Magic Of Mana Book 1: The First Tragedy
Chapter 6: Northern Forest (Part 3)

Chapter 6 (Part 3)

Northern Forest

Shumi and Shukoi walked until there was no sunlight that had broken through the cracks between the leaves above them. Even so, the darkness of the forest is still quite thick and makes the view still like night.

Shukoi then turned off her torch by rolling it on the ground until it was extinguished. “We will be safer without this fire,”.

Shumi did not comment on a sign of agreement. He was also worried about attracting attention, but indeed before the darkness of the forest made his footsteps would be very difficult without the torch.

“So far, no obstacles huh?” shumi.

“Iya, Miss.”

“How do you know about this forest, Shukoi? Has no one from our kingdom ever passed it?”

“Early, Miss! But it's been a long time and it's just a waste of energy! This forest is a magical forest that is said to have been like this since the children of the gods are still at war with each other.”

“The goal is to protect Topaz city?”

“Entah to protect or because of the city, the surrounding forest becomes like this.”

“Yes, I have also read, this magical forest surrounds the holy city of topaz, making it not everyone can pass through, but if we look at the map, it should not be too far away huh?”

“Yes, if we keep moving straight ahead, but without special magic, we'll be like walking zig zag, miss. That's what makes it difficult to pass through this forest, even for witches.”

“But my compass doesn't show us changing direction.”

“The compass that we have generally only shows the direction of the wind, Miss! In this world, the needle will always point north, right towards the topaz city, while the other needle is only as a directional helper, with the opposite side of the needle being south, south, the left is west and the right is east. But, the core of the compass was just pointing towards that city alone, Miss.”

“Yes, I understand, but right from the other degrees, we can so know where we are from, and this does not change?!”

“That's one of the magic of this forest, Miss! Let's see, if we march westward, the compass will continue like that.” Shukoi took Shumi to walk west, and sure enough, it had gone far enough, the compass did not budge.

“Wah, right?! Meaning we won't be able to make sure to enter and exit the same point?” Shumi's surprised. Shukoi just nodded. They went back north.

“So, it could be when we go home later, we are out in the country of Space or White Forest huh?” added Shumi.

“Truely, Miss! But we will be safe, there will be no one guarding their northern region, only our kingdom which happens to be thousands of cities in the northernmost region”

“Alright, most importantly, north unchanged!”

“Ever has researched, that this forest has a vortex of different areas, they call it a dimensional vortex. So it could be that we meet people who enter the forest from the side of the space country or the white forest country.”

“If by air? We have a fleet of air balloon fighters, right? Maybe it will be easier?”

“Unfortunately it was done, Miss! But, just from the air, the city of Topaz is not visible. Only the expanse of forest that continues to be seen, even using a compass, the needle will continue to point north even though we have followed it.”

“Dimension swirl, huh? It means that this northern forest is the gate to Topaz City, yes?”

“True, Miss.”

“Truly isolated huh?”

“Actually that is the reason that makes the quartz used to use the city of Throttling as a settlement and leave the city of topaz, before the betrayal they did that finally made them return there.”

“We, it is the human beings who actually betrayed, Shukoi!” shumi said in her heart to remember a glimpse of the story of King Victor.

“Then, the city was called The Fallen City of Topaz, because it was considered a sacred area and as the center of this world. The city was inhabited only by pure witch priests of each of the pure predecessors, but today the quartz live there as well.”

“I want to see the center of that world, Shukoi!”

“Yes, I had heard that info, long before I knew that it turned out that I was a descendant of that race.”

“Therefore too, after hearing your story, I have no reason to stop you, Miss! Because if that's the case, you might be able to get in there.”

“Hopefully it is true, but whatever the outcome will be, it will not be a waste, right? I still need something like this as a successor to the throne, I don't want when I lead later, the Deputies defected to me and mutinied just because they thought I was weak. I don't want any more wars, Shukoi!”

“Agreed, Miss! Although I continue to train every night and indeed from being raised from the military, I do not like war.”

Shumi was quite surprised by the answer, but all he knew, Shukoi had a grudge for the events that befell his family until he entered the military. “Warfare will never solve the problem”, he said.

9

“But unfortunately if we've been oppressed, giving up without resisting also only gives way to evil, Miss.”

“Yes, if it is so it will not be avoided anyway, subjugating the heart before the war happens that is very important.”

They keep walking. After a few minutes, Shukoi found something.

“Shortly, Miss! I'll get you something!” he said while running towards a large tree that has hanging roots. He easily reached the top of the very tall tree like his feet and hands had a very sticky glue.

He took out his weapon, a small katana along the arm of a human hand and pierced a pouch in the tree. “Nona, please throw your drinking bottle!” abugn.

The still confused Shumi remained following Shukoi's request and threw her away. Shumi's throw was right towards Shukoi so he easily caught it.

“Good throw, Miss! Thank you!” shukoi said then he opened the lid. After that, he pulled out the katana, and the water immediately poured out quite profusely from inside the bag. He hurriedly filled it with the bottle and filled it to the brim.

Shumi. “Wah, I don't know if the tree stores water in such a way!” he said, “I was lucky to be accompanied by you!”

Shukoi got down and handed the bottle over. “Pil dogs do make us stamina and do not need to eat, but will make us thirsty, Miss! There are many trees like this here! We should be safe," he said.

Suddenly, something struck towards Shukoi from her right. Simultaneously, he and Shumi tried to dodge it by jumping backwards. He tries to figure out who attacked him but is invisible. He took out his katana again, this time his two twin katanas. It was clearly a small red ribbon at the end of both of the handles of his katana.

“Who?” asked Shumi who was also looking around while preparing the arrows.

“Like slime, Miss! Be carefull! He's still here!”

The attack is launched again, but this time Shumi and Shukoi know the direction. The source of the attack was on the right of the position he had attacked earlier, but it was a bit far from their position so easily the attack could be avoided. It is still not seen what creatures attack them, because it is still hidden by shrubs and fallen tree branches.

“I'm it!” Shumi pulls her arrows, “Wind Respiratory Techniques : Blow Up Strike!” He launched a counterattack and Zaap…! The arrow hit the target.

A spider appears from behind a fallen tree branch. He jumped in pain as an arrow struck over his eight eyes. The size of the spider was quite large, at least he could pounce on 4 to 5 adults at once. The color is also dark, but because the forest is also dark, the animal's original color is not clearly visible.

“North Forest Spider! Be careful of the poison, Miss!” Shukoi warned, “And usually they group!”

Sure enough, several spiders appear the same size with varying sizes, some even larger.

“Better we go, Shukoi!”

“Good, Miss!”

Simultaneously, they ran north using dachts to run fast. Similarly, the hordes of spiders that chase very quickly. Occasionally, Shumi has to slide his arrows at spiders that are close enough to them, while Shukoi continues to pave the way by cutting through bushes so that their path is not blocked.

Before long they ran, suddenly something appeared from in front of them and attacked with something like a blunt tongue that had a hole in the end. Shumi dodged it to the right, while Shukoi jumped to the left, causing the two to roll over several times.

“What other creature is this?” shumi asked in her heart.

(Connected to the next part)