Search for the Moonlight Aster

As the snow melted away, spring colors emerged, bringing hope and renewal. The Forest, which was once a barren and lifeless place, was now teeming with life as the trees sprouted new leaves and the birds sang sweet melodies.

But my mind was preoccupied with my quest. I had been training my magic diligently during the winter, honing my skills in preparation for the journey ahead. I knew I had to be ready, both physically and mentally, for the dangers that awaited me.

My sister Helga turned ten recently. Normally, it would be time for her to start an apprenticeship, but here in the village, there weren't any opportunities for girls, and my parents didn't have the money to send her to the city, so she stayed at home instead, learning from our mother how to run a household, while our parents focused on securing her a good marriage.

I was so glad to discover my magic talent. I didn't want to think about what kind of fate would have awaited me without it.

Firstly, I tested the results of my training, as I do every spring. The result was positive.

STATUS:

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Name: [Darian]

Race: [Human]

Age: [8 years]

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Mana: 206 --> 315

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Spells: [Stone Bullet], [Small Flame], [Air Manipulation], [Water Manipulation].

My winter training results were there. I could feel the power coursing through my body.

This year I decided to abandon both umbrifila harvesting and working at the forge in favor of my search for the elusive Moonlight Aster. Although there was still a long time until the spring equinox, I didn't want to leave anything to chance. I won't rest until I find it.

Filled with determination, I ventured into the Forest to search for a lake. I decided to visit the spot where the river disappears underground to see if I overlooked something during my last visit. I also wanted to see if I could find any traces of where it flows.

I spent a couple of hours walking through the thick underbrush. A sense of spring is all around me. Luckily, I got out early in the morning, so I had plenty of time today. I arrived at the spot but couldn't find anything.

So I decided to go forward in the general direction of the river before it disappeared, hoping to find signs of it along the way. The Forest here continued on a slight slope upward. Although when we talked about the Forest in general, we thought of an endless expanse of trees stretching towards the horizon and beyond, that was not quite true.

The Forest was a diverse environment of wilderness, sometimes called Wild Lands by the inhabitants of this part of the kingdom. There were, of course, trees, but also murky swamps and huge mountains.

These mountains had valleys covered in grass and wild rivers flowing through them. The environment was full of rocky slopes and treacherous ravines. It was getting increasingly challenging to pass through the tricky terrain the further you traveled from civilization.

The mountains were also a place where terrible monsters nested, and very few people who went there returned.

Luckily, I was a long way from the mountains. However, I could see their snowy caps in the distance, looming over us like silent guardians of the Forest and its secrets. The further I climbed, the steeper the slope became, and soon it became impossible to continue.

I arrived at a steep hill and decided to walk around it. All this time, I was always vigilant and ready to react to any movement in the bushes. The deeper I delved, the more anxious I was. By now I was farther than I ever ventured on my hunting trips.

This is not counting that one time when I went too deep in search of umbrifila and my unfortunate encounter with that hulking bear-like monster. I still feel haunted by that memory. I would love to stay at the not-so-dangerous edges, but given what's at stake, I'm ready to accept some more risk with the promise of a bountiful reward.

Not that I'm not prepared; all this time, I've dutifully trained and mentally prepared myself for any eventuality. Now that I'm older and more formidable, I'm more inclined to venture deeper into the Forest.

Also, with my much-improved mana control and experience, I reached a level of control where I don't even need my trusty gun. I can now control and accelerate my pebbles. This means I can shoot them directly from my palm in every direction at a moment's notice.

This makes me extremely deadly to any monster who would want to cross my path. Of course, there is a slight drawback in that the shot is about half as strong as it was previously. However, that can be mitigated by expending more mana, which I now have plenty of.

I went and went, but my goal was nowhere in sight. It is now midday, so I will need to turn around soon if I want to make it before dawn. It was still early spring, so the days tended to be short and rainy. This was not ideal for long exploration trips, but it had to do.

I decided to take a slightly different path back home. Although there was a chance I would encounter some unexpected danger or obstacle along the way, it would allow me to cover more ground, so I decided to take the risk.

I was now getting closer to the area where I battled the monster a few years back. I'm hoping it doesn't have any relatives who would want to exact revenge on me. But luckily, the chances of that are slim. What I learned during our lessons with Old Sven was that most monsters were territorial and solitary, except those who hunted in packs or were part of a monster's nest.

I came down the hill onto flat ground, which was both good and bad. It was easier to navigate than the hill slope, but also more overgrown with bushes, which made it more difficult to traverse. But it didn't stop me; I walked and walked. The sun started to slowly lower itself to the horizon, and I made haste to return in time. But as usual with my luck, I fell flat on my face after tripping over a hidden root.

"Sh*t!" I exclaimed as I slowly gathered myself from the ground.

But as I was halfway up, I suddenly froze. I could see a glint reflecting between the trees not too far away. Among all the things in the forest, there is only one thing that can give such a reflection: water.

I quickly stood up and went in the opposite direction, where I saw the glint. Soon I discovered a clearing with a still lake sitting under ancient trees. I got out of my stupor and decided to quickly search for the place since I didn't have much time left.

As I circled the lake, I saw it. Several beautiful plants gently rest atop the lake surface in the shade of two majestic trees towering above. I checked the illustration, which I had safely hidden under my clothes. And there it was. It looked exactly like Moonlight Aster, minus the flower. I was overjoyed with my happiness. I found not just one, but three at once!

My happiness was quickly doused by the fact that this was far away from home. At least four hours' walking distance. No matter how I look at it, there is no way to get here and back in one night. Not to mention, I must be here before midnight to catch the full moon.

There is no other option but to come here during the day and spend the night here. I shuddered at the thought of it, but I had no other option. I released a heavy sigh and made my way back home while wondering what kind of monsters came out here at night.