TING TTING TING
The soft chi of an instrunt Hades couldn’t na filled the carriage as it soared a hundred feet above the ground, carrying them toward their destination.
The occasional sound of the dragon’s wings flapping and the warmth beneath his butt kept reminding him that this was not an airship.
He was among strangers. Each had their own path, but for now, their road was the sa.
The place he needed to find Alzar lay near a town called Tamind, within Argon’s jurisdiction.
Emberclad was far to the west, and Aethernox stretched in the southeast, so reaching his target would take ti. Even more so since this realm was still unfamiliar to him. If not for that, he might have arrived already. But now, two days had passed, and he was still—
"How long did you say?"
"Another day, maybe," soone replied.
...yes, another day away.
The man beside him, much like Hades, wore plain brown fabric, more rag than shroud.
Hades had chosen not to wear what his mother prepared. If he had, it would’ve scread that a noble was on a covert mission—which would have been anything but covert.
He had done missions like this before, where keeping a low profile mattered. As a new adventurer, he had even taken jobs chasing thieves more than once.
So yes, he knew how to ensure success.
"Your presence is pathetically weak for soone traveling alone," the man—Brad, he’d introduced himself earlier—scoffed after giving Hades a long look. "And you look young too."
Hades offered a sheepish smile. "Responsibilities don’t ask one’s age or strength. A man must do what he must."
"Heh~" Brad smirked. "Sounds like so old man’s debt, eh? Young ones always end up payin’ for the sins their parents leave behind."
Hades only smiled, letting him believe what he liked.
Brad leaned in a little. "You know soone in Tamind?"
Hades shook his head. "Ah, no. I’m going there to find work." He wasn’t foolish enough to spin lies here—the man seed like a local. Not just from his easy talk with the dragon rider, but also the way other passengers exchanged familiar nods with him. Brad was clearly a regular traveler.
So Hades chose caution.
"Work in Tamind, huh? That’s hunter land. What about you, boy? Got any real experience—ahh, never mind." Brad’s eyes dropped to Hades’s hands, rough with calluses and marked by scars, the kind only earned through life-and-death fights.
Despite his youth, the boy was full of surprises.
Brad leaned back, adding with a grin, "I know a few folk who can get ya into the Hunter’s hub. You know what those places are, don’t ya?"
Hades nodded, "Ah, yes. And thank you for the offer, but I don’t like to take favors from people I can’t repay."
Brad chortled, "Favors? Who said I’m doin’ this for free, lad? You’ll pay for this trip, then I’ll bring ya to the man who can open the door for ya at the guild."
Hades gave a wry smile, his hand brushing over his pouch as if weighing the coins inside. "For the transportation... isn’t that a bit much?"
Brad blew out a sigh, scratching his chin. "Alright then, a al? How about that?"
Hades’s face brightened instantly. "Yes, sure. Thank you."
Brad shook his head with a faint chuckle. Truth was, he usually didn’t charge so little for helping strangers. His side hustle was guiding greenhorns around Tamind, and it always brought in coin.
But when he looked at Hades, he couldn’t help but see a shadow of his younger self.
Man... who’d have thought I’d be makin’ exceptions like this...
°°°°°
Luna’s chest rose and fell as she sat under a tree. Her body ached, and fatigue weighed on her, but she refused to close her eyes.
She wanted to watch Peri’s training and learn whatever she could.
The elf stood in the clearing, a thick band wrapped around her eyes to block her sight.
Avalin was hidden sowhere in the forest.
A beat of silence—then three arrows shot out. One from the left, one aid straight at Peri’s forehead, and one from behind. Each ca at a different height, each with a different speed.
The one from behind was the fastest.
Peri’s feet slid across the damp soil, leaving a mark as she bent so low her face nearly brushed the ground. Her movent was smooth, without the slightest stiffness.
The first arrow cut past her. The second, from the left, suddenly curved and shot down toward her ankle.
Peri smirked and flipped into a cartwheel, sailing over it with ease.
The third arrow also curved, picking up speed mid-flight and streaking straight for her abdon while she was still in the air.
