Chapter 14: To Ethra

After a hearty breakfast of mushroom soup, biscuits, and bacon, we set off toward Ethra.

“Great Forest Estir map,” I uttered, and a shimmering projection of the forest unfolded in front of us.

“You see the Blue Swamp marked in green? That means we’re currently here,” Lily explained.

“I see,” I said, frowning at the display.

“But wouldn’t it be more useful if the map showed our position as we moved, like tracking our journey from one location to the next?”, I added

“It can, in a way,” Lily replied.

“You see that tall pillar with the blue gemstone? It’s a landmark.

These gemstones synchronize with magical maps, letting them confirm your location once you reach a point.”

I crossed my arms.

“So basically, unless we’re at one of those pillars, the map is useless for tracking. What’s the point if you can’t tell where you are in between?” I asked, thinking how convenient GPS (Global Positioning System) works in my old world.

“That’s where this comes in,” Lily said, pulling out a small golden dial.

On closer inspection, it resembled a metallic compass more than anything.

“This device points you toward specific landmarks. As long as you’re near one, the dial aligns with it.”

“And it only works with the three nearest landmarks,” Reimei added.

“So I can’t just skip over to Lahir, the nearest landmark in Flogas?” I asked.

Reimei shook her head.

“The Great Forest Estir is a living maze for us Seresians. That’s exactly why the Orbiter is essential”, Reimei explained.

“Orbiter?” I repeated.

“That’s the tool’s name,” Lily said, turning the golden dial in her hand.

“With it, you can navigate deeper into the forest. Without it, you’d never find the settlements hidden within, even if you walked in a straight line.”

I muttered, half to myself, “So the Orbiter is the real key to solving the forest.”

“Exactly,” Lily confirmed.

“And the map still has its uses. It tells you the names of the three nearest landmarks from wherever you stand, information you’ll need to activate the Orbiter.”

“The second one is… hmm, I’ll tell you later. It’s better if you see it for yourself,” Lily said with a teasing smile.

“I’ll hold you to that,” I replied, storing the map back into my divine gacha inventory.

We made our way toward the Blue Swamp landmark.

It wasn’t a massive structure, certainly no towering spire, but it still rose two or three times higher than an average human height, gleaming faintly with an azure glow.

“Point, Ethra,” Lily commanded.

At once, the Orbiter shimmered, its surface glowing green.

Two needle-like hands shifted, overlapping as they aimed slightly northeast.

“When both hands line up, it means we’re on the right path,” Lily explained.

Then, to demonstrate, she turned her body in the opposite direction.

One of the hands swiveled to follow her movement, flashing red, while the other remained locked in place, glowing blue toward Ethra.

“If they split like this, it means you’ve strayed off course.”

The Orbiter itself was plain, almost deceptively simple, no carvings, no runes, just those two glowing hands that quietly dictated the way.

“Here, Raki. Take this one,” Lily said, handing me a second Orbiter.

“It’s a spare, in case we get separated.”

“Got it,” I replied, tucking it safely into my divine gacha inventory.

As we followed Lily and Janbo, Reimei’s eyes lingered on me.

“Raki, that little tool you always use whenever you store something… is it a kind of magic artifact?”

“You call it a phone, right?” she added.

“Yeah,” I admitted.

“It’s from my old world. More of an all-purpose tool than a magical one.”

“Like what?” Reimei pressed, curious.

“Well, for starters, you can use it to talk to someone far away. Or send messages instantly, like letters carried through the air,” I explained.

Her eyes widened. “Seriously? That small tool can do that? That’s incredible.”

“It can also pull up maps of my world, capture a moment like a painting… and a lot more,” I added carefully.

From behind, Lily chimed in, clearly listening the whole time.

“Are you sure your world has no magic? That sounds very magical to me”, Lily stated.

I managed a nervous smile, relieved they hadn’t asked to inspect it closer.

After all, Chaleon never told me whether it was safe or even allowed, to show people in this world my phone.

I almost forgot, it’s a new day, which means I have another free draw.

Maybe I’ll use it later, once we reach Ethra.

After nearly an hour of trekking through the lush expanse of the Great Forest Estir, the thick trees thinned into a broad clearing.

Ahead of us stood what looked like a settlement, complete with wooden palisades and rooftops peeking above.

“Is this Ethra?” Reimei asked, glancing at the Orbiter’s needle, which still pointed toward the direction we were heading.

“Raki, check the map,” Lily said.

“Great Forest Estir map,” I commanded.

The parchment shimmered into existence before me.

What appeared on its surface made me frown.

The spot where the supposed settlement stood wasn’t marked in green, but in dull grey.

“Raki, this is the second reason why that map is so important,” Lily explained, her tone serious now.

“There are false settlements scattered across the forest, illusions crafted by Guildmaster Rion.”

