Mission

The next morning, Lander woke up with dreary eyes as he slowly opened them. He woke up hugging a book beside him. He was about to go back to reading when he heard laughter.

He adjusted his messy hair and left his room. He saw Lord Kazo, Elder Bobby, the Respected Druid, the guard, the woman, Yan Yan, and Grey enjoying a simple conversation inside their accommodation.

"What's going on?" Lander asked curiously.

All eyes were on him upon his speaking. Elder Bobby smiled preciously. The Respected Druid squinted his eyes, checking him up. Lord Kazo nodded at him, smiling. The guards and the woman remained silent as they respectfully bowed their heads.

Lander was confused, "What are you guys doing here?"

"Why? Of course, it's to welcome my disciple!" Elder Bobby said smiling.

Lander just shrugged his shoulders. Although he didn't want to be his disciple, he wouldn't like to be rude especially since he was with some weird elder wearing a horn of a deer.

"Anyways, I also came here to help you easily enter the academy." Elder Bobby continued.

"What help? Are you going to give me a mount? A messenger and a pet?" Lander asked excitedly.

"Nope!" Elder Bobby shrugged his shoulder casually.

Lander was disappointed but was shocked upon hearing the next words of Elder Bobby, "Although I can't give you those. This friend of mine might help you get those things you need."

"Hey old friend, I haven't yet agreed whether I will help him. I have to see his qualifications," The Respected Druid butted in.

As he looked at Lander, he gave him a quest, "If you can finish this task then I can help you in acquiring a messenger beast and a pet."

"Huh? How about a mount?" Lander asked.

"You already have one. It's just that he's not fully grown yet. But I can help you evolve him into a Rank D beast level 10 and as for evolving him into a Rank C beast, you don't have the qualifications." The Respected Druid answered nonchalantly not expecting Lander to finish the task he's given him.

"You only have five days to finish this task and mind you, I want you to go alone in this task without the help of your beast and this young girl," The Respected Druid added.

Lander could only sigh, "So what task elder?"

"I need you to help me deliver this letter to a necromancer in the Dark Forest and also to find me this kind of plant," The Respected Druid explained as he gave him the letter that was inside a scroll and showed him a picture of a golden plant "Bear in mind young man that this kind of plant only exists in a wolf den of a Rank D wolves."

"Okay! As long as you can help me in entering the academy, I'll do what you ask." Lander nodded and he was about to go when he stared at the Druid, "I like your costume elder. It fits you well!"

Then Lander asked Lord Kazo to train Grey and Yan Yan using his aura. He wanted them to experience hellish training to further advance their stamina.

"Pfft!" Elder Bobby laughed upon hearing Lander's remark when he left, "Apparently he never realized that you were a druid."

"But is it safe to send him alone in the dark forest?" Lord Kazo was terrified upon knowing Lander's destination. The Dark Forest was a forbidden land to anyone. He who dared to enter shall face the wrath of the dark beasts, vengeful spirits, and evil creatures.

"Do not worry! If he was trained under the ways of the monks then he can still survive but if he can't, we could still save him." The Respected Druid reassured.

Carrying one book, Lander who was on his way to the Dark Forest stopped at a certain store in the suburbs buying him a map of the Dragon Continent costing him a silver coin. He wanted to buy a dagger but the store owner was bewildered as he never heard of a dagger before. Then Lander just bought two sets of knives costing him 10 bronze coins each.

Holding the map, Lander started his journey by hiring a horse carriage for 100 silvers. It took him half a day to locate the Dark Forest. Then the horse carriage scurried away after Lander paid.

The Dark Forest gives an eerie vibe that scares people from entering. It was so dark that you couldn't even see the whole forest. Even though the sun was shining brightly, the dazzling sunlight couldn't even penetrate the forest.

Holding a torch in his hands, he entered the forest when he suddenly saw an old man coming out with grave injuries. Lander went towards him and supported him. He then helped him and supported him as he ensured that his wounds were fully bandaged.

"Cough! Cough! Thank you, young man!" The old man respectfully thanked him but when he saw Lander's tattoo he felt disgusted and drove him away, "How dare an outcast touch me! Go away or else I will kill you with this poison."

Lander nonchalantly shrugged his shoulder. He was getting used to being ignored and disgusted because of his status but he didn't take it to heart. Still, the people who disgusted the outcasts shall face his cunningness. So before he entered the Dark Forest, he secretly stole the storage ring of the old man.

But then again, a cry came out somewhere stopping him, "Stop young man! Please, if you want to enter the forest look for this stone and bring it back to me. I beg you!"

