Chapter 60: Meeting Light
The sun shone brightly, shielded by the tall trees and long branches in the forest. Jacob sat upright, he had just awoken from his slumber.
He looked around, releasing a groggy yawn, and rubbing his eyes.
He caught the sight of Xenia still asleep, her face covered in her thick red hair. The Great Sage lay in one corner, snoring too quietly for his size.
The previous day, Jacob had sensed a presence around them, one that radiated pure power, and was without malicious intent.
He dismissed it, thinking it was just another one of the creatures that lived in the forest, but it seemed to get closer with every hour that passed.
As it closed the distance, the aura amplified. Jacob waited patiently, he looked at Xenia one more time.
He couldn’t tell if the woman could sense the energy as well. Maybe she could, but she also didn’t think much of it.
’Come to think of it, since we’ve been here, we haven’t been attacked by any beasts.’ Jacob mused, glancing over at the Sage Shinzo, who, at first glance could pass off for just an ordinary rock.
’So that’s how much power you command, you old tortoise. All the other beasts must be so scared of you.’
The young man got up, he had no idea how much time they had spent in the forest. It felt like years, but since he wasn’t getting older, he knew it wasn’t too long.
He quickly freshened up in less that fifteen minutes, regaining his regal and dominant glow. There was no mirror to stare into for inappropriate lengths of time so he just created a clone whenever he wanted to know what he looked like in the moment.
When he got back to the clearing, everything was as he left it, but there was one issue; the aura he sensed, it was gone.
Not completely vanished, but only faint hints of it remained. It was as though the body emitting such powerful aura had moved much further instead of closer.
He couldn’t find Xenia at her spot, causing him to get worried. Shinzo, however, was unmoved.
His ears instantly perked up when he heard a light tapping sound, repetitive, coming from behind him.
Jacob swung his body around as quickly as one could say ’Jack,’ and in less than a second, he was face to face with a total stranger.
A young man who seemed not much older than him. Bright red hair which flowed all the way down to his chest, neatly tied in a pony tail. The young man had grey eyes that looked almost as though he was blind, and he was tossing a red apple up and down on his left hand.
"I’ve never met another human in this forest. So, it’s either you’re a monster disguised as a human, or I’ve lost my mind." Light spoke first, his back perched up against a tree.
"I feel the exact same way." Jacob responded, his hands by his side in a very confident stance.
The two men bore no malicious intent towards each other, they didn’t even know each other.
But their auras were definitely clashing in this moment.
Light separated himself from the tree and took one step forward, a knowing smile tugging at his lips.
He held the Apple tightly in his left hand and grabbed the handle of his sword with his left.
"I will spare you if you can answer one question." Light said, he could feel that the man standing before him was very powerful, but he always welcomed a challenge.
"I don’t much like people telling me what to do," said Jacob, flashing a mishevious smile.
"Are you the source of the golden light that I spotted from miles away? And if you aren’t, what is the source." Light continued, as though he did not hear Jacob’s words.
Jacob stared at the man and chuckled, "Even if I knew, why in the hell would I tell you?"
Light stood confused, he truly had no idea why the person in front of him was laughing. His expression slowly changed from confusion to annoyance.
"You will tell me because I want to know!" Light yelled, "That could be my ticket out of here!"
"Whoa whoa! No shouting, answer me this first, where is the woman that was asleep on this spot?" Jacob spoke, pointing at the spot where Xenia lay just before he left.
"What woman?" Light asked.
Just as he asked the question, Xenia returned, radiating elegance and power. her dark red hair was damp as usual, apparently she had gone to freshen up as well.
As soon as Light saw the woman his face went bright red.
’Such a beautiful woman, Oh heavens! how is such a beautiful woman in this forest?—No! No! This is an illusion, my mind is playing tricks on me.’ Light mused, an internal battle playing out in his head.
"Good morning, young master Jacob." Xenia greeted Jacob and looked at the other young man in surprise. Just like her young master, she had no knowledge of another human living in the Forest.
’Young master?! This man is her master? He’s so lucky! Even in a place like this, he still has a servant. And her voice, Oh heavens! Her voice...’ Light struggled to control himself, he battled internally over and over until he spoke out.
"W—Who are you?" He asked Jacob and Xenia, pointing his sword at them.
"Now you’re asking the important questions, I am Jacob Ironfell, sole heir of the Ironfell bloodline, most handsome man in the entire Continent, and this is my personal retainer, Xenia." Jacob answered, pointing at Xenia, he could tell that Light was having a hard time concentrating now that Xenia was in their presence.
"Ironfell.... I’ve heard that name before, so you’re not a beast disguising as a human?" Light asked.
’He might be a little dense, but he doesn’t look to have any bad intentions.’ Jacob mused inwardly.
"Why would any beast even do that? Most of the ones I’ve seen just attack you head on." Jacob answered, scratching his head lightly.
"I am Light Wutherhorn, fourth child of the Primarch of the Wutherhorn dynasty, pleasure to make your acquaintance, Jacob and X-Xenia."
