Chapter 271: Five Days (2)

Clavor took the scroll, his fingers finding the paper. His eyes quickly scanned the few written lines, absorbing every word. There was not much information, nothing that could clarify the creature’s identity. Only instructions to remain vigilant, avoid confrontations, and immediately report any new sighting.

Clavor carefully folded the scroll, storing it inside his tunic.

“Rest. You did a good job.”

The guard nodded, a sigh of relief escaping his lips.

While the two were talking, Lukas emerged from the tent, his eyes still heavy with sleep. He was still drowsy, running a hand through his messy white hair and yawning before looking around.

The first thing he noticed was the horse covered in sweat, its breathing still heavy. The second was the exhausted guard, his eyes marked by the strain of the night’s journey.

And then he remembered the creature.

His eyes swept across the forest, searching for any sign of change. Nothing had changed, the trees were exactly where they should be, none of them seemed to have been knocked down during the night, and there was no trace of a colossal passage.

Lukas let out a silent sigh, relief spreading through his body.

‘It seems that being did not return…’

The thought brought a small sense of relief, a brief respite from his constant concern.

A short while later, Judite and Aurora emerged from the tent, their faces still marked by sleep. The family had a simple and quick breakfast, as there was no more time to prepare anything elaborate. They ate bread, some fruit, and dried meat while the guards dismantled the camp with efficient movements.

The routine was almost automatic, each person carrying out their task with the precision of practice. Tents folded, stakes removed, blankets stored, utensils organized, and supplies transferred to the rear wagon.

In less than an hour, the place where they had spent the night once again looked like nothing more than an ordinary part of the forest, with no traces of their passage.

The horses were prepared, their harnesses adjusted. The guards took their positions, each in his place. Clavor personally checked the surroundings before giving the order, his eyes sweeping across the forest one last time.

“Let’s go.”

The carriage began to move, its wheels passing over the damp earth. The horses pulled with strength, their muscles moving beneath their skin. And the journey continued.

The following two days were surprisingly peaceful, a calm that almost seemed artificial. After the encounter with the creature, everyone expected something to happen, for the danger to manifest itself again. But nothing happened.

The forest remained vast and silent around them, a green sea stretching all the way to the horizon. The carriage moved during the day, stopping whenever the horses needed to rest and resuming the journey when the animals recovered their strength. A routine began to settle in, each day following the pattern of the previous one.

In the morning, they dismantled the camp. During the day, they traveled. At noon, they made a longer stop to feed the horses and allow everyone to eat.

In the late afternoon, they resumed the journey for a few more hours. When the sun began to disappear, they searched for a suitable place to spend the night.

Judite was the one who suffered the most from the monotony, her natural energy being stifled by the repetition. At first, she still found something new in everything, every detail being a discovery.

“What is that tree?”

“Why does that mountain look blue?”

“Did you see that bird?”

“Father, how much longer?”

“Father, are we close?”

“Father…”

After a few days, even Clavor began answering some questions with a simple.

“I don’t know.”

That never diminished Judite’s enthusiasm. She continued looking through the window, her eyes sweeping across the landscape in search of new wonders.

For Lukas, however, those days were an opportunity. At every stop, he observed the environment carefully, noticing the subtle changes occurring around them. The vegetation was beginning to change slowly, some trees had thicker trunks, while others had smaller leaves adapted to different conditions. The amount of moss on the rocks was also decreasing, and the terrain was gradually becoming drier.

Lukas began to realize that they were advancing into a region with a different climate, a transition occurring so gradually that an ordinary person probably would not even notice. But he paid attention to every detail, every change being recorded in his mind.

He also used part of his time to fill his own Lunar Source, exploring its limits. After his fight against Clavor, he had begun to better understand his limits and recognize the signals from his body. Mana was not simply a reserve that could be spent without consequences; it was an extension of his body, a part of his being.

When it was full, he felt light and energized. When he spent too much, a kind of emptiness arose within him, a fatigue that went beyond the physical. And when he finally rested and his mana returned, he had the sensation that something within him was becoming larger, and stronger.

It was still a small change, almost imperceptible. But it was happening.

On the third day, the situation with their provisions caught Clavor’s attention. Helga had prepared a considerable amount of food before their departure, but a long journey quickly consumed supplies. After checking the stores, Clavor frowned, a wrinkle of concern appearing on his forehead.

“We need to get more food.”

Two guards were sent to hunt, their figures disappearing among the trees. As they left, Clavor looked at Lukas, an idea forming in his mind.

“Come.”

Lukas raised his head, surprised.

“Me?”

“You.” Clavor pointed toward a small nearby clearing, his gesture firm.

“Let’s train.”

Lukas’s eyes immediately lit up, energy returning to his body.

“Now?”

“Now.” Clavor’s answer was short but filled with meaning.

The two walked toward the center of the clearing, their steps firm on the soft grass. Judite and Aurora followed, curious. Judite sat down on a rock, extremely interested, her eyes shining with anticipation.

Lukas removed the upper part of his tunic, feeling the cool air against his skin. He took a deep breath, preparing himself. His body was still recovering from the previous training sessions, but he did not complain.

Clavor assumed a combat stance, his arms relaxed.

“Just the body.”

Lukas nodded, understanding the instruction. The mana began to move within him, the Lunar Source pulsing. A small amount of energy coursed through his body, enveloping his muscles and bones. Then his muscles strengthened, ready for action.