Chapter 25

Nick didn't relax until the sound of the retreating adventurers faded into the distance. Even then, he scanned the clearing again with sharp, cautious eyes, ensuring they wouldn't double back. His fingers twitched, mana still simmering just beneath the surface, ready to be unleashed again if necessary.Grandfather would have killed them now and would punish me harshly for letting them go. But I have another plan in mind for them. "Elia, drink this," he said, pulling a healing potion from his pouch. He was controlled enough to steady his voice, but his heart was pounding. He crouched beside her, watching as she pressed trembling fingers to her side. Blood seeped through the cloth of her undershirt, staining her fur-lined cloak. Elia nodded mutely, downing it in one gulp. The red liquid did as it should have, and a sigh of relief escaped her lips as the wound began to close. "Still stings like hell," she muttered, her usual bravado dimmed but not extinguished. "You'll live," Nick replied, offering a faint, almost mechanical smile. His gaze shifted to Rhea, who stood nearby with her arms wrapped around herself. The encounter had spooked her even more than Elia. I should have expected it. She's pretty knowledgeable, so I let it color my perception, but she is the scion of a wealthy house. While Ogden wouldn't have taken her in had she been too spoiled, she's probably never had to fight directly. "Are you hurt?" he asked. Rhea shook her head but didn't meet his eyes. "No. I'm fine," she murmured. Her voice was strained, as though the words were forced past a lump in her throat. She shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the trees where the men had disappeared. "We should go. They might come back." Nick agreed easily. "You are right. We should not stay here too long. Let's move before they can regroup." He helped Elia to her feet, steadying her as she tested her weight. The potion had worked quickly, and though she still looked pale, her movements were no longer sluggish. Rhea lingered close, but her attention kept flitting to Nick. He noticed the way her brow furrowed, the unspoken question in her eyes, but he ignored it. There was no time to discuss what he'd do later—what he'd have to do. Without another word, he led them away from the clearing, keeping his pace steady despite the urgent need to make some distance. The atmosphere was oppressive, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the faint snap of a twig beneath their feet. Every sound set Nick's nerves on edge, and he knew the others felt the same. They walked for what felt like hours, their breaths shallow and uneven. When they finally came across a massive fallen log, seemingly carved by the elements into a natural seat, Nick stopped. He glanced around, pushing [Hoplite's Help] for any sign of danger, before motioning for the girls to sit. "Here," he said softly. "We can rest for a moment." Elia sank down heavily onto the log, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees. Rhea sat more tentatively, her eyes still darting around the forest. Nick remained standing, pacing a few steps away, trying to settle his thoughts. This had been his first fight against another human in this new life. Monsters were one thing; they were often little more than animals, acting on instinct. But people? People were deliberate. They chose to harm others, to take what wasn't theirs. He clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms. I should've seen it coming. I should've been prepared. Of course, there are adventurers ruthless enough to attack us. I've allowed my younger mind to dull my instincts. I need to be better. The image of Elia bleeding, her face contorted in pain and fear, flashed in his mind, followed by the memory of Rhea tackling the scarred man to the ground. If he hadn't been able to intervene, if the girls hadn't been as capable as they were… No. He couldn't afford to dwell on what-ifs. Rhea's voice broke through his thoughts. "You're planning something," she said quietly. Nick turned to her, surprised by the directness of her words. She was watching him now carefully like one might a dangerous beast. "What are you talking about?" he asked, feigning ignorance. "Don't play dumb," Rhea said, though her tone had no bite, only exhaustion. "I saw your face back there. You're thinking about going after them." Nick exhaled through his nose, not denying it. He glanced at Elia, who seemed lost in thought, before meeting Rhea's gaze again. "I do not want revenge," he said carefully. "But I am concerned about our safety. If they come back for more or even just report us—it could cause problems." Rhea's jaw tightened. "They would have to admit that they met us and find an excuse for leaving us behind. Though they could just lie and say we ran away," she admitted with a quiver. "They could," Nick echoed, his tone resigned. He didn't elaborate. Instead, he turned away, scanning the forest once more. Expecting scum like that to behave honorably was foolish. He would have to meet them on the same playing field, despite his stomach twisting at the thought. They rested for several minutes. Having regained some of her usual energy, Elia eventually stood and stretched. "We're not camping here, right?" she asked, her ears twitching. "No," Nick said decisively. "Once you're ready to move, we're heading back. We've been out here long enough. I don't want to see what the night is like if this was the day." Elia nodded, though she didn't look thrilled at the prospect of more walking. "Fine by me. Let's head out." Rhea stood as well, though her movements were slower, more hesitant. She glanced at Nick one last time as if trying to decipher his thoughts, but when he didn't meet her gaze, she said nothing. They resumed their journey, driven by the desire to get back home. The scuffle with the two adventurers had driven them away from the beaten path, but Nick hoped they would find it again soon. He tried to keep his mind on retracing his steps, he really did, but he couldn't stop thinking about what had just almost happened. With a herculean effort, he brought his attention back to the present. I