Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos - Volume 1

Chapter 149. Gathering Of Youths.

"When are we going to go explore the Golden Sap Forest? Didn't we come here for that in the first place?"

A woman with auburn hair and stormy grey eyes sat on a chair with her legs crossed and placed on top of a table. She was slumped on the chair, and her tone was bored and whiny.

A black-haired woman answered by her side while sipping the nectar drink served in the restaurant they were in. "Isolde, be less rude. You are part of the <Sacred Water Lily Sect>. We should act more elegant and reserved."

Isolde looked over to her senior sister and sighed. Then, she sat up and took the cup she had left at the side. "Sure, sure. So, can you answer my question now?"

"Hm. From what I've heard, going there right now is quite dangerous." The black-haired woman took out a stack of papers and showed it to Isolde. "It seems that very high-level creatures have suddenly appeared. Several Level 12 groups have disappeared. The rescue groups formed of Level 15s have also disappeared."

Isolde blinked and sat up slightly. That kind of thing was completely abnormal for a place that was sub-Level-10 until recently.

Isolde read the information the woman shared with her as the woman spoke. "It appears that Lady Verena Liferoot entered the forest around a month ago to investigate. She returned around two weeks ago and told the Explorer Association to wait a few months before sending anyone to the central area of the forest. Here is a map of available, dangerous, and certain death areas for people below Level 24."

Isolde asked, incredulous. "People on the first sub-cycle died?"

The woman nodded seriously. "The corpse of a Level 21 was found together with a Level 18 and a Level 19."

Isolde hummed and looked at the information again. Pointing at the available zones marked on the map, she asked. "So... We should be able to go and patrol this area, right? Felia, we have nothing better to do, to be honest. I've looked around the Academy, and the information they have is really not worth the trouble. Our Sect has much more information than the Academy's library."

The black-haired woman, Felia, nodded. "That's not surprising. This place is more of a place to grow World Tree Fortuna. While the society here is good, if they had true support from anyone, they wouldn't have just sent Eila Neoflora. She is enough of a deterrent for nearby powers but not for sects like ours."

Isolde hummed, and Felia asked. "Speaking of powers... How is that cousin of yours? Eldric, was it? I heard he had quite a rough year; he even insulted... Stone... No, Ironheart. The Ironheart family, right?"

Isolde looked at her with a sigh. "You are as bad at names as ever."

Felia snorted. "I just don't pay attention to small powers."

Then, she pondered and answered. "I heard that recently, he has managed to increase his strength quite a bit, reaching Level 15 as well. It seems that he has been going into hunts deep into the Wall Forest." Isolde hummed. "Speaking of which... Mother told me that my uncle is seemingly using his connections to increase the Stormrider family's strength."

Felia tilted her head. "Isn't that something he always does?"

Isolde nodded. "But, he is doing it more actively. Of course, Uncle Stormrider has little enemies because he has always been quite calm. So, many are curious what pushed him to restart his active days."

Felia shrugged. "Not our problem. Your Stormbringer family and their Stormrider families formally separated a while ago, right?"

Isolde snorted. "But, we didn't do it in bad terms. I even go visit often, and Uncle and Aunt Stormbringer always welcome me!" Isolde smirked. "I even get to mock Eldric sometimes, so it is pretty fun. Tsk, tsk, he is a skirt-chaser."