Laura's Journey

Chapter 14: Dark mansion (Part 1)

"Eh? Really? You're not letting me ride the carriage."

I said as I protested to the old man whose about to make his departure from Witchport city. This old man seems to be a merchant and looking at his carriage. I’m sure that there is a lot of space for me inside there.

"I'm a very sorry little girl but I can't just let a child as you go outside of the city alone."

"But I arrived here alone... I can just pay you to double if you want to."

I tried my best to convince him and even use my money to bribe him. But he just looks at me with a dejected expression and his face. He then put his hand behind his head and scratch.

"Listen you can't just use the money to solve your problem... My decision is final and I'm not letting you a ride."

The man turns his back from me and leaves.

What's wrong with him? I feel like he's underestimating me so much.

On the other hand, he might be concern about my safety. Traveling alone is indeed really dangerous especially to a kid like me. But still, I have a goal to achieve and I'm not letting anyone block my way.

That's right I should stay optimistic.

"That's right, I should just go out in the city and start walking toward the state central."

The state central is just next to this city. Maybe I can go there alone.

But first I must buy some food and stuff.

I go to the market and buy enough food, adventuring stuff, and a blanket just in case that I need to sleep in the forest. I'm still feeling uneasy about the distance that I'm about to travel so I'm not sure if my food is enough.

After having all my preparation done. I started moving and head toward the city gate.

I did buy a map to make sure that I’m going on the right path toward the next city. But there was a problem. Minors are not allowed to go outside the city without permission.

Riding a train is fine because the train will eventually stop in the next city. Avoiding the danger of the outside world.

Arriving at the gate I saw a knight on duty to guard the gate.

I was worried that he might not let me go because I’m just a kid. I have to do something about this.

I run toward the armored man with a troubled face and teary eyes.

"Mister there someone who needs help over there, please help her!"

I said.

"What's happening? Where is the trouble?"

The knight was responsive and my acting was top tier. I got too many misfortune happening in my life. Just reflecting on my past made my eye’s shed tears. Making my act ten times more effective.

"It's over there..."

I said and pointed a place randomly.

"Thanks, kid..."

The armored guy left me in the front gate alone.

The knight guard looks so serious about his job and I feel guilty for what I just did to him. Anyway, this is an opportunity to get out of the city.

Using wind magic I enveloped my body with wind and accelerated my movement speed. Just with few moments, I disappeared from the scene.

The knight goes back to the gate with a puzzled expression on his face.

“There was no kid in danger over there. It’s just a cat… Huh? Where did that girl go?”

Another knight walked toward him.

“There was a rumor about the ghost girl wandering in this city. That girl you saw must be the one.”

“The one?”

The knights had grim expressions on their faces.

…

I know lying is bad, but I have to do it. White lies won't hurt.

I happily run and after putting a huge distance between myself and the city. I come to slow down to conserve my magic. If I lost my magic. I might suffer from Mana sickness and get in more trouble.

I get the map from my pocket and check my current location.

Let's see, let's see… I'm currently venturing into this area. It seemed like I have to go across a forest and a small town before arriving at Central city.

Thank goodness that there is a small town. In my way, I might spend my night in that town and going back on my journey early tomorrow. Good thing I’m not spending my night in the forest.

My current goal now is to arrive near town and have peaceful rest.

After few hours of traveling.

My body started to feel tired and my energy. is constantly decreasing.

“I’m exhausted… The central city is supposed to be near but. This is taking forever. Well, they are not lying that the next city is the central city, but the distance is quite huge. I’m losing some mana, maybe it’s because of continuous use of wind magic.”

I was running out of breath and panting. The sun is still scourging high up in the sky. Making my suffering twice as hard. I decide to take a rest and have lunch.

I seat down on the big rock and notice that I'm already in the forest.

Looking at the sun. I think It's still noon and I think I can arrive in the town near here before evening.

I take a sip of water and take a bite of donut in my hand.

While eating I felt a creepy chill around me.

The fog in the forest started to rise and it started to become thicker and thicker.

I ate the donut fast and sip a lot of water.

I remember a time when Koyuki-san is teaching me. I started to remember to detect someone around me without using skill or spell.

"That's right maybe I need to give it a try."

I close my eyes and focus.

