We should leave here. Its almost noon and we may get lost here in case we are leaving in the afternoon."

"Uhh, okay so, where are we now?" Rogue asked.

We don't know where we have gone! I felt embarrassed and looked at Miguel if he has a clue.

"Well shit, to be honest, I don't know, I just kept walking to the north," Miguel said and kept looking forward.

"Jesus Christ, you can't just keep walking! There are illusions to avoid you from walking straightly." Rogue was pissed off, trying to find a way to get to the nearest city.

"Should we find the gate of truth? If you can find it, then we can reach the paladin's city very soon." I suggested. They both agreed and started peeking up the sky.

The gate of truth is an extension of the Mountain of Truth to make a clear border between Forest of the lost and the Dark forest and make sure there's no corrupt sneaking through to Tranquil forest to pollute the cities.

"Here it is! I can see the city's Door up ahead." Rogue pointed at the tall gate surrounded with vines, rushing towards it.

"What about the mission? Aren't we supposed to-"

"You are not supposed to go there," Rogue stopped me from asking the question, continuing, "Dark Forest is supposed to be an extremely dangerous place, normally you won't receive quests about going there. You might be baited there. It's better not going there."

The lady behind the gate seemed to hear our conversation, "pfft." Her footsteps seem to fade by time.

However, as she heads back to the forest, she was smacked by a hammer.

"Do you think you can escape from this?"

"Huh? No, It is impossible, No, Leave it! No! STOP!"

She screamed as a paladin started to chase her. I overheard a little and looked at the gate. What could hide through this gate?

We arrived at the Paladin's City, it is a pure white and quartz city, surrounded by auras of the gods as they pursue them. But somehow, those auras just let me feel a bit sick, perhaps its too difficult for me to understand their beliefs.

"Hello, we saw you came from the forest, may I help you?" A gatekeeper saw our tired-looked appearance and came to us.

"Is it possible that you can allow us to use the great bridge to return to Tranquil forest areas? We got lost in the forest. And we got the presence of a Mage as well." Rogue requested.

"Oh, Ms Sharon, you may pass, along with your friends." the gatekeeper soon opened a thick birch door, hearing noises of the corrupted metal squeak told me almost no one uses the bridge now.

The great bridge, a passage between The Mages' City and the Paladin's City, the cliff there was never a blockage between the alliance and trust of the Paladins and the Mages. It was built in the early years, and it's still very safe to go to.

"I've never been here, and it looks very nice," Miguel said in surprise.

"Oh, is that Sharon? Hey!"

A girl in grey hair waved at me.

Her name is Sana. She studies the magic of ice, and those people are called Cryomancer. Seems like she is on with her gatekeeping part-time job.

"Sana? You work here now?" I asked as I continued to walk forward with Miguel. As we get close I couldn't notice he released my hand as he was holding mine.

"Yeah, I'm kinda trying to earn more money to attend more lessons! Whos those two behind you?"

Sana took a close look at Rogue and Miguel's helmets. Both of them were one of the Warrior moderators so she suddenly changed her tone.

"Oh, I mean, I'm sorry! it has been a long time since I've met the Staffs of Warriors. It's an honour to see you two, Ms Rogue and Lord Miguel."

"Wait, Lord Miguel?" Rogue asked as Sana slid that name out.

"Hold up, Ms Rogue doesn't know about it? I thought all staffs knew the announcements yesterday, it was even on the newspapers today..." Sana explained.

As Sana stopped explaining Rogue just stared at Miguel with an evil face.

"Sooooo, Lord Miguel congratulations on your once-said 'Impossible' Promotion here! Haha!" Rogue grinned as Miguel's face started to turn red.

"Stop!! You aren't supposed to spoil those out!" Miguel quickly shouted, stopping Rogue to spoil more interesting facts of him. I and Sana just stood there watching their childish arguments.

"Okay, so I'll open the gate now. Please pass." Sana opened the oak wood gate with gold ornaments, Then we went back to Mages' City. But, In a surprise, I saw a rather disgusting face.

"My Sharrronn~ Welcome back from your quest~ I've been waiting for sooo loongg~" Brian appeared out of nowhere.

Oh god, Not again, in front of Rogue and Miguel? It's so embarrassing Just hearing how he speaks like a thot makes me feel sick.

"Um, Sharon, who is he?" Rogue asked staring at him. I looked back I can see Miguel's face started to turn black because Brian was disgusting.

"Oh Ms Warrior, Allow me to introduce myself! My name is Brian Orouku, The soon-ish Husband of my Sha-"

"Cut it out! I never wanted you to be it!"

I used all of my courage to shout. Brian became silenced as I finally pulled out my words and grudges against him, and my mother.

"I'm sorry, you two can go first, it's some private business..."

As for them, they started to leave, Miguel gave me another hand pose which tells me that he won't be leaving.

"You, Come here." Brian suddenly changed his voice, pulled me into the main hall of the Mages' Castle.

"What do you want?!" I pulled out his hand as he was grabbing me real hard.

"What do you mean by you never wanted me to be it?" Brian suddenly went in fury, asking,

"Because you already had your loved one? I'm not worthy for you?"

"I never get to choose what I wanted! Every day I'm discriminated by almost every staff here, just because I'm studying the magic of Water. And now even my mother wants to control me! It's never a problem with your worth! How you talk is just disgusting, And I don't know you either! How am I supposed to trust you anyway?!" I used up all my bravery and shouted out everything I hate.

"Heh, now you finally know your worth. Then, to be honest here," Brian stopped for a few seconds and continued," I'm here to become a new leader and end the Era of Haruka family. I mean, You cant lead the Mages! You are an Aquamancer!" Brain laughed evilly, then gave me a cold stare.

"Now that you know everything, It's time to end your poor weak life. If you would like to shut up and accept the wedding you still got chances to survive."

"No... Leave me alone." As I finished that sentence I started to rush to my room, on the highest floor of the Castle.

"Running is useless! I've told all guards to leave in the following hour, Just accept your fate you filthy rat!" Brian screamed as he chased me.

It seemed useless as Brian ran faster than I do. I took a staircase, cast a spell which it spawns water pushing him away. He dropped on the floor, trying to stand up again. That gave me a lot of spare time to run along. There's nothing I can do but run. My room is located on the 7th floor, And I'm on the 4th floor already. 

As I entered my room I slammed the door, locked it tight. My brain was empty, as I have nothing to do to fight now.

"Sharon! Can you hear me?!" I heard a very loud voice outside. I looked out of the window.

"Pfft." Brian already reached the top of my Castle, trying to open my door.

I already had no choice. If I don't do anything right now, I might get killed.

I heard a fireball trying to knock my door off. My brain is completely empty. I can't think of anything.

I took a long breath.

I opened the window.

I jumped off, closing my eyes.