Chapter 12: The Blue Swamp

“So, what’s your world like?” Lily suddenly asked about an hour after we stepped deeper into the Great Forest Estir.

“For starters, we only have one sun, and magic doesn’t exist there,it’s more like a story… a myth,” I replied.

“A world without magic…” Reimei murmured.

“I can’t imagine living in such a place,” Lily said, shaking her head.

“Here in Mazal, magic is part of our daily lives. It’s essential”, Lily added.

“In terms of travel, do you also go on foot in your world?” Lily asked again.

“For short distances, yes. But when moving from town to town or city to city, we usually use cars or trains,” I explained.

“Cars? Trains?” Lily repeated in confusion.

“They’re like large metallic carriages that run on some kind of fuel, moving on their own without the need for a creature to pull them,” I said.

“That almost sounds quite magical on its own,” Lily admitted, her eyes curious.

“A way of traveling without beasts or magic…”, Lily muttered thinking about the idea.

“We mostly use carriages here for long journeys, but of course, they require horses or other creatures,” she added.

“Guildmaster Rion once mentioned that dragons can be used for travel,” Reimei chimed in.

“Right… if I recall correctly, Flogas is famous for taming dragons, both for transportation and for battle,” she added.

“Riding a dragon, huh? Sounds fun to me,” I said with a grin, recalling the airplanes from my old world, giant iron birds that soared across the sky.

We kept up our small talk as we walked, until we had gone far enough into the forest that our only guide was the two suns shining overhead.

“Is it normal not to run into many creatures in the Great Forest Estir?” I asked, after only spotting a few wild boars and birds along the way.

“It is,” Lily explained.

“New adventurers are usually sent on missions closer to Elira, which means the outskirts of the Great Forest Estir.

You’ll see more creatures once we get past the Blue Swamp.”

“That’s the farthest we’ve ever gone into the forest,” Reimei added.

“The last time was when we were tasked to collect blue lilies, right, Reimei?” Lily asked.

“Yeah,” Reimei nodded.

“But it was tough,” Lily continued.

“We reached the swamp at night, and by then all the blue lilies had turned red.”

“Wait!... blue lilies turn red?” I asked in surprise.

“They do,” Lily replied.

“When the moonlight of Myrra and Lyrra shines on them, their petals shift from blue to red.

They only turn blue again when touched by the light of Protos and Teros.”

“That’s why my dad named me Lily,” she added with a faint smile.

“Because of my ruby eyes and crimson hair, he said they reminded him of the red lilies he once saw at the Blue Swamp.”

“I remember we had to camp there,” Reimei said softly.

“Red lilies are used for potions that cure frostbite, while the blue ones are brewed for burn remedies”, Reimei explained.

Then Lily’s voice dropped.

“Aren’t you going to ask about my dad? Or about Reimei’s parents?”

Reimei’s gaze lowered, and I felt the heaviness between them.

I never met Lily’s father or Reimei’s parents, and I was careful enough not to ask.

“They were strong adventurers,” Lily finally said while keeping the pace of her strides .

“Guildmaster Rion’s best students, in fact.

But three years ago… when the Ancient Barrier of Elira was shattered by a group of Death Knights and several Liches… everything changed.”

Her words hung heavy in the air as she went on.

“While Guildmaster Rion fought against the main force attacking from the south, our parents were sent to hold the eastern side.

Even though they were A-rank adventurers… they couldn’t withstand the strength of a Death Knight and two Liches.”

“According to Guildmaster Rion, by the time he arrived… Reimei’s parents and my dad were already beyond saving,” Lily said quietly.

“But even then, they managed to slay the Liches and cripple the Death Knight, cutting off one of its legs to halt its advance toward the Guild where non combatant residents stayed during the attack.”

“They really gave their lives to protect everyone… especially their loved ones,” I said after hearing Lily’s story.

“I think that’s just what parents do,” I added softly.

“They’ll give everything if it means keeping their children safe”, I continued.

Lily smiled faintly. “And I’m truly grateful for that.”

“Mom and Dad gave their lives for me and my little brother… but sometimes, I still wish they were here with me, Reimei suddenly said with a trembling voice. ”

“I’m sure they’re still watching over you, both of you,” I said, glancing at Lily and Reimei.

Reimei looked at me, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“Sometimes… it feels like you’re much older than you look, Raki,” she said with a calmer voice.

I could only smile at her remark.

