Chapter 10: Forest of Kadim

Hennesy give him a nod and say “you don’t need to worry in this forest nothing is more dangerous than this two here”

With the ability user Asmot beside him and Acacia who is an expert swordsman there is really nothing to fear. Aside from the three of them, there are only beasts in this forest.

“I have to explain some matters to Hennesy.” Acacia shrugged Asmot shoulder signaling to accompany Kellen for a while.

Hennesy approach Acacia they move a quite a distant and start their conversation.

‘Strange what are they talking about to go that far?’ Kellen muttered seeing the two walk approximately a hundred meters from them.

“Look at those two sharing some secret, brother Kellen would you eavesdrops on them?” Asmot cast a sly smile. ”I know you have good hearing, right?”

Kellen stare at him “Okay” he is trying to understand what the two are talking but he cannot distinguish the language they were uttering.

He frowned and pondered for a while, but the language they were using is foreign to him.

“Asmot how many language can you guys speak?” he asked.

“I only know one language, and that is Seradiam which we’re using right now and most people use it even in other continents.”

“Weird they were talking a language I don’t understand, well anyway I won’t eavesdrop anymore now that I can’t comprehend their conversation.”

“Those two are talking in a language that we don’t know, so even if you eavesdrop you will not understand. I think that they were discussing a big secret, something that is dark, or maybe they were talking about their women that they have fun with.” Asmot was nodding convincing himself that it is the reason for the two talking secretly in unknown dialect.

Asmot smirk and stare at Kellen.

“Kellen did you have a girlfriend before, tell me?” Asmot eyes are beaming,

Kellen sigh “Why are you suddenly asking that, of course I had one before.”

“I am so envious, how many?” He eagerly asked.

Kellen doesn’t know why he is so interested but he answered “Three, the last one left me when I got fired and became broke”

Saying this Kellen cannot help but sigh in his heart, his last girlfriend of 5 years is his true love, but who would have thought that she is going to leave him when he's in a pinch. You can’t really tell if the people really love you or are sincere with you until you encounter difficulties.

“Me, I don’t have girls since I was here in this forest when I was ten, but you know I’ll tell you a secret, the boss is in a relationship!” Asmot made an evil smile.

Kellen was in awe “With whom, I don’t see any girl here!” he gape realizing something.

“Did you mean?” he was thinking that Acacia and Hennesy are in a relationship.

“Yeah! With his hands!” Asmot laughed so hard holding his stomach.

Kellen face sunk he don’t know whether to laugh or cry with what Asmot said, trying to crack a joke that is not funny to him.

“What? You’re not laughing you don’t get it? How boring.” Asmot twisted his lips but he continues to laugh with his jest.

Kellen forcefully smiled thinking that Asmot is doing this to have some fun with him.

Acacia and Hennesy finished their conversation and approach the two near the lake.

“So are you ready Kellen, we’re having an adventure now!” Acacia asked.

Kellen nodded “Please take care of me!”

Asmot shrugged his shoulder “Let’s rock!”

The three walk down the mountain with ease since Kellen can pass through anything except the things that are made by spiritual power, or strong spirit like people who cultivate their spirit. He is able to catch up with the two who adjust their pace for Kellen.

•••••

In the dense forest Kellen feels tense and happy. Finally he will be able to experience the euphoria of hunting. Even if this time he will only observe and will not personally be involved in killing, it's still exhilarating for him.

Kellen takes his time appreciating the scenery inside the forest, unlike what Hennesy told him that this place is deadly and full of dangers he cannot see any hint of that description. In his eyes this place is like a hidden beauty of this world.

There are many unique kinds of creatures, both big and small. Birds are flying everywhere you can hear the sound of various animals in the area, and there is a river which the water came from Mt. Hayaman. If anyone saw this, the first thing he/she will utter is ‘Wow’ because this place is incredibly awe-inspiring.

Asmot shrugged Kellen’s shoulder “Brother Kellen how was it? This area of the forest is beautiful, right!”

“Yeah, it looks so peaceful here. It is not like what you guys said to me before, that this place is dangerous for people.”

Kellen still letting his eyes wander around the surroundings before him.

Asmot chuckled “Indeed, because this part of the forest is like a protected spot for a particular reason even we don’t know why the beasts don’t come around here near Mt. Hayaman. What we’re talking about is the place five kilometers away from Mt. Hayaman, that is when you will see the true face of the Kadim Forest, that this continent is most afraid of!” Asmot face showed confidence.

Acacia is currently listening to the two his face is serene and has a proud look when he was walking behind them.

“Asmot is right, the real danger is five kilometers away from Mt. Hayaman. Beasts are afraid approaching the center of this forest, the first time I reached this place even I was baffled too.” Acacia suddenly said.

Asmot nodded in what Acacia said in agreement.

“When I met Hennesy for the first time in Mt. Hayaman I asked him about this and he doesn’t give me any explanation. That is why I deduce that this place is sacred, or you can say a sanctuary for something extraordinary.” Acacia clenched his jaw.

Hennesy is the first person who ventured and reached the center of this forest many decades ago or even a hundred years ago. No one knows, even Asmot and Acacia who live with him for many decades didn’t know how old he is or how long he lived in that mountain. Hennesy is very secretive for a particular reason, but they do not dislike him. Despite of his reserved and strict appearance he is benign and sympathetic within.

“Why you didn’t bother asking him again maybe this time he will tell you?” Kellen is still curious and he wants to drain more information from Acacia.

Acacia shake his head insignificantly “I won’t. Everyone has their own secret and Hennesy is no exception, even if he treats us like his own family. If he wants to tell us, he will tell us, otherwise there is a reason behind it that he doesn’t want us to bother or be involved.”

“Right I don’t even care if uncle will never want us to know his secret.” Asmot said indifferently.

Kellen doesn’t have a choice but to agree, it is true that he doesn’t need to meddle any further, if Hennesy wants to tell him about this matter, he will personally tell him.

“There was one time he told me that there are four guardians of this forest, do you guys have knowledge of that?”

This information was told to him by Hennesy, that there are four protectors of this forest that prevent people reaching this place.

Asmot chuckled “We do know them and we also know who their master is.”

“Who, Hennesy only told me about the four but he never told me that they have a master” Kellen immediately ask catching up to Asmot that is currently leading the way.

Asmot stop for a while and “It is none other than uncle Hennesy!”

“Woosh”

Acacia is in front of them in an instant trying to hold Asmot mouth but he already said it. Acacia gave Asmot a glare and hit him in his head.

“You idiot, Hennesy choose not to tell him but you let the cat out of the bag, are you really stupid in the head!?” staring at Asmot who is scratching his head right now.

Acacia stare at Kellen and said “Just don’t say to Hennesy that you already know the master of the four guardians is!”

Kellen was perplexed by Acacia’s fuss, in his mind is that really trivial? What if he knows the master of the four

guardians, does it signify anything, or does it change something. In the end Kellen only gave a meek nod to Acacia.

According to Hennesy the four guardians are the one who is responsible for why Kadim Forest is one of the most dangerous places on the entire continent of Taranos. They are Burt of the North, Amihan of the East, Tosmia of the South, and Erebus of the West. All of them have the ability to kill countless humans or even powerful ability users like them. They have their own territory to protect and prevent any intruder passing and reaching the center, which is Mt. Hayaman. People don’t know they exist the only thing they know is Kadim Forest is dangerous and unpredictable.