Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Simon carried the terribly injured body of the little girl on the back of his warhorse as he swiftly charted a safe course that had fewer monsters with the help of his [Mental Map] skill. The skill allows the user to map out the geography of any place that the user had explored before.

The skill is quite useful as it not only maps the geography but also helps him understand and mark the denizens and their numbers in the area. The more area of the forest he explores, the more detailed the [Mental Map] becomes.

In these past few days, Simon had explored a fair bit of the outer region of the west side of the Ghastly Winding Forest. Although he was still far from charting it out completely, he still knew where the strong monsters and their lair were. Avoiding the areas where monsters were especially territorial, they flew over a path with very little concentration of monsters.

Irene silently followed behind as she looked at the both of them, emotions continuously fluctuated at the depth of her eyes as she observed Simon who looked as clueless as ever. But more than that, she was surprised to find a member of the Forest Spring Spirit clan here. Not to mention that the girl that Simon found unconscious earlier, was no ordinary Forest Spring Spirit.

------

She had a peculiar dream, a nightmare to be exact. Her clan which resided in the Ghastly Winding Forest under the protection of one of the seven kings of the western region of the forest; the Ancient Titan Treant, was being cruelly subjugated by the adventurers.

The adventurers were all garbed in black robes and wore masks to hide their identities. But it did nothing to cover their hideous nature as they laughed, taking joy in tormenting to make them more obedient. The scene was truly a hellscape as their house was burnt down one after the other.

Men, women, children, all of her clan members were mercilessly being hunted and put under the collar by the vicious hands of the adventurers. Cries of agony rang across the whole place.

Her Village which was supposed to be hidden by the Arcane mist that made their village unreachable to anyone but them, was revealed by the very same human who was terribly injured at that time and was brought into their village for care and treatment.

Never did the Forest Spring Spirit Clan thought that the kindness that they showed to the human, would be betrayed in such a cruel manner.

Tears fell down her cheeks like an unending waterfall. Her friends and families were beaten and enslaved, those who resisted fiercely were killed to make an example for the rest.

It was truly a doomsday for her clan, she could still vividly remember her mother self destructing her spirit orb to allow the clan members escape as they ran towards the Ancient Titan Treant, one of the Seven Kings to seek its protection.

"My daughter, do not look behind and... run. You must never... allow them to capture you. Mother cannot come along with you, but I will always be watching and praying for your safety... Live well, my daughter" Her mother said during her last moments before choosing to self destruct her spirit orb to allow the clan members a chance to escape.

A brilliant emerald green light enveloped the village which stalled the adventurers for them to get away.

"No Mother... Mother.. Motherrrr" She screamed in despair and could only look on helplessly as her mother used her very life in exchange to push back the adventurers.

She was pulled back and carried away as she cried a fountain in her father's embrace. Her father who similarly had a heartbroken face watching his wife self destruct her spirit orb. But as the patriarch of the clan, he had the duty to lead his clansmen out of this hellscape.

She cried until her throat became dry and she no longer had any energy to wail. From this moment on, she would no longer be able to feel the warmth of her mother. Her mother who was the most gentle person, she cared and loved the whole clan and the clan in return respected her very much.

She didn't know how but during their escape, the human adventurers soon realised that a royal spirit was residing in this clan and started hunting down the escapees. Her close friends and relatives sacrificed their lives in order to assist their escape.

They ran and hid for days, it was like a nightmare that wouldn't end. Even until the end, the adventurers continuously pursued them and laughed merrily as they enjoyed their chase, before finally cornering them. One by one all of the people that she loved and cared for, died by self-destructing their spirit orb.

The last of her clan members who were with her gave up their lives in hopes of creating an opportunity for her and her father to escape. But the adventurers laughed at their futile attempt. She saw her clan members being toyed and killed amidst her overflowing tears.

Until finally they forced her father, the patriarch to eventually self-destruct his spirit orb so that she could escape. Her father now drenched in blood from the cuts and wounds, pleaded to her "My daughter forgive your... father for not being able to protect you. Huff... Huff... It seems that father won't be able to accompany you anymore, but... y-you must escape from here. Never allow the adventurers to find you...".

"Father...Father...Father" she cried in the arms of her father in a heartbroken manner. The warm hands of her father were slowly getting cold and pale as he caressed her cheeks and said "Cecilia, I was glad... huff... huff... to have you as my daughter. F-From now on you might have to face many difficulties... alone, but you must stay strong and live".

"….." Before the light in his eyes dimmed, her father whispered some words into her before he smiled and said "You are the last hope... of our clan. Remember the w-world is vast, you must stay strong...".

And with that, bright emerald light started overflowing from her father as he used his Mutated Magic before the trunk of a nearby tree spread open to envelop her and swiftly transported her away. "Nooooo I don't want this… Father...Father… Fatherrrrr" she cried again and again until her throat became hoarse and she fell unconscious.

------

"Huff…huff…huff….huff…huff..." inside one of the spacious rooms of the white palace, a girl was currently spasming and shuddering as tears continuously dropped down her eyelids while she slept.

Irene who was inside the room looked at the girl who was clearly having a nightmare and gently wiped her tears. Her usually indifferent eyes had pity and compassion as she lightly caressed the delicate cheeks of the girl.

As if feeling the warmth from her hand, tears glimmered at the end of the little girl's eyelids and her violent spasming finally settled down.

After her breathing became even, she fell into a deep sleep and it was only after a long while that she opened her eyes. Her eyes no longer held their previous childish light and looked dark and hollow.

She surveyed her surroundings before immediately getting up from the bed in a panic.. Her first reaction was to check her neck and after finding that there was no collar on it, she sighed in relief.