Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Confrontation
The next sunless day, Rael sat in his room with his eyes closed, contemplating the new manuscript he’d earned from completing the Tier 2 quest — the Boundary Ward Sigil.
To him, it was complicated. In fact, it felt impossible. He knew nothing about inscriptions to begin with, which only made every symbol and instruction harder to grasp. Still, he managed to pick out a few things
The importance of terrain,the size of the protected space (the larger it is, the weaker the protection) and most importantly... the energy source.
Opening his eyes, Rael frowned.
The energy source was a real problem. Yes, he had an aether crystal — but only one, and he was certain it wouldn’t be enough. What eased the worry slightly was the manuscript hinting at alternative sources of energy. Simply put life force.
What shocked him even more was that the inscription wasn’t purely defensive. It had offensive functions as well — though they demanded much more energy.
Even so, a plan was already forming in his mind.
With a long exhale, Rael rose to his feet.
The days ahead would be stressful and mostly boring. No more excitement from clearing the surrounding area. Now his entire focus had to shift toward fortifying his territory... and getting that Boundary Ward Sigil functional before the D-day arrived.
---
At the stream...
By the rushing shore of a narrow stream, three figures rested.
"Iyvre, your wound isn’t getting any better," Ayobe said, worry in her voice.
"I’m fine. It’s just a small cut. It’ll heal over time," Iyvre replied as she dried her long pale-white hair.
"A small cut poisoned with Serpent’s Fang is not a small matter. We need to treat it now," Yasmine said sharply.
Iyvre sighed. She could feel the burning pain throbbing from that wound, her aether slowly dwindling as it struggled — and failed — to push the poison out.
"Alright... but we move first thing at dawn."
"Yeah yeah. Let me work. If you were any weaker as an Aether user, you’d be dead already," Yasmine muttered. "Ayobe, check the perimeter. Make sure we’re still heading north."
"Yes, ma’am," Ayobe sneered before leaping toward the trees lining both sides of the stream.
---
Three days later...
The trio moved through the forest, staying far from any beast territories — easier thanks to Ayobe’s tracking skills.
Beasts, however, were the least of their concerns.
Hours ago, Ayobe had sensed the traces of a threaded path. The signs were unmistakable Qemish markings... and, most glaringly, a camp littered with rotten goblin corpses.
Humans had either passed by — or were very close.
Not surprising. They were nearing the edges of the Borderlands, the edges where human territories began.
"You think we should camp here for the night?" Yasmine asked, glancing toward Iyvre, who was visibly tense — her senses forced to fullest maximum.
"Yes... but let’s stay above the trees. It’s safer."
"Uh... guys," Ayobe’s voice called from above.
"What is it?"
"I think I see... something." She pointed ahead, though the view was blocked by thick vegetation.
Iyvre and Yasmine leapt up beside her — and froze.
A wide compound appeared between the trees, surrounded by wooden fences. Four strange wooden structures sat inside. At first, it looked abandoned... until they looked closer. The woods used for construction were fresh. A lightpost structure circled the compound.
A human camp.
"Not good," Ayobe whispered. "If we’re finding a camp this deep already... who knows how many more we’ll run into heading north."
"Should we go around?" Yasmine asked.
"Maybe... or not," Iyvre muttered, narrowing her pale-green eyes.
"What do you mean?" Yasmine asked — recognizing that dangerous look her sister got when she had a daring idea.
"We’ve run out of too many things already."
Ayobe’s eyes widened. "Wait — are you suggesting a raid? Are you insane!?"
"She’s not wrong," Yasmine said with a smirk. "Besides... raiding humans doesn’t sound so bad."
"You too!?" Ayobe nearly shouted.
"It’s decided," Iyvre said, drawing her curved blade. "But first — we make sure we’re not biting more than we can chew. Ayobe, confirm we’re not outnumbered or outranked."
"Hmph. Already did," Ayobe huffed.
"Well? Spill it," Yasmine snapped. "Are we outnumbered or outranked?"
"Outnumbered? No. Outclassed? ...I’m not sure."
"What does that mean?" Iyvre asked.
"I can’t tell. The air around that compound is strange. Tight. Heavy. Too heavy."
"I don’t like that." Iyvre’s voice grew low. "Yasmine... we might have to use that."
"Tsk. This camp better be worth it," Yasmine muttered. She pulled a scroll from her pouch and frowned. "This had better be worth the cost. Gather around."
---
Inside the compound...
Three invisible figures leapt silently into the camp — and immediately felt the pressure in the air.
"A Boundary Ward Sigil...?" Yasmine whispered.
"No. Nothing like that," Ayobe replied.
"Stay alert. I don’t like the feeling this place gives me," Iyvre warned. She was prepared to grab her sisters and flee if anything or anyone too strong appeared.
They moved through the compound, past crude furnitures and wooden buildings. Iyvre extended her senses — and froze.
Her senses had vanished the moment they stepped inside the camp.
She turned toward the others — their confused expressions confirmed they had just noticed the same thing.
"I don’t like this," Iyvre hissed. "We’re leaving. Now—"
But before they could act, the door of the central building creaked open.
A human man stepped out with leather pants, he was tall ,Muscular with golden brown eyes and a weird Crude hairstyle. .
A handsome man — even by elven standards.
But aesthetics were the least of their concerns.
"He shouldn’t be able to see us... right?" Ayobe whispered.
"Of course not. That spell scroll is a peak Tier-1 spell. We’re invisible, silent, scentless. No one could—"
"Shh," Iyvre cut her off.
The man stepped out again — this time holding a short sword.
With a confused expression, he walked directly toward them.
They shifted aside.
He walked past...
Then abruptly stopped at the crude gateway.
"Hah. Now this is a surprise," he said, sounding amused.
He turned — and looked straight at them,right at them.
"Entering someone’s property without permission is quite rude, isn’t it?"with that he swung his short sword in a sweeping arc.
Sending a red arc as it tore through the air toward their position.
Iyvre exhaled sharply.