With nothing to distract Van, he was able to focus. Now he knew that at any time Ray was able to defend him, it allowed him to relax more and get comfortable. Once again, white light surrounded his body, and it started to grow outward. The white light around him was visibly shaking as if it was trying to control its power, ready to explode.

"Be careful,

" Lenny said.

"I would hate to die ourselves when you are simply trying to get rid of the mist.

"

"Don't worry, for some reason, I know what I'm doing,

" Van replied, when he opened his eyes, they were fully white and he unleashed the power of the white stone. Like a ripple, it shot out in all directions around him.

The white power went right through Lenny, doing him no harm, and it was same for the rest and the knights. As it went past the beast infected by the shadow. It started to disintegrate their bodies just like the regular power Van would emit from the stone.

However, as soon as the white light touched Ray's skin. He felt a burning sensation. Quickly, he had ordered Noir and she grew in size. Riding her, he was able to outrun the white light until it eventually stopped.

'What was that, I'm affected by Van's power as well?' Ray thought. Taking off the gauntlet from his arm, he could see a burn mark on his forearms and it seemed like his body was struggling with healing it.

He didn't know why, but just like the beast infected by the shadow, he was affected by the crystal and Van's power. He had to make note and be careful of that from now on.

With the mist and creatures gone, it was finally safe for the group to travel once more. This time they were more cautious. Already experiencing one attack, they expected more to come. But it never did.

The terrain started to change and as they exited the large empty fields, they entered what looked like a large forest. The trees and roots themselves were wide and large enough for all of them to walk on. It looked like a forest that was built for giants.

It sometimes made terrain difficult for them to go across. Once in a while, they needed to climb over some of the giant roots and this seemed to tire out the soldiers more than fighting the beasts.

Eventually, as it started to get dark, they decided it was time to rest. After all, with the trees it blocked most of the moonlight, making it nearly impossible for the others to see clearly. They took cover under one of the large trees and between two large roots. Only allowing for the enemy to come from one direction, or they would have to climb over the large roots by either side.

The tents were set up, and they were resting peacefully.

Inside the large tent, Van was admiring his crystal. Every day it seemed he was getting better control of it and learning something new. He was thankful he was given such a special thing in the first place. If he never had it, he felt like he would have been useless in the journey.

Entering his tent was Kyle, and he could see Van, looking at the crystal up in the air carefully.

"Hold on to that well, little prince,

" Kyle said.

"As if she was your first love.

"

"I will,

" Van replied.

"I'll make sure that the beasts and Dark guild will never get their hands on this.

"

"That would be fine,

" Kyle replied.

"If that was all we had to worry about.

"

"Are you talking about Harry?' Van said.

Kyle wasn't the only one that noticed Harry's strange actions. A lot of them had spent a long time with him. Years, and Van had been by his side in the last war, yet his actions were completely strange.

"I fear, he may be the as-

"

"Maybe the what?

" Harry said, standing right behind Kyle.

Stepping back and getting away, Kyle placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. He feared that there would be a repeat of last time.

'Why is he always around me, and when no one else is here!' Kyle wanted to shout out and complain.

"I thought I already taught you a lesson last time, and yet you continue to talk behind my back?

" Harry replied.

"What is wrong with you!

" Kyle shouted.

"Can't you see yourself you have changed?

"

At that moment, something else entered the tent, but it wasn't human, it was a wolf, Noir. She looked at Harry and snarled a little.

Seeing this, Harry decided to leave the tent, not causing any more trouble.

Kyle decided that day that he would sleep next to Van, and Van was thankful for that as well. Everyone knew that he would be a prime target and even more so now that his powers were growing with the stone.

In the morning, when all the soldiers had gathered, Martha came down from above with her Harpy wings.

"I have some news to inform everyone,

" Martha said.

"When I was scouting this morning to see how far we had left to get to the fortress, I spotted Monk and their group.

"

"He appears to have many members of the Dark guild with him, and they are heading the same way as we are. They're not too far from us at this very moment. Essentially, the two of us are in a race, but we should be careful.

"

"At any moment, the two of us could go into battle.

" She explained.

But there was a bit more than that Martha wasn't telling them, for she had actually spoken to Monk when she saw him, but for now, she would keep the two of their discussions a secret.

******

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