Reflections of The Mirror Wood.

At dawn, when the first rays of the sun gently touched the faces of the sleeping family, Victor awoke first. He quietly stepped out of the tent, trying not to awaken the others, and walked to the riverbank where the waters murmured not far from their camp. The reflection of the sunlight played on the water's surface, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. Victor took a deep breath of the cool morning air, feeling each breath fill him with new energy and resolve.

- "Good morning, Mr. Victor," Shelly greeted him politely along with Loren.

- "Good morning! You woke up earlier than usual today," Victor replied.

- "Not at all, sir. It's just as usual. You must have imagined it," Shelly laughed.

Meanwhile, Eris and Lawrence slowly woke up, lured by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee that Victor began to prepare on the campfire. Gathering around the fire, they enjoyed the morning warmth and discussed the upcoming day.

- "Today we need to pass through the Mirror Forest to reach the boundary of the Neutral Zone," Victor explained, sipping his coffee.

- "This place is known for its dangerous Mana-Beasts. There are also eerie legends, so we need to be especially careful."

Lawrence, always full of curiosity, excitedly asked,

- "Dad, what legends are associated with this forest?"

Victor smiled and set aside his mug, "It's the legend of one of the ten Great Goddesses. In ancient times, when the world was young and gods walked among mortals, the goddess of creation and death, Inami, chose to isolate herself in the Mirror Forest—a place lost in the folds of time and space. This forest was unusual; its trees had shiny bark that reflected not just the external world, but also the inner thoughts and desires of those who dared to enter its shadows.

Inami came here seeking solitude after a tragedy that deeply wounded her soul. According to legend, Izanami died during the birth of the Goddess Konohana—Goddess of Nature, and was left in the realm of the dead, forever changing her. But many people say that Inami did not die but instead raised the Goddess Konohana. Who knows what's true? So: Consumed by grief and suffering, she sought a place where she could rethink her role in the world.

The Mirror Forest proved to be the perfect refuge, as its magical trees showed not only physical reflections but also mirrored the depth of the soul. Inami spent many years in the forest, watching her reflections endlessly repeat her mistakes and victories, happiness and sorrow, creation and destruction.

Over time, the goddess gained a new understanding of death and life. She learned to accept her decisions and past, which allowed her to see the beauty and value in every moment of life and the inevitability of death. Thus, Inami turned her pain into strength, becoming the guardian of the cycle of life and death, protecting the souls of the dead and guiding them to new births. And sometimes to eternal confinement...

When Inami left the Mirror Forest, she left behind a stream of life-giving energy, thanks to which the forest always bloomed, even in winter, and became a refuge for those seeking answers to their questions or in need of healing. It is believed that if a lost spirit enters the Mirror Forest, it will find the path to true self-understanding, as reflections never lie, and Inami's voice always whispers through the leaves, reminding us of the cycles of life and eternal rebirth."

Eris added, "That's why, Lawrence, you need to learn to feel and understand the nature around you. This will help you not only in the Mirror Forest but in all your future travels."

After breakfast, the family packed up camp and set off. Reaching the edge of the Mirror Forest, they found tall, dense trees whose roots intertwined, creating impassable barriers, and light barely penetrated through the dense canopies. Despite the bright day, the forest was in semi-darkness.

Victor stopped, looked around, and said, "Remember, Lawrence, the trees here are sensitive to magic. Try to tune into their energy. And be careful with the Mana-Beasts. If you feel danger, run to Mom immediately."

Lawrence closed his eyes, trying to feel the magical aura surrounding him. He sensed a subtle vibration in the air as if the forest was a living being. Gently directing his magic forward, he was surprised to see the light between the trees brighten and the path before them clear slightly.

"You're doing it! Well done, son!" Victor exclaimed joyfully, watching Lawrence.

The Hans family resolutely stepped into the forest, well aware of the various dangers that awaited them. "Windom, Shelma, and Loren! Stay close to me! And do not fall behind under any circumstances!" Victor ordered seriously, leading the way.

