Valdren

The next few days were uneventful. Ethan and Lia traveled south towards Valdren, the nearest city. The forests and roads they crossed were quiet, almost too quiet. Since their encounter with the corrupted creatures near the mines, Ethan had kept his senses sharp, half-expecting more of them to appear. But for now, nothing.

He used the time to refine his control over his mana, experimenting with new ways to optimize his summoning efficiency and practicing mana bolt again. Lia continued tending to his minions, ensuring that any injuries were healed quickly, and occasionally pestering him about his eating habits—not that he paid much attention.

The only real encounters they had were with the occasional merchant caravan or wandering mercenaries, but Ethan made sure to avoid unnecessary interactions and kept a low profile.