Waking up from a much more restful sleep, Lumian decided to use the back of the basilisk as a temporary mount, despite it feeling relatively uncomfortable, to preserve as much energy as he can from walking. This way it was also faster to travel like this as well ensuring that he can leave the forest much sooner.
The forest scenery over time started to change from a desolate eerie atmosphere into a much more calming natural forest teeming with various wildlife if not for the obvious magical beast territories that form some of the forests barriers. However, these magical beasts proved to be ideal hunting practice partners for Lumian to develop his skills and keeping his abilities sharp.
Over time, Lumian was able develop his skills to the point where he originally intended, for him to be able to see and hear through all of his original scout like shadows in the beginning, allowing for a larger field of view in his surroundings from above, below, and all four cardinal directions ensuring that he is always in a position where he can see without being blindsided in a fight. Of course, he also decided that there could also be a potential situation where he will be unable to use his shadows or that using the shadows could be harmful thus, for some of the hunts, Lumian fought by himself without the shadows.
These fights often led to some variable cuts or scratches that he disinfects and bandages but the more often he did this, the more often that he avoids potential damage further developing that keen sixth sense for danger and hostility.
As he journeyed further, Lumian found a small lake glistening within the sun’s rays creating a beautifully picturesque scene with butterflies of a variety of colours flapping their wings, landing every so often on some flowers that were hidden away. Looks like this is a perfect time to clean myself from not being to find any sources of water over the past two weeks. Coming to this conclusion, Lumian undressed and got into the lake washing all over, especially the small cuts from to make sure that they do not get infected and redo their bandages.
While Lumian was getting washed, he heard rustling sounds coming from the left of him as a large beast of about five feet tall came trudging through the forest. It was brown furred with black beady eyes and hooves by the ends of its quadrupedal legs and as it got closer, massive white bone antlers protruded from its head widening to the sides. It seemed to be a large elk that came to the edges of the lake leaning down to drink from its water.
Lumian spent a while in shock looking at the majesty of the beast a mere few feet away from him before shaking his head and blinking his eyes to get out of his mesmerisation and ordered the nearby basilisk to attack the elk quickly before it decided to escape. This can be used as a perfect mount to get out of here fast! I must get it.
Once Lumian made this decision, the elk sensed malice coming from Lumian thus got up and started to flee, but I was too late as the basilisk has already arrived and bit into it as the other basilisk was summoned along with Mae the fox to attack simultaneously preventing the elk from escaping.
Phew. Lumian let out a breath of air as the elk fell down bleeding from the wounds and slightly charred. Seeing the wispy smoke coming from the corpse, he extended his hand out and said "Transcend" in an enigmatic tone to his voice knowing full well that it was just him playing around to set the tone for the future.
In the place of the smoky area a large black elk stood with purple flaming antlers jutting out creating an impactful and intimidating appearance full of majesty. Leaving it there for the time being, Lumian finished washing himself, drying and putting back on his clothes thinking that when he gets to civilisation he may need to shop for some as only wearing the robe after a long time is going to stink.
Hopping onto the back of the elk, Lumian commanded it to run as he got his other shadows to return except for Aethon to use as a scout ahead. Meanwhile, the elk galloped at a frenzied pace making him bounce up and down on the elk slightly chafing his crotch against it. Oof, I may need to get a saddle soon to prevent this from happening.
After a few hours the forest trees eventually made way for a large clearing where there is nothing but grassy plains and hills as far as the eye can see yet, there was an inconspicuous, just barely visible path overgrown in weeds that seemed to develop into a proper pathway leading North.
At least I'm out of the forest and there's a change in scenery... I guess I'll just follow the path until I reach civilization? making headway, Lumian continued his journey leading to dusk yet the clouds started to become dark threatening rain to pour. "Shit, I don't have any cover." Exclaiming, Lumian pulled up the hood of his robe as soon as drizzle turned into an outpour.
After several hours in the cold wet drenching rain, Lumian through Aethon's eyes finally saw the outline of what looked to be buildings in the distance despite it being dark out where there seemed to be some level of lighting, perhaps torches barely made out in the distance. Let’s hope that I'm welcome at this time otherwise I don't know what I’ll do.
Faster. Commanding the elk mount under him, it went from merely galloping to a full-blown sprint in the building’s direction and Lumian believed that since necromancers were seen as evil beings, he thought it best to hide his summons in his shadow just out of eyeshot to prevent any extra unwarranted attention it may cause.