15 Salgot's farewell Ethon's story

Salgor ran with all his force to keep a safe distance between them and Kent.

"Salgot stop! I don't want to leave her alone! Please Salgot! She is her only family! I don't want Aegiri to be alone like me!" Ethon was crying. Even if has the majority of his memories he was a 7-year-old kid. His true emotions finally appear.

Salgot looked at him, and a nostalgic appear in his lips "You are right, Ethon. However, Aegiri is not alone like you think. Elder Esti knew the consequences of dying, but she is aware that you and my disciple, that is currently taking care of her, will be with her no matter what. Specially you" Salgot put down Ethon. They weren't safe but they were with a safe distance for the time being.

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"Young Master Kent, there are some words ,in the barrier. I can't read them, but I think is something important to know" a female soldier told him while her finger was pointing where the words were. Kent's gaze fell where the words were and got closer too see if he could read them. The soldier took a step back allowing Kent to read the words.

"Seven hundred ninety-eight years old is my actual age, now you are curse Young Master Kent" after Kent read those words the barrier left and the soldier who told him about the existence of those words disappear. Kent got stunned. Suddenly a thought popped out and Kent got angrier.

"That old-witch!" Kent yelled. Elder Esti left the barrier with her age just for Kent to read it.

"Sir, the barrier is dissipating" a male soldier told him with a fearful voice. When Kent heard those words he got frenzied and sent a chilling gaze towards that soldier "Just because you are one of my men I will not kill you". Kent calmed himself. He knew that it was impossible to do something in that moment "We must find that kid. Quickly!"

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Salgot gave orders to the spirit beasts to keep Kent and his soldiers occupied as long as possible.

Ethon thought about what he could do to protect Aegiri. He knew perfectly her powers, and he could imagine how Royalty was taking advantage of her. Just thinking about it made him angry. Since Ethon knew Aegiri, he saw how she was innocent and curious. At first he did not want to get close to her, but those thoughts almost caused her death. "Salgot, the man who chases us and killed Elder Esti, who is he?" Ethon wanted to kill him with his own hands. Salgot turned to see him "That man is the Fourth Prince, former student of Elder Esti. Since I remember, he has always been an ambitious, proud and selfish man. The only reason he does not completely abuse his power, because if he does, is his older brother -the First Prince- and his older sister -the First Princess- who are much stronger than him. It is also said that the Fourth Prince has the magic of lightning in its pure form" when Salgot finished speaking, Ethon was surprised.

Salgot continued guiding Ethon in the forest. It was the first time Ethon went deeper inside the forest. Everything that he saw it was strange and new, like a totally new world. There were animals that weren't spirit beast but they had a powerful aura emanating from their bodies. Salgot got slower when they got near one of that beasts. The beast looked a him with a proud and arrogant gaze "Human, seven years ago we told you to be as far as you can of this place" Salgot bowed his head and responded "Great Ancient Bloodline Black Fangs Panther, I know my false but I came to seek the help and protection of you for this child" Salgot knew who the beast was. The beast had a beautiful, bright and black fur, if you touch it, you could feel its softness. [Ancient Bloodline Black Fangs Panthers] were beasts of darkness and wind elements, it was said that they were endanger species and there were around five hundred specimens alive in all the world. Their large was from two to four meters including the head and tail, but the [Ancient Bloodline Black Fangs Panthers] that was talking with Salgot was around five to six meters large. When the Lord was reigning, the [Ancient Bloodline Black Fangs Panthers] were one of the twenty most powerful and dominant species, and their number was more than tens of millions. However, when the Lord lost and died, people started to hunt them carelessly, the panthers knew that the Lord was protecting them and they were in debt with him.

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Kent didn't know what was hiding inside the forest, but he knew that he must find and kill Salgot and the kid. Suddenly he felt that his hand was burning, and he looked at it. His hand was fine, so he couldn't be able to find the reason why it hurt. He had a vague idea "Soldier Gorge, send a message asking for information about curses with the age of a person of the Light Clan" "Yes Sir" the soldier wrote something in a paper and with a flick of his hand the paper disappeared.

Every time they went deeper inside the forest, they got slower while taking every precaution posible.

The soldiers felt that they were being observe by someone who lives deep inside the forest. From time to time they appreciated the beautiful landscapes that the forest offered them, and the ones who looked the safest and peaceful they used them to rest.

Before heading to the search for Elder Esti and Elder Salgot, Kent and his soldiers had heard rumors about ancient creatures living in the forest that served as a border between Gorfal and Ferland. Both kingdoms feared the hidden power of the Spirit Forest, and thanks to that common fear formed an alliance just to be able to face whatever it was that lived in that forest.

It was known that the beasts that lived and coexisted in the forest were not spirit beasts but another kind of older and clearly more powerful species. Yet, despite his fear, Kent and his army admired the beauty that was within.

"The place definitely does honor its name. This forest is the most beautiful I have ever encountered" Kent watched every detail he found. The lights of the fireflies had different colors: yellow, purple, sky blue, grass green, white. Really the view was unimaginable. They passed near a rill where its crystalline and pure water allowed to see all the wonders that were inside its body. The fish when swimming seemed like the leaves dance when the air stream passes and takes them to another world. At the bottom there seemed to be precious stones like rubies and sapphires, but they were untouchables for mortals.

And so, without realizing, Kent's wrath was declining. The soldiers began to feel comfortable in that beautiful place. Suddenly a light, soft breeze of air began to blow. The tranquillity was such, and its softness so pleasant that it would seem as if it was a sweet and pleasant in the ear voice like a woman sang about the beauty and yearning that the history of the forest had with him. Kent and his soldiers began to feel and share the yearning that the voice wore and one by one began to fall asleep with a smile and a tear on their faces. Kent began to close his eyes and every step he gave weighed him more and more; when he was about to fall asleep, the letter he sent, finally the answer had come "There is a curse in our records that complies with what Young Master Kent described. Apparently the curse will prevent you from being able to find what you are looking for no matter what you do, the closer you are to your target your body begins to be damaged with an imperceptible ember of fire for the human eye. It is recommended to the Fourth Prince to proceed with caution, because this curse can cost him his life" when he read the letter, Kent regained his strength and it was when he realized that they had fallen into one of the zones of 'eternal rest' that were in the forest. According to royal Records, these places also known as 'The Curse of the Sleeper' were the most dangerous areas, but not impossible to escape. Kent knew it was too late for him and his soldiers to continue their journey. All he could do was squeeze his fists and wait for the sun to come out. The way out of the 'eternal rest' areas was that the sun's rays bathed the whole place.

Elder Salgot and the boy managed to escape from his claws.

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Salgot was looking forward to the beast's response.

"Come on Salgot, please tell me what he meant when he said there was a price to pay in order to receive his protection?" Ethon understood a little that 'price' was a somewhat dangerous term. In his past, he remembered a 'price' he had to pay when he faced the hero. Salgot looked at him with an expression full of love, nostalgia and affection "You'll see what the price to pay is, just remember to keep your promises"

After saying those words, Salgot hugged the boy and showed him the warmest and authentic smile full of the love of a father Ethon had seen. It was then that the body of Salgot began to evaporate and to become something like dust of stars, until finally it disappeared completely. Ethon was paralyzed from the shock, and the tears threatened to come out of his eyes, but he forced himself not to drop them. He simply stared at the dark, starry sky, weeping in silence.

The Great Ancient Bloodline Black Fangs Panther saw him and went to his said and looked at the sky too.

"Elder Salgot, we accept your request"