The morning sun spilled golden light across the rooftops as Kael and Mia stood before the group, the Infernal Pegasus spreading its massive wings behind them. The moment felt still, like time itself was holding its breath.

Kael gave a final nod to the others. "Take care of yourselves." He gazed at Shiera, who simply nodded, forcing out a smile.

Mia waved her hand at others. "Stay safe, Shiera. We'll meet again at her Majesty's birthday event."

Without another word, the two mounted the Pegasus, and with a powerful beat of its wings, it soared into the sky. Shiera watched silently, her hand barely raised in a half-hearted wave.

As the fire beast vanished beyond the clouds, her arm slowly dropped back to her side.

Leiza, who had been watching her closely, folded her arms and gave her a look. "You didn't want him to leave, did you? Be honest."

Shiera didn't answer immediately. Orin turned to her too, curious but gentle.

A quiet sigh escaped her lips. Her voice was soft, almost as if she didn't want to admit it even to herself. "No, I didn't. I didn't want him to go."

There was a pause before she added, more firmly this time… "I don't know if it is because of the flux or if it is something else… but I think I… really developed feelings for him."

Orin's eyes widened in surprise, but it quickly melted into a warm grin. "That's great, isn't it?"

Leiza raised an eyebrow. "Then why didn't you stop him?"

Shiera looked down, her gaze distant. "Because we're from two different worlds."

She looked up again, watching the horizon where Kael had vanished.

"He belongs in the City. Despite those strong monsters on his side, he is a merchant who seeks gold. I… I belong to the wilderness. I chase freedom, battle, and strength. I can't ask him to keep risking his life for my sake."

Her voice wavered just slightly as she continued. "And when I return to the palace, when I finally embrace my destiny as the heir to the throne, only then will our paths be able to cross again. That's when I will tell him that yes, I acknowledge you as my husband from the bottom of my heart. Until then… sigh…"

She turned to face them both. "But that's not the only reason. It's because I'm continuing my journey… alone. And I don't want him to know that."

Orin and Leiza looked at her in shock.

"What?" Orin said. "Where are you going?"

"To find my old teacher," Shiera replied simply. "I need to grow stronger, to unseal my ice element and resume my training to master the fusion with fire."

Leiza bit her lip. "You could have said something. We would have supported you."

Shiera offered a small smile. "I know. But this is something I need to do alone."

Unseen by any of them, from the top of a distant tower near the town's gate, a pair of glowing eyes watched silently. Nyx, the spectral wolf and Kael's faithful summon, stood cloaked in invisibility. It didn't move, didn't growl, only observed Shiera quietly.

And as Shiera turned and walked away from her companions toward an uncertain path, Nyx quietly faded from view, vanishing into the wind like a silent guardian.

Meanwhile, the wind howled past as the Infernal Pegasus soared high above the clouds, its fire wings cutting through the morning sky. Below them, the verdant land faded into a blur as endless blue slowly crept into view on the horizon.

Mia sat behind Kael, her arms loosely wrapped around his waist for balance. She peered past his shoulder and narrowed her eyes. "It's the sea. Where are we going, brother?"

Kael didn't answer immediately. His eyes were fixed ahead, watching the light shimmer off the distant waves. Then, quietly, he replied: "I don't know."

"Huh? You don't know? What does that mean?" Mia blinked.

"I'm just looking for a powerful aquatic creature I can tame," Kael replied.

Mia's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh, first Nyx, then Sith, then Ignis, and now a sea beast? It makes sense now…"

Kael gave a soft chuckle. "The world's big, and I need stronger companions, ones that can fight across land, sky… and sea."

Mia smirked. "Then I know just the place."

Kael glanced over his shoulder. "Yeah?"

"The Island of Mayan," she said with a sly grin. "When I was adventuring in a dungeon on that island, I heard of a legend of an ancient leviathan's spawn that sleeps on the sea bed. I did sense the beast back then, but didn't dare to go near it, because it was a Tier-8 and I was too weak back then."

Kael's eyes gleamed at the mention of it. He didn't hesitate. "Then, what are we waiting for. Let's go. Ignis…"

The Pegasus let out a low rumble. With a powerful thrust of its wings, it banked westward toward the sea, following the direction pointed by Mia.

Two days later;

The Infernal Pegasus was once again streaking across the skies like a black comet, its mane a trail of fire and shadow. Kael sat firm at the front, with Mia behind him.

They have been traveling for two days, stopping by an island on the way after sunset and continuing their journey the next day.

But on this third day, around late afternoon, they encountered a sudden caw that tore through the wind. Then another. And then… another.

From a cloud bank to the north, a massive swarm of shadow ravens burst forth, their numbers were in the hundreