After being guided inside, Iris was now sitting on the soft sofa that devoured her butt. She looked around the lavish white place with many aesthetic wooden decorations and adorned with luxurious ornaments.
"Sorry for the wait!".
"...Thank you".
A maid named Irena came toward their table, placing three cups of steaming tea toward her, along with the two parents of the boy who sat opposite her.
The only thing that still divided them apart was the appearance of a wooden table that saved her from the terrifying glare of the lord's wife.
"So, Mrs. Iris, am I right?".
"Yes…?".
A calm yet heavy tone from the man whose face resembled Jin's echoed within the place as it seeped to her bones. Iris managed to hold her trembling body while staring straight at the man's face.
"Can you please elaborate on what actually happened?".
"Okay, first of all…".
Iris began to recap all the events that had transpired that day until the incident at Trial Dungeon happened.
Both Ryan and Marina were knitting their brows in worry upon hearing that Jin was stepping his foot into the Dark forest, but they soon stumbled upon an unfamiliar item named a dungeon key.
Ryan and Marina rack their brains, trying to recall the item that has been mentioned, but whatever it is, they have never heard or seen the item.
"Then, I presume the gate was still there?". Ryan opened his mouth and looked toward Iris in inquiry.
"Yes, I can act as your guide to reach it. Besides, the moment that gate appeared, the surrounding area became a sanctuary devoid of any harmful beast or monster".
The more the parents heard it, the more curious they became. Ryan glanced at his wife on the side and saw her nod her head strongly. He looked toward another place and watched Irena, who understood everything, nod her head and step aside to prepare everything for the trip.
"Alright, please guide us there. I'm sorry, but there are still many things I must do, so Marina, can you go ahead and wait for me tomorrow!".
"Of course!".
"Then, can you please take care of my daughter here when I am away!".Iris shot right from her seat and bowed.
"Alright, I will do so!".
Ryan gave his approval and then rushed them to hurry with the departures, afraid that maybe Jin had come out from the gate. They began to leave the mansion with Marina's help guiding her along the house. A chill wind from late autumn pierced her skin; it made her tremble.
In front of her, there is a huge gaping hole from the explosion that occurred a few minutes ago because Marina lost her cool after hearing her son was in danger.
Both of them kept their mouths silent until they arrived at the front door, and Irena had changed into her adventure gear, wearing a white robe that covered her priest outfit inside.
"Irena. is everything ready?".
"Yes, you can count on me, Marina". At this time, Irena returns from calling Marina madam by her own name, just like they did in adventuring time.
Iris saw Marina, who suddenly undressed before her and revealed only her black underwear that looked sexy and mature. The lord's wife hurriedly changed into wearing her red battle outfit with red and robed with golden embodiment.
"Let's go, woman, show me the way!". Marina put on her witch hat while glancing at Iris with blazing eyes.
Iris's body shuddered after receiving the glare; she could feel the prickling sting from the heat stung her entire body, and the hot air burning her throat dry came from the aura that leaked from the woman.
'She is strong!'. Iris gulped her saliva, opened the door, and began to dash away, followed by the other two.
They bypassed the guard outside, who had been informed of the departures. The guards gave their salutes toward the lord's wife and hurriedly closed the gate shut after seeing them go toward the town.
Hurried footsteps echoed within the desolate place as the three women hastened their pace and eventually arrived at the central town. The place was a bit crowded for the adventurers, who were still roaming around to relieve their stress.
As they arrived at the east gate, the guard there stood in the path to block their advance.
"Stop, the gate has been shut…".
"Let us pass".
Irena took a document from her storage and passed it toward the guard, who looked at it with bloated eyes that were almost popping out from their sockets.
"Very well, but please pass through the small door so that it will not attract unnecessary attention!".
"Thank you".
The guard hurriedly informs the others that the lord's wife is in a hurry to pass the gate, so they have to open the door on the side used by the knight guards.
Iris and the others were invited inside the guards' place, where the guards were busy pushing open the heavy stone door to give a clear path for their madam to pass.
