Entrance of the Ygnolia Forest.
Seth had just crossed the territory of the Hilkhell City, arriving at the place he was teleported together with Lilian and Caizhi before. However, the circumstances now were totally different. He wasn't trying to escape, but head deeper into the Elven Territory.
He looked towards that green and lush vegetation with a look full of determination.
'After crossing this mark, it will be an unknown territory for me. Full of unexpected things, however, it might be way better to go and take the risk than to stay behind waiting for the damnation.'
With that mindset, Seth advanced towards the deeper places of the Ygnolia forest. He didn't want to let the Elf Queen know that he was going towards her territory before the tournament begins, because he didn't know what were her plans for him, so he opted to take a different route inside the Ygnolia forest.
He had a map that some clandestine expeditions of hunters used to take in order to hunt inside that forest, so he was going to follow one of those paths to reach his destination.
Seth had obtained this piece of map and some other information, when he was inside the Hilkhell city. He made a quick research on topics that he should know, when trying to enter the Elven Territory. He found out that humans were frowned upon by the elves. They considered humans a primitive race, disconnected from their roots and ancestors.
Seth was not using the bracelet anymore, since he had given it back to Serene. His Mana Control initial-stage cultivation was leagues ahead of the guards and wardens that patrolled specified points of the forest, making it impossible for them to even feel his presence.
Smooth-sailing through the woods, he found himself coincidentally taking the route he took while hunting wild magical beasts before. He passed through the place he fought against the Brown Weaver and felt like going towards the place he encountered the Blackwind Panther.
He was not feeling nostalgia of those moments of his past, but something was attracting him towards there again. An image that he could not erase from his memories ever again after witnessing it. One of the most beautiful faces he has ever seen, comparable to Serene's facial features.
He didn't know who that woman was, but she left her mark inside his mind.
He pushed those thoughts aside and continued to make his travel towards the Elven Kingdom. It was unknown to him, but he had already deviated from the path he should be following more than twenty kilometers. That was because of the fact that the map he acquired was not precise at all.
While heading deeper and deeper inside that forest, a lot of time has passed and it was already getting dark, but before even thinking of finding a place to pass the night, he spotted some dead bodies. Beast bodies.
It wasn't the first time this week he encountered a scene like this. There was a certain feeling growing inside him each time he spotted a scene like this. A silent omen.
However, he noticed that there was something different this time. Those beasts had no signs of struggle or any marks left behind by a fierce fight on their bodies. They seemed to have fallen asleep to their deaths, or poisoned by something so strong that they died instantly.
Seth approached them and examined their condition. Whatever it was that killed them, he could not detect it at all. For him, they seemed to have stop functioning leaving no clues of what happened behind.
He looked left and ring and saw that there were a lot of dead bodies scattered around, but there was a certain area that there was none. Ahead of him.
The beasts seemed to be trying to enter the area ahead of him, but ended up dying instead. He looked towards that place and all he could sense, was a cold silence.
He felt like there was something at that place and it could be a threat to him. However, he decided to see what it was, because he was confident on his ability to be resistant to poisons now. After all, it was an ability originated by the Seed of Tyranny and when it concerned that topic, he felt that the seed was many times more dangerous and stronger than any other kinds of poisons.
Seth entered the area he thought it was poisoned, but didn't feel anything wrong happening at all. For him, it seemed to be like any other area.
He advanced three kilometers more, trying to feel if there was something amiss, but other than not finding a single animal, there was nothing different.
Walking a bit more he found something he considered to be impossible right before his eyes.
There was a building inside the Ygnolia forest, and it seemed to be made with the finest materials one could find in the entire continent. It was entirely made of an exquisite type of wood, making it exude a natual and fresh smell, that was recovering his Mana and rejuvenating his spirit.
There was a sign right at the front. Evergreen Tavern.
'Evergreen Tavern? What the hell? How can there be a tavern in the middle of the Ygnolia Forest?'
Seth didn't know what to do. It could be a good place to stay the night, but on the other side, it was probably the main cause behind the deaths of the beasts he encountered before.
After considering for some minutes, he decided to enter and check if there was anyone inside.
Seth went up the stair and saw that the door was already open. He entered slowly, trying to notice every single detail that was entering his field of vision.
However, just after he passed through the entrance and reached the main room, he stopped, completely amazed by what he saw.
Inside the neat and clean room, sitting in front of a wooden table, there was a woman drinking a cup of wine.
When Seth saw her, every single cell of his body seemed to get attracted towards her, spiking his lust. His body seemed to transfer the leadership towards his lower head. Seth almost lost his composure, but ultimately recovered from that state.
When he finally recovered his main thought stream process, he was inwardly shocked. The woman was indeed beautiful, but she was still a level below his beloved Serene, however, her body was so perfect and sexy, that he almost lost control, acting like a fool.
The Blonde elf looked at him with her green eyes, measuring the youth that just entered the Evergreen Tavern. Her eyes seemed to be trying to gauge him from top to bottom, as if she was surprised that someone was actually there.
Seth felt like he should properly greet her and approached the table she was.
"Hello there, Miss. I've been traveling from the Human Territory until here and got a bit tired; would you mind if I sit and drink a bit with you?"
"Oh? You seem to be a really audacious young master. Aren't you afraid that my husband would come and deal with you?" She said in a coquettish voice, almost as if trying to instigate something inside of him. Her voice seemed to be naturally playful, what gave Seth a very good feeling.
"So, young miss is actually married, that's unfortunate then." Seth sighed a bit sad, he started to play her game.
"Young miss? In my age, I could actually be your mother."
"Don't joke with me, you're obviously such a beautiful and sweet lady, that you could at most be my older sister."
The blonde elf chuckled, swinging her cleavage with her movements, making Seth's blood riot against him again.
"Actually, you don't have to worry about my husband, since I'm a widow."
"A widow? My condolences."
"Don't worry. It is a long-forgotten story. You don't seem to actually feel like that at all, right?"
"You got me, hehe. Actually, since you've already overcame his loss, I feel that it is indeed better for me."
"Better for you?"
"Yeah." Seth made a motion with his hand and a bottle of wine flew towards him. He poured a cup for himself, after filling up the blonde elf's cup.
He drunk it all in one gulp before saying: "Ahhh... It means I can enjoy this moment with you thoroughly. What a nice wine..."
"I didn't think you would be such an amusing person. You don't seem to be preoccupied with some customs at all."
"Which kind of customs are you talking about?"
"Well, you know, a married woman is often disregarded as a potential partner."
"Bullshit! Those who say things like that, are old-fashioned men that can't appreciate and value a lady at all."
"Then how would you appreciate and value a woman?" Her playful voice seemed to be inviting Seth to do something more. She actually appeared to be completely opened regarding that kind of topic.
"Like this." Seth threw caution to the wind and advanced towards her, bringing his lips closer. He expected that she would stop him, but it would lay his intentions clear for her to see, easing things for his future approach. But she did not stop him at all.
Seth's lips met hers as he felt the sweetest aroma he has ever felt, mixed with a bit of alcohol.. He didn't know what got into his head for him to be so bold, but he was inwardly celebrating that he followed his desires.
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