Mist filled the horizon, swirling around the tall trees and muddy ground of Drakenmoor Forest.
In that woods, monsters abounded, but few carried enough power to challenge someone like Cassius.
"I won't be satisfied with just palace training," he told himself as he strapped his famous sword to his side.
Despite his knowledge of magic and swordsmanship, he knew he would only gain the combat experience he needed in a real encounter with monsters. It was no longer enough to just learn from books or practice drills. He needed to face real opponents, terrifying monsters who wouldn't give him a chance for error.
But as expected, he wasn't alone.
"Young Master, where are you going?"
Miranda's voice reached his ear as he was about to leave the palace gate.
He looked at her with a serious expression, but didn't hesitate to reply:
"I'm going to the woods. I need to fight monsters to gain combat experience."
"But... sir, it's too dangerous!"
Her anxiety was palpable, and she took a step toward Cassius.
But Cassius, feeling more confident, simply replied:
— "Don't think I'll be afraid of monsters, Miranda. That's what I need."
However, Miranda had already made up her mind.
— "I won't let you go alone."
She said it firmly, then quickly dressed.
Cassius was silent for a moment.
— "If you want to go, go. But don't think you'll be able to help me."
"I'll be careful, young sir."
---
In the heart of the forest, everything was dark, as if the trees were blocking the sky above them, even though it was still morning.
The atmosphere was gloomy, and savage sounds filled the air around them as they advanced slowly through the dense undergrowth.
Miranda was watching Cassius closely, well aware that the monsters here could be more dangerous than they seemed.
"Never underestimate the true power of this land."
She said this in her mind, but she didn't want to voice her concern out loud.
As they walked slowly, they heard the faint sounds of heavy footsteps.
Then, suddenly, a massive beast rushed out of the trees: a creature with tough skin, fiery red eyes, and sharp fangs.
It was a griffin, known for its speed and immense strength.
Cassius was ready.
With a swift swipe, he turned to face the beast.
The first sword strike, which he sent his way, grazed the beast's hide, but the beast was quick enough to dodge and lunged at Cassius, attempting to attack him with its fangs.
"This is what I need."
Cassius thought quickly, realizing this would not be an easy opponent.
Using his magical skills to enhance his physical strength, he cast a spell on his sword, making it ignite with red magic.
He fired a second blow, and this time the monster failed to dodge it.
The blow pierced the monster's side, causing it to scream loudly.
But the monster didn't fall yet.
"The fight here... doesn't end easily."
However, Cassius didn't stop; instead, he increased his strength.
In a flash, he pounced on the monster again, followed by another, even stronger blow, finally decapitating it.
---
Cassius took a deep breath, looking at the dead monster before him.
A few moments of silence followed as he looked down at his blood-stained sword. He knew he'd taken another step toward his goal, but there was still much to learn.
"That was good," Miranda said, watching the scene with wide eyes.
It was her first real fight in this world. She felt proud, but she was also aware that Cassius wasn't like everyone else.