After nearly an hour of continuous walking…

“We’re here,” Lily announced, her words shattering the somber mood as we emerged into a wide clearing at the heart of the Great Forest Estir.

Blue lilies ringed the edges of a crystal-clear swamp, glowing faintly in the fading light.

The place looked like a hidden paradise, with trees heavy with colorful fruits leaning gently over the water.

“Welcome to the Blue Swamp,” Lily said warmly.

“We should set up camp, Protos and Teros are about to set,” Reimei reminded us.

I pulled out our camping supplies from my Divine Gacha inventory.

“I’ll handle the protective barrier. I’ll leave the camp setup to you two,” Lily said, walking several meters away with a handful of charms.

She glanced back once and added, “I’ll help once I’m done.”

Janbo trotted after her without hesitation.

“Janbo really likes Lily,” Reimei chuckled as she started assembling the tent.

“Could you set the tent over there?” she asked, pointing to a flat patch of ground near me.

“Sure,” I said, moving the tent set into position.

“Move over here a bit,” Reimei instructed.

I quickly stepped to her side.

“Restore,” she commanded.

The collapsed tent shimmered faintly before reassembling itself piece by piece, rising into a sturdy medium-sized shelter within moments.

Any camper would dream of having something this convenient, I thought.

“Raki, can you set up the campfire while I prepare our sleeping space?” Reimei asked.

“Of course,” I replied.

It was clear both Reimei and Lily were well-versed in setting up camp.

I scanned the swamp’s edge for stones to build a cooking fire.

Not far from the clearing, I found a circle of old scorch-marked rocks, evidence of past campers.

Carrying them one by one, I arranged them a few meters from our tent into a crude stone stove.

Now I just need firewood, I thought as I dusted off my hands.

“Here,” Lily said as Janbo padded over, dropping a bundle of firewood neatly tied with what looked like a magical rope.

“Perfect. Thanks,” I said.

“Raki, Lily… I’ll catch some fish. Make sure to get the fire going,” Reimei called as she walked toward the swamp.

Like a loyal guardian, Janbo trotted after her.

“I thought he liked me more,” Lily muttered with a small pout.

“But I guess he’s just doing his duty”, Lily added.

“I’m sure Janbo likes you just as much as he likes Reimei,” I reassured her.

As I stacked the firewood on the stone stove, Lily raised her hand.

“Burn,” she whispered.

A faint ember sparked to life, quickly fanning into bright, dancing flames that crackled warmly against the growing night.

“I’m curious, Raki… what do you plan on cooking for us later on the journey?” Lily asked, tilting her head with a teasing smile.

I blinked at her in surprise.

Honestly, I had been expecting curry tonight.

“The fish here tastes amazing when grilled,” she continued.

“I hope Reimei catches plenty.”

She handed me a short knife. “Raki, help me make some skewers.”

I guess we're having grilled fish for tonight.

Only then did I notice the bundle of firewood, some of the sticks were thin, straight, and perfect for skewers.

“Reimei and I usually camp here whenever we take a nearby quest,” Lily explained while sharpening one of the sticks.

“It saves us a lot of trouble. Just add some salt, and grilled fish is more than enough.”

She gave a small laugh. “Especially with fresh bread, it’s perfect together.”

By the time we finished, we had about a dozen skewers ready.

That was when Reimei and Janbo returned, carrying a good haul of fish already skewered clean through with Reimei’s arrows.

The catch glistened in the firelight, silver-scaled and shaped like a kind of swamp bass.

“I cleaned them before heading back. They just need a bit of salt,” Reimei said calmly.

I carefully threaded each fish onto the skewers and sprinkled them with salt, while Lily shifted her attention to the iron pot, already setting up a soup.

“Raki, can you bring out some meat and vegetables?” Lily asked.

I nodded and quickly pulled them from my inventory, handing them over.

“Mom gave me some spices before we left,” she said softly as she worked, a faint smile on her lips. “She told me to always make hot soup at every meal.”

Thanks, Aunt Iris, I thought as the fragrant aroma of simmering broth began to drift through the air, mixing with the smoky scent of fish crackling over the fire.

By the time the skewers were done, the two moons Myrra and Lyrra had risen above the treetops.

Their twin lights poured across the swamp, and just like magic, the lilies changed.

Where they had once glowed a soft blue, they now shifted into a vivid crimson, as if the moons themselves had painted the swamp in their colors.

The water glistens, reflecting red and silver, turning the Blue Swamp into a breathtaking scarlet paradise under the two moons.