The carriage moved fast. The driver knew the night road well, guiding the horses easily.

-Thud-k. Thud-k.

The wheels and hooves made a steady, boring noise as their big trip began. Inside, it was quiet. Thick curtains blocked the moonlight, making the small space dark and cozy.

Aria sat in a corner with Qwy, the little eyeball who was already asleep, warm in her lap.

Next to her, Reddy was quiet, still thinking about how she had said her quick goodbye.

Across from them, Vice sat straight, looking calm even in the small space.

Cass, worn out from arguing with his family's people, was already sleeping, his head leaning against Vice's wide frame.

"They made it hard for him," Reddy whispered, subtly glancing at Cass.

Aria stroked Qwy's fur, a smile present on her pretty face. "Rich people often do that to their kids. They think of him as a tool, not a person."

"A tool with a short rope now," Vice added gently, looking at the short kid beside him. "The Khalasi family took a risk. They let him go, but they tied his success to yours. If you do well, he does well. If you fail, they have someone to blame and a reason to take his money."

"You seem to know a lot about rich families as well, huh?" Aria wondered, smiling a little at the old elf.

But Vice simply shrugged. "I've worked in fancy bars for hundreds of years. You hear things. Rich kids are always the most dramatic customers."

He was a Mixologist by profession. Different from Reddy, he could prepare various concoctions of varying effects, but he could not make anything from scratch.

His speciality was harmony of elements, not a proper, scientific magical creation.

He then spoke more seriously, "The main thing is, Sir Quinn helped you a lot by letting you leave on your own terms. He gave you time so you must use it."

Reddy agreed. "He wasn't just saying goodbye; he was clearing the way for us. The family knights are not our problem anymore, at least until the Council acts. But this peace won't last. Once the Council knows you're not going to the Primordial Forest to pass through the place, they will come after you right away."

Her voice was serious once again, and the elf nodded in agreement.

The Primordial Forest.

Everyone spoke of it in hushed tones and whispers.

It was a place of old, wild magic and dangerous beasts that one could compare to the higher floors of the Westford dungeon.

It was the fastest way south, but also the most dangerous.

"The Primordial Forest is where we need to be," Aria voiced firmly. "It's too messy for the Council's careful political games to follow us. It's the kind of wild place that would help me quickly understand World Energy."

It was no secret to the party that she could use the energy of the world like the high elves thanks to Vice being present.

He had seen this power in the past, and once again, he was seeing someone who could use the energy of this world, the first breath of nature.

Vice let out a small, unsatisfied sound. "It is a smart plan, even if it's a bit crazy. The Primordial Forest doesn't care about your titles. It only cares if you can live."

"That's why we must use this trip wisely," Aria continued right after him, pulling out an old, folded map. She carefully opened it and cast a small, soft light on it so Cass wouldn't wake up.

The map showed the land from the west coast, through the Kingdom of Isis, down to the south where Millera, the City of Labyrinth, was marked.

Their current path, the main road, was a safe, thin line that soon faded into a confusing mess of lines showing the forest.

"The first part of the journey takes us to the town of Haimdel by morning," Aria pointed to a small spot by a large lake on the map. "That's where the main road ends and the real planning begins."

"Haimdel," Reddy repeated after her, tracing the spot. "A place for logging and fur traders. Lots of supplies will be available there, but also lots of thieves and bad people who hurt travelers going into the nearby hunting grounds."

"Exactly. We need to be quiet, have plenty of supplies, and get the right way to travel," Aria pointed to the map as she presented.

"We can't take a carriage through the forest. We need animals to ride, and not just normal horses. We need strong ones with good staying power, ones that can handle the forest's poisons."

Vice leaned forward, his silver hair catching the faint magic light. "Forget warmounts, Aria. If you're going into the Primordial Forest, you need 'Wind-Steeds.'

They are rare, usually found in the east. They are quick, and naturally fight off forest sickness and the passive magic drain of the Primordial forest. But they are also hard to manage and costly."

