I was on my way to the forest.

Yesterday was quite a busy day.

First being hunted by warthogs, then being taken for a monster by the same barrier that was supposed to be there to protect you.

And as if I haven’t had enough, when I went to my room to take a bath, I noticed that my pendant was missing.

At first, I panicked a bit but then I remembered that I had put it earlier that afternoon in my backpack.

I put it in my bag just before entering the forest.I felt that it would be safer inside my backpack than around my neck.

Since I didn't have my necklace, this morning I couldn't access the library. Maa and Syrius didn’t fail to notice my presence outside in the middle of the day.

I was even asked if I was sick?

It was quite rude.

They make it sound like I was some kind of shut-in who only leaves his room out of absolute necessity.

Well, I admit that being outside in the middle of the day was a bit boring, but luckily for me, the manor received the visit of Shania and her parents for their weekly delivery, playing with her, helped me to relieve my boredom.

Once they left, I took my lunch and immediately headed here.

I got to the bush where I hid my bag yesterday.

Took my bag from it and checked inside if my pendant was there and yes it was there.

I left my backpack there and headed to the barrier.

This morning I came up with two theories why the barrier had attacked me yesterday.

I was able to pass through the barrier only when I grabbed my backpack, it couldn’t be the backpack then I could only be what was inside.

There were only three things that were susceptible to influence the barrier.

The pendant, Martha or Olga.

I approached the barrier and reached it out.

The pendant, Martha or Olga.

I carefully walked over to the barrier, with my body fully enhanced, ready to evade any bolt of lightning that could possibly fly toward me.Seeing that the barrier has kept its usual appearance I stretched my hand out to it.

Nothing happened.

Well, it would be accurate to say that something did happen.

The first thing I did the first time I reached the barrier was to throw a rock at it. Back then I wanted to know how it was reacting to inanimate objects trying to pass through.

This time I received the same treatment as the rock from yesterday.

Basically, the barrier felt hard. It felt like I touched a smooth but extremely sturdy surface.

This must be how the barrier is felt for someone who has nothing to permit them to pass through the barrier.

The offensive ability of the barrier seems to not take effect from within but only from outside.

I went back to where my backpack was, retrieved my pendant, and put it on.

I then walked to the barrier and performed the same thing I did earlier but this time the barrier reacted the same way it did with me yesterday, it engulfed my entire hand, and I easily passed through the barrier and then repeated the process in and out.

Thanks to the pendant it seems that I can freely pass through the barrier.

I went back once again where my backpack was, took off my pendant, and put it inside my back. I then retrieved Martha and repeated the same process and it worked.

I did it with Olga and it also worked.

At first, I thought it was the daggers who had this effect, after all, they once belonged to a man who was once part of the church and it's the same church who has installed this barrier but it seems that even the pendant has this effect. My guess is that the pendant also belonged to the ancestor, only that would explain why it has that effect on the barrier.

“I guess that settles that then.”

I changed my clothes, put my backpack on, and headed to my training ground .

****

*Bam

Something crashed heavily on the ground.

That something was me.

I stood up and wiped the dirt on myself.

I wasn’t attacked or anything, I was just training myself.

The thing is that once I reached the training ground, the first thing I did was to put into practice a move I saw in a dream.

Yesterday, I had a bad dream.

I dreamed about the three warthogs who attacked me yesterday.

They were not only hounding me but also shooting lightning bolts at me.

The same type of lightning bolts as the one the barrier threw at me.

It was really a scary dream.

It seems that what happened has left me with some psychological sequels.

But that dream has allowed me to realize the possibility this forest has to offer in a fight.

In my dreams the warthogs were running after me but also throwing lightning bolts at me, and to evade my pursuer attack, I was jumping from tree to tree.

Enhancing my body with aina allows me to gain an extremely sturdy body and a strength that I could qualify to be inhumane.

I lacked imagination about how to use it.

At first, I was like: punch here kick that.

That dream has enlightened me.

Instead of just using my strength to punch, kick or run.

I could instead use it, to allow me to bounce from tree to tree or from tree to the ground.

Yeah, it sounded dumb but in my dream, it seemed extremely practical.

In practice, it’s extremely complicated to replicate since it required me to propel myself with my legs and maneuver midair to safely land on a trunk.

