Chapter 40: The forest of wisdom(part 1)

Back at the village, Lucid and Lilith did a final check on the visitors' supplies for the journey ahead...

Lucid: Is everything there?
Lilith: Let me check... We got weapons, food, some stronger crafting materials, and some other stuff....
Lucid: Good... What about potions?
Lilith: Potions are here, I've also have some materials incase we need to make more potions...
Lucid: Anything else?
Lilith: None. Except of course for the other stuff the other guys need...
Lucid: Well, I hope they could find what they need in a rapid pace... We're planning to leave by noon...
Lilith: Yeah.. i hope they do this fast...

Meanwhile, Maru, Moro and Sugar went to the town market to get some food...

Maru: Talk about complexities... This market is huge and confusing!
Moro: Not to mention, filthy and smelly.. ewww!
Maru: Yeah.. But they say the cheapest food can be found here....
Sugar: Now now, we cant just judge the place by it's looks, we might find something useful here...
Moro: I suppose... look! food!
Maru: How much is it?
Vendor: 24 gold pieces!
Maru: Hey, it is cheap!
Moro: I agree! Let's go do some shopping!
Sugar: Yeah!

As Maru, Moro and Sugar did their shopping frenzy, Kirnale, Eriol, Namiele, Elysia and Larg are at a nearby cafe, discussing about the ikaness order...

Eriol: You mean to say that Ikaness is not directly controlled by the Goddess?
Elysia: Probably.. After all, they're just mindless slaves to the Goddess.
Larg: Yeah... They still have their free will, although it is warped and twisted...
Namiele: I suppose...
Kirnale: But how does that explain what happened in the battle a few days ago?
Larg: Simple. They're just following orders... Apparently, someone who was influenced and assigned by the Dark Goddess to plan this commanded them to...
Kirnale: I suppose, but does that mean the Goddess interfered?
Elysia: Possible, but I dont think she can interfere directly....
Namiele: Perhaps... But are you saying there is someone who is linked to the dark goddess is behind the attacks?
Eriol: It's possible of course...
Kirnale: But we cant be certain...
Larg: Oh no! It's almost noon!
Elysia: Let's go meet up Lucid outside town!

Soon, the rest of the visitors met up with Lucid and Lilith outside the town...

Lucid: Where have you been guys?
Maru and Moro: Shopping!
Lilith: That explains the bags of food.... how about you, Elysia and friends?
Elysia: A cafe... We needed some relaxing moments of course...

Soon, Spinel arrived holding a tome...

Spinel: I wish you farewell in your journey... Take this.. It's a tome that contains secrets about the other places in the realm...
Lucid: Thanks...
Spinel: Oh yeah... I saw a dream last night... You must meet up with the God Junon at the forest of wisdom, near the great tree of wisdom...
Lilith: Really?
Spinel: Yes. Now go! Time is not at your side!
Lucid: Alright. Farewell then!
All: Bye!

And so the visitors left, in search for a solution to end the problems in the realm of Junon....