Outside Druid Academy lay vast stretches of forest, though there were boundaries. Generally speaking, four kilometers out marked the range of Thorn Forest.
A great number of Druids surrounded them as they walked forward.
Once they left the main road, the trees around them gradually grew denser. Sunlight cast layers of deep and shallow shadows through the canopy.
The farther inward they went, the harder it became for sunlight to pierce the branches and leaves. Flecks of light like shattered gold scattered across the ground, while the cries of birds and beasts from deep within the forest brought not safety, but made one's hair stand on end.
At the very front was, of course, Romon. At last, he stopped.
Romon surveyed the surroundings. Trees stood all around, while in the middle lay a rare open clearing in the woods.
The clearing was nearly one square kilometer in size—more than enough for a dueling ground.
"Plant the Sacred Oaks!" Romon ordered.
"Yes, sir!" A crowd of Druids surged forward. First came four century-old oaks over twenty meters tall, beautiful in shape, their crowns like towers.
They were planted at the four corners.
"Any Druid above Fifteenth Level will not be permitted to duel."
"Any Druid above Eleventh Level may swear upon these century-old oaks and duel!" Romon said coldly.
Across from them stood a middle-aged Druid, quietly waiting on the grass as he watched everything unfold.
This man was Anji. He had clashed with John from Romon's Guild and had therefore applied for a duel.
Both were Level-Four Druids, so they met the rules.
The four oaks had been planted. Next came Water of Nature created by the Druids, poured over them to allow the transplanted trees to quickly regain their vitality.
"Plant oaks over fifty years old!" Romon ordered. "Any