Lawrence, observing the surroundings, noticed strange reflections in the trees. He began to lag, absorbed by the spectacle. Loren, noticing that Lawrence had stopped, quickly ran to him and grabbed his hand firmly, hurrying to catch up with the others.

- "Lawrence! Have you already forgotten what your father told you?" Loren asked indignantly.

- "We cannot get distracted! Otherwise, we may stay in this forest forever!" she continued.

Lawrence, following Loren, felt a strange sensation as if someone was watching their family.

- "Loren, tell Dad something's wrong!" exclaimed Lawrence. "I feel something strange. We can't go any further!" he continued.

- "Lawrence, don't talk nonsense! If we don't move forward, this might be our last journey!" Loren replied displeased.

Lawrence, walking behind her, felt an increasingly alien energy. But he could not stop his family. Quickly catching up with the others, Loren put Lawrence on the wagon and began to watch him closely, ensuring he didn't go anywhere.

- "Stop!" Victor suddenly exclaimed. "This is very bad! We are surrounded by Mana-Beasts!" he announced anxiously. "Damn, I already used the Astra sword. If I use its ability again... I might die," he thought. "Quick, everyone into the wagon!" he yelled, bringing the horses closer to the wagon.

As soon as everyone climbed in, Victor drew the Astra sword and was ready to pull it from its sheath... But the moment he touched the hilt, a sharp pain pierced his Mana Core. Victor fell to one knee, clutching his chest with his left hand. Squinting in pain, he helplessly watched the approaching Mana-Beasts. Eris and Windsom, seeing what was happening, quickly reacted and headed toward Victor. Lifting him by the arms, they tried to reach the wagon as fast as possible. Eris applied various healing spells to heal Victor, while Windsom made every effort to save his master.

Reaching the wagon, Loren and Eris erected a magical barrier.

"Victor, hold on! Don't you dare die!" Eris shouted, using healing spells. "Mrs. Eris, what should we do?" Loren asked in confusion, barely maintaining the magical barrier.

Windsom looked at Shelly and Loren. "Don't be afraid. Now is not the time to panic!" he said firmly and confidently.

Windsom, although lacking magical abilities, remained calm. He sensibly assessed the situation. Looking again at his wife and daughter, he slowly lowered his gaze to Lawrence.

- "Young master, you are our priority now," he said.

Shelly took a sheet and wrapped the boy in it, while Eris and Loren supported the magical barrier. Victor curled up and was in severe pain. Mana-Beasts were becoming more numerous and gathered around the magical barrier as if waiting for it to weaken.

Windsom, watching what was happening, took a sword he had never used before. Jumping off the wagon, he asked not to weaken the barrier under any circumstances.

Shelly, in a hysterical state, called out to her husband, begging him not to do anything foolish. She understood that if she followed Windsom now, Lawrence would be left unattended... Faced with a difficult choice, she decided to protect Lawrence.

Windsom, holding the sword in both hands, was about to rush into battle when suddenly he felt a weight on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw his master. Victor, holding his chest with his left hand and Windom's shoulder with his right, asked him to take care of his family.

Sharply snatching the sword from Windsom's hands, he stepped out from behind the barrier. Eris, fully understanding the situation, quietly cried from helplessness, helping Loren strengthen the spell.

Straightening his back, Victor looked around. Observing about ten Mana-Beasts, he clenched his teeth tightly. "Well guys, were you waiting for me? I've come. So let's start the fun!" Victor said and rushed into the attack.

Mana-Beasts approached Victor in bursts. As he skillfully dodged their attacks, he pondered his battle tactics. Blocking with his sword, Victor felt that he could not keep running from the Mana-Beasts for long. Firmly deciding to put everything on the line, he confidently delivered counterattacks.

Initially, the Mana-Beasts attacked one by one, but sensing Victor's strength and resilience, they decided to attack all at once. As Mana-Beasts, creatures with magical abilities, they repeatedly attacked using different abilities. Sprint, Charge, Claw Enhancement, Jaw Enhancement, and so on.

Fighting alone against ten Mana-Beasts was very difficult. Feeling fatigued and the remnants of pain in his Mana Core, Victor slowly began to lose hope.

