Kaer was at the heart of the high tower of the magic researcher Oyosinna; a dy shrouded in mystery and wisdom. The tower, a universe of are knowledge, soared into the heavens, its a stone walls shielding the myriad secrets it housed from ypeople.

  Ihe shelves were filled with old manuscripts and books with age-faded covers, written in nguages both now spoken ainct.

  The first shelf was devoted to magic, with old leather-bound volumes, their pages taining intations and spells. The sed shelf was reserved for world history, with icles of fotten battles and the rise and fall of great empires. Among them were treatises on alchemy, a scrolls discussing the genesis of the p, and other mysterious subjects.

  Oyosinna, her voice calm and measured, spoke the words with an almost sacral reverence:

  "I read these books written by the gods. They are written in the nguage of the gods."

  Kaer looked at her, his eyes wide in amazement.

  "Kaer, you sider yourself an archer. You are undoubtedly an outstanding fighter with two knives and arrows after years orous training. But within you lies a unique calling, an art of magic that will transform you into one who will face the challenges ahead. They are heirlooms from your parents. You must be more than just an archer to fulfill your purpose."

  Kaer listened ily, puzzled but full of faith in the woman who had saved him from death.

  "Here are three scrolls," said Oyosinna, handing him the scrolls. They will disappear after you study them. The first is invocation; you summon three or more Aral Wolves to fight alongside you. The sed scroll will grant you a powerful talent called Teleporter, allowing you to instantly travel from one location to another, mastering spad time. The third is the Worlds Map, which will reveal the locations of many signifit destinations. And instead of a precious treasure, I give you a book as a present. The Hero's icles is a simple name for an item of iimable value.

  Lying dormant within you is the potential to cultivate what might bee your most formidable attribute: mind trol."

  Kaer, his voice filled with emotion and curiosity, asked:

  "Who are you, Oyosinna, and how did I end up in this story?"

  "From now on, you sider me your friend, teacher, or master. With a lot of imagination, I could even be yuardian angel. sider me your rescue in a critical situation, she replied with a mysterious smile."

  "What to do?" Kaer asked.

  "You do not have to hurry. Events will unfold on their own. You will be amazed at how you discover the strahings or how they find you. For now, focus on what I gave you to study. You are strong, but you must tinuously develop. You will face oppos whose talents are beyond your imagination, like the demons that have ravaged your settlement."

  "What do you know about these monsters?"

  "Too little for now. I tell you that these demons are of the Nat race, and their leader is called Garrmud, the ally of the vampires. I was surprised by their attack as this was the first time they had formed a group. Many types of creatures inhabit the Earth, but they rarely form intelligent groups to atta an anized maell me more about Nats who attacked your settlement.."

  "The creatures were a formidable fusion of human shape and deadly terror. They stood tall, their humanoid outlines pronouheir skin, a tapestry of gleaming, iridest scales, shimmered with every motion, refleg the fading light as if it were a warrior's armor.

  Though shaped in the likeness of man, their limbs bore the marks of their predatory lineage. Long, sharp cws extended from their fiips, capable of rending steel and stone alike. These cws stantly scratched the ground, leaving trails of sparks and debris, a testament to their strength and ferocity.

  A haunting blend of human ailian traits, their deep and calg eyes glowed with an otherworldly hue, pierg through the shadows to spot their prey. When opeheir mouths revealed rows of dagger-like fangs, eae a death sentence waiting to be delivered. A low growl resonating from their throats relude to the age they could unleash.

  In bat, these beings were a spectacle to witness. They maneuvered with harmonious elegaheir movements in sync as though bound by an invisible accord. The intelligehey dispyed iactics was clear, as they surrounded enemies with methodical accurad attacked with lethal effectiveness.

  They unicated with intricate gestures and low-pitched vocalizations, a nguage known only to their kind. "

  "Dear Kaer, the monsters you've seen are just the beginning. More powerful ones will follow. At least that's what I know," Oyosinna said gravely.

  "I would like to ask a personal question," said Kaer.

  "Yes, please."

  "Do you know anything about my beloved Aspera?"

  "I'm sorry, but I don't know anything about her," answered Oyosinna with regret.

  Kaer was so engrossed in his studies, so captivated by what he had learned from Oyosinna that he had no idea how much time had passed.

  Oyosinna told him of the disappearance of the most skilled alchemist, a woman named Salvianna, who veoo close to the Forest in search of rare herbs.

  It was Kaer's duty to find her and save her.