England's climate is sub-arctic, similar to Heilongjiang in China. The lushness of the plants is entirely due to their longevity, untouched by human felling. The thick, robust vegetation made it feel as if one had stepped into the Jurassic period, yet unlike the humid, stuffy environment of the tropics, it was quite dry here.
Kayal walked for about a thousand meters along a path woven from tree roots and found a sacred spot: a small spring!
The large wild beasts in this area usually went to lakes and rivers to drink, as they were clean and also provided hunting opportunities. Small springs like this mostly attracted small animals, and most small animals were herbivores.
So, Kayal, covered in sweat after walking over a thousand meters, unhesitatingly stripped naked and bathed directly in the spring. Fortunately, Kayal's body wasn't oily, so a simple rinse without soap was very comfortable. The temperature was moderate, perfect for summer. Exhausted, Kayal fell asleep in this small pool of water. It was also due to the pool's beauty; the surrounding stones formed a natural hollow, preventing crawling animals from entering, and the cool spring water trickling over him created a unique sensation.
Under the dual baptism of fatigue and comfort, Kayal drifted into a deep sleep.
By the time he woke up, the sun was already setting in the west.
Knowing that today's exploration had to end, Kayal had no regrets. The spring water, still icy cold in summer, seemed to be groundwater. This discovery in itself was very interesting and could bring significant benefits.
Kayal wiped himself dry, put on his clothes, picked up his staff, and was about to leave. But when he looked up, he froze.
Unbeknownst to him, many small animals—rabbits, squirrels, pheasants, and the like—had gathered around him, staring with wide eyes. After a moment, Kayal understood. This water source must be the only place where nearby small animals could quench their thirst without fear of large predators. Yet, they hadn't dared to approach while he lay there for so long, probably because they were just ordinary small animals who had never seen a human.
Kayal paused, then spotted the silhouette of a medium-sized beast in the forest: a white horse.
It should be described as an immature white horse, hidden among the trees and small animals. Its bright, sparkling eyes stared unblinkingly at Kayal, looking as if it wanted to drink but dared not approach.
Kayal smiled faintly, and a glowing magic circle emerged from his staff. This was an auxiliary magic used to soothe and calm the mind. Kayal would cast this on himself to stabilize his emotions when his mind was unclear or racing too fast. Now, it was appropriate to use it to calm the agitated small animals.
Startled by the initial white light, they quickly felt a sense of calm. The small animals, after a brief commotion, slowly drew closer.
A small rabbit, highly alert, took three steps and looked around, until it reached the edge of the pond. Seeing no aggression from Kayal, it cautiously lowered its head and quickly drank, its two ears twitching adorably.
Seeing that the little rabbit was not attacked, the other animals, thirsty for most of the day, could no longer resist and swarmed forward, lapping at the water in the pool.
Kayal keenly noticed that these animals were very disciplined; they never defecated in the pool. It seemed that through years of accumulated experience, they had learned that waste would pollute the water source, and after several lessons, no animal dared to relieve itself in the water.
Kayal couldn't help but find it amusing. People always said that humans became the dominant species on Earth because they progressed, unaware that animals also progressed, albeit with limited progress due to the inherent limitations of their brains.
The horse, which had no dirt on it in the forest, finally appeared. With crisp hooves, the little horse stepped onto the water's edge, one step at a time.
The small animals were quite afraid of it and scattered as the little horse approached.
Kayal didn't get a full view of the little horse until it came closer. Kayal opened his mouth but couldn't speak, only shaking his head.
A Unicorn! The small colt, with a golden-yellow, seemingly bone-like horn on its head, perfectly straight without a single bend, brought immense shock to Kayal. He had always heard of 'magical beasts,' and upon seeing the colt's immense strength, easily leaving a small dent in the stone, Kayal realized: the legends passed down over tens of thousands of years — tales of heroes fighting dragons, knights saving princesses — why couldn't the mythical Unicorns, Pegasi, Dragons, and Cyclops be these mutated magical beasts?
Thinking this, Kayal no longer dwelled on it. Historians struggled with the history of even a hundred years ago; the further back in time, the more brutal the passage of time made it difficult to research. Perhaps these mutated species truly were the legends sung by countless people.
The little Unicorn stopped in front of Kayal, shaking its not-so-large head from side to side, its bright, sparkling eyes examining Kayal. Its horn, however, was a bit long, almost pricking Kayal's nose.
Seeing the little Unicorn's strength, capable of leaving an imprint with a mere step, yet showing no malice, Kayal smiled gently. He suddenly raised his hand and placed it under the little Unicorn's chin, gently scratching.
Wild animals usually get itchy in their armpits or under their chins but can't scratch themselves. The best way to befriend an animal is to scratch them where they can't reach.
Indeed, with that scratch, the little Unicorn snorted, clearly quite comfortable.
It shook its head, enjoying itself for a while, then remembered it had come to drink water. It lowered its head, letting Kayal scratch its neck, an unprecedented enjoyment.
After raising its neck, it looked up and down at the human, its gaze filled with unprecedented curiosity.
After helping the little Unicorn smooth its mane, Kayal looked at the sky and felt he couldn't stay any longer, or he would have to spend the night in the forest. During wartime, any action he took would be infinitely magnified, especially during the period he had just been conferred the title of 'Little Sage.'
Kayal had to return during the war to reassure the people.
However, the little Unicorn followed Kayal slowly towards the edge of the forest.
Kayal stood under the treehouse and waved back at the little Unicorn, and with a snort, the little Unicorn happily trotted over.
He stroked the little Unicorn's neck, mounted it, and headed towards the manor, everything unspoken.
The little Unicorn galloped joyfully across the land. Though small, its speed and explosive power were already top-notch, flying like a white arrow along the road, complementing Kayal's white robe perfectly.
It was already dark when they arrived at the manor, though it was only a little past five. The manor was bustling with people. Seeing Kayal return, the somewhat flustered villagers calmed down, especially since 'Little Sage' Kayal had brought back a magical beast—hmm, should it be called a Unicorn?