This technique is far from perfect but I can see endless possibilities and opportunities to adapt this technique in a fight.

It’s totally possible to implement Martha and Olga into this technique.

I can already see myself bouncing around with Olga and Martha in hand.

I can't wait to see the result.

****

Somewhere in the northeast part of this world known by humanity.

Shiiin*

With a stifling sound, I put back my sword into its scabbard.

Thud**

The noise came from my colleague who just tossed something heavy inside a giant hole in front of us.

In his hand was a ridiculously big greatsword. He was holding it with one hand like it was a stuffed toy.

Today was a day like any other day.

Today we’re doing the same thing we did yesterday.

We’re wearing the same uniform as yesterday, a long-sleeved white coat, white trousers, and a pair of white boots. Each of them has the same emblem adorned on their shoulder : a sword engulfed in a fiery fire.

Lately, I'm starting to get bored of doing the same thing over and over again.

This is why lately I was thinking of leaving this place.

To where?

To the place, the me from fifty years ago would call home.

“You know lately, I’ve been thinking of going back home,” I said to my colleague in an attempt to break the silence.

"Home? Didn’t you say that this place is your home?” retorted my colleague in a rather derisive tone.

I remember that I once said that but that was almost fifty years ago.

“Yes but lately this place has been pretty … You know.”

“Peaceful? I get what you mean, but it’s not like we can do anything about it. ”

Peaceful huh?

I guess that's another way of seeing things.

“This is exactly why I’m thinking of going back. I’ve made my time here, this place doesn’t need me anymore.`` With a move of the head, I indicated the hole and more precisely, what was inside. “It's time for the old carcass that I am to go back where I truly belong.”

“You’re speaking like an old man.”

“Because I’m an old man and so are you. Have you ever thought about returning to your family?”

“Which one ?”

I suddenly remembered his familial situation so I added.

“The one you consider your family.”

“You know each time I’m going back to the Holy capital, I do visit them. I’m not like a certain deviant who visits his family every 20 years. I recently heard that you had your first great-grandson. Why don’t you go back to visit them a bit? I’m sure your son and grandson will appreciate it.”

“You’re late for your update, It’s been two years since it happened.”

I was a great grandfather way before that. I had my granddaughter seven years ago but it’s only two years ago that I had my first great-grandson.

“What is two years for old geezers like us: nothing. For me, it’s still a pretty hot topic.”

“If you say so. Now that I think of it, did you receive any update from the old man?”

“Nothing since the order of “Faty Adidy” against that man he gave us seven years ago.”

“Has anyone found the man?”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t even try to find him?”

“No, I don’t see why I would be looking for a man...are we even sure it’s a man?”

“Yes and that is the only thing we know about him. I also didn’t even try to look after him. I leave these kinds of work to the clergyman. I heard that Shiny head was super motivated for the task but still haven’t found the man in seven years and it was not from lack of trying.”

“I see that’s sad for him,” I said in a tone that made it clear that I definitely wasn’t sad at all for that man.

“Anyway if you ever really plan to leave I would appreciate it if you let me know at least 4 or 5 months in advance. You know for me to get ready for the amount of paperwork I’ll have to endure after your departure.”

“Don't worry, Even if I decide to go home it won't be for two years.”

I still had a mountain of things to do on this side of the world

“That's reassuring, so who takes care of it today?” With the greatsword he had in hand he pointed the hole.

“I will.”

I put my hand right over the hole.

And a fiery ball of lava began to form just above my fingers.

The ball grew bigger, Once it reached 1m of radius, I withdrew my hand from beneath it.

Once I did, the ball of lava slowly descended inside the hole.

As the ball of lava descended, what was in the hole slowly began to appear.

Corpses

Not human corpses but monster corpses.

There were of all kinds from the scaly one to the furry one.

Once the ball reached the bottom, all these corpses were immediately engulfed in fire.

These corpses belonged to the magical beast that my friend and I had killed earlier in the morning here in the middle of nowhere in the monster continent.

Soon the fire began to emit a roasting smell.

“So old friend, let us go back to the place I consider to be my home: The fortress of the north.” said cheerfully my friend and colleague Gunther Freshet: Thundersnow of the North, one of the Seven Paladin of the Church, one of the six men I can qualify as my equal.