"Come, one, two, three, pushed!".
All the available guards pushed the heavy marble from its place. Slowly, as the rumbling on the ground intensified, light entered the room. It came from the moonlight that softly cascaded to the land.
"Thank you everyone!".
Marina expressed her appreciation, and Iris resumed her role as guide. She brought Marina and Irena into the darkened forest. The rustling sound of grass being stomped attracted the whispering darkness that lurked around the shadows.
However, as they dived further, the three found themselves enveloped in a comfortable sense of security and feeling nothing harm despite entering the forest at night.
"How much further?".
"A little bit, we will arrive".
The calming energy kept getting stronger as they entered deep into the forest until they saw a golden gate with an intricate design and unread text standing in front of the empty cave.
"We have arrived!" Iris turned her head and saw Marina slow down her pace and stare at the standing door with observant eyes.
"Stand back!".
Without any warning from her, Marina stepped forward, pointed her staff to the gate and began to focus her mana, creating a huge spell that swallowed the entire area.
"Prominence!".
A sun hovered above them, shining light on the darkened night, announcing its retaliation to the moon above.
"Marina, don't act rashly." Irena shouted from behind but was stopped by Iris, who understood how potent the magic was.
The sun sank down further, trying to engulf the door, but the magic dissipated upon making contact with something invisible, spreading a fire trail to the atmosphere.
"What?! " Marina opened her eyes wide in horror. This was the first time her magic activation had been cancelled, yet no harm had befallen her body.
"Marina, you okay?". Irena rushed toward her side, worried about the rebound.
"...Yeah, nothing happened to me. But, what was that?".
"I don't know".
"That was the barrier that currently surrounded almost the east forest". Iris, who came from behind, explained.
"Barrier?!". Marina began to close her eyes and feel the mana surrounding her.
It was exactly as Iris had said. A huge dome-shaped barrier had been erected in the surrounding area, covering almost the entire forest area.
Marina opened her eyes and glanced at the other; she hesitated for a moment before walking away to approach the gate.
[Trial of Gods has Begun]
"Trial of Gods?!".
When Marina touched the sleek surface of the door, a translucent panel appeared. On her side, Irena was baffled to see the letters with grand names.
"What should we do, Marina?".
"Let's build a camp here! Are you coming with us, Elf girl?".
"Yes, thank you for your consideration…?!". Iris' body jolted upon hearing that her identity had been revealed bare before her eyes.
With a trembling body, Iris squeezed the words from her lips and said. "...How are you?".
"Don't underestimate me, Girl". Marina's glare is enough to freeze even hell, although she herself is a flame user.
The forest was silent, whispering only an awkward hum that permeated between the three women, waiting for Marina's action. Irena sighed as she walked past the two and opened her mouth.
"How about we have some snacks first".
*****
The curtain of night had opened its shine, and now the time for the line was bathed by the sun's mercy. Its warm light permeated Mother Earth, giving the world a new light to start a new day.
Marina, Irena, and Iris eventually didn't take a rest, as they constantly stayed awake. Irena prepares some breakfast while Marina and Iris are shrouded in an awkward silence ever since the talk last night.
With a dark circle under her eyes, Marina stood awake the entire time until the sun had shifted above her, and the world was blinded by the light that spilt from the gate. Tension rose as her aura suddenly spiked up and alerted the two others behind.
"The gate is?!". She shot upward and straightened her hunched back.
Iris and Irena, who were preparing lunch, flinched and dashed to Marina's side, witnessing the gate suddenly shine in golden light.
The bright light filled the entire place; even the women had to close their eyes. But after the light dimmed, they slowly opened their eyes and saw the figure of Jin, who stared into an empty space and noticed their appearance.
"Oh, Mother? There is Irena and Iris too…".
Jin's words slowly get smaller at the end, and his body falls to the ground, unconscious.
"Jin?!". Marina's shout opened the tale of the returnee boy, who reached an unprecedented state yet had no awareness of it all.