Forbidden Forest

The morning of Nyx's departure he dawned bright and clear. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of blooming flowers and the distant hum of activity from the palace grounds. Nyx stood at the grand entrance, his pack slung over his shoulder and his weapons secured at his side. He took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation.

His mother, Morgonna, stood before him, her expression a blend of pride and concern. "Remember what I told you," Morgonna said, her voice steady but with a hint of emotion. "Stay vigilant. Trust no one too easily. And always be prepared for anything."

Nyx nodded, meeting her gaze with unwavering determination. "I will, Mother. I promise."

She reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You have a great destiny ahead of you, Nyx. Make sure you're ready to face it."

"I will," he repeated, feeling the weight of her words. With that, Nyx set off, walking through the palace gates and the vast world beyond. As he left the familiar confines of his home, he felt a rush of freedom and a sense of adventure. The road ahead was unknown, filled with potential dangers and opportunities. He was ready to embrace it all.

---

Nyx stood at the edge of the palace grounds, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and apprehension. Before him lay the vast expanse of the Forbidden Forest, a wild and untamed land filled with both wonder and danger. He knew that to reach the human continent, he had only two options: crossing the heavily guarded borders or navigating the treacherous paths of the Forbidden Forest. Given the current tensions at the borders, the forest was the safer, albeit riskier, route.

The Forbidden Forest connected both the human and demon continents. It was infamous for its vast number of beasts, creatures that, like people, could cultivate and grow in strength. Most people feared the forest because the beasts' cultivation far exceeded that of humans and demons. The beasts were divided into ranks from 1 to 12.

The strongest cultivators among humans and demons could only go against beasts up to rank 10. Facing rank 11 and rank 12 beasts was considered impossible, even for combined forces of the greatest warriors. The sheer power of these beasts deterred anyone from venturing into the forest.

But now, Nyx, standing before the Forbidden Forest, felt a thrill of excitement coursing through him. "Sara, you know they say the Forbidden Forest contains dangerous beasts," Nyx said with a gleam in his eye.

Seeing his excitement, Sara raised an eyebrow. "Why are you so excited? This is not some tourist place that you can say you want to visit and enjoy. This is the Forbidden Forest, where danger lurks from all sides."

Nyx grinned, unperturbed. "Why wouldn't I be excited? The beasts are described as strong, and they can cultivate just like us. Imagine how they taste when we cook them. Just think about it."

Sara stared at him, a mixture of disbelief and amusement on her face. "You're thinking about food at a time like this? Only you, Nyx, would consider the culinary possibilities of the Forbidden Forest."

Nyx laughed. "Well, I am already strong enough. Why would I care about the beasts when I can just kill them without lifting a finger?"

Sara rolled her eyes, exasperation clear in her voice. "You are sure bragging about your power. If weren't for me, you'd be a weak chicken."

Nyx smirked, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "If it weren't for you dragging me out, I think I should be now in heaven with angels by my side. You know, you just took a wonderful opportunity from me. And if not for you, my dragon would be now enjoying day and night in the heavens. It's all because of you my dragon is now out of work."

Sara's presence in his mind realm shifted slightly as if she was crossing her arms. "Oh, your dragon, huh? That's what you're calling it now?"

"Yes, my dragon," Nyx said, grinning widely. "So, you need to compensate me for your sin of snatching me from that heavenly place. Consider yourself breaking the seal and providing the technique as compensation for your sin. And for compensating my dragon... you know what to do, right?"

Sara huffed, a playful tone creeping into her voice. "Oh, so now you want me to cater to your dragon's whims? And exactly how do you propose I do that, given that I'm a spirit?"

Nyx chuckled. "I'm sure a spirit as clever as you can figure something out."

Sara shot back, "How about you focus on the actual dangers in front of you instead of your fantasies?"

He winked, even though she couldn't see it. "Can't I do both? Multitasking, you know."

Sara groaned. "Honestly, Nyx, sometimes I wonder how you manage to get anything done with that one-track mind of yours."

Nyx grinned. "Talent, Sara. Pure talent. Now, about that compensation..."

Sara, listening to Nyx's antics, could hardly take it anymore. "Just forget about my previous statement, okay?" she snapped, clearly exasperated.

Nyx chuckled, his sarcasm evident. "Oh, someone's scared. So don't forget, never pick a fight with a man like me."

Sara sighed, her tone dripping with sarcasm in return. "Oh yes, because you're such a terrifying opponent, what with your endless jokes and distractions."

Nyx smirked, undeterred. "Exactly. My wit is as sharp as my sword. You should know better by now."

"Nyx," Sara retorted, "if you spent half as much time training as you do making jokes, you'd be unbeatable."

"Hey," Nyx countered, "humor is a weapon too. It keeps the mind sharp."

Sara sighed again, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice. "Just focus, will you? We're in a dangerous place."

Nyx laughed, a sound full of excitement and anticipation. He turned his gaze back to the looming trees of the Forbidden Forest, feeling a thrill of excitement mixed with the weight of responsibility. 

"Alright, Sara," Nyx said, taking a step forward. "Let's see what the Forbidden Forest has in store for us."

With that, Nyx walked into the shadows of the forest.