Mr. Gharrick stood before the path leading into the Beysolun Forest. Though it appeared quiet, the forest was not unfamiliar to him. This dense, mysterious woodland was an inseparable part of life for the people of Beysolun. The residents often used it for hunting, gathering firewood, or foraging for wild mushrooms. However, few dared to venture too deep. The forest was known as a dark and dangerous place, holding secrets known only to a handful of people.
Mr. Gharrick took a deep breath. His steps were firm, but his mind was full of caution. He didn't know exactly where Neir had been taken, but his intuition was strong. In his heart, he likened himself to a fisherman searching for fish in a sea of fog—no clear map, only instinct to guide him.
"If a storm carries a leaf to the river, then I must find its source," he murmured to himself, a metaphor he often used when facing uncertainty.
Mr. Gharrick sighed deeply, trying to piece together all the events in his head. This green pendant, now clutched tightly in his hand, was clearly the center of all the chaos. He still remembered how Neir had found it earlier, accidentally taken it, and kept it. But that woman had never intended to steal it directly from Neir.
"If only I had realized sooner, perhaps none of this would have happened," he muttered, his eyes sharply fixed on the pendant that glowed faintly like a star trapped in a glass bottle.
The pendant wasn't just a trigger. That woman might have been tailing Neir all along, waiting for the right moment to make her move. And now, after she used mana for teleportation, Mr. Gharrick knew her destination couldn't be too far.
"Teleportation like this can't be done carelessly," he spoke to himself, his voice heavy yet confident. "That woman is like a fisherman who hastily pulls in his net—impatient, but also unwilling to lose what he's already aimed for."
Mr. Gharrick stared at the green pendant more closely. Neir found it by chance, but the Etherium crystal forming the pendant was clearly no ordinary item. The sorceress knew its value well, and she needed it.
"But it's strange," he thought. "She took Neir with her but didn't try to seize the pendant earlier. If this pendant was truly that important to her, why didn't she take it directly? Or perhaps… there's something even more important to her than just this crystal."
He considered the woman's condition. Her left eye, which looked empty like a shattered mirror reflecting the world incorrectly, and the way her head tilted slightly to the right when she spoke. Those were signs that her hearing and sight weren't functioning normally.
"That woman must have suffered damage to her eye and ear," Mr. Gharrick thought. "And this pendant… it's not just a teleportation tool, but a conduit. Perhaps she wanted to use Neir as part of a ritual to heal herself."
Mr. Gharrick began walking again, following faint traces on the ground. "Teleportation like this drains mana, especially without an additional catalyst. That woman is like a candle nearly burnt out, forcing its flame to stay lit, but in the end, it only burns itself."
He paused for a moment, gazing at the moonlit night sky. In his mind, the woman was a tragic figure, like a musician who lost her favorite instrument, trying to steal someone else's voice to fill the void.
"If she truly needed this pendant," Mr. Gharrick murmured, "why didn't she seize it when I was holding it? Instead, she took Neir, who doesn't even have the pendant. Does she still think Neir is carrying it?"
Mr. Gharrick concluded that the woman might have been in too much of a hurry, or her weakened condition forced her to choose the fastest option.
"She's like a runner who sees the finish line ahead but forgets that her legs are already broken," he said as he continued walking. "And now she must be around here, out of energy, waiting for her last chance."
With the green pendant still in his grasp, Mr. Gharrick looked at the forest ahead. Mana-based teleportation without a catalyst is effective for short distances, but it significantly weakens the user's body.
"She must be nearby, perhaps hiding like a wounded fox in its den," he thought. "I just need to find her before it's too late."
"I have always been a favorite for those who wish to disappear," he murmured. "Like an owl seeking a resting place, darkness is their best friend."
In the distance, Mr. Gharrick saw the gloomy entrance of a cave. The cave was not unfamiliar to him. He had visited it years ago when he was young and full of curiosity. This cave, known to the locals as the Dark Cave, had a bad reputation.
The people of Beysolun rarely spoke of this place, let alone approached it. The cave was believed to be the site of secret rituals by sorcerers from neighboring districts—rituals involving the summoning of Etherial beings, teleportation, and even the exchange of senses. Mr. Gharrick had heard stories of people mysteriously disappearing around this forest, with the most widespread rumor being about the exchange of senses across dimensions, with Etherium itself as the medium.
However, the people of Beysolun themselves cared little for such stories. They were a practical society, more focused on trade and hard work than pondering mystical matters. Anyone showing an interest in magic was considered lazy or useless, as magic was seen as a shortcut that didn't align with their values of hard work.
Mr. Gharrick knew well that his library was quiet for this reason. Even since ancient times, the magic school that once stood in Beysolun had long been abandoned. The residents preferred to teach their children how to trade, farm, or catch fish rather than learn magic.
However, outside Beysolun, the situation was different. Districts like Haradyn, Clyvanor, and Etheland had closer ties to the world of magic. Haradyn was famous as a center for Etherium trade, Clyvanor was known as the birthplace of many great sorcerers, and Etheland was a city of alchemists often considered eccentric. Mr. Gharrick suspected the mysterious woman came from one of these districts, given her accent and her clearly more advanced magical abilities compared to the average Beysolun resident.
As he approached the cave, a rumbling sound suddenly echoed from above. Large stones came tumbling down from the cave mouth, nearly hitting Pak Gharrick. With quick reflexes, he jumped back, his body moving like a leaf carried by the wind—fluid and without hesitation.
"It seems she has set up traps," Mr. Gharrick thought. "This is like a snake leaving venom in its nest—just to ensure uninvited guests don't come near."
He examined the fallen stones. There was something strange. This trap didn't just rely on gravity; there were traces of Etherium energy attached to the rocks. This meant the trap was triggered by magic, not just an ordinary mechanism.
Mr. Gharrick took a deep breath, trying to calm his mind. He carefully inspected the cave entrance. The inside was dark, with almost nothing visible except pitch-black shadows. He knew the risks he faced. This cave could very well be a den of Etherial beings—monsters rarely seen by ordinary humans but often appearing in places with high Etherium concentrations.
However, Mr. Gharrick was undaunted. He knew Neir was inside, and he would not let anything stop him.
"The storm may have kidnapped the leaf from its tree," Mr. Gharrick thought as he stepped into the cave, "but I will be the wind that brings that leaf back to its place."
As darkness enveloped his steps, he prepared himself for whatever might be waiting inside. This cave was a place full of mystery, but Mr. Gharrick was no fool. He knew the presence of this mysterious woman was no coincidence. Something much bigger was happening—something involving Neir, Etherium, and secrets buried within this cave.
With the green pendant still in his grasp, Mr. Gharrick looked at the forest ahead of him. Mana-based teleportation without a catalyst was indeed effective for short distances, but it would significantly weaken the user's body.
"She must be around here, perhaps hiding like a wounded fox in its den," he thought. "I just need to find her before it's too late."
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