Zane had not been lying about going to the Ironveil castle. Although he wasn't going there to see Lyra, instead, he is going there to meet someone. This someone is really useful to Zane, as he is the key for him to be able to go in Dreadwood Forest.
The Dreadwood Forest, was a forest that was apart from the kingdom of Ashveil. Although many people tend to avoid it due to the amount of monsters lurking deep in the woods.
Zane was currently in the academy. If only, he could ride a horse, maybe he wouldn't need to go to the Ironveil as he could just go to the Dreadwood Forest by himself. But, he didn't, so he had to do this. Actually, maybe not. Even if he was capable of riding a horse, Dreadwood Forest was well guarded by the knights, preventing people from getting through the forest. Except for the hunters, ofcourse.
And only that 'someone' knew how to get there without getting caught by the knights.
'Hmm, the Ironveil castle is too far from here. It would take me an hour to get there by foot.'
Zane thought for a while. He thought of walking there by foot, but decided against it as it would take too long. Plus, transportation fees doesn't cost much for someone like him anyways. He just wanted to walk there by foot, as a way of exercise, because he skipped his work out earlier. But he didn't want to tire himself out before he fought a bunch of monsters later.
Zane earlier was wearing a leathered coat, it was an enchanted coat that gives the wearer better defenses and also more flexibility. Well, not just his leathered clothes but his entire outfit was technically enchanted. He just took out his coat for now, because he thought he looked too flashy. He planned on wearing it later when he arrived at The Dreadwood Forest.
Zane right now was wearing casual looking clothes. Although his clothes looked average, it was enchanted with better defenses and agility.
Zane headed towards the exit of the academy. While Velrath was just right behind him, following him. For some reason Zane could feel that he was excited about something.
After Zane left the academy, he then looked from left to right, scanning his surroundings. He stood there for a while, until finally, he could see an old man. The reason why the old man had caught Zane's attention was because the old man had a carriage with him.
Zane stared at him for a moment, he then approached him.
"Excuse me, can you take me to Ironveil?"
Getting the old man's attention, the old man who was sitting inside his wooden carriage looked beside him. There he could see a young man with jet-black hair and deep brown eyes. He also looked quite handsome.
The old man stared at him for a while, he then said.
"Sorry young man, Ironveil is off limit for someone like me. Unless you are invited, only you can get in."
Right after the old man said those words, Zane dropped a bag of coin in his wooden carriage. There were so much coins inside the small bag that it looked like it was going to explode.
The old man's eyes widened, as well as his mouth. He gazed at the bag of coins for a moment, he then gulped hardly.
"Just trust me old man, I don't need invitations."
The old man shifted his gaze on the young man with jet-black hair and deep brown eyes. His eyes widened even more from shock. For a second, he almost couldn't breath.
"Y-you are!"
He paused for a while with his eyes and mouth wide.
"Come in, I'll take you there."
A smile appeared on Zane's face. He then said with a relaxed tone.
"Thank you."
The old man went out of his carriage and went in the front sit, Infront of him was his horse. After the old man change seats, Zane went inside the carriage. Velrath also sat down beside him.
They then started to get moving, heading to Ironveil castle.
The reason why Zane didn't just ask the old man to directly go to the Dreadwood Forest, was because it was off limits to people like him. Well, it was off limits to everyone. Not only that but no one would want to go there anyways, so Zane didn't even bother asking him to take there.
...
Sooner after, they finally arrived. Zane stood before the Ironveil castle. Infront of him was a large rusted gate. Velrath was just beside him, for some reason he looked unwell.
[Man, this place gives me creeps.]
Zane raised an eyebrow, he then stared at Velrath.
[Isn't this a place where ghost are usually seen? Why are getting creeped out?]
Velrath's face turned somber, he then said.
[...Oh, right. I am ghost now... Man why do I keep forgetting that?]
Hearing Velrath's words, Zane sighed. He then focused on the large rusted gate in front of him. There were no knights, guarding the gate, since they are usually just inside the castle. Zane didn't really plan on going inside the castle, infact he didn't plan on meeting anyone at all. He just wanted to meet one person.
The Ironveil was large, and old. It also looked haunted as well. It was slightly dark, but it would have been really dark if there were no torches outside the castle.
Zane then started walking, heading to a certain place. He didn't go inside the castle instead he walked away from the castle, heading deeper into the pathway outside of the castle.
"There is only one driver in the Ironveil castle, he was also the person who had taken me into the acadamy."
The reason why Zane wanted to approach him, was because he wanted to ask him to take him in Dreadwood Forest. The reason why Zane had wanted him to personally take him in Dreadwood Forest was because it wasn't as simple as just going in the academy.
The Dreadwood Forest was off limits and you would easily get caught going in there. But this driver was no ordinary driver, it might not look like it but he knew the kingdom's structure better than most people, meaning he knew how to sneak in the Dreadwood Forest, without getting caught by the knights.
The only reason why he was in Ironveil was because of his criminal records. He used to be an assassin, going all around the entire kingdom, which is why he personally knew the structure of the kingdom better than anyone.
[Who is exactly is this person, Zane?]
[Well, you'll know when you meet him.]
Without wasting anymore time, Zane headed towards where the man was. He walked for a while, walking even deeper in the pathway before him. Then as he kept going he saw a wooden carriage, with a man wiping off the dusts on his carriage.
The man had black hair and had many scars on his face, he also had a muscular build. One glance at him and people would immediately think he was a merceless killer.
As Zane got closer to the man with mascular build, the man suddenly looked behind him, with malice in his eyes. As he gazed at the young boy behind him, his gaze became softer.
"Ah, young master. Wait, what are you doing here, young master?"
Zane paused for a while before speaking, he then said.
"Uh, can you do me a favor, Ronin?"
Ronin's face became confused. He then said with a wondering tone.
"Oh? What is it?"
Zane paused for a moment, once again. He then said.
"Well, it's just that I want you to take me in Dreadwood Forest."
Ronin stared at Zane blankly for a moment, he then said with a surprised tone.
"H-hold on, young master. Sorry, I don't think I can take you there, did you come here just for that? And why do you even want to go there anyways?"
Zane sighed, he then said.
"...Well, look. It might sound like I'm joking, but really, I am not. I want to go there to become stronger."
Ronin looked at him dumbfounded, he could hardly say anything at all. After staring at Zane for a moment, he said.
"Look young master, I know you are desperate in becoming stronger, but, we shouldn't go over with our limits. You can actually die this time, young master."
Zane expected this, which is why he prepared something. Zane looked beside him, staring at the large tree. Then, in a matter of seconds, lightning started appearing all over his body, going into his right hand. Suddenly, a lightning spear appeared on his right hand. He then shot it at the large tree.
The lightning spear shotted through the large tree, at a speed that even someone like Ronin, a former assassin can hardly see.
This spell was a spell that personally came from Velrath. Zane learned it pretty fast, since it has the same mana control as the lightning rope, which Zane had learned through memory transplant. Normally, it would take weeks to learn a magic spell like this, but with Velrath's guidance he was able to learn it in just 2 days.
Just like the lightning rope, Zane could control its speed and projectile.
[Not bad, but still needs improvements. Still you really did that without your wand? Your mana control had gotten better!]
Ronin became even more dumbfounded, he stared at Zane with his eyes wide, and his mouth slightly wide, as well.
"Y-young master... how did you do that?!"