" Are you ready to go," Lucas said.

Layla Palmer replied with a bunch of mixed emotions and said, " Yes!"

Layla Palmer was excited to finally get out of this forest. Yes, her time spent alone with Lucas was fun. But she missed civilisation. Also, she wanted to test her strength. She fought Lucas on numerous occasions but had never won, not even once. Lucas did not give her any freebies. But another part of her wanted to stay in this forest, forever. Because here meant Lucas and there meant separation... After living for a while Layla Palmer found normalcy in this life of the forest... It was her first home after being taken from her home... Lucas looked at Layla Palmer and together they started walking out the safe zone. After that Lucas cancelled the safe zone spell.

" So where exactly are we going and how are we getting there?"

" We are going to the Kingdom of Falangard. And we are going to get there by using a long-range teleportation spell. "

"This forest is huge! I thought you said you can't teleport that far?"

"This is a different spell Layla, plus we have been here for a while. I'm a lot stronger now."

" Okay, so you telling me you can teleport more than 500 square miles (800km)in one go?"

" Why would I need to teleport that far away?"

" Isn't this forest 500 square miles (800Km)?"

" Yes, it is and?"

" Exactly!"

" Look, this forest is 500 square miles in size but we do not need to travel that far. The Kingdom of Falangard is only 200 miles ( 321 kilometres) away from here."

" That's still far but it sounds more believable..."," Did you teach me the wrong spell? Why can't I teleport that far?"

" Your affinity for time-space magic isn't as strong as mine as well as your mana count is substantially lower than mine. Resulting in a less powerful spell. So just wait we'll be gone in a jiffy"

" Thea, is there any hunting grounds in the Kingdom of Falangard?" Lucas thought.

[ Yes there is. Do you want me to send you the list?]

" That would be great"

As Lucas was finished talking Thea sent him the list. A screen popped up in Lucas's face and so Lucas scrolled through the entire list. And then picked a place.

" Thea take me to the Den of the LavaWolves hideout."

[ That is 10 SP or 30 Gold.]

" Thirty gold."

[ Initiating teleportation spell in 10,9,8,7,6,5]

The magic circle appeared above and below Lucas Layla Palmer and the white light started getting brighter.

" Take my hand, you need to be touching me to teleport with me."

" Okay."

So Layla Palmer took ahold of Lucas's hand and grabbed it tightly. As the white light kept getting brighter.

[4,3,2,1,0]

Foof a bright white light flashed. When the light disappeared two figures emerged from it. One a big black man and beautiful busty girl. They had teleported in the mountains. Some of the mountains weren't mountains but inactive volcanoes. Inactive but the lava still bubbled inside, increasing the temperature of this mountain. They had teleported onto a pathway right next to the entrance of a cave. It was pitch black inside the cave, even though they were standing outside. The light couldn't penetrate through the darkness. Lucas let go of Layla's hand and inspected his surroundings.

[ You have arrived at the Den of the LavaWolves ]

" What inside the cave?" Layla Palmer asked.

" I'm not sure but I don't think we should go inside of there. It feels creepy. Look how the light isn't even flowing inside. It's pitch black. Clearly, there is something off about this place."

" He is right young lady. That place isn't safe" An unfamiliar voice sounded out behind them.

Lucas and Layla Palmer looked around. To see a tall red-skinned man. He looked about 23-26. His charm point was that he had a well-defined jawline with a strong physique. He wasn't overly muscular but neither skinny. He was toned more than anything else. He was wearing the commoners clothing that was very dirty. He had a pickaxe in his equipped and a basket on his back.

Lucas frowned when he saw the pickaxe. Even though it wasn't in his hands but on his hips.

" Don't be alarmed. I'm not here to hurt you. I just saw the white light and I wanted to see what it was..."," I'm Tuff-Tuff Minesworth," He said while extending his right arm towards Lucas. They then shook hands, " I'm a miner, my family and I have been mining these mountains for generations."

Lucas saw his pickaxe and how dirty he was as well as his strong physique. So he clearly had the appearance of a miner. But Lucas didn't believe him. This could be that moment when one person sets them up while the others get into position.