Victor, straining every muscle and drawing on the vast resources of his magic, engaged in a decisive confrontation with the Mana-Beasts. These creatures, embodiments of wild and untamed magical energy, attacked one after another, using their enhanced abilities. Victor, experiencing fatigue and depletion of his magical Core, felt his strength waning.

- "Loren, I understand that now is not the time to talk about this, but you need to understand. We all, Victor, You, Lawrence, Shelly, and Windsom, are one family. And a family must protect each other. So please... take care of Lawrence!" Eris brightly smiled, setting aside all caution, and made her way to her husband. Firmly grabbing Victor's back, her healing spells enveloped him, noticeably restoring his strength and healing his wounds.

- "Thank you, Eris. What would I do without you?" Victor turned his head towards her. "Always, my hero!" Eris replied.

Together, they formed an unshakable alliance, pushing back the Mana-Beasts and forcing them to retreat. Victor, repeatedly piercing the Mana-Beasts, was proud of his wife. Feeling incredibly refreshed, he continued the onslaught. Eris invested herself in using both protective and healing spells, not giving the Mana-Beasts time to rest and recuperate.

When the battle seemed almost won, a roar sounded from behind the line of trees, and a new wave of danger loomed over the Hans family.

Although tired, Victor and Eris were determined to protect their loved ones to the last. But suddenly, the situation changed drastically. From the wagon, where the children and Windsom were, screams were heard. Shelly, rushing to Eris, screamed and fell, struck by a magical blow to the back. Eris immediately began to heal, trying to stabilize Shelma's condition.

- "Mrs. Eris! Lawrence... Lawrence is gone! Forgive me!" Shelly gasped, choking on blood.

- "What's going on?" Eris asked anxiously. Only silence followed in response.

Victor, leaving Eris to handle the healing, rushed back to the wagon. Upon arriving, he discovered the space around it destroyed. Loren was seriously injured and lay unconscious near a tree, while Windsom lay with deep wounds near the wagon.

Victor's heart clenched with pain and fear, but he could not allow himself to retreat. While Eris focused on healing, Victor quickly examined the wounds of Loren and Windsom, trying to assess their severity. Without the ability to use healing spells, he felt helpless, but his knowledge and experience in first aid still could be useful.

- "Loren, hold on, help me help you," he whispered, trying to stop the bleeding using makeshift materials from their first aid kit. Windom was unconscious, and his condition seemed more serious.

Eris, having completed her spell, looked up at Victor with a worried expression. "Victor, I've done everything I can for Shelly. How are things with Loren and Windom?"

- "Loren is stabilized, but Windsom needs serious medical help. We need to act quickly," Victor said, feeling a growing panic at the thought of Lawrence's disappearance.

Eris, getting to her feet, thought through a plan. "We need to find Lawrence anyway! But leaving them two in such a state is also not an option. I'll handle the healing. You go and look for Lawrence."

- "Understood. But be careful, Eris. We don't know what else might lurk in these woods," Victor cautioned, feeling the weight of every word on his shoulders.

Victor nodded and, armed with a sword that could aid in his search, quickly headed back into the dark corners of the forest. Eris, left with Loren and Windsom, prepared healing potions and spells, tuning the surrounding magical energy to create a protective barrier.

Meanwhile, Victor, pushing through dense thickets, called out Lawrence's name, hoping to hear any response. His heart thumped with fear and hope simultaneously. Every rustle, every whisper of leaves made him stop and listen.

Suddenly, a faint sound of crying reached his ears. Victor headed towards the source of the sound, getting closer to the place where he hoped to find his son. Upon reaching the source, Victor stumbled upon a Mana Beast cub. Desperately exhaling, Victor moved on. With each step, his resolve strengthened—he had to find Lawrence as soon as possible.

Victor continued his search through the dense undergrowth, cautiously circling each bush, each shadow, hoping to find Lawrence. Occasionally, he heard various sounds—rustling, creaking, and even muffled groans, which, however, did not lead to his son. It was a long, exhausting process, and each hour without news added weight to his shoulders.

