452 By the Raging River, Meeting The Rey of Eastern Mountains and the Representatives of the Surviving Races (1/2)
Day ▮▮ - ▮▮:▮▮ ▮▮ - Border River, Eastern Mountain Foot
Halfway down the mountain, Mark and his team encountered fewer attacks from the infected creatures. Furthermore, the closer they get to the border where the dry land and the fertile soil transitioned, the lesser infected they encountered.
What bordered the dry mountain and the other claimed by the Duendes was a river flowing from north to south. The river was about fifty meters wide, and the flow of the water was considerably strong. Even a fully grown human adult would have great difficulties crossing the river without a bridge.
Nevertheless, the strong current of the river did not matter to both Chaflar and Gifre. At the deepest parts, Chaflar just flapped its wings and flew to the other side while Gifre just crossed it normally.
Not minding the strong current, everyone in their team could agree about one thing. The river was beautiful. Even in the deep parts, the water was crystal clear. Sadly, they could not find a single fish swimming at the shallow parts where the current was not strong.
Reaching the other side of the river, Mark signaled for everyone to stop and rest.
”Whew, finally! My legs are numb!”
Karlene exclaimed as she jumped off from Gifre's back. After shaking her legs, she then went towards Mark, who was assisting Mei and the little girls to get down from Chaflar's back.
”Hey, Mark. I don't think they needed assistance to go down, right?”
She blurted out the first question that came into her mind. That caused Mark to turn to her with a sigh before he replied.
”Because they wanted to.”
”You really spoil them, aren't you?”
”Said the woman spoiled by her father.”
That exchange made Karlene stop. She could not refute his last sentence, after all. There, she finally asked the real question that made her approach Mark.
”By the way, why did we stop here? That stone castle is just about a kilometer away.”
Mark did not need to answer as someone else spoke behind her.
”Bessie, it's because we can't.”
Alana replied while staring at the entrance of the forest in front of them.
That made Karlene, Edzel, Pearl, and Mara confused.
Hearing Alana's deduction and seeing her reaction, Pefile spoke.
”You're quite something too.” He complimented. ”It hasn't been long since you awakened your Demonic Blood, and you can already feel unusual magical fluctuations. For others, it might take months or even years.”
”Is that so?”
Alana replied with a bit of uncertainty.
”Then, there's magic applied in the forest in front of us?”
Karlene asked.
”There is.” It was Spera who replied. ”If I'm correct, its illusion magic to disorient the sense of direction of anyone who enters.”
”Correction,” Mark interjected. ”Not might, we will definitely get lost and travel in circles. They probably set this up to deter the infected from approaching that stone castle if they enter through the forest.”
Mark then turned to Teremillio and the others.
”This should be a work of a Tikbalang, right?”
”It should be.” Teremillio agreed. ”Normally, Tikbalangs use this magic to play tricks to their victims. I never thought that they are clever enough to use it to deter the infected.”
”Well, doesn't this magic gets canceled when the victim wore their shirts inside out?”
Karlene asked another question.
There, Pefile playfully replied.
”It's not like the infected can take off their clothes and wear it inside out. Infected animals and insects don't wear clothes in the first place.”
Karlene was stumped as she was made fun of. Alana tapping on her shoulder to sympathize did not help either.
”Papa, how are we going to enter?”
Miracle, who was stretching her arms up in front of Mark, asked.
Knowing what the little girl wanted, Mark picked her up and carried her in his arms.
”I can destroy this illusion, I guess.”
”DON'T!”
Felenia, who knew how important this illusion was for her kingdom, could not help but shout.
”I'm joking, alright?”
Mark shrugged his shoulders.
”Please! Don't even joke about that!”
Felenia retorted.
”Felenia, calm down, alright? I'm not the type of person to bypass my allies. Besides, some guys are already coming to greet us.”
There was no need to elaborate on Mark's words. Everyone immediately knew what he meant.
Now knowing why they stopped, they took the opportunity to rest a bit. Even though they just traveled for a whole day, they somehow felt that it was too long. They felt too tired than they were supposed to be.
Abbygale could not handle it anymore. Mark had to give Miracle to Mei, and he carried Abbygale, who took a nap in his arms.
It did not take too long, and a fluctuation of energy was felt by Mark and several members of his group.
They turned their heads towards the forest in front. That was when they saw the forest distort, and several figures of varying sizes went out of the distortion.
These creatures were being led by a pair of Duendes in golden clothing, riding a large golden bird that was hovering in the air using magic. There were also other eight individuals standing directly behind the couple. Behind them, many creatures that appeared to be either soldiers or warriors were standing with their weapons ready for battle.
”What an assortment.”
Mark murmured as he recognized the races of each creature in front of him. As much as he was an Otaku for Anime and Video Games, the thing that took his interest in his own country was its mythological creatures. Although there were many inaccurate depictions of these creatures, the main features of these creatures were at least correct, which made it easier to recognize them.
While Mark was staring at the group of creatures, they were also observing his.
And to say, the group of creatures had unsightly expressions. They could still tolerate that some of their visitors were humans. However, they were able to recognize that Gifre, Logan, and Janette were Infecta. For their visitors, to have three Infecta in their group, they started to have doubts.
Still, the king of Duendes decided to keep it cool.