Lucas looked at him and said in his mind, " Attribute check"

[ Name: Tuff Minesworth

Occupation: Miner

Class: None

Attributes

Strength: 30

Dexterity:20

Intelligence:10

Wisdom:15

Charisma:28

Luck: 12

...

When Lucas saw that everything checked out he believed him.

Tuff Minesworth saw that Lucas believed him and sighed a sigh of relief. He then said, " We should probably get away from this cave. Nothing good comes of those who wander here."

" Why? Do you know what's inside?" Lucas asked as they started walking down the mountain.

" No, no one who enters ever lives to tell about it. In our village, there is a lot of myths and stories about this place. Like how no matter bright it is outside it is still pitch black inside. You can light a stick on fire and then throw it inside. It still remains the same. In fact when you hold a stick that is burning in your hand. Even if you put just put the tip where the darkness begins. The flame will instantly die. One of the myths is that a demon lives inside and it ate up all the light inside. So when you try to add light. The balance between how much light there is and how much there isn't is too big resulting in the added lights disappearance. "

" So when I saw a huge white light in the place known for its absence of light. I rushed over despite the danger. That's when I saw you two. I'm sure you can understand, right?"

Lucas was much more at ease now. His story seemed to check out. If this guy was lying he is one heck of a liar.

" So what are you guys doing here?"

" We are actually on our way to the Kingdom of Falangard. Which way is that?"

" You continue down this road and then take a right. My village is on the left."

" You don't live in the Kingdom?"

" No, my family has been working the mines for generations. We work for the King, mining gems and all other sorts of precious materials. It's more convenient to stay close to your work."

" Have you always wanted to be a miner?"

" It's a family tradition so whether I want to or not I have to... The first born boy of each household has to work in the mines."

" So you are the first born."

" You really are nosey aren't you!"

" I'm just trying to make conversation. If you want, we can be quiet the whole way down the mountain."

" Okay... No, I'm not the first born. I had an older brother once... He was 4 years older than me. He was very passionate and hardworking . I always aspired to be as hardworking as he was. He thoroughly loved mining and he was my father and mothers pride and joy. People always said we looked similar and that made me happy. I didn't want to become a miner, I wanted to be the best blacksmith the world has ever seen. I wanted to be devoted to my craft like my brother was. Until one day we received a message from the King doubling the amount of ore we had to produce. But even if we had the staff to accomplish that request, the amount of ore available, wasn't enough. It was then that my brother told me about his plans to go inside the black cave and scavenge for some precious materials. He was certain that if he could find something precious he could send it to the King. The King would sell it for a lot and then with that money buy the required ore from another Kingdom, non-human of course."

" I knew about the dangers of the black cave. But I held my brother in such high regard that I did not object to his decision. In fact, I encouraged him telling him he could do it. I was only 7. The next morning I woke up and he wasn't in bed. He had gone to the black cave. Since that day, I've woken up the same way every morning. With my brother's bed empty. My parents blame me for their favourite son's disappearance and the fact that we look so similar is something I hate now. Because wherever I go I'm a reminder to everyone what they had lost. See my brother was really good at mining. He was the hope of the village. Some families hated being tasked with mining for generations. My brother was going to set them free. He had always promised that one day he would get stronger and kill whatever is inside the cave. Sell it to someone important and with that money rid us all of the poverty. Our family was well looked after because of him. My dad was an important figure in the village and my mom was the envy of all women. We received the first helping of the rations as well as the most. To ensure my brother got big and strong.

But when he disappeared so did everyone's love. In fact, it's the opposite. Everyone hates us now. We used to receive the first pick of the rations. Now we are lucky if there is even anything left... My parents blame me for not stopping my brother and because they had lost all their status. After my brother disappeared by law I had to put my blacksmithing dreams under a pillow. And continue to mine in his stead. But of course, I lacked the passion and skill to mine. I wasn't as good as my brother and this made everyone in the village angry. Now I spend most of my days in the mines for it's far better than being at home..."