The carriage moved fast. The driver knew the night road well, guiding the horses easily.

-Thud-k. Thud-k.

The wheels and hooves made a steady, boring noise as their big trip began. Inside, it was quiet. Thick curtains blocked the moonlight, making the small space dark and cozy.

Aria sat in a corner with Qwy, the little eyeball who was already asleep, warm in her lap.

Next to her, Reddy was quiet, still thinking about how she had said her quick goodbye.

Across from them, Vice sat straight, looking calm even in the small space.

Cass, worn out from arguing with his family's people, was already sleeping, his head leaning against Vice's wide frame.

"They made it hard for him," Reddy whispered, subtly glancing at Cass.

Aria stroked Qwy's fur, a smile present on her pretty face. "Rich people often do that to their kids. They think of him as a tool, not a person."

"A tool with a short rope now," Vice added gently, looking at the short kid beside him. "The Khalasi family took a risk. They let him go, but they tied his success to yours. If you do well, he does well. If you fail, they have someone to blame and a reason to take his money."

"You seem to know a lot about rich families as well, huh?" Aria wondered, smiling a little at the old elf.

But Vice simply shrugged. "I've worked in fancy bars for hundreds of years. You hear things. Rich kids are always the most dramatic customers."

He was a Mixologist by profession. Different from Reddy, he could prepare various concoctions of varying effects, but he could not make anything from scratch.

His speciality was harmony of elements, not a proper, scientific magical creation.

He then spoke more seriously, "The main thing is, Sir Quinn helped you a lot by letting you leave on your own terms. He gave you time so you must use it."

Reddy agreed. "He wasn't just saying goodbye; he was clearing the way for us. The family knights are not our problem anymore, at least until the Council acts. But this peace won't last. Once the Council knows you're not going to the Primordial Forest to pass through the place, they will come after you right away."

Her voice was serious once again, and the elf nodded in agreement.

The Primordial Forest.

Everyone spoke of it in hushed tones—a place of old, wild magic and dangerous beasts. It was the fastest way south, but also the most dangerous.

"The Primordial Forest is where we need to be," Aria said firmly. "It's too messy for the Council's careful political games to follow us. It's the kind of wild place Rose said would help me quickly understand the World Energy."

Vice let out a small, satisfied sound. "A smart plan, even if it's a bit crazy. The forest doesn't care about your titles. It only cares if you can live."

"That's why we must use this trip wisely," Aria continued, pulling out an old, folded map. She carefully opened it and cast a small, soft light spell on it so Cass wouldn't wake up.

The map showed the land from the west coast, through the Kingdom of Isis, down to the south where Millera, the City of Labyrinth, was marked. Their current path, the main road, was a safe, thin line that soon faded into a confusing mess of lines showing the forest.

"The first part of the journey takes us to the town of River's End by morning," Aria pointed to a small spot by a river on the map. "That's where the main road ends and the real planning begins."

"River's End," Reddy repeated, tracing the spot. "A place for logging and fur traders. Lots of supplies, but also lots of thieves and bad people who hurt travelers going into the wild lands."

"Exactly. We need to be quiet, have plenty of supplies, and get the right way to travel," Aria said. "We can't take a carriage through the forest. We need animals to ride, and not just normal horses. We need strong ones with good staying power and that can handle the forest's poisons."

Vice leaned forward, his silver hair catching the faint magic light. "Forget warhorses, Aria. If you're going into the Primordial Forest, you need 'Wind-Steeds.' They are rare, usually found in the east. They are quick, and naturally fight off forest sickness and magic drain. They are also hard to manage and costly."

Aria's eyes brightened. "Wind-Steeds it is. Reddy, how much money do we have left after all the shopping?"

Reddy pulled out a small book, instantly returning to her professional manner. "You spent a lot, but smartly. You bought many high-grade monster cores, rare metals, and enough herbs to fill a small pharmacy. It cost a lot, but the money we still have—from the Naga raid reward and other savings—is enough to buy four Wind-Steeds, if we find an honest seller in River's End."

"Four?" Aria looked at her, then Vice, then Cass. "I thought we only needed three."

Vice gave a slight smile. "The Wind-Steed is a difficult animal. It won't let you lead it or carry heavy bags for long. We need a separate animal to carry our gear, one built to handle the forest. A 'Grumbler-Bull' would work."

"A Grumbler-Bull," Aria wrote down. "So, four animals in total. Reddy, you handle the food and supplies. Focus on food that won't spoil and the best healing items there. Vice, you get the animals and all the necessary riding gear—saddles, ropes, protective clothes, and maybe some hidden defenses."

Vice raised an eyebrow. "A blacksmith and a bartender—not exactly a top supply team."

"But a team with a few hundred years of experience and two S-rank skills," Aria quickly replied. "We should also assume the Council is watching River's End. We need to get in and out in less than a day, get what we need, and disappear into the wild."

She folded the map, the light immediately going out. "Our first goal isn't just surviving; it's getting organized. Everything depends on doing things perfectly in River's End."

"And Cass?" Reddy asked, looking at the sleeping boy.

"Cass will be our secret weapon," Aria said softly. "He's good at illusions and watching things. But right now, people want him. We keep him close and keep who he is a secret until we are deep inside the forest. No one can use him as a way to get to us."

A strong feeling of needing to protect him washed over Aria. She had pulled this boy, and now Reddy and Vice, into a fight against the most powerful people in this world. But they chose to follow, and now she had to make sure they were all ready.

"Speaking of being ready," Vice said, reaching into his coat. He pulled out a thin, dark wooden staff, about a meter long, covered in carved magic symbols that shone with hidden power. "I made this for you before we left. A simple, but powerful magic tool. You will be using your World Energy a lot. This will help you control it without causing... too much damage around you."

Aria took the staff. The wood was warm and surprisingly light. The symbols vibrated under her fingers. "A goodbye gift, or a tool you need for your own safety?"

Vice smiled, a rare, honest one. "Both. It's made from a Sentinel Tree, which is very good at resisting magic loss. It should handle whatever S-rank magic tricks you try."

Reddy also offered her a small wooden box. "I sorted these out. The blue bottles are strong Mana restorers, good for keeping long spells active. The gold are special energy drinks, and the clear ones are a new mix—they boost your natural ability to fight off magic-blocking areas."

"Magic-blocking areas?" Aria asked.

"The deeper you go into the Primordial Forest, the wilder the magic gets," Reddy explained. "Old trees and strong magic spots can naturally stop weaker spells. We need something to fight that."

Aria felt truly thankful. She had the raw strength, but Vice and Reddy had the practical knowledge, the centuries of living in this world that she didn't have. They weren't just friends; they were her support.

"Thank you, both," Aria said, putting the staff and the bottles in her storage ring. "We will spend the rest of the trip talking about the Primordial Forest itself. Vice, you know the land best. We need a clear path, known dangers, and safe spots."

Vice nodded seriously. "The forest is harsh. Its danger has layers. The edges are fine, but the deep parts, near the second country's land, are protected by powerful Rank-S beasts and old, constantly fixing dungeon entrances."

"Dungeon entrances," Aria repeated, interested.

"The forest is full of them. Unlike Westford, no group controls these. They are natural, unexpected, and often lead to huge, shaky underground tunnels."

This was the perfect place. Wild dungeons, constant danger, and a raw power source—the World Energy—that she had to master. The very things the High Council wanted to stop were the keys to her growth.

As the carriage kept moving, taking them further from the known safety of Westford, Aria closed her eyes.

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