The Misty Forest

  As time dragged on, Maiko, the man cloaked in black, felt an increasing sense of dread creeping up on him. Cold sweat trickled down his spine.

  He regretted chasing into the Misty Forest alone, now terrified that he had angered this "Holy Magus." Panic set in as he desperately searched for a way to escape.

  An eerie silence blanketed the air for a few moments before Karian cleared his throat, intending to explain he was merely passing by. But before he could speak, the sound of his cough sent a jolt of terror through Maiko. His heart hammered in his chest.

  Without a second thought, he turned and bolted.

  Maiko unleashed his wind magic, taking flight at top speed, utterly terrified that lingering even a moment longer would mean certain death at the hands of the "Holy Magus."

  Karian watched as the black-robed man vanished into the distance in the blink of an eye, confusion and disbelief painted on his face.

  Wait, why did he run? I hadn’t even said anything yet...

  Behind him, the frail young man who had been leaning against a tree, struggling to stand, finally managed to lift himself to his feet. He pressed his hand to his chest and bowed deeply toward Karian.

  "Thank you, sir, for shielding me from the 'Elemental Explosion' spell. I owe you my life! Horus is deeply grateful!"

  'Elemental Explosion'?

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  Karian’s heart sank. He realized the white light that had struck him earlier was indeed the "Elemental Explosion" spell cast by the man in black.

  Thanks to his knowledge of magical theory, Karian understood the spell's nature. He’d been unharmed only because he lacked any magical elements in his body. But the thought lingered that if the black-robed man had used a different spell, something more lethal… Karian might not be standing there now.

  Thank goodness...

  Karian’s mind started to piece together why the man in gray had been so terrified of him. No one would expect an ordinary person to appear out of nowhere in such a dangerous place. It was no surprise he’d been mistaken for someone powerful.

  Suppressing the urge to scratch his head, Karian turned slightly toward the young man, realizing, This guy seems to think I came to save him... But, now that I think about it, I did kind of scare off that black-robed magician. My sudden appearance probably frightened him enough to stop chasing him. In a way, I really did save him…

  After a brief moment of reflection, Karian blurted out, “You’ve intruded on my territory.”

  Horus’s heart skipped a beat, and his awe for the "Holy Magus" only deepened.

  They were deep within the Misty Forest, a place notorious for its dangers. If it weren’t for his dire situation, Horus would never have entered such a perilous place. The fact that someone had claimed this territory spoke volumes about the power of the Holy Magus.

  Like Maiko, Horus believed that Karian was indeed a legendary Holy Magus. He’d seen the man appear out of thin air, with the surrounding space warping—a clear sign of spatial magic. And he had withstood the "Elemental Explosion" without a scratch.

  Bowing lower, both in respect and fear, Horus said, “I’m truly sorry. I didn’t realize this was your territory. I was being chased and had no choice but to enter the Misty Forest, accidentally ending up here. If I’ve offended you, I will leave immediately!”

  With that, the wounded Horus tried to walk away, struggling to support his battered body.

  Karian remained rooted to the spot, silently watching him retreat, urgently thinking, Hurry up! Hurry up! I can’t keep this up much longer! If I talk any more, I’ll blow my cover. How did I get myself into this? How do I use this gem to teleport back?

  But just as Horus had taken a few steps, he suddenly stopped, a thought flashing in his mind.

  Karian, having just relaxed, stiffened again in alarm.