Bab 48: Thornfield Mansion
Nestled within the heart of the village, a majestic mansion stood as a testament of authority amid the modest abodes of its surroundings. Its imposing presence cast a long shadow over the humble homes that encircled it, an embodiment of grandeur and affluence. The mansion's colossal gates, adorned with intricate ironwork, beckoned visitors into a world of lavish luxury while simultaneously underscoring the security that guarded it.
In a secluded corner of the mansion, a sanctum of silence and contemplation unfolded—a study, bathed in the warm, muted hues of brown color and leather. Bookshelves lined with knowledge reaching toward the ceiling, each volume a testament to the owner's insatiable curiosity.
A vast, oak desk, meticulously organized with antique artifacts, commanded the center of the room. Papers neatly arranged, a quill poised for the next stroke of inspiration.
The focal point of this room was an expansive, floor-to-ceiling window, its glass as clear as it can be. From this vantage, a man of discerning tastes gazed out at the ever-changing canvas of the sky. With an air of tranquility, he observed the clouds as they pirouetted in the grey expanse.
An aura of scholarly refinement permeated the air with the man's presence. A man of distinguished appearance, bore an ageless countenance. His hair, a cascade of white strands, framed a face marked by the passage of time. Eyes, deep and contemplative, held a quiet intensity.
His attire exuded an understated elegance, a fusion of style and grace. He was adorned in a tailored suit, its fine wool material draping him with the grace of a gentleman. The suit jacket, impeccably fitted, emphasizing a slender silhouette. A crisp white dress shirt beneath it, its collar secured by a discreet silver collar pin. A meticulously folded pocket square in a matching shade peeked from the breast pocket of his jacket. His trousers, tailored to perfection, tapered down to polished black leather shoes. The footwear was impeccably shined, completing the ensemble with a touch of sophistication.
As he looked out the window, the man couldn't shake off a growing sense of unease. His eyes were locked on the dark clouds slowly forming into a storm. "Something doesn't seem right..."
*Knock, knock*
"Come in."
The door creaked open, revealing a man dressed in a soldier's uniform.
"Sir! I came to report."
"Go ahead."
"Yes, Sir! As per your request, we have duly notified the farmers and agricultores to suspend their activities in anticipation of the storm. The laborers have also been instructed to pause their work until further instructions."
"Good work." remarked the man, his unwavering gaze still fixed upon the sky.
"...Kindly do me the favor of conveying to the guards to secure the gates and restrict entry to the village for the upcoming days."
"Pardon my intrusion, Sir." said the soldier, "but may I inquire about the reason behind such a precautionary measure? Knowing the guard leader, he would be much appreciative in knowing the reasoning."
The man finally tore his gaze away from the looming clouds and turned to face his inquisitive subordinate. There was a contemplative pause before he spoke, his voice carrying a tone of somber gravity.
"We must exercise caution." he began, his words measured and deliberate. "The decision to bar entry is not made lightly, but it is a necessary precaution. The signs in the skies are not merely indicative of a storm. They herald something far more ominous, something I have not seen before."
"Your command shall be heeded, Lord Van Thornfield!"
The subordinate, his brow furrowed with lingering questions, offered a respectful salute. He remained puzzled by the enigmatic motives behind his lord's command but wisely refrained from probing further. He promptly departed to deliver the instructions to the village guards.
The villagers, unaware of the threat, went about their daily lives, but the man in the study knew that a shadow was looming close and was about to descend upon their peaceful existence, even though he did not know what to expect, he was determined to protect his community from the encroaching storm of uncertainty.
***
As Ethan and Sven forged ahead through the dense forest, they soon encountered an unforeseen twist of fate that would tip the scales against them. The relentless pursuit of the wolf pack persisted, their relentless determination to make the two travelers their prey unyielding.
"Push through!" urged Ethan.
"I'm aware! No need to remind me. Concentrate on diverting them!" Sven replied, his voice tinged with frustration as he tried his best to stir the horse.
"Damn it! Can't you see I've been doing just that? They're coming from every damn direction! I can't handle this many of them!" Ethan exclaimed, his eyes frantically scanning the dense woods for a way out.
Throughout their journey, they had encountered no difficulties, but it seemed as though fate conspired against their intervention. A relentless pack of wolves pursued them, viewing the horse and its two human passengers as a tempting banquet.
As the relentless pack of wolves closed in, Sven and Ethan desperately brainstormed a plan.
Sven whispered to Ethan, "Ethan, we should seek higher ground. Wolves have a tough time on steep terrain. Those rocky cliffs to the east seem like our best bet."
Ethan, his concern now for the borrowed horse they rode, retorted, "Are you seriously suggesting that? Horses struggle on steep ground too. You're not thinking of sacrificing the horse we borrowed, are you? No way! Let's find a solution that doesn't involve sacrificing the horse," Ethan urged, determined to preserve every life.
As the wolves closed in, Ethan racked his brain for an alternative plan. In a moment of inspiration, his eyes lit up.
"I've got it!" Sven's curiosity piqued as he asked, "How?"
"It's going to take a while to explain, so brace yourself for a change in our course of action!"
With a spark of inspiration, Ethan tapped into his knowledge of weather. He hatched a plan involving the fascinating concept of cloud seeding. Using his water magic, he swiftly lowered the temperature, causing water molecules to crystallize into ice. He then began shaping an artificial cloud, manipulating the humidity around him to create the perfect atmosphere. These ice crystals became the building blocks of his plan, growing in size and density within the cloud, ultimately inducing precipitation.
As Ethan's plan began to materialize, a formation of water droplets coalesced, enveloping them in a thick mist.
"A mist?" Sven uttered in bewilderment as the sudden fog swirled before them.
"The mist will refract light and distort vision, making it hard for the wolves to track us." Ethan explained. "I'll maintain it until we're out of their sight. So, when the mist thickens completely, we'll change our course."
Sven, still perplexed, questioned, "You created the mist? How?"
"That's not our concern at the moment," Ethan responded urgently. "Did you hear what I said? Change course!"
"Alter our course? If we do that, we might lose our way and waste precious hours retracing our steps! Are you willing to take that risk?"
Gradually, the atmosphere around them transformed. The air grew cooler, and ethereal particles danced on the breeze. As these particles interacted with the changing conditions, they initiated the formation of tiny water droplets, creating a dense mist that thickened with each passing moment.
Ethan's voice carried a sense of determination as he replied, "Of course not! But right now, it's our only option."
"Fine."
Enveloped in the dense mist, the pursuing wolf pack found themselves disoriented and slowed down, their senses compromised by the altered visibility. Nevertheless, they continued to run forward, their relentless pursuit undeterred.
"Now!" Ethan's command pierced the tension in the air, prompting Sven to swiftly guide the horse to the left, veering them away from the oncoming pack of wolves.
"We must maintain this mist until we're well out of their reach," Sven urged, his eyes fixed on the vanishing figures of the predators.
Ethan nodded in agreement, his concentration unwavering as he sustained the magical conditions that shrouded them in mist. The growls and howls of the pursuing wolves gradually faded into distant echoes, a testament to their successful escape.
As they finally allowed the mist to disperse, Ethan and Sven exchanged a moment of satisfaction.
"We should remember this approach for the future," Sven suggested, a hint of eagerness in his voice. "It's a remarkable way to evade danger. You should teach it to me."
Ethan offered a reassuring smile. "I'll consider it, If we make it out of here safe and sound of course.
With the wolf encounter now behind them, they continued their journey, fully aware that the path ahead was fraught with potential dangers in the untamed wilderness as well as the chance of their untimely arrival.
Time remaining: 1 Day.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone