XIX

Ilaz seated on the trunk of a tree that has been knocked down by the strong winds and began her wonderings while Naevnir was shadow boxing in the distance, adding some low kicks and head kicks every once in a while. They had left White River Town an hour ago after buying some supplies.

The sorceress remembered her days during her stay in the dormitories of the Grand Academy of The Order. She had no prospect but rose up, leaving her peers in the dust. She was a prodigy. The Order granted her food and a roof as long she studied. However, they kicked her out because of something that is unreasonable. They said she was too beautiful and eye-catching. She would drive illness to the hearts of men and chaos would ensue. Her blood boiled just thinking of it. They even went as far as calling her a vessel of chaos. Those nobles whom she firmly refused influenced the mind of the council. They carved her path and chaos she will be.

"Hey!" Naevnir's voice snapped Ilaz out from her vengeful thoughts. "Teach me magic."

Ilaz raised a brow and studied Naevnir for a second.

"If we're going to share, we need to get along." Naevnir explained, and it sounded more like a threat.

"Alright," Ilaz tapped the hard bark on her side, "Sit."

When Naevnir sat, Ilaz started, "First of all, you need to stop referring to the Arcane Arts as magic."

Naevnir nodded.

"There are three forms of the Arcane that were believed to have been created before the universe." Ilaz rubbed her palm which Naevnir stared in anticipation. "Let me give a demonstration for a bit of motivation."

"Space." A magic circle appeared between Ilaz' hands and fire appeared and disappeared.

"Word." Ilaz chanted for a moment and another fire appeared on her hands but also disappeared.

"And Will." Ilaz balled a hand into a fist before opening it up to reveal a growing fireball above her palm.

Ilaz shook her hand and the fireball disappeared. She then handed a book to Naevnir. "Here. This manual will help you with the basic."

Naevnir's eyes shone in excitement as she eagerly received the book but narrowed her eyes after seeing the cover, "It's called Magic 101. And you just said that the Arcane is not the same as magic. I also see your name on the bottom of the cover."

Ilaz rolled her eyes.

-----

Kzel wandered around the forest for a while, occasionally picking fruits and simply devoured it when the system confirmed that it was edible. He had to climb up to the top of a mountain called, Poch. From there, he will join a secret gathering by the Chaos Cultists before midnight.

The Rzir started to wonder if it is a good idea to join the Chaos side. Their influence across the quadrant is little to nothing. While the allied Light and Order had their palms beneath the galaxy.

He circled around some more before deciding to return to the location where he left the two.

When Kzel reached his destination, he saw Naevnir hurling fireballs to a tree while Ilaz watched in awe.

Kzel's eye twitched. He thought Naevnir was practicing the moves he taught her and yet here she was, throwing fireballs.

"You're back," Ilaz was the first to notice Kzel and greeted him.

Naevnir was alarmed and stopped her casting. She then turned her gaze at Kzel's direction.

"I must get going then." Kzel scratched his head, "What's the plan? Where will you two stay?"

Naevnir answered, "Both of us will stay on a village called, Tatruc. We need to keep our relation with the Chaos a secret. You will find us there whenever you need something."

"But don't forget your goal," Ilaz added, "You need to become a high ranking member of the League of Chaos so you can secretly recruit us and have an unlimited access to their Archive."

Kzel forced himself to nod. He then retrieved a huge bag of gold in his inventory and handed it to Ilaz, "Take it. I might not have any use of it where I'm going. I can always make some on the way."

Naevnir suddenly appeared between them, "Since we're both your wives, we will share it equally."

'But you already had enough money!' Kzel was about to say but kept it to himself.

"And I'm taking this!" Naevnir snatched Kzel's black coat and strapped it around her waists with a chuckle.

There was jealousy in Ilaz' eyes as she started to inspect Kzel. She then unstrapped the dagger around his waists, "I'm taking this. I don't have any meelee weapon. I'll treasure it.'

"Off you go then." Ilaz smiled and waved her hand.

"And come back to me!" Naevnir added with a wink.

"No. Come back to me." Ilaz teased. Kzel did not know what happened next but he was sure that there was another staring contest between the two.

Kzel wanted to take a last glance at the two but hesitated. He started to wonder if they would get along. He summoned the world map in his vision, and a mark appeared directly to his destination.

'It's a quest?' Kzel pondered over it. He then fastened his pace, jumping over the barriers of plants until he reached the road. He dawdled for a minute and stared at the silhouette of his destination.

'Damn! That's a very huge mountain.' He sighed and continued down the road as he approached a long path waiting anxiously for him.