Hello, this time it's a smaller chapter than usual, sorry about that. Oh and if anyone would like to talk to me about making a cover photo for this novel, it would be much appreciated. I'll make sure all credit goes to you too, so don't worry lol

Anyways I hope you enjoy! :D

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-----During the night of the 4th day of trip to village-----

Where am I? Right now surrounding me is a large forest however it is very different from the Elf forest. The trees are wider and taller. They look similar to the redwood trees in California. The forest gives off and eerie feeling since there is no background noise such as birds chirping.

Deciding to try and figure out what is going on, I walk around observing the strange area. Suddenly I feel an immense pressure that stops me in my tracks. Along with a rough but old voice insinuating wisdom beyond what one could imagine.

“You are in my realm. The first morpher to enter since my master Bane.” [???]

Master? Does that mean this is the voice of Talonbane? If so that means when I went to sleep I entered his realm somehow, but I don’t remember doing this on purpose.

“Yes you are correct, I am Talonbane, very good observation. However I have no way to enter your realm, or world

Draastifar. As for why you are able to enter my realm unlike your predecessors it is quite simple. When you were on Earth, your body was naturally absorbing the ki of your surroundings. Yes, I know about Earth ho ho ho. Anyways, on Earth there is many times more ki compared to Draastifar. Draastifar is thick with mana compared to Earth. Conversely, ki is less permeated on Draastifar than on Earth.

Another thing you should know is that those two elders and the other clan members don’t realize that mages have evolved tenfold compared to when the Race-Rift War happened. Their spies didn’t realize that, thus the incorrect information fed. It shames me how idiotic they could be in their observations.” [Talonbane]

Right after that a bird swooped down and landed before me. Calling it a mere bird is an insult though. It was probably the size of what a dragon looked like. Its talons were red and its feathers black. The eyes were a piercing red that looked like in its eyes you were just a measly cockroach. The terror that it emitted could probably make someone go into shock and die. It opened it huge beak and spoke:

“Do not worry Jared, you are not going to be my dinner, I have no need to eat ho ho ho.” [Talonbane]

I make an audible gulp that I swear could echo through the silent forest. Getting over my initial shock and checking to make sure I didn’t soil myself I ask:

“What do you mean ‘evolved’?”

He shows what probably would be a face of anger if he were human before explaining.

“After the war, the kingdom’s finally got their peace and began to focus on magic and different applications for it since their mana pool cannot be expanded. Over time they created different constructs to help them in battle.

Before the war they had golems of course, however those were few and far between. The mages would have to first create the golems which wasn’t that difficult but it was the controlling of the golems that would be difficult. The magi would have to be very close the golem at all times, to focus their mana and channel it to make it move. Thus I would make it easy for the enemy to just fire an arrow or get close to the weak magi and kill him, thereby making the golem just a useless sculpture.

Now though, the Mages Guild has figured out how to take the crystal’s dropped by monsters in dungeons and infuse their mana into them, creating a sentient golem that will follow the mages orders. It will go around and kill the enemy without the need for mana channeling.

Another new way the mages have evolved is spirit animal summoning. Mages could always summon a spirit to aid them but the spirit would only stay insubstantial and give you certain ‘blessings’ to increase your power for a small amount of time. Nowadays when you first bind yourself to a spirit animal they figured out how to bind part of it to an item. The item-like an accessory-can call the spirit animal into our world in a material being, instead of an insubstantial being. Thus magi can summon wolves, scorpions, even a Minotaur or in very rare cases a dragon.

Still, do not fear, your own potential for evolving is greater than a mage. You have only reached the tip of the iceberg. I am reminding you to never underestimate your opponent. There is one final piece of knowledge I must impart upon you. Whether you will act upon it is your choice.” [Talonbane]

Talonbane pauses to let all of this information sink in before he continues.

“I am not the last of my kind. I have a child that still lies dormant in an egg, waiting for another Bane descendent to raise her. Unfortunately she is a half-blood of my race. She will still be powerful when growing up, just not as much as I was.” [Talonbane]

What?! Another Talonbane? Wait a minute, half-blood? Then who, I mean what did he screw?

Talonbane looks at me then chuckles. Oh shit it forgot he can read my mind.

“Ho ho ho, it was a long time ago and I barely remember it. But not because it was so long ago, but because I was wasted during a festival and saw a bird that was probably the most beautiful avian creature ever! So I went over and shov-well sorry, this old bird sometimes forgets to stop blabbering.

Regardless, should you decide to help hatch and raise her, I shall bestow you the knowledge of where she is. You only need to focus in your mind on wanting to locate her, and it will show you the direction needed to take. This should be good enough for our first meeting, I will keep in touch with you occasionally. Plus, you currently have a woman that is ravaging your manhood, so I won’t keep you any longer, ho ho ho.”

After thanking Talonbane, he taps my forehead with one of his talons, giving me the directions on where to locate his daughter.

After that the creepy forest and the wise bird fades into non-existence while my eyes open to see melody doing a number of stimulating things to my area, while giving me a sexy bewitching smile. Life is good.

Now my main objective also has a side objective:

-Secretly gather forces through the Adventurers Guild in Durst to help make it easier for when the Bane Clan enters the world stage.

-Recover Talonbane’s daughter to help raise.

Another thing I need to do is reconsider my strength now that I learned from Talonbane about the spirit animals and golems. Ignorance in this case is anything but bliss. Time to continue the journey!