ALL NOVEL Chapter 26.2 – What The Hell is That…
After that, Nebula gave me more detailed information about the forest and other things she knew about the alchemist. Her words remained cautious all through our walk, and I could sense the underlying worry in her voice. She really cared about this engagement, huh?
Other than that, it was clear that the thought of the Wraithwoods unsettled her. As a local, she knew enough rumors and legends to be fearful. And why wouldn’t she be? From the stories she told me, I understood her reasons perfectly.
A place shrouded in darkness and death, with tales of wrathful spirits and ghouls lurking in every shadow… it wasn’t exactly a tourist spot.
"Here you go," a voice interrupted my thoughts as the Baron handed me a rolled-up piece of parchment. The paper felt heavier than it should as I accepted it.
It was the permit for visiting the Wraithwoods. Something that, as Nebula had informed me earlier, was rarely granted. The forest was so dangerous that it was forbidden to enter without explicit permission from the lord of the land.
Lord Alistair Carlstein’s expression was stern as he handed me the document, his gaze lingering on me. “Be careful, Iskandaar,” he said, his deep voice carrying a weight of seriousness. “I’m only letting you go because you have a 5th Ascension knight with you. That forest has claimed many lives, and I have no intention of adding yours to the list.”
I nodded, tucking the permit into my coat. He had only allowed it because Nebula approached him in my stead. Otherwise, he too would have demanded my reasons for wanting to visit that place. “I appreciate your concern, father-in-law,” I replied, my tone respectful. “I’ll make sure we all come back in one piece.”
Nebula stood a few paces behind me, her expression neutral but her eyes betraying a sliver of unease. The man looked at his daughter, smiling a little, seeing her nervous. Was he happy that his daughter cared for the trash he had forced her into an engagement with?
“Now leave otherwise it’ll be dark by the time you reach. And remember… do not stay in the forest quarters at night.” The Baron dismissed us, and we bowed, walking out of the room. Nebula walked alongside me.
Her steps were quiet against the stone floor. It was natural, as if she didn't trust making a sound in her house. How depressing. The silence between us was lighter than before, and I could feel her eyes on me as we made our way to the estate gates.
The Romani horses were waiting, letting out foggy breaths in the chilly morning air. The knights were already mounted, their armor gleaming faintly in the soft light. This time, only five knights, not the entire Order, were accompanying me, and Lilian stood beside them, her usual nonchalant expression plastered on her face.
Sir Carlos, the leader of the group, got off the horse with a huff and approached me. “Young master,” he bowed. “Since the forest is dangerous, it’s unwise to take too many people. So I’m taking the best with me,” he said, gesturing to the knights behind him.
I recognized Sir Lucas, Tyrone, and Rony from Lockdarn, but there was another face. He wasn’t new, but I just wasn’t close to him. I think his name was Eamon? “They’re all of the Second Ascension and have received their class, not mere trainees anymore. We’ll be careful.” Sir Carlos said.
I gave them an appreciative nod. “Thank you, Sir Carlos. I’m glad to have you all with me despite knowing how stupid this mission sounds.”
Sir Carlos laughed a little but didn’t say anything. So he agrees that the mission’s stupid. I suppose the other knights are quite dissatisfied. Sir Carlos and Lucas didn’t look worried, but Rony and Eamon looked uncomfortable. Tyrone looked outright mad.
I think that one needs to be more careful of his face; although I didn’t care, I understand why he’d be mad, but if he made that face in front of some other noble, he’d get in trouble.
Ignoring them, I glanced around, expecting to see the carriage that had brought me here, but it was nowhere in sight. “Where’s the carriage?” I asked, a small frown on my forehead.
Lucas, adjusting his saddle, looked up and replied, “Oh, young master, the road leading to the forest isn’t suitable for carriages. Especially if we want to head inside, horses will be our best choice.”
I blinked, my frown deepening. Shit, I can’t ride a horse.
