Chapter 18 - Preparations for Departure
The rains had finally arrived in the Great Forest.
The sky remained gray and dense, with clouds so heavy they seemed only a few meters above the treetops. The constant sound of water dripping from the trees and rooftops was hypnotic. Trails that were once solid had turned into rivers, but this was customary. Their system of bridges and elevated pathways had endured many rainy seasons before.
Inside his home atop a tree, sheltered from the storm, Rygar sat before Verdia, his mentor. The room, illuminated by torches, exuded the tranquility of a safe haven in contrast to the chaos outside. Verdia was explaining the theoretical complexity of Cumolonimbus, a Saint-level Water spell capable of creating colossal storms. This was part of the final segment of the curriculum she had prepared for him. Her last lessons covered King-level Earth Magic, Saint-level Water Magic, Advanced Barrier Magic, and an Introduction to Magic Circles. Additionally, she was teaching him the Demon God language, as Rygar planned to visit the Demon Continent someday.
"Pay close attention. This spell isn't just a powerful conjuration; it's a balance of forces. You manipulate air and water, creating a dynamic system that can spiral out of control if the balance is lost," she explained.
Rygar listened attentively, committing every word to memory.
In the next room, his mother, Selene, was training intensively with Eleonora. Rygar could hear the rhythmic sound of wooden swords clashing, interspersed with the deep voice of the elderly instructor of the Water God Style.
Selene had practiced the Water God Style during her time as a slave to protect her masters, but she had only reached the elementary level. Now, she had decided to see if she could achieve the Intermediate level.
Rygar glanced at the doorway, observing the scene. Eleonora's posture was rigid, her movements precise despite her advanced age. Her facial scars and the severity in her gaze told stories that few dared to ask about.
"Milis..." Rygar thought, recalling the story he had heard when she was officially hired. Eleonora had lost her children to slave traders, and her grandchildren had been sold to a noble of Milis.
Upon learning this, Eleonora had gathered all her savings and approached the noble to buy back her grandchildren. The noble agreed, and when she felt relief, he returned only one grandchild, claiming they had only agreed on the price for one. He then demanded the same price to buy the other. The hypocrisy of that nation, which prided itself as a bastion of justice, was infuriating.
"She used everything she had to save them and was still deceived," Rygar reflected, feeling a mix of anger and sympathy. Eleonora was in the tribe because she had made a deal: train the warriors until one reached the advanced level in exchange for financial support to rescue her other grandchild.