It was already night, evening had long since ended. Alex, his father and their relatives were currently making their way inside of the village.
The village was lit with torches here and there, making up for the absence of light. Here and there, a small crowd of people could be seen. Some of them were groups of women, some of men and some of children. The children played between the streets, no one dared to go outside of the influence of light, though.
It seemed as if they were afraid of something, as if a big curse had befallen the village. But, nothing of the sorts had happened. They were all just waiting for their heroes to return. Return back from a mission like any other. It had been quite a long time since the Azure Serpent Clan had gathered together.
Ofcourse, the heroes they were waiting for were the direct descendants of the Azure Serpent, and not just any people who were simply members of the clan.
The Azure Serpent clan was one of the only three clans that existed in this period of time. And with time, even these would eventually fall. The descendants would still be, but, the clan itself would soon fall apart, that was what always happened.
Soon, seven humans eventually entered the influence of light, riding on four lion-like magic beasts with black skin and golden irises.
These were the people everyone was waiting for.
'Sigh. Here comes.' Ken thought before the crowd of people gathered as a whole, the children in the front, the women in the middle and men on the outer side.
Infront of all these people, stood a woman. She had raven black hair, beautiful azure eyes and wore a black dress. She looked incredible stunning in it. One look at her, and any man would be captivated. Most would just fall back thinking they had no chance, but the ones who did try their chance, they would eventually fold under the pressure too.
This beautiful woman was no ordinary beautiful lady. She was "Lady Rose." A person that was renowned for being an Enlightened. She was considered the strongest of the current generation of the Azure Serpent Clan, rivaled by none.
Though, there was a certain man who could be considered somewhat close to her. It was Edwalt. One of Alex's uncle.
The seven warriors dropped off of the magic beasts, and then, Mary dismissed her magic beasts.
All of the seven walked forward. And Jin announced:
"Do not worry, everyone. The Agressors have been dealt with!"
Everyone present there, knew that they would definitely return back, completing the mission, and with no losses at that. But, still, they took a sigh of relief and turned back to their heroes.
Soon, after a small celebration among the people, everyone went back to sleep. The Azure Serpent Clan's members left for their home—to Mr and Mrs. Aulbert's residence.
****
Alex and his relatives reached their home.
A beautiful lady with auburn hair and blue eyes greeted them, and they entered inside.
Everyone was preety tired, so after a little chit-chat, most of the members left to sleep.
Now, only Alex, his father, his aunt and Edwalt, his uncle remained in their hall.
"So, you see, Alex eventually defeated that Insectoid." Edwalt, Alex's youngest uncle said as he finished explaining all of that happened, both his journey from his place, to here.
"I see." Rose remarked, then she turned to look at Alex, then back at Edwalt.
"That guy was definitely preety strong. To be able to fight off a phantom, one so strong at that, and then fight so many skilled warriors, without much difficulty. I'd say he was around the level of a Special-A rank."
Edwalt looked at her and shrugged.
"That much is obvious."
Rose glanced back at him, and spoke:
"So what was all that you told me about the bug saying something like not being an actual Insectar, hailing from a different world, and trying to find people like him, and some barrier?"
Edwalt looked at her nonchalantly and said with a straight face:
"Well, that was all definitely rubish. That guy had probably went mad. Ofcourse, otherworlders exist, but they're summoned. Well, there's definitely the possibility of it talking about the Agressors. And that they hail from different worlds. But isn't that preety common knowledge? I believe we should just ignore it. There's nothing of importance. That guy is dead, too."
Rose glanced at Edwalt, her expression changed.
"Yes. You're probably right."
Edwalt gave her a strange look, as if saying:
"Probably?"
Edwalt sighed, and rose from the cushion.
"Well, whatever. You guys continue, I'm off to sleep. Goodnight!"
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
After Edwalt went to sleep, the hall was taken by awkward silence for a while, eventually, Alex got up and spoke as he yawned:
"Well, goodnight father, goodnight aunt Rose. I'm quite tired myself."
Only Jin and Rose were left in the room.
Jin looked at Rose with concern.
"Hey, Rose. Did something happen? Is something bothering you? Is it about the expedition? You can share it with us. Well, me for now."
Without looking at him, Rose replied as she stared at the ground:
"It's nothing, really. I'm just... I don't know. I just have a bad premonition. Then, she turned to look at Jin.
"What about Alex? Though. Are you going to have him go through the trial or not?"
Jin glanced at her and then outside of the window.
"It depends, really. It's Alex's choice. But I'd definitely want him to. I believe he might just be able to conquer it."
"I see. I kinda agree. But, if Alex does take the trial though. I'd attempt it with him." Said Rose, she glanced at Jin, who was just in the middle of flinching and looking back at her from the window.
"You do know what you're saying, right? Rose. Attempting thetrial with a person means forming a connection, a connection that is considered to be greater than even marriage." Asked Jin, who was still in shock at what his sister had said.
