At dawn, a layer of frost fell upon the land of the Ghostlands, as usual. It was deep winter, and a cold front from the north had invaded this troll territory.
A mage, clad like an assasin's outfit and holding a golden staff, slowly walked through the jungle together with a black warhorse. His movements were so careful that even he could not hear the sound of his footsteps hitting the ground while the warhorse was having fun floating in its steps due to [Levitate].
Leylin looked like a person going on vacation, roaming within enemy territory wantonly just walking around anywhere. Together with a black warhorse who's like a dog unleashed kept skipping behind him. He wanted to look for a place to rest.
But he didn't do so. A hint of witchcraft crept into his nose, and he perked up, retreating into the ruins behind a troll altar.
"Today marks the tenth day since our squad was separated. If we can't escape from Zeb'Nowa, I'll blast this whole damn forest so it would be easy to look around."
The young human mage removed his clothed hood and, in the morning light, began to slowly recuperate. The most dangerous night was over; it was time to take a breath.
He still had few more mana potions left. Leylin shook it before his eyes. He kept checking whether his supplies could last and wondering which direction could lead him outside of Zeb'Nowa in one swift move.
According to the coordinates on the map, they could escape this abominable place in just ten kilometers. But the jungle is so vast, you could get lost instantly if you aren't attentive.
Leylin pursed his pale lips, pondered for a moment, and then patted his hand on the warhorse's head.
The scent of sorcery grew stronger. A pair of trolls were approaching. Leylin retreated behind the massive statue.
His gaze kept observing the surroundings, and he spotted twelve troll soldiers and a troll witch doctor. The presence of a troll squad in Zeb'Nowa was perfectly normal, yet Leylin downed some rations in one gulp.
He saw the troll witch doctor holding vines imbued with sorcery, binding an elf.
Elna! She had been part of the mage team from ten days ago. The team consisted of ten mages. After raiding the troll army's rations, they were pursued and dispersed by a group of elite trolls.
Ten days had passed, and this was the first time Leylin had seen his team members.
Feeling the magical energy in the surroundings, Leylin calmed down and prepared to launch his attack.
Watching his team members being captured like this was unthinkable for Leylin, unless he was looking at a corpse.
Two months within the Ghostlands, he had deeply understood the difference between what was valuable and what was meaningless in war.
He fastened the hood of his assassin's armor and prepared for action. His magical energy, still at its full capacity was enough to deal with this small group of trolls. He quickly saddled the black warhorse and charged forward.
The golden staff, previously dim and dull, finally shone brightly, floating behind Leylin, empowering his spells. This staff boosts Leylin's spell power in half.
[Arcane Missile]
Eight large arcane orbs suddenly appeared out from behind the massive stone of the altar ruins quickly homing into them. The troll squad was completely caught off guard, and the eight trolls in front was instantly eliminated in large explosions.
The experienced troll witch doctor, aware of a magic attack, immediately used his sorcery to locate the mage.
"In the direction of the ruins, go and kill him!" the experienced witch doctor chirped in troll.
Leylin already charging forward riding the warhorse underwent a rapid transformation. The previous aura of arcane magic completely vanished, replaced by a burst of fiery energy.
A powerful [Blast Wave] incinerated the remaining troll soldiers. Leaving nothing behind but ashes. Within two seconds, Leylin's almost completely wiped out this troll squad.
The only remaining one was very far from the blast which enabled him to escape the devastation. The experienced witch doctor, with trembling hands, drew the short knife from his waist.
His soldiers were all dead. To save his own life, he placed his dagger against the elf's fair neck.
The elf, bewitched, her eyes glazed, unperceiving her impending death.
Leylin, quickly raised his left-hand using earth bending, then a sharp earthen spike pierced the troll witch doctor.
The troll witch doctor never expected to die that quickly, his last vision was being raised a few meters from the ground being impaled by the earthen spike then taken into eternal sleep.
The fierce fighting might alert the other trolls near the location. Quickly picking Elna up, who had lost her mind, Leylin sped through the forest casting [Levitate] on his old friend to remove the sound of its hooves.
Few minutes later, Leylin, carrying Elna, reached a small lake. With a sigh of relief, Leylin saddled down the warhorse and set her down.
"Cough, cough, cough!" A muffled cough escaped Elna's mouth, the effects of the sleeping spell ending.
"Leylin!" Elna awoke and immediately grabbed Leylin's arm. The feeling of surviving was wonderful, but she shook her head, unable to believe the mage is currently in front of her.
"Do you still have strength?" Leylin smiled wryly, leaning against a boulder near the lake.
Elna nodded and said, "And wait, I'll go catch some fish."
As a spell breaker, Elna used the longsword at her waist to quickly harvest several huge crucian carp.
After a simple preparation, they were roasted over a fire. Elna's face was covered in black dust as she handed the food to Leylin.
His old friend roaming close by also looked for its own food. Not going too far from the group.
"Saved," Leylin thought.
At night, a pile of fish bones appeared near the peaceful lake. Leylin awoke after two hours of sleep.
Elna was also sleeping soundly. Leylin chuckled: "Let me be the guard."
Noticing Leylin's movements, Elna's eyelashes moved slightly, and she woke up: "Sorry, Leylin, I fell asleep again."
Leylin, who had recovered most of his physical strength and spirit, no longer cared about these things. He lit a fire in a sheltered place on the coast to keep warm.
"It's okay, let's prepare for tomorrow's action. We have been out of contact for ten days. We need to return to the Sanctum of the Sun as soon as possible." Leylin said.
Elna frowned, she straightened the hair stuck to her forehead and said: "Then we have to go back the same way, which is quite dangerous."
"There is no other way. The faster we go back, the less effort the rangers and mages of the temple will have to take to rescue us. Besides I've got a mount nearby." Leylin said and pointed somewhere behind him.
Elna stroked her face covered with dust and dirt, regained her spirit and said: "Then we will act early tomorrow morning."