“One way to spot them,” she continued, “is to check the Great Forest Estir map. Another is by using the pendant Rion gave us.” She gestured toward the pendant in Reimei’s neck.

Reimei tilted it under the light. “So how does this pendant reveal illusions?”

“See the faint glimmer? That’s Rion’s magic. When we enter a true landmark, it will flare into a brighter, purer blue,” Lily explained.

“And the third method…” She paused, pulling out a pair of thin-framed spectacles.

The lenses shimmered faintly with runes etched along the rim.

“Is to use a magical glass to see through the trick.”, Lily stated in a proud voice.

The false settlement shimmered at the edges as Lily slipped the glasses on.

“Apomímisi,” Lily uttered.

At once, the settlement dissolved into mist, vanishing as if it had never been there.

The trees behind it stretched back into their natural place, the false path erased.

“It will reappear in a few minutes,” Lily warned, lowering the glasses.

“We need to move quickly. Getting caught wandering through one of Rion’s illusions can cost us hours”, Lily advised.

Without hesitation, we pressed forward, leaving the mirage behind as we continued toward the real Ethra.

Glancing back for just a moment, I saw the mist roll in once more, swallowing the clearing.

Within seconds, the false settlement shimmered back into view as if it had never disappeared.

“Raki, don’t let your eyes wander too much, you might end up lost,” Lily said, pausing mid-step.

“Sorry. Just got a little curious,” I admitted sheepishly.

She smiled faintly. “Relax, I’m teasing. As long as I’m here, you won’t get lost.”

“Now, look at your right hand,” Lily pointed.

I followed her gesture.

A faint, glowing string of light, similar to the one I’d seen binding the bundle of firewood earlier, was now looped around my wrist.

The same thread stretched outward, connecting to Reimei’s right hand and Janbo’s front paw.

“A little trick my late Dad taught me,” Lily said with a proud smile.

Reimei’s eyes narrowed as she scanned the quiet woods.

“I think I understand why we haven’t seen any creatures," Reimei suddenly said.

“It’s because we’re traveling with a spirit wolf,” Lily replied.

“Wait… you mean Janbo’s presence alone is enough to scare them off?” I asked, astonished.

Lily chuckled, patting Janbo’s broad head. “Exactly. He’s really something, isn’t he?”

“Bau, bau!” Janbo barked happily, tail swishing.

“Even so, don’t lower your guard,” Lily warned, her tone sharpening. “Every now and then, tainted creatures appear in the Great Forest of Estir…”

“And those things won’t be afraid of Janbo,” Reimei added grimly.

“Ruff!” Janbo suddenly growled, his ears pricking as he faced a direction deeper in the woods.

A lone figure stepped out from between the trees, a man in a black cloak, his movements calm and deliberate.

Unlike the ragged look of most adventurers, his light armor gleamed faintly beneath the fabric, his posture composed and almost dignified.

“Wait!...I’m not your enemy,” the stranger said, raising one hand in a placating gesture.

The tension hung heavy in the air as he drew closer, the hood of his cloak shadowing his face.

“I’m Zid, a battle priest stationed in Ethra,” the young man introduced himself with a steady voice.

“Then why are you out here, Zid?” Lily asked sharply.

“I came rushing to rescue a group of travelers. They’re about to be attacked by a group of Shadow Hounds,” Zid explained.

“Attacked?” I echoed, frowning.

“I’ll explain more later. For now, let me through, I need to reach them,” Zid said, his tone urgent.

“And these people you’re talking about, where are they supposed to be?” I pressed.

“Somewhere nearby,” Zid answered grimly.

Janbo’s low growl rumbled through the clearing.

“We’re surrounded,” Lily muttered.

“I count five Shadow Hounds circling us,” Reimei confirmed, hand on her weapon.

Zid raised a hand, calm despite the danger.

“I know you’re ready to fight, but allow me. If you’re injured, Lena will never forgive me.”, Zid suggested.

I exchanged a look with Reimei and Lily before nodding. “Sure. We’ll leave it to you.”

Without hesitation, Zid pulled a small silver bell from his belt and gave it a sharp ring.

The clear chime cut through the forest, and in the same instant, five shadowy hounds lunged from the mist.

“May the light of God drown my body with His grace, Fourth-Rank Magic: Holy Aura!” Zid uttered.

Radiant energy flared around him in a golden blaze.

Moving faster than my eyes could follow, he defeated four of the shadow hounds in a heartbeat.

The last hound met his hand instead, Zid caught its throat in an iron grip.

“May your soul rest in peace,” he whispered, and with a single twist, the beast’s neck snapped.

Its body dissolved into motes of darkness, vanishing like the others.

Dispelling his aura, Zid gave a small bow.

“Forgive the barbarity of my methods. As penance, allow me to guide you safely to Ethra.”

I couldn’t help but stare.

This young man is absurdly strong.