"You also know this, Jin. That the trial is too dangerous for any person to attempt alone, and one at such young age. You know the consequences of trying to attempt it. We all do. We have lost many people of our family to it. And since I'm the strongest, and also Alex's aunt, I ought to help him conquer it. Also, You know of my desire to challenge it since childhood. I've always wanted to conquer it. I can't just sit back and let another person dear to me, die. And if that has to happen, in the end, then I shall accompany him. At the end, death is all that awaits us. I shall accompany Alex in the trail. I don't care whatever crap the higher-ups have made up. I will protect what is dear to me. I shall conquer the trial and avenge all those who have fallen before us. I shall avenge our father." Rose declared before she got up from the cushion and left for her room.
'Sigh. That old desire of hers. Well, I guess, whatever goes.' Jin thought before leaving for his own room.
Unbeknownst to the two. There was a third person listening in on their conversation.
Ken was in his room, lying on his bed.
His room was quite big according to the average person's standards in this world. But, it wasn't even close to the original room of his in his world. He had been a prince, after all.
'Sigh. I'm finally gonna be leaving this place, and for a long time at that.'
Alex, his family and his relatives were gonna leave on a journey. On an expedition inside the great forest of jura. But, that would eventually end. And then they'd be leaving for the Eastern Empire's southern region.
Actually, a big event awaited them there. The three great clans occasionally sent their best champions inside a different world—it would be wrong to call it a world, since it was an illusion—but, it was an illusion so real that everything that happened within it was real. If you were to die inside, then you'd die here, in reality too.
Ken had big plans for the future, he could become way stronger after completing the trial.
Becoming stronger wasn't really his greatest desire back in his original world. He just wanted to live a simple life while exploring the world. But, all of those plans failed, eventually.
He had been betrayed by many people in his past life. At last, he was betrayed by his soon to be wife and his father. He didn't really like the former but had to follow orders. His father was a hateful person too. But he was still his father.
'Even though I've been in this world for more than fourteen years, now. I still haven't ever faced a life-threatening situation where I would have to push past my limits. I've long since honed my skills and gotten accustomed to this body.
Well, I guess, I'll soon be going through some extreme hardships.'
****
Somewhere inside the Great Jura Forest:
"Get back at work! You idiots!" A deep voice resounded throughout a cave as multiple goblins carried the bodies of several dead Direwolves.
"Do you want me to kill you, Brat!"
An ogre called out as he pointed at a certain goblin who stood idly in a corner of the cave.
The goblin flinched and immediately got back to work.
'If these goblins work well, then our village would soon develop into a kingdom. Sigh. But these idiots just know the language of violence. Until you don't beat them up or kill a couple, they just wouldn't listen.' Thought the ogre.
The Ogre went outside the cave to inform his master about the progress.
The outside was covered in water as it rained continuously. The water poured inside the cave, slowly.
The ogre raised a hand, activating an ability bestowed upon him by his master.
[Manipulation.] The water infront of the cave slowly rose and turned back to fall into a nearby water body.
"How convenient."
The ogre turned it's head back toward the village, and headed back.
Rmmmbble! Grrmbble!
The lightning cracked and landed somewhere in the forest, illuminating the world in a blue light.
Somewhere on a small uplifted land, a big direwolf stood majestically, fury burning within its eyes. It's fury was directed at the small goblin village that lay at a small distance.
A measly distance for the great direwolf.
He pushed his weight on the ground and leapt into the air, landing directly in the centre of the goblin village. Almost instantly, the direwolf began to destroy whatever came before it's sight—be it a small hut, be it a goblin.
It sunk it's teeth deep into the flesh of a goblin, tore apart it's body and sent it flying. Then he turned to the small hut infront of him and slammed into it. The same process followed for a while, before a silhouette appeared behind him.
A humanoid figure appeared behind the direwolf, it had waist length hair, it's eyes glowed a bright golden, a twisted madness burning within their very depths.
"I give you ten seconds to tell me what you're doing here and why?" The figure said. It had a mature and pleasant voice.
The direwolf turned back.
"You... It was you! It was you who slew my pack, my family!"
"I see. So you're here for revenge."
The figure stepped out of the shadows and summoned a sword out of nowhere.
"I'm giving you the chance to strike first. I can't do much for you. Forgive me." The figure said, but there was just no emotion in it's tone. Yet, it seemed genuine.
The direwolf glared at the figure, and spat:
"You slay my pack and then ask me to forgive you?!"
The figure bowed to the direwolf slightly.
Lightning crackled in the sky above the goblin village. Once again, the world was illuminated by a blue light.
For a mere moment, the features of the figure became clear and then became once again encompassed by darkness. Only it's eyes remained the same during all this.
The figure was a male, that much was true.
He had waist length crimson hair. He wore a long coat made up of black fabric, beneath it, he wore a silver armor that seemed to be made of an extremely strong substance.
The Direwolf roared and slashed at the armored figure. The figure took the attack head on. But surprisingly, the direwolf's claws just slid off of it's armor.
"Time's up." The armored figure took a step forward. The world bowed to his presence as he moved.
SHHHK!
The figure moved past the Direwolf. The Direwolf did not move any further and just stood there motionlessly.
"May your suffering end in the next cycle." The figure said as he pressed his palms together in a praying position. His eyes closed.