Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 123 (Part 1)

The carriage suddenly stopped not far from the Hedenes region. Jena and Karis jumped down from the driver’s seat and surveyed the front.

“It’s monster tracks.”

“Ha, has it come this far?”

Rodin moved very slowly. Compared to the speed when moving with the merchant group, it wasn’t even half as fast.

Moving at this slow pace allowed him to craft Larry’s artifact and monitor Bianca’s magic training more attentively. Consequently, Larry also had many opportunities to train with Karis.

While Rodin’s group stayed in Asir, the monster crossed the borders of the Tebia Kingdom.

As Rodin’s group moved leisurely, the giant monster roamed freely through Tebia.

In less than half a month, the monster moved as if cutting through the center, from the eastern side of the Tebia Kingdom to the west.

Fortunately, there weren’t significant casualties. People had been evacuated in advance, and efforts were made to lure the monster to unpopulated areas.

However, the areas the monster traversed became a chaotic mess.

Farming was completely destroyed, trees were toppled down, and many water routes were blocked.

“The surroundings are a wreck. It seems there was a battle.”

“We need to confirm. Wait here. Fly.”

Rodin decided not to send Jito but to check the surroundings himself. This area warranted a personal look.

He rose into the sky and slowly surveyed the surroundings.

As Karis said, it was a mess. The ground was dug up, and more than half of the trees were toppled. Numerous deep footprints marked where the monster had stepped.

“The bodies must have been cleared.”

There were no bodies visible, likely because they had been removed after the battle. Undoubtedly, many people had perished in the fight.

“The trail seems to go in that direction?”

The traces continued southward. Fortunately, it wasn’t headed west, their destination.

But since it wasn’t moving in the exact opposite direction, it wouldn’t be surprising if they encountered it. They could wake up and find it staring down at them.

Rodin descended back to the ground and shared what he had seen with the group.

“What happened to the monster?”

“It looks like the Tebia Kingdom has taken active measures. But we don’t know the result.”

“We should assume Lennox Kingdom failed to deal with it.”

“Exactly. They probably withdrew as soon as it left their territory. Even if they fought and won, the damage would have been severe.”

For the Tebia Kingdom, it was like being struck by a calamity while asleep. Who could have predicted a monster crossing the border and ravaging their land?

“Big brother Rodin, what will you do?”

“Well, what do you all think?”

“Brother, do you think we’ll run into that monster?”

“If it moves as it pleases, the chances of encountering it are low. It’ll go where the people are. But if the Tebia Kingdom lures it, there’s a chance we’ll come across it.”

Hedenes was a typical rural area. There was one small city near the Paroma Mountain Range, but it was only a tiny part of the vast region.

A land with plenty of space and few people. It was the ideal place for Tebia to lure the monster.

“Brother, we’ll know if it comes close, right?”

“Yes. The ground will tremble.”

The monster was so large that they could sense it from far away. As long as they were in a moving carriage, escaping wouldn’t be difficult.

Moreover, the creature had grown massive due to its connection with a Magic Stone. It was practically a mass of magical energy, so Rodin’s keen senses wouldn’t miss it.

Yet, something felt off. Rodin had a strange feeling that they wouldn’t be able to avoid a confrontation with it.

“I’ll fill the pit.”

“No, leave it. Let’s just fly. Magic Hand.”

He created eight Magic Hands and lifted the entire carriage. The horses resisted the unfamiliar force, but Karis and Jena soothed them.

They moved over the pit and resumed their westward journey. Aside from minor monster attacks, the trip was peaceful.

*

They finally reached the Hedenes region. In the distance, a vast expanse of green stretched out, dotted with livestock grazing leisurely.

“It’s peaceful.”

“Brother, it’s warm here.”

“Indeed. The climate changes from that hill.”

Although it was early winter, the Hedenes region felt warm, as if it were late spring or early fall.

“Matthew, do you remember this place?”

“No, sir. I left here when I was a baby.”

Matthew felt a sense of peace. Even though it was a homeland he couldn’t remember, he felt a mental calm, as if embraced by his mother’s arms.

“Let’s go.”

“Hmm, sir.”

Karis, who had been in the driver’s seat, cautiously called out to Rodin. Without much ado, Matthew moved over to the carriage Jena was driving.

Now, only Karis and Rodin remained in the carriage.

“Speak. What is it?”

“Sir, may I look at the continent map?”

“A map? Hold on.”

Rodin opened the subspace in his bracelet and retrieved a continent map. It wasn’t just one map but a book with over 50 detailed maps.

Rodin’s map was quite intricate. It showed topography, place names, city names, and even national borders. It was essentially a military map scaled to the level of a continent.

Ordinary methods couldn’t procure such a map. Rodin had spent a large sum and waited months to receive it.

Karis checked each page of the map one by one. She paused at one page, tilting her head in confusion, then flipped to another map, repeating the gesture.

“Sir, I don’t fully understand the continent map.”

“It’s different from the era of the Magic Empire. Your empire ruled all the way to the far west, but now, humans only use the eastern part.”

Rodin recalled the full continent map that had appeared during The Frouval illusion class. He quickly sketched a simplified version for Karis to see.

“Oh! Yes, that’s the map I know.”

“Currently, we only inhabit the eastern part of this continent. The central and western areas are uncharted for humans.”

“What kind of place is this?”

“I mentioned it before. It’s called the Western Continent now, my homeland too. Though it would have been considered the eastern region by the Magic Empire’s standards.”

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