"When I was young, I lived in a small town, which was located inside a small crater on the outskirts of the Eastern territory. It was the easternmost point of the Eastern territory, Dangerous. The crater had a small but dense forest. We couldn't even step outside our underground homes after dawn because it was too dangerous, but one day I did.
I was just 7 and lost the ball my mother had spent money on for me. We were poor, and that ball was the first toy she had bought me after my 4th birthday. I was playing with it on the outskirts of the town, where I ended up losing the ball. The sun was starting to get low, and I tried looking for it everywhere. But couldn't find it; I wanted to return home, but thinking about how my mother would react after I told her I lost the ball, I had to find it. I stayed behind even after dark, and eventually I found the ball. But I was lost.
It was pitch black, and this was the first time I was outside in the dark. I couldn't find my way home. I looked for hours, but no matter where I went, or where I looked. It wasn't there, the town had disappeared.
Suddenly, I had an Idea. To climb outside the crater and look for the town from there. And so I did... I just walked in one direction for a couple of hours. I don't know what made me think it was a good idea, but I continued. After hours of walking, I finally approached the steep section.
I used to climb trees all day, so climbing the wall of the crater wasn't too difficult for me. It was steep and tall, but wasn't dangerous. That made me realise that I was on the Eastern side. The Western side has mostly been flattened out to carve a path connecting to the capital, so it's not steep at all. But that didn't stop me, I climbed for hours.
And finally, when the sun was about to rise... I saw something. To the East, where there was supposed to be Unknown. It was there...
Near the horizon, there was a wall. A dark wall that went towards the clouds, I couldn't see the end of the wall as the clouds blocked it. It stretched all the way from North to South."
Alger was intrigued. He always had the question, why weren't animals from the Unknown coming to Mytherra?
Mytherra was directly connected to Unknown by land on the Eastern side. If the Unknown was that dangerous, Mytherra should have been flooded by Calamities by now...
So the wall is separating Heaven and Hell, or maybe it's the opposite...
"Did you reach the town?" said Ivy in a voice laced with concern.
"Yes, I did, after I stared at the wall for a while, I turned around. I saw it at first glance. I waited for the sun to completely rise and then ran towards the town. My mother was crying at the local guild. And when she saw me she rushed towards me and clutched me tightly."
Ivy's face lit up a little after hearing that.
"Your story was truly fascinating Mr.Orchard." Alger paused before continuing, "Can you tell me more about the wildlife around here?"
"You're a curious young boy, aren't you... Alger?" said Orchard while smiling a little.
"We have a lot of time, so I'll tell you. The most dangerous species around here are the shadow wolves, like I have said, but they aren't the strongest, that title goes to..."
***
It has been 3 days since Alger's journey to Sormhollow had begun. They had travelled around half the distance to Stormhollow. It was going to take 4 more days. The library at the orphanage didn't have an encyclopedia related to Animals. Which is why he used this time to gain a lot of useful knowledge from Mr.Orchard.
Up until now, they were traversing through grassy plains. Which is why their journey has been relatively safe, and that is also the reason Alger had decided to sleep through this section. But from tomorrow it was going to change...
Stormhollow is located beyond a forest. Alger has heard from Mr.Orchard that the forest is relatively safe during the day. But at Night it all changes...
If you are unlucky, you might encounter a pack of shadow wolves. It doesn't mean you are guaranteed to die, since they aren't that strong. But what makes them so deadly is the fact you can't sense, see, or hear them....
They hide in the shadows, and the moment you drop your guard in the forest, you will end up dead....
Alger had to preserve his strength for now... because he is going to need it later.
They traveled from dawn until nightfall, stopping only once, around noon. Over the past four years, Ivy had picked up a few cooking skills from the sisters. While her food wasn't exactly... presentable. It didn't taste bad either. As she prepared their meals, Alger and Dawn would often spend the time sparring nearby.
Although if Alger used all of his strength, Dawn would stand no chance...
The difference in strength between an Awakened and a Conjuror is too much. That is why Alger had restricted himself from using his element. Alger only won once in the two battles they fought.
Today was their tiebreaker... and they had both agreed to use their element for this fight.
It was a sunny day, the caravan was sitting on a patch of dirt next to the stone path, and there lay a small tributary a few hundred meters away from the stone path. Orchard was tending to his horses, while Ivory had gone to the tributary to draw water. Alger and Dawn were standing next to a couple of birch trees, a few meters away from each other.
Dawn glanced at Alger while unsheathing the mundane broadsword he carries around on his back.
"Are you ready, Alger?"
Alger was using his old Katana, as his Inferno sword might actually break Dawn's sword, harming him.
"We will stop before we end up fatally hurting each other, right?" said Alger in a calm tone.
Dawn looked at Alger with a concerned face and said, "Yes, I wouldn't want to end up hurting you right before the entrance exam."