Luna gasped. Those arrows had enough power to split a tree clean in two.
Peri! she scread inside.
But her fear was wasted.
Peri clenched her fists, and four crimson claws burst from her knuckles. While still airborne, she slashed.
CRUMBLE
Thud
She landed lightly on her feet as the arrow shattered into pieces, its force gone.
No ti to rest.
Another volley of arrows whistled out of the trees—five this ti, all from different angles.
Peri twisted, dropping to her knees as one arrow skimd past her cheek, leaving a shallow cut. She didn’t flinch.
Two more ca at her chest. She crossed her claws and slashed, splitting them into splinters.
Another arrow scread toward her side. She rolled, the shaft grazing her ribs and tearing her shirt. Blood welled, but she kept moving.
The last arrow dived straight down from above. Peri kicked off the ground, snatching a low branch, and swung herself aside just as it buried into the soil with a heavy thunk.
More followed.
She grabbed a loose stone and flung it—crack!—it struck one arrow midair, throwing it off course.
Another arrow curved again, faster this ti. Peri slid behind a tree, letting the bark take the hit before springing out the other side. Her claws flashed as she cut through two more in a single sweep.
Her breath grew heavier, but her steps didn’t falter.
The forest beca her shield, her partner. She ducked under branches, kicked off roots, and spun around trunks, forcing the arrows to lose their straight paths. Each move was sharp and desperate..
A shallow wound opened across her thigh, another across her shoulder, but she never stopped.
....
After twenty minutes of relentless assault, the arrows finally stopped, leaving Peri gasping and wounded.
"It’s over," Avalin said.
At those words, Peri let out a long sigh and dropped to her knees.
Luna rushed toward the blond elf, panic flashing across her face.
"Hey, are you okay? Talk to ," Luna urged as she pulled the cloth from Peri’s eyes and began healing her bleeding wounds.
Peri t Luna’s gaze, a grin spreading across her lips. "I passed..." she groaned, then laughed weakly, "I finally did it!"
For more than seven days, she had been failing at the task her mother had spent years training her for.
Her ability to sense mana was among the best, yet she had struggled every single day to track the mana-infused arrows.
But today... today, she finally succeeded.
Soon, a familiar maid stepped toward them. Her eyes held the sa cold detachnt, even though Peri’s success was nothing short of remarkable.
"You did well," Avalin said flatly. "But until you can avoid even those minor wounds, we’ll continue this exercise."
Peri’s brows drew together, and Avalin caught the change at once.
"What?" the maid asked. "Do you have a problem?" She assud Peri wanted the training eased or maybe changed?
Instead, Peri’s voice ca firm. "I want you to raise the difficulty. Unless I face the real weight of pushing my limits, I’ll never improve."
Avalin scoffed. "And those wounds aren’t enough?"
Peri glanced down at herself. Her body was covered in scratches and shallow cuts.
But she shook her head. "This doesn’t feel like much—because I know Luna will heal . But do you know what she can’t heal?" She lifted her gaze back to Avalin. "A corpse."
Avalin’s expression barely shifted, yet her tone sharpened. "Do you understand what you’re asking of ?"
Without hesitation, Peri answered, "Yes. I do." She let out a heavy sigh before adding, "If I want to beco strong enough to help him, I need to break out of my shell and face the dangers this world holds."
Then she pointed straight at Avalin. "And you... are the first danger I choose to face."
Avalin held Peri’s gaze for a few long seconds before finally nodding. "Understood. Starting tomorrow, you’ll train twice a day. I’ll also assign soone to teach you combat."
Peri only nodded in reply, silent but resolute.
Without another word, Avalin turned and walked away, leaving the two girls behind.
The sky was still bright above, and since they were on the forest’s outer ring, the dangers here were manageable enough for the pair.
Luna couldn’t help but sigh in admiration, "You are too cool, Peri."
The elf groaned, "Well, I tried to act tough but it hurts."
Luna giggled before helping her to the feet as the duo started walking back to the castle.
°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading. Sorry, a single Chapter today.
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