Old Man Wikes

Raven carefully followed after Roland as the latter traversed the forest path on his feet. The place that they were going to was hidden and it diverted from the path that they were following not too far ahead, so they would not be able to use horses. That was why Roland had left his horse back at the village.

"Hmm, we are not too far now." Roland suddenly said and Raven looked around them. They were in the middle of nowhere. How were they 'not too far' from their destination now.

"We are in the middle of nowhere." Raven voiced his thoughts.

"Yes, exactly. No Dark Magic practitioner will make his base in a population zone. That is simply asking for trouble. Only some very tricky and powerful experts might try doing that, but the person I am taking you to meet is not one of them." Roland chuckled.

Raven's curiosity was piqued. He was eager to learn more about what he could do, despite the risks that came with trusting others. He was able to tell his limits quite well. He was not stupid and knew that his ability expression was rough, immature, and very inefficient. If he could find someone to systematically teach him more about Dark Magic, then he would be able to do much more and grow strong enough to be able to carry out his goals.

The two of them traveled for a while longer. After about half an hour more of walking through the forest and jumping over logs, Roland suddenly stopped at the base of a large rock.

"This is it?" Raven looked at the rock curiously.

"No. It would be too simple." Roland shook his head before getting out a pin and pricking the tip of his thumb. He rubbed the tiny drop of blood on the rock, and the blood glowed with a bright light before vanishing as if it was never there.

"Come with me. Let's go." He patted Raven's shoulder before turning around and walking in the direction that they had come from. Raven had a confused look on his face as he looked at the strange magical rock that they were leaving behind. What was that thing that Roland had done?

Nevertheless, he followed after Roland until they had walked for another ten minutes before stopping at the bank of a small stream.

"This is it." Roland said and looked straight ahead.

"What is it? I can't see anything." Raven looked around curiously.

"Of course, you can't. Just… Stay calm." Roland shot Raven a reassuring smile just before the ground beneath Raven's feet gave way and he fell into darkness. A muffled sound left Raven's mouth, and he realized that he was unable to make any sound as he fell. He did not even feel as if he was colliding with the rough earth around him, even though he felt contact with several surfaces as he fell and rolled around while falling.

Thud.

Eventually, he fell to the floor, but was unharmed. Beside him, Roland, who had expected the fall, landed on his feet and looked at Raven for a moment before bending over to help raise up the disoriented boy.

"I should have warned you, but it was better not to tell you anything about this whole matter just in case we were being followed.

"It's fine." Raven let out a breath and shook his head as he got to his feet with Roland's help. He then finally took a look around. What he was froze him in shock for a moment. A bunch of people stared at him and Roland with curious eyes, but most especially him.

"Well, well, well. I did not expect you to come with company." A hoarse, old voice rang out as the people parted to allow an old man walk forward and approach Roland.

"Ah, Old man Wikes, you're still alive?" Roland chuckled and extended a hand to the old man.

Bonk!

A wooden cane flashed through the air and smacked Roland's head.

"Damn you, Roland! We are barely a year apart in age! My path in Dark Magic simply drained the youth out of my young flesh." The old man bared his strong, white teeth at Roland. Then his gaze moved to Raven.

"Ah, young blood. What did you come here with this one for?" Wikes took a step closer to Raven while the latter took a step back. He could feel a strong, dark pressure emanating from the aged man in front of him, who was supposedly the same age as Roland. How that was supposed to make sense, Raven did not know. What he did know, was that this was probably the result of magic.

"This one is the young blood that has been causing a bit of trouble lately. I brought him here so you can teach him how to use Dark Magic properly." Roland explained and Wikes' eyes went wide.

"NO! Get him out of here! At once!" Wikes suddenly exclaimed, raising his cane up and pointing at Roland.