Victor repeatedly returned to the wagon to ensure that Eris and the others were safe. Each time, seeing them unharmed, he experienced brief relief. Eris, seeing his fatigue and disappointment, tried to support her husband as much as she could.

- "We'll find him, Victor. You must believe," Eris comforted him, handing him a cup of warm drink that helped maintain strength.

- "I know, Eris. I just can't imagine what will happen if... no, we must find him," Victor said firmly, rearming himself with the sword and tightly embracing Eris before heading back into the dark nooks of the forest.

Victor and Eris, exhausted but unyielding, continued the search every day, gradually expanding the search area in hopes of finding any trace of Lawrence. Despite the accumulated fatigue, hope kept them on their feet. They felt deep pain and anxiety but tried to support each other and their friends, creating a coordinated team capable of withstanding challenges.

Shelly, plagued by guilt for Lawrence's disappearance, fell into hysteria every evening, begging Victor and Eris for forgiveness for her inability to watch over their son. Eris, seeing her suffering, tried to console her:

- "Shelly, we know you did everything possible. Lawrence is our child, and we do not blame you. We need to pull together and continue acting as the family we are," Eris spoke with compassion and understanding.

- "Shelly, you protected our child, risking your own life. For that, we are only grateful to you," Victor added, tightly embracing her.

Windsom, having recovered from his injuries, took an active part in the search. He contributed his share by studying the terrain and tracking signs. Loren, whose wounds began to heal, helped organize the base camp and took care of others when they returned after exhausting searches.

A month passed. Despite their efforts, Lawrence was not found. The Hans family was on the verge of despair, not knowing what to do next. However, Victor suggested going to the nearest village in the Neutral Zone to enlist the locals in the search for their son.

Upon arrival in the village, Victor and Eris immediately began communicating with the residents, explaining their situation and asking for help. The local community, although small, responded to their request with great understanding and sympathy.

The local elder, seeing their sincere concern and despair, convened a meeting of all residents. At the meeting, it was decided to organize search groups that would rotate to ensure the continuity of the process. They also decided to involve all experienced Adventurers—specialists in tracking, which could significantly improve the chances of success.

Eris, feeling the warmth and support of the local community, decided to offer the use of her magical abilities to improve the search efforts. After consulting with Victor and the village elder, she began developing a series of magical spells. Walking along the edge of the forest, where sunlight penetrated through the dense canopies of trees, Eris carefully collected various ingredients: glowing powder, drops of morning dew, and several petals of a rare night flower, collected under moonlight. Each movement of her hands was precise and confident, as she knew that correctly gathered components could significantly increase the chances of success in creating healing potions. After finishing, she uttered several protective spells that could help all members of the squad protect themselves from the magical energy of the forest.

Meanwhile, Victor gathered a group of local volunteers willing to help in the search for Lawrence. He conducted an intensive short course on wilderness survival, which took place on an open meadow covered with fresh green grass. Victor demonstrated how to properly use a compass, how to read natural signs and tracks, and how to handle basic hiking equipment, including ropes, hooks, and shovels. He also taught them how to identify safe drinking water sources and how to avoid common dangers of the forest, such as poisonous plants and snakes. All volunteers listened attentively and participated actively in the training exercises, understanding the importance of these skills for their safety.

After the training, Victor distributed first aid kits, whistles for signals in case of danger, and maps of the area, emphasizing that synchronization and mutual assistance are key to successful and safe searches in the wild and unpredictable forest. He set each participant's mind to a serious mode, highlighting that although finding Lawrence is of paramount importance, it is equally important to return home safe and sound.

Once the preparation was completed, Eris activated her charms, and magical glowing threads, like soft golden waves, began to slowly spread into the forest, enveloping it in mystical light. Victor, Eris, and the volunteers, armed with new knowledge and led by magic, entered the forest, full of determination to find Lawrence and bring him home.

Thanks to the combined efforts of the entire village, the search network expanded every day. Using all available equipment and knowledge, the residents methodically combed every corner of Lawrence's possible whereabouts. Days turned into nights, and although each evening ended without news of Lawrence, no one lost hope.