Perhaps I should be more careful of my own expression before judging Tyrone for his because Lilian burst out laughing, pointing at me. “Hey, what’s with your face? No way, you can’t ride a horse? Seriously? How can someone like you not ride a horse?!”
Her laughter echoed in the courtyard, and I felt my jaw clench. I glared at her while the knights rubbed the back of their heads. “That’s enough. A maid shouldn’t laugh at her master,” Nebula stepped forward and said, shooting the girl a look. Lilian’s laughter died down soon, and she glared at the vampire.
No way, they were already at each other’s neck despite being unaware of each other’s family affiliations. May the Gods save me.
Nebula ignored the wolf and looked at me, “Be careful,” she said, her voice quiet. There was a moment of hesitation before she added, “I’ll be really mad if you end up dying.”
I chuckled a little and offered her a small, reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back before you know it.”
She nodded, her hand slipping away from my arm as she stepped back. I turned to Lilian, “Get on,” I said, nudging her to the empty horse, and she did.
She blinked when I began to climb over behind her. “Oi, what are you doing?”
“The knights are too heavily equipped with their armor. Why must we torture their poor horses when I have a lighter person to ride with?” I added as I sat behind her, hands on her waist.
Her eyes twitched, “Did you just call me skinny? I can lift thrice your weight!”
That’s not really impressive in a world where people can punch a mountain clean. I shrugged, ignoring the girl and ushering the knights with a nod. The knights exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of concern as they nodded and pulled their horses’ reins.
With a drum-like charge through the cobblestones, we left the Carlstein mansion behind us, with Nebula’s figure growing smaller in the backdrop of the horizon.
….
We rode out of the estate and onto the spiraling path leading to the Wraithwoods, and the landscape began to change drastically. The once bright and warm sun started to get obscured by thick clouds that cast shadows over us. The air grew colder, the wind carrying a soft, eerie whisper that made any man shiver. The atmosphere was odd.
The ride was silent for the most part, with only the clatter of hooves against the dirt path and the rustle of leaves accompanying us. Lilian, the usual curious chatterbox, was now quiet as she handled the horse through the increasingly difficult road.
“This place is no joke,” she said, and I could understand her unease.
“It smells dangerous, yes.”
“Huh, you can smell danger now?” she shot me a look, “You somehow have Aetheris Eyes after I showed you mine, and now you have a sensitive smell?”
“Sweetheart, it’s a metaphor humans use…”
“Oh,” she blinked and then cleared her throat. She turned ahead, and I laughed, which made her huff. “You’re lucky I’m nice enough to let you ride behind me. Stop laughing. Seriously, young master, how can you not ride a horse? This is just embarrassing.”
“....” I didn’t bother to reply. Not that it bothered me, of course… I focused on the path ahead, watching the trees around us grow much denser, their branches twisting and reaching out like skeletal fingers.
Everyone grew tense. More trees weren't the only change.
The further we went, the more overbearing the atmosphere became. The once-clear path was getting shrouded in mist, some weird fog that obscured our view and made it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead.
The horses began to slow, their movements uncertain as we approached the edge of the forest. We let out a sigh of awe at the sight. We smelled the air that carried the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, watching the mist swirling around us eerily. The trees loomed tall and foreboding, their bark dark and rough.
“Yeah, this place does not smell right…” Lilian’s voice was barely above a whisper as she spoke. “It’s like the forest itself doesn’t want us here.”
She wasn’t wrong. The horses were trembling beneath us, and their ears were flat against their heads. The forest was alive. In a way that was both fascinating and terrifying.
“We’re here,” Sir Carlos announced far too long after we had stopped, his voice steady despite the obvious concern in the group.
I looked around, once again taking in the sight. The darkness seemed to hum. The trees, not just the leaves, swayed gently as if moved by an unseen force. The odd mist clung to everything, obscuring our line of sight and giving the forest an otherworldly feel.
“So this is it,” I said. “The Wraithwood Forest.” It stood before us like the maw of a scary beast, waiting to devour all men.
And our little group was about to enter it.
