The butler's trembling voice echoed in the silent, gloomy expanse of the flooded forest. He pointed ahead, where faint light filtered through the dense canopy, illuminating a hazy figure bound tightly to the trunk of a gnarled ancient tree.

"Shh!" Rober put a finger to his lips, signaling both Viscount Calos and the butler to remain silent. He lowered his voice, whispering just loud enough for the other two to hear: 

"It is indeed a soul. But it's not alone. That soul is bound to the tree. It seems someone is behind this incident."

Rober's eyes sharpened, filled with vigilance. He knew they were no longer alone in this forest. Someone had deliberately captured the soul of at least one child, and perhaps, they were still lurking somewhere nearby.

Rober carefully raised a hand, covering his left eye, the one enhanced by the "Yin-Yang Eye" spell. He focused his magical energy into his remaining right eye. He uttered no incantation, but the pupil of his right eye suddenly dilated, then rapidly constricted, emitting a faint red glow, almost like the color of embers.

Instantly, Rober's vision shifted once more. The world around him, seen through his right eye, was no longer composed of ethereal soul-forms or natural colors. Instead, it was a tapestry of thermal images, displaying varying hues representing the temperatures of surrounding objects and creatures. It was like a modern thermal scanner, allowing him to perceive the presence of living beings, even if they were hidden in darkness or behind obstacles.

Within this special thermal vision, Rober realized they were not the only three present. Many other "heat sources" were nearby. One large, stationary source leaned against a massive ancient tree directly ahead, not far off. Scattered around it were several smaller heat sources, moving slowly but purposefully.

Rober felt a surge of relief. It seemed their presence hadn't been detected yet. Perhaps they had moved too quietly, or perhaps their adversaries were too complacent, never expecting anyone would dare venture this deep into such a dangerous area.

Rober focused his gaze on the largest heat source leaning against the tree. He tried to analyze, to discern who or what it was. Suddenly, he sensed an incredibly powerful fluctuation of magical energy radiating from that source. An intensely hot, fierce, and potent energy. It was the energy of elemental fire!

Instantly, Rober yelled, his voice urgent with warning: 

"Look out! Move!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a figure shot out from behind the ancient tree, fast as lightning. The figure, enveloped in brilliant, blinding red flames like a giant fireball, hurtled straight towards Rober. The terrifying heat radiating from the flames caused the surrounding water to steam furiously, making the air thick and difficult to breathe.

Rober reacted with extreme speed. He showed no sign of panic or confusion. Calmly, he channeled his magic. In an instant, a massive ice shield, transparent and solid, materialized before him like a sturdy wall of ice.

BOOM!

The frenzied flames slammed into the ice shield, creating a deafening explosion. The fire surged violently, engulfing the shield like a dragon breathing fire onto a colossal iceberg. The incredible heat of the flames clashed with the freezing cold of the ice shield, creating a spectacular but perilous scene. Steam billowed up, obscuring vision. The sizzle of burning fire and the crackling of melting ice blended into a chaotic and piercing cacophony.

Rober gritted his teeth, his feet planted firmly like bedrock, pouring all his strength and magical energy into maintaining the ice shield. He felt the immense pressure from the flames, as if facing the direct fiery breath of a real dragon. The ice shield vibrated violently and small cracks began to appear.

The fiery confrontation lasted for over fifteen seconds, an eternity it seemed. Finally, the flames gradually weakened, then extinguished completely.

Rober let out a sigh of relief, retracting the ice shield. He quickly turned to check on Viscount Calos and the butler. Fortunately, both had managed to dodge aside in time and were unharmed, though their faces were pale with fright.

After ensuring his companions were safe, Rober turned back, scanning the area for his attacker. But the figure had vanished, as if it had never been there. Only an empty space remained, filled with hazy steam and the acrid smell of scorched vegetation.

Suddenly, a biting cold wind, sharp as a knife, whistled past Rober's back. He felt a chilling killing intent closing in from behind, right in his blind spot!

Before Rober could turn or react, the figure that had just appeared unleashed a barrage of dazzling purple lightning bolts, like a shower of electric arrows, engulfing Rober's entire field of vision.

Rober clenched his teeth, desperately trying to channel magic to defend himself. He created an energy shield around his body while simultaneously using Earth elemental magic to raise a small stone wall in front of him.

The lightning bolts continuously struck the energy shield and the stone wall, creating sharp cracking sounds and showering sparks in all directions. The energy shield vibrated violently.

Rober knew his opponent was powerful, much stronger than him. He couldn't hold out for long.

Just then, the figure closed the distance. A cold but strong hand seized his collar, lifting him clean off the watery ground. The attacker's other hand rose high, purple lightning beginning to gather again, growing denser and brighter, preparing for a finishing blow.

At that exact moment, a trembling, yet surprised voice cried out from behind: 

"Madam... Madam Marry?"

It was the voice of Viscount Calos.

The hand preparing to launch the attack froze mid-air. Amber eyes turned towards Viscount Calos.

"Huh?" A slightly surprised and confused voice sounded. "Is that you, Viscount Calos?"

That voice... Rober recognized it immediately. It was Kalis Marry's voice!

He let out a huge sigh of relief, feeling as though he had just escaped death's door.

Kalis Marry, still gripping Rober's collar tightly, pulled him closer, asking "So, this person is...?" She narrowed her eyes, bringing her face close to Rober's, trying to see clearly in the dim forest light.

Then, she suddenly burst into laughter, a clear, hearty peal. 

"Ha ha ha! So it was you, Rober? You scared me half to death!"

She released Rober, then quickly explained "My apologies, Rober. It's too dark in here, and I was still affected by your 'Yin-Yang Eye' spell, so I couldn't see clearly. I thought it was some villain lying in ambush, so I might have reacted a bit forcefully."

Rober, after being released, adjusted his crumpled clothes, his waistcoat was wrinkled, and the collar of his shirt stretched. He looked at Kalis Marry and said, bluntly and perhaps a little reproachfully:

"Madam Marry, I think after we return, you should get your eyes checked and acquire a pair of spectacles."

Kalis Marry looked flustered at this, waving her hands dismissively. 

"No... it's fine. My eyes are perfectly good. It was just your 'Yin-Yang Eye' spell. It affected my vision."

Rober shook his head, refuting her claim "Madam, the 'Yin-Yang Eye' only affects your left eye. Your right eye is perfectly normal. Your inability to see me clearly in this lighting proves your eyesight has weakened. You should accept that fact."

Kalis Marry pouted, replying childishly "No way! Glasses are ugly! I don't like them!"

Rober maintained a serious expression. "Madam, you are not permitted to refuse. I don't want you accidentally unleashing your magic on some innocent person someday simply because you couldn't see clearly."

Kalis tried to bargain: 

"Well... well, next time, I'll be more careful. I promise!"

Rober was resolute: 

"If you wore glasses, there wouldn't need to be a 'next time'."