"The ether road in the great emerald forest remained the only large-scale teleportation gate network in use, mostly due to economical reasons. The forest itself grew atop the largest known mana vein in existence, and it has been theorized that this vein in particular emitted mana with qualities that made teleportation easier. This highly efficient and affordable teleportation network granted the elves unparalleled advantages of logistics within the forest, which was a major boon both in trade, and in warfare." - From "A dissertation on teleportation gates and their uses'' by Garth Wainwrought.

That sunny morning, Cal sat down on a small hill, located in a larger clearing in the forest as she was slightly lost in thought. Her right hand gripped the shaft of her halberd, while a butterfly perched on her outstretched left hand.

Celeysria Ambervale, year 675 FP

Her eyes were fixated on the little butterfly on her hand, a very rare - and quite dangerous - monster known as the Mirage Wing only found in Égørisvænovãēnæl. It was known for how it'd effortlessly evade far larger creatures and mire them within kaleidoscopic illusions. The creature seemed perfectly calm as it sat on her palm and licked up some blood that had splattered there however.

Scars had still lined her body, as the wounds she received during the honor duel had healed far slower than they used to. Bastille's weapons - other than his mythril whip sword - had incorporated a mineral poison which when confluenced with his metal affinity mana, usually resulted in wounds that never healed on their own. Even now Cal expected it would take another two or three months before the scars faded entirely.

Near the foot of the hill lay a score of very large monster boars, easily two meters tall at the shoulder and with tusks the size of swords. All the boars were quite dead, all killed either by a stab to the heart, decapitation, or crushed skull. Cal had hunted them down just earlier to have some exercise in the forest, and the fresh meat would serve as dinner as well.

The little butterfly had fluttered around shortly after the battle, and while its illusions would definitely have confused most people, it was easily breakable by those of Archmagus caliber. She left it be however, as the little creature just flew around her in confusion when she had not acted like others did under its illusion.

Cal had seated herself atop the kill and allowed the little butterfly to feed on the blood that splattered over her left hand, while she watched the beautiful, mesmerizing patterns on its wings. If the little creature wasn't a potentially dangerous monster, she'd have liked to keep one as a pet.

After it had its fill the butterfly flew away and disappeared into the woods. Cal stood up, and packed the boar carcasses into her storage as she then made her way back to the upper levels of the forest.

The past three months she had lived with her newfound family had been quite therapeutic for her, and she had by now truly seen them as family indeed. She still fondly remembered the joyful look on Unitia's face when she introduced her to Vark, and how that Joy multiplied at Ilena and Leila's presence.

During their stay in Paradise - Cal has brought the family on a tour while she got the new throwing daggers treated with adamant coating like her halberd with the funds she recently acquired - Aideen gave the idea that maybe they should hold a family reunion in winter. It was an idea Unitia was ecstatic about, and a messenger bird was sent to Gal-Morogh that very day to invite Khal-Est and Lorna over.

Her nieces grew especially close with her during that time, as she often regaled them with tales of her travels. When she mentioned that she would be headed to sea next, both clamored their desire to come along.

Cal was not against the idea - she figured since the sea journey would be with an old friend of Aideen's it would be safe enough, and on land she could handle most threats - but told the girls to ask for permission from their mother first.

Idania actually gave her permission quite easily, but then again, both her daughters were adults by now, and she saw no harm in them seeing the world at large. Both Idania and Cal taught the girls what items to pack and have with them for journeys, and other common sense that the girls have not needed before.

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Before too long, summer approached, and Cal readied for departure. On the day she left, Unitia and Idania accompanied her to the plaza where the teleportation gates were, and they exchanged warm hugs before they said their farewells.

"Do look after my kids please, Cal," said Idania after they released their embrace. "And girls, don't you be troubling your aunt on the trip, understand?"

"Yes, mother!" Answered both Elaina and Sidonie.

"Don't worry, Ida," replied Cal to her sister. "I'll have them both back in one piece."

"Safe journeys, children. May Aistrofuri's blessings be upon you," said Unitia as she bid farewell to the three.

They walked towards the gate that leads towards the northernmost port area of the forest - where Aideen instructed Cal to head to - and vanished through the gate one after another.

When they emerged from the other side of the gate, Cal immediately noticed the cooler, wetter air, with a hint of salt in the air. The gate brought them right to the very edge of the forest, not the port town itself, and it was roughly a day's trek from the gate to the port town.

Both Elaina and Sidonie had not minded when Cal suggested they make the trek on foot, so as to sightsee along the way. Between the forest and the port town itself was a vast grassy plain, where wildlife roamed freely.

All manner of beasts from little bunny rabbits to packs of wolves roamed the plain, though the predatory animals all seemed quite weary of people's presence, and gave the three a very wide berth. The occasional monsters they ran into were less fearful however.

One such creature strongly reminded Cal of the black-feathered giant lizard that had chased after Fheeri back at the goblin lands, just a good bit smaller. The creature noticed them from afar, and ran straight towards them.

Cal was just about to get her weapon out when her nieces asked if they were allowed to try their mettle on the beast. She allowed them on the condition that she would be right next to them to keep watch. Both girls had idolized their mother, who was one of the better warriors in the defense force, so they had also trained often.

Almost as one, Elaina and Sidonie whipped out their atlatls and notched a javelin on it. Both girls held their right arms far back as they aligned for a throw at the rapidly approaching creature. Cal also noticed with curiosity how sparks of lightning were present on the head of Sidonie's javelin.

Both sisters loosed their javelins at the same time. The creature juked to the side and avoided Elaina's, but ran straight into Sidonie's javelin instead. The Javelin only pierced its shoulder, but the burst of lightning that followed severed one of the creature's vestigial arms and made it screech in pain.

As the beast was too close for them to make another throw, both of Cal's nieces pulled out their respective melee weapons. It was an elven doctrine that every combatant were to be armed with a long weapon and a short weapon, to adapt to circumstances. Which weapon people favored on the other hand, depends on the individual.

Elaina favored a long weapon - in her case a spear with a spear head that looked more like a sword's blade, designed for both stabbing and slashing, with two other slightly shorter blades set perpendicular to it. If forced to fight up close she used a pair of tonfas instead, which she was competent but less skilled with.

On the other hand, Sidonie only used a simple spear for her long weapon, as she preferred to fight up close and personal with the aid of her magic. Her weapon of choice was a pair of katar daggers with sturdy, thick blades that measured close to half a meter long each.

Both girls were of the lightning affinity, with Elaina having fire major and Sidonie wind major. The younger girl had slightly more potential, but her focus on control meant her older sister still possessed superior power to her.

The two girls approached the injured beast from both sides, and as Sidonie caught its attention and distracted it, Elaina jabbed her spear into the creature's neck. At the same time, she channeled her magic through her weapon and the burst of electricity made the creature convulse violently.

That gave Sidonie an opening she had not wasted. With her blades crossed like a pair of scissors, the girl went and sliced the creature's neck off in one smooth motion.

They turned around and saw Cal gave them a thumbs up in approval, and both girls smiled proudly.