Aria's eyes brightened at the thought. "Wind-Steeds seems to be a good option. Reddy, do you think we will get them in Himedel?"

Reddy pulled out a small book, instantly returning to her professional manner. "The town of Himedel is a place of stay, yes. There are a lot of things that we can find there but, a warmount is not one of them. They have now been forbidden from trade in places excluding those holding exclusive permits to do so like the capital city."

"Is that so?" Aria looked at her, then Vice, then the sleeping Cass. "I thought that might be the case."

Vice gave her a bitter smile. "The Wind-Steed used to be the most common half-monster breed preferred by the merchants just a decade ago. When did they even make those laws?"

"I don't think that's important, Vice. Do not worry about that for now," Aria shook her head. She already knew there would be times like these where the old knowledge of an elf would fail the modern know-how of someone as well informed as Reddy.

Having both of them with them was, therefore, the best thing that had happened with her for this trip.

"So we will have to find suitable ones ourselves later. Alright.

Reddy, you handle the food and supplies for now. Focus on food that won't spoil and the best healing items there. Vice, you get all the necessary riding gear like the saddles, ropes, protective clothes, and maybe some hidden defenses."

Vice raised an eyebrow. "Miss, I am a creator and a bartender, not exactly a supply team."

"But you surely are a team with a few hundred years of experience and two S-rank skills," Aria quickly replied. "We should also assume the Council is watching the town as well. We need to get in and out in less than a few days, get what we need, and disappear into the wild."

She folded the map, the light immediately going out right after. "Our first goal isn't just surviving; it's getting organized. Everything depends on doing things perfectly in that town."

"And Cass?" Reddy asked out of concern, looking at the sleeping boy.

"Cass will be our secret weapon," Aria replied softly. "He's good at laying low and watching things. But right now, people want him.

We need to keep him close and keep who he is a secret until we are deep inside the forest. Those nobles shall not use him as a way to get to us."

A strong feeling of needing to protect him washed over Aria for a moment before she realised how he was, even in his current state, just as strong as the rest of them.

She had pulled this boy, and now Reddy and Vice, into a fight against the most powerful people in this world.

But they still chose to follow her, and now she had to make sure they were all ready.

"Speaking of being ready," Vice remembered, reaching into his coat. He pulled out a thin, dark wooden staff, about a meter long, covered in carved magic symbols that shone with hidden power.

"I got this for you before we left. It's a simple, but powerful magic tool. You will be using your World Energy a lot going forward. This will help you control it without causing... too much damage around you."

While temporary, it was a great conduit for the flooding energy that she was yet to master.

"Oh damn." Aria took the staff.

The wood was warm and surprisingly light. The symbols vibrated under her fingers immediately as if they recognized her. "Is this a gift from someone, or a tool you need for your own safety?"

Vice smiled lightly, a rare, honest one from a usually quiet person. "Both. It's made from a Sentinel Tree, which is very good at resisting magic loss. It should handle whatever high-level magical tricks you try."

Reddy also offered her a small wooden box, one that Aria had obtained as a reward previously and asked her help for. "I sorted these out. The blue bottles are strong Mana restorers, good for keeping long spells active. The gold are special energy drinks, and the clear ones are a new mix… they boost your natural ability to fight off magic-blocking areas."

"Magic-blocking areas?" Now that was something new.

"I have heard that the deeper you go into the Primordial Forest, the wilder the magic gets," Reddy explained calmly. "Old trees and strong magic spots can naturally stop weaker spells. You may need something to fight that."

Aria felt truly thankful for these gifts . She had the raw strength, but Vice and Reddy had the practical knowledge, the experience of living in this world that she didn't have. They weren't just friends; they were her support.

"Thank you, both," Aria thanked her deeply, putting the staff and the bottles in her storage space.

"We will spend the rest of the trip talking about the Primordial Forest itself. Vice, you know the land best. We need a clear path, understand the dangers, as well as the safe spots."

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