As Ang sensed the water elements in the air, he could not help feeling curious about his mentor Nicholas's delight. As a mage specializing in fire-element magic, Nicholas should not have particularly liked such a damp environment. Fire and water were supposed to be opposing elements, yet Nicholas seemed genuinely pleased at this moment, as though the rainforest held mysteries he could not wait to study.
After disembarking from the airship, everyone had finally reached the end of the tedious journey. Though their days aboard the airship had been filled with anticipation, the long voyage had gradually turned their excitement into boredom, and some had even begun longing for activities on solid ground. As the southern gateway to the Santa Cruz Rainforest, Aktoobe was a bustling and prosperous city. Its streets teemed with adventurers, merchants, and mages from all over. The dense crowds filled the city with life and clamor.
Ang looked around and noticed that the buildings here were completely different from those in northern cities. Most were constructed from a mixture of wood and stone, clearly meant to withstand the rainforest's damp climate. Shops lined the streets, especially those related to magic. There were herb shops, magic item stores, and even markets specializing in magical beast materials. As a paradise for adventurers, Aktoobe drew countless people seeking opportunities and wealth.
The Santa Cruz Rainforest not only produced all kinds of precious magical herbs; nearly every herb available on the market could be found here, except for special varieties that could only survive in extreme environments. But Ang also knew that every gathering expedition in the rainforest was an adventure. It was not only filled with dense magical elements, but also inhabited by all manner of powerful magical beasts. Those beasts made gathering dangerous and filled the rainforest with