It was an old lady with a wrinkled face, a very long white hair touching the ground. She showed her a picture of a certain stone, "This stone is an energizing stone. My grandson is very ill and he needed this energizing stone to ensure his vitality to keep going. I will give you a gift that you would surely love if you ever came back."

"Hmph! An outcast can't survive that forest," The old man who was severely injured scoffed.

"Then where can I find you elder if ever I find this stone?" Lander asked not minding the words of the old man.

"Just visit me at the Wyvern Capital, at the Silent Pub," The old woman replied with a slight smile. She didn't have much hope for Lander but she at least tried.

Lander wasn't also the type to do a certain task that he couldn't benefit from. He was even unsure if the old woman could give him a precious thing, but he wasn't interested either as he didn't know the precious things in this world because, for him, the most precious thing was to go back and be reunited with his uncle and cousin.

Without further ado, Lander entered the Dark Forest slowly. Only the torch was giving him sight from the pure darkness. And every time he took a step, a sound of beasts growling and spirits wailing giving goosebumps to whomever may hear it, Lander was not excluded.

This was a new feeling to him. It frightened him despite experiencing the verge of death a lot of times when he was on Earth or even in this world. This was his first being in this unknown place. Although he spent an hour asking about the Dark Forest, it was still different when you were truly experiencing it first-hand.

Still, despite the eerie vibe and dangers, Lander adjusted himself and collected his mind as he strode further inside.

For twenty minutes, he was wandering the Dark Forest aimlessly as there was no exact path to take. Sometimes, he would be hindered by beasts and dead ends so he has to reroute.

In the deepest part of the Dark Forest, a translucent bearded old man suddenly stopped his experimentation as he looked in the direction where Lander was located, "Hmmm! Interesting! An outcast aye?"

"I wonder how many minutes can he last long," This old man smiled with enthusiasm. It has become his hobby to time those who were courageous enough to enter the dark forest and meet their death afterward.

Then this old man continued his experiments with enthusiasm while waiting for the death of Lander. But soon, a night passed and yet, Lander was still moving forward evading the dangers he was encountering while he was on his way.

After walking, jogging, and running for how many hours, Lander decided to find a place to rest. Then he found himself in a cave unknowingly. Upon entering, the howling of beasts and spirits wailing were just gone, it was pure silence.

Despite the silence, he knew that more dangers were lurking in his surroundings. Despite the fear he was feeling, he still made his way and found a good spot to rest.

Unknown to him, upon entering the cave, there were a lot of werewolves who were watching him. They were not making any moves or sounds so they wouldn't startle their prey.

Lander decided to put out the fire afraid to attract any attention. He was about to drift off when suddenly, he heard a lot of growls surrounding him. He was startled and became nervous. He tried to light the torch to see his surroundings but a werewolf just jumped on him biting his right shoulder.

"AAAARRGGGGHHHH!" Lander cried in pain and punched the one that attacked him. He didn't stop as he used the torch to whip his enemy making the wolf growled in pain.

The others also jumped on him but Lander was fast enough to run aimlessly inside the cave. The werewolves chased after him and despite being so fast in running, he was scratched in his back, bitten in his arm, thigh, and feet. But he fought his way through as he swung his blades aimlessly injuring some of the werewolves.

Soon, he found himself in an illuminating wide lake with a small island in the middle of it. It was a very bright lake and Lander just swam towards the small island. The werewolves didn't chase after him who seemed to be afraid.

Lander was bewildered but soon he realized why they were afraid as he felt a tremendous pressure in his chest. It was a feeling he had never felt before. As he was about to make it to the small island, a humungous beast came out of the water disrupting his swimming. It was a hydra.

Escaping quickly, Lander felt terrified but his mind was still clear as he weighed the potential danger of going back to where the werewolves were or to find a way to advance and arrive at the small island. In both options, he was clearly at a disadvantage.

Looking around, Lander wanted to see if there was something that could help him in his circumstances while the hydra was glaring at him. Then he saw the terrain where the werewolves were located. There was a small hole in which he could fit perfectly.

With a goal in his mind, he swam back immediately despite losing lots of blood. It was very hard to swim as he also tried to evade the attacks of the hydra, diving back and forth. It was a tiring journey with a lot of struggles that weakened him badly.

Alas! He arrived at where the werewolves were, but he didn't stop as he immediately ran towards his destination, he quickly climbed up and soon reached the small hole. A four-legged beast won't be able to reach him in that hole and he also noticed that the hydra can't leave the lake as if he was being hindered by a barrier.

Upon arriving at the hole, Lander felt so weak as he sat down and used the remaining energy he had to bandage his wounds using his t-shirt. He then fell asleep afterward with no upper clothes but with his wet pants on.