"Brothers, I want to make my charm stronger, so I've decided to train in the Havenmyst Forest."
After Zaiveil said those words the reaction was immediate and varied.
"Absolutely not, Zai, that forest is dangerous even for seasoned and strong charmers. You've just learned your charm and still haven't known how to control it properly." Herox said flatly, his arms were crossing over his chest.
"Little sis, Havenmyst Forest is such a dangerous place. I do love and enjoy a good adventure as much as anyone, but that forest isn't really something we could have an adventure on." Zyver said, He's excited by the thought of an adventure and looking for fun things but his genuine worry towards his sister is evident beneath his usual enthusiasm.
"But Brothers, I've survived worse than a forest before, I grew up and spent my eighteen years in Gaia as an assassin, facing dangers everyday and people who're worse than those dangerous beasts in that forest." Zaiveil reminded them of her past experiences.
"Sis, that was a different kind of danger. This world was a new territory for you, and even so was Havenmyst Forest." Heriot pointed out, though his tone carried less immediate resistance than Herox's.
"Which is exactly why I need to go in there to improve and develop my practical experience. Brothers, I can't properly understand my own strength right now, and by just simply reading theory or sparring safely within our palace walls. I would rather choose a training that has real challenges that confine myself inside a box and let my own powers rot inside it." Zaiveil countered
Zyrcus, who had remained quiet throughout the exchange, finally spoke, his voice calm and measured.
"Big Brother, Second Brother and Third Brother, Zai is right. And honestly, I think all of us should understand that better than we'd like to admit it."
The room fell silent for a moment, her brothers exchanging uneasy glances. Herox let a long sigh before saying,
"Alright, but if we're doing this, we will do it properly. We need to make preparations and precautions. And absolutely no one should make trouble nor make reckless decisions, once we're actually inside that forest." Herox said finally, he's reluctant but acceptance was edging into his tone
"Big Brother! We? " Zaiveil asked, in a surprised tone.
"Zai, don't tell me, you think that we'd just let you march into one of Southemeia's most dangerous forests alone?" Heriot said, he's smirking despite his earlier reluctance.
"Someone has to make sure you don't get yourself killed within the first hour." Herox said seriously.
Zaiveil felt something warm settle in her chest, gratitude threading through her earlier determination.
"Now, we still have to convince Mother and Father, and that, little sis, might honestly be more dangerous than the forest itself." Zyver said, after a while.
Zaiveil found herself smiling faintly, the weight of Elder Cryzton's earlier revelations is much more manageable now for her because she had her brothers' support standing firmly beside her.
Whatever answers waited within the Havenmyst Forest. About her strength, her charm, and perhaps even the truths surrounding the goddess Cosmic Veil herself, she intended to find them slowly, one step at a time.
The following morning, Zaiveil and her four brothers requested an audience with their parents, gathering in the smaller council chamber where family matters were typically discussed away from the formality of the throne room.
Empress Hernia's expression shifted from curious to visibly alarmed the moment Herox explained the purpose of their visit.
"Havenmyst Forest?! Zai, no way! That forest has claimed the lives of many trained charmers with even decades of experience. And you've been only awake for barely a month." she repeated, her teacup pausing halfway to her lips.
"Mother, I understand your concern, however, I believe that practical training is more essential if I'm going to properly understand the control of my own charm. Text knowledge alone won't prepare me for the real danger that i might face in the future." Zaiveil explained, having anticipated this exact reaction from her mother.
"There are more safer training grounds here within our kingdom, there's also supervised trials within the Elysium itself. So why must you insis to go in Havenmyst Forest specifically?" Emperor Zyron said, his tone was measured though his eyes carried the same worry as his wife's.
"Because there's genuine danger and unexpected things that might happen inside, Father. I don't want a training that only prepares me for those controlled or predictable scenarios. I need to understand how my charm responds under real pressure, real unpredictability and that's not something a supervised academy exercise can offer."
"She has a point, Father, I've reviewed the standard training of charmers and all of it is designed for charmers to progress at typical rates only. But Zai's situation is roo different from everyone." Herox said while looking face yo face with their parents.
"Mother, Father you don't have 5
to worry too much. We will join Zai in her adventure, we'll be with her, all four of us. We won't let her face the forest alone." Zyrcus added quietly
Empress Hernia's worried gaze softened slightly at that, though uncertainty still lingered heavily in her expression.
"Even with all four of you accompanying her, that forest still remains unpredictable. What if something happens in the middle of your journey? That even with the five of you combined, things will still be hard yo handle." Empress Hernia questions, her tone and face expression is full of worry.
"Then we will retreat, we all have experienced in some things, Mother. So we will surely think every actions that we will do beforw acting it all up." Herox said firmly.
Emperor Zyron studied his children for a long time, his expression was hard to denounce, it's too unreadable. "This isn't a decision I can simply approve without consulting the elders, especially Elder Cryzton. Given Zai's unique circumstances, there's a possibility that they will agree, but don't get your hopes all high up, because the elders will surely study the pros and cons of your decisions."
"I understand Father, I'd rather let things be handled properly, so there won't be any big consequences later on."
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The elders convened later that same afternoon, gathering within the smaller council chamber alongside Emperor Zyron, Empress Hernia, and Zaiveil's four brothers.
Elder Cryzton arrived last, leaning heavily on his staff, though his expression carried none of the surprise that the other elders displayed upon hearing Zaiveil's request.
"You wish to train within Havenmyst Forest, Princess? Well given the unprecedented nature of your Celestial Charm, this request carries considerable risk. If something happen to you within that forest, the consequences would surely cause great damage for your own well being and also within our kingdom." Elder Truze said slowly, studying Zaiveil with an obvious concern.
"I understand the stakes, Elder. However I believe that the risk of remaining under-trained inside this palace, particularly now that there's so many eyes around, my charm has already drawn, it also poses an equally significant danger. So I'd wanna risk things out to be more stronger, not only for my self, but to protect all of you and this kingdom that showed me warthm." Zaiveil said, her tone was serious but there's a slight smile within her small lips.
The room fell into silent, everyone was throughougly thinking what Zaiveil had said.