Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey
Chapter 326: Hidden doungen [2]

[Desitation - Laxco Mountains, Mowa]

"Huaaaaam…"

Lazily stretching my body, I glanced at Adrian and with my hand nudged him to stand up.

"We're here"

"Alright"

Nodding his head, Adrian stood up and followed me out of the air train. After five hours of sitting on a train, Adrian finally calmed down and returned to his regular serious self.

"haaaa…"

Instantly, as soon as I stepped foot outside of the train, a wave of fresh air brushed against my body causing me to slightly relax. Compared to the polluted air of the city, the air here was much cleaner and fresher.

It truly felt great.

Glancing at Adrian, I pointed towards the town below us and suggested

"Let's first grab something to eat in the town below before going to our destination…trust me, the walk is going to be very long"

Thinking for a bit, Adrian eventually nodded his head.

"If you say so…"

Descending from the air train, Adrian and I made our way down the winding path towards the town nestled at the foot of the Laxco Mountains. The town, though small, bustled with activity as merchants peddled their wares and travelers passed through on their way to distant lands.

The air was crisp and clean, carrying with it the scent of pine trees and freshly fallen snow. The snow-capped peaks of the mountains loomed overhead, their majestic beauty casting a serene aura over the landscape.

As we entered the town, the inviting aroma of cooking food wafted through the air, tempting our senses and stirring our appetites. We found a cozy tavern nestled among the cobblestone streets and stepped inside, greeted by the warmth of a crackling fireplace and the cheerful chatter of locals.

Seating ourselves at a wooden table near the hearth, we ordered hearty meals and steaming mugs of mulled wine, savoring the comfort and hospitality of the rustic establishment. Outside, the snow continued to fall softly, blanketing the town in a quiet, peaceful stillness.

***

Inside of a densely packed forest, two individuals calmly walked through the heavy vegetation. Of the two individuals, one stood at the front looking at a large map made out of paper, whilst behind him, another individual followed him with a confused look on his face.

The forest was alive with the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves, and shafts of golden sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor.

The air was cool and fragrant, tinged with the earthy scent of moss and damp foliage. Tall trees towered overhead, their branches reaching towards the sky in a canopy of greenery.

As they walked, the dense undergrowth occasionally gave way to clearings filled with vibrant wildflowers and lush ferns. Streams trickled merrily through the forest, their crystal-clear waters glinting in the sunlight.

Despite the dense vegetation, the path ahead was clear, thanks to the careful navigation of the individual holding the map. His companion trailed behind, occasionally glancing around in wonder at the natural beauty surrounding them.

"Hey, Just how much long are we away from the dungeon?"

Finally, Adrian couldn't help but ask me, their was hint of frustration hidden in his voice.

I turned towards him, I was also annoyed at the moment.

"As far as I know you were the one found the doungen location, So you should be one leading the way not me."

"Hey! I said I would but at the entrance of the mountains you told me that you also know the location and you wanted to take a lead here and look because of you were leading us we are now lost in these mountains."

I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt at Adrian's words. He was right—I had insisted on taking the lead, confident in my ability to navigate the area. But now, faced with the reality of being lost in the dense forest, I couldn't help but regret my decision.

The reason that I instead on because it's be long since I come outside of the Nova academy and doing something like this.

But it didn't mean that we are completely lost. Fortunately, I had a few reference points to work with

"A river…a large bent tree and a cave…"

Those were the things I was looking out for.

"Let's see"

Crouching down on the ground and placing the map on a rock. I squinted my eyes and made sure I was still on the right track.

'If I'm not wrong, we are actually headed in the right direction, and all we needed to do is walk for a couple of more kilometers until we replace a river…'

Turning the map slightly, I traced a blue line on the map stopping until a certain point.

'Thereafter, we are to walk along the river all the way until we replace the largest tributary and from there go hike up until an oddly bent tree can be found. The cave of the dungeon should be right behind the tree…'

"Alright, I've got it, follow me"

Cross-referencing with the map a couple of more times, I nodded my head and urged Adrian to follow me.

"You've figured things out?"

"Yup, if nothing goes wrong, we should be able to arrive there in about half a day"

"Alright…"

Adrian's tone was filled with a mixture of relief and anticipation. With renewed determination, we continued our journey through the dense forest, following the path outlined on the map.

The forest seemed to come alive around us as we walked, with the rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds providing a soothing backdrop to our trek.

Despite the occasional obstacles in our path, such as fallen trees or dense undergrowth, we pressed on, fueled by the prospect of reaching our destination.

As the hours passed, the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Yet, we continued to push forward, our resolve unbroken.

Finally, as the light began to fade, we emerged from the trees into a small clearing. Before us, the river stretched out, its waters sparkling in the dying light.

"There it is," I said, pointing towards the river. "Now we just need to follow it until we replace the largest tributary."

Adrian nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the riverbank for any signs of the tributary. Together, we set off along the river, our footsteps echoing softly against the rocky ground.

As we walked, the sounds of the forest faded away, replaced by the gentle rush of the river and the occasional call of a distant bird. Yet, despite the tranquility of our surroundings, there was an undercurrent of tension in the air as we neared our destination.

Finally, after what felt like hours of walking, we spotted it—a massive tributary branching off from the main river, its waters churning as they cascaded down the mountainside.

"That's it," I said, excitement bubbling up inside me. "Now all we need to do is hike up until we replace the oddly bent tree."

With renewed energy, we began the ascent, our eyes fixed on the towering peaks above. Step by step, we climbed higher and higher, our hearts pounding in anticipation of what lay ahead.

And then, suddenly, there it was—the oddly bent tree, its twisted branches reaching out like gnarled fingers against the darkening sky.

"We've found it," Adrian said, his voice filled with awe.

I nodded, a sense of triumph washing over me. After hours of searching, we had finally reached our destination—the entrance to the hidden dungeon nestled deep within the Laxco Mountains.