With Elara by his side, Ren began to prepare for the quest. They gathered supplies, studied ancient maps, and practiced their magic. Ren focused on honing his spore's sensing abilities, learning to track the faintest traces of magical energy. Elara honed her healing skills, mastering ancient techniques that could mend even the most grievous wounds.
They knew that their first task was to find someone who knew the location of the artifact. The texts hinted at the existence of a reclusive mage, an outcast who had been exiled from the Academy for possessing forbidden knowledge. This mage was rumored to live in a remote and dangerous part of the world, a place shrouded in mystery and danger.
Ren and Elara decided to seek out this exiled mage. They knew that he was their only hope of finding the artifact and stopping the Rot. They packed their bags, said their farewells to the few friends they had made at the Academy, and set off on their journey.
As they left the Academy behind, Ren looked back at the towering spires and ancient stone walls. He knew that he was leaving behind a place of learning and tradition, but he was also stepping into his destiny. He was no longer just a student, a misfit with a strange bonded beast. He was a Spore Sage, a wielder of hidden power, a seeker of forbidden knowledge, and the last hope of a world teetering on the brink of destruction.