She pushed on having a near miss with the troll before leaving the trail. This is where it got tricky at least with the fog she had the luxury to know what direction she was heading in. Now it was too easy to get turned around and not head due west. In fact there were a few times she got confused and it was now well beyond the half an hour the hunter said to travel in that direction so she knew she had to be lost.

"Looking for something?" a voice asked from the fog near her position.

''Wh..Who's there! Sh..Show yourself!!'' Upon hearing the voice from behind, Valentine turn back to face the mysterious sound while nervously holding the blade preparing to defend herself.

"Relax, if I meant to harm you I wouldn't have said anything and just struck without alerting you." The voice proclaimed. She couldn't quite see him though could make out his shadowy figure in the mists. He was taller than her, humanoid and didn't appear to be armed. He drew closer until she could make out the details of a middle aged man dressed in hides of animals. His hair was long and black and several bone necklaces were adorned around his neck. Green eyes inspected her.

"What are you looking for?" She could see that he did have a knife on his belt though it was shealthed currently.

''I..um..I'm looking for the sage living in the forest...and..I'm kinda lost now..'' Valentine lowered her blade wandering whether this man will helped her or not. Staring at the man, Valentine still didn't let her guard down. Suspecting he'll assault her at any moment.

"Well, you have found him. You're very lucky you didn't find something else, trolls are common in these parts, as are other things best left unmentioned. Follow me."

He navigated the mists pausing a few times to look at various niche marks he had made in the trees to find his way. Eventually he lead them to an old two room wooden house and let them both in. One served as a kichen/dining room, the other as a bedroom.

On shelves lining the room where various books and there were piles of books litering the room, in fact he had to remove some from a seat before she could sit down. He gestured to the empty seat before sitting down himself.

"Now what brings you here?"

I..I wish to know how to travel to the Shadow, just like how King Oberron does?'' I was told that you would be able to help me.'' Politely she asks for the sage's help, while she scan through the old wooden house. It isn't that big but it should be easy to find, she wonder why did she missed it while she wander around that place.

"Like Oberron? You can't ... fey can move between the worlds but unless a human has magical talent then they can't. Often the fey bloodline must flow through their veins. Why do you ask? You have risked much coming through the dark forest by yourself."

It was obvious that he did not know that she was from the Shadow though he did not her bravery.

Wha...so you mean..I can't? But they say something like I can travel the Shadow and um, I came from there...It's all their saying..I'm not sure if it's true or not..'' Valentine started to feel weird about those who told her about coming from the Shadow. Maybe she just need to continue to believe in what she heard from them.

"You came from the Shadows?" He seemed surprised by her words. "Then you are one of the few that can walk between worlds. Still, if you're asking about it you don't realize how that can be possible or what you can to to get home. Then it makes sense for you to come here."

He paused, considered. "Two koku and I shall retrieve the information for you so you can return to your home in the Shadows."

'' Two koku? What is that? Food?'' She ask for the meaning of koku with a humorous voice. She really didn't know bout koku. ''Koku? Hope it isn't some weird things he wanted for.''

"Currency, the information is not free of course. I still have to make a living but it isn't much," he answered explaining a little because she did not understand being from the Shadow how could she?

"By your response am I correct that you don't have it. It is rather basic currency to. I'll take the quivalent of rin if that is all that you possess."

Actually...I don't have any with me now..maybe...maybe I can owe you the koku first..? I really didn't have any right now..'' Valentine gets a sudden nervous when she realize she didn't have any koku with her, hoping the sage will do it for free. Since sages are kind-hearted in her homeland.

He was silent for a moment, calculating as she spoke. "I'm afraid that won't do. If you get the information you're after what stops you from walking the Shadow knowing that I cannot follow. That cloak you wear is hardly worth anything, you might get a single koku if you sell that sword.

"The forest is dangerous too so it is unlikely that anyone would seek to brave it to pay off a debt of only 2 koku. But looking at you, I can determine something else worth 2 koku that you can do."

''S..something else worth 2 koku I can do? What is it? I..I'll try my best.'' Upon hearing there's something available for her to be done in order to pay the sage, she was overjoyed. Wondering is it some sort of hunting or gathering food supply be the problem, she definitely have confidence in completing the task the sage wish for.

He stepped forward then seizing the cloak she covered herself with and pulling it away. A hand settling on one of her smallish breasts as he gazed at her. "Yes, I imagine that this is worth far more than 2 loosey koku. However, I will take the sword and the application of your lips too if you would prefer paying in that regard."