If I focus my mana on my body and concentrate my natural energy around my surroundings. I was able to feel the presence of there people beside me. This is also applied to the monsters and animals around the area.

I sense the presence around me including the little birds and bugs.

“It seemed like there no one here, maybe I'm just overthinking.”

I muttered and open my eyes.

"What a good concentration."

Behind me, a woman appeared. My danger instinct was triggered and I instantly leap away from her. Immediately creating distance between me and her. I then pull my sword and prepared for a combat stance.

"... For a child like you, that was amazing. Do you go out here and practice?"

She asked.

What's with her? I didn't feel her mana or natural energy. Besides her presence feels really creepy.

The woman's face was blocked by thick fog. I’m not able to recognize her at all, but her voice is very familiar to me.

I hardly saw her face, until she walked toward me and try to talk to me.

"... Are you scared? Don't worry I won't kill you. Besides, I'm seeing a lot of potential to you."

The thick fog uncovers her face revealing its very familiar look.

I lost my grip on holding my sword when I saw her face.

The woman who appeared in front of me has the same face as the woman who raised me. She also had the same eyes and face lines. The same voice and posture.

"Mama..."

I called her.

"Mama? That's funny I don't remember having a kid before besides I'm only 22 years old. I don't even have a plan of getting married."

Her words make sense to me. The way she speaks is different. My mother has a gentle and kind tone. Meanwhile, this woman got a creepy and sadistic tone.

That’s right, my mother is already dead. I don’t know who she was but she might have some connection to my mother.

I get my sword and pointed toward her.

"Looks like you're not in the mood to talk… That’s a shame. But before I leave, I must warn you. In the forest ahead there was a monster that you should avoid. A child like you won't stand a chance against it."

After saying those words, she turns her back and disappeared with the thick fog.

That was fast... and terrifying at the same time.

“What a  weird woman?”

But she did warn me on something. Ahead on my path, there was a monster that I needed to avoid.

The moment I saw her face I felt really happy, but I also felt sad because that woman just reminded me of my dead mother.

What is this mixed feeling? I don't understand it.

After resting for a bit more. I get back on track and continue my travel.

The forest feels really cold and silent. It's not so dark inside but there is some area that is covered by thick fog.

It’s a great thing that Koyuki teach me to detect enemies. Even though there was a thick fog I’m able to walk inside on it.

The woman earlier is a special case. She did compress her presence until she startles me.

As I walk in the forest, the fog moves toward my way. The path started to get darker and darker. Just looking on it feels like looking into an endless abyss. I got frightened and decide to search for another way.

While walking searching for a new path. I stumble upon an abandoned mansion.

It's really old and it feels like it's about to fall at any moment. Moss is already crawling through walls.

I'm thinking if I can use this mansion as a shelter just in case I got lost and need to stay overnight.

... But no thanks. There’s no way I’m sleeping in this kind of place.

Also, the mansion got its a creepy atmosphere and I don't like it.

"I already regain mana and natural energy. Maybe I can use my wind magic to make the fog disappeared and make my way out of this forest.

Before I leave and turn my back to the abandoned mansion.

The door of the mansion opens up. Unusual dark hands appeared suddenly grabbing my foot.

I’m astonished seeing how creepy the hands were. Anxiety feeling was drawn out from my heart. I have the feeling that a bad thing is about to happen.

The creepy hands then forcibly drag my body toward the abandoned mansion

After few seconds, I find myself in a dark empty room. The creepy hand disappeared. My body was then slammed toward the wooden wall headfirst.

The wall is not that sturdy and made my head bounce nack after slamming.

“My head hurts…”

I said as I rub my head with my hand.

Looking around the room. I saw too many stuff toys and dolls. Opening the closet I saw much pretty old dress.

“The room feels like a room of a rich girl. It's like a room that I always dream of when I'm still in Rum town.”

What I'm doing it's not the time to be impressed by these cute clothes. I need to find a way to exit this room.

I thought and turn head away from the cute stuffed toys.

I try to open the door, but the door seemed to be locked and can't be open.

"Looks like I don't have a choice now..."

I pulled my sword in my waist and use my sword to break the door.

“Wind skill: Wind force!”

A smashing sound Doom was heard breaking the door. My skill did make the door break and made the thick dust on the mansion float through the air.

Because of that I cough and make my way out of the room.