need to get the girls back home first. I can't afford to get bogged down here. Despite their best efforts, the forest resisted their attempts to navigate it. Landmarks they swore they'd passed earlier—like the gently trickling stream where they fought the slime—never reappeared. Worse, the path was increasingly elusive, as if the woods had swallowed it whole. Nick clenched his fists in frustration, scanning the uneven terrain for any hint of familiarity. Each passing minute only heightened his concern. They weren't in immediate danger, but the Green Ocean had proven it had earned its reputation. "We should've found the path by now," Rhea fretted. She walked a few steps ahead, fighting with her gloves as she glanced nervously at their surroundings. Despite her best effort to maintain composure, the slight hitch in her breath betrayed her rising panic. "Are we sure we didn't veer off at the clearing and take a different trail?" Searᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We didn't," Nick said firmly, though doubt clawed at the edges of his confidence. "We've been careful." Rhea halted, turning to face him. Her expression wavered between worry and anger. "Then where is it?" Nick didn't have an answer. He glanced at Elia, who leaned casually against a nearby tree, trying not to show how much discomfort she was in. Though her earlier injury tempered her usual energy, her eyes were steady, and she watched him with open trust. She didn't speak, waiting for him to make the next move. Something about her absolute belief steadied him. Despite the situation, Nick felt a flicker of warmth and gave her a small smile. "It's counterproductive to keep wandering like this," he said after a moment, and his tone came steadier. "We're wasting energy. Let's try something different." He gestured for them to stop, and after a brief hesitation, Rhea joined him. Elia crouched nearby, her tail flicking idly. "We need a new approach," Nick said, breaking the silence. He pointed toward the canopy above. "The path might not be visible from the ground, but if I climb a tree, I should be able to see how far we are from the forest's edge." Rhea raised a brow. "Climb? Those trees are massive." "I have magic," Nick reminded her gently. "I can lighten my weight. It won't be easy, but it might be our only chance to get back home before the sun goes down. I don't want to explain what I was doing to my mother." Elia shrugged. "Works for me. We'll keep an eye out from here." Nick gave her a quick nod before scanning their surroundings for a suitable tree. Most were tall and ancient, their trunks gnarled and thick enough to require a dozen people to encircle them. He settled on one that was slightly thinner but still towered over the others, its top disappearing into the green above. "All right," he said, rolling his shoulders. "Stay here. I'll be back in a bit." The first few meters were the hardest. The bark was rough and uneven, and the sheer size of the trunk made finding handholds difficult. Nick grumbled under his breath, focusing his telekinesis to lessen his weight with each upward push. The spell strained his mana reserves slightly, as it was never meant to be used this way, but it worked; he felt light as a feather, and his movements became smoother. The rustling bushes and distant bird calls faded into an eerie quiet, replaced by the steady rhythm of his own breathing. When he finally broke through the upper layer, the sight that greeted him was both breathtaking and disorienting. The Green Ocean stretched endlessly in all directions, its treetops rippling like waves under the sunlight. To the west, the trees grew impossibly tall—skyscraper-like titans that dwarfed the already massive forest around him. Flocks of winged creatures circled their upper reaches, challenging each other in death-defying stunts. Nick squinted and decided they were probably wyverns, given that dragons hadn't been seen in this area for as long as the temple had records. A shiver ran down his spine. We're lucky we didn't go that way. Those things are visible from miles away. They must be as big as a semi-truck. Shaking his head, he refocused on his goal. He turned slowly, scanning the horizon for any sign of open land. His heart sank as he saw nothing but green. Then, just as doubt began to creep in, a sudden pressure descended on his mind. It was subtle at first, like a faint headache, but it quickly grew overwhelming. His vision blurred, the world around him twisting unnaturally. Nick gritted his teeth, clutching the tree trunk as the sensation threatened to pull him under. And then, as abruptly as it came, the pressure snapped away. His vision cleared, and the world came back into focus. He blinked, his breaths ragged, and wiped the sweat from his brow. What the hell was that? Ding! For resisting the hostile effects of a minor [Divine Territory], you have earned: 2500 EXP Holy shit. That's the same message I got when I astral projected into the temple. A god must have cast their domain here to stop people from leaving… Is that why we couldn't find the path? But why would [Blasphemy] trigger now and not before? There were many questions, but the answers were not forthcoming. Before he could continue that line of thought, Nick caught sight of something. A spire—tall, slender, and unmistakably man-made—pierced through the treetops in the distance. The temple. Relief surged through him. He had a direction now, though it was farther than he'd hoped. Shaking off the lingering unease, Nick began his descent, moving more carefully now that exhaustion was setting in. When he finally reached the ground, Elia and Rhea were waiting anxiously. "Well?" Rhea asked tightly. "I found the temple," Nick said, not mentioning what had just happened. That would be counterproductive, given how stressed everybody was. "It's farther than I expected, but we're not lost. If we head southeast, we'll reach the forest's edge, and from there, we can follow it until we're back on track." Deep relief flickered across Rhea's face, and her shoulders slumped. Elia grinned, her usual energy returning. "I knew you'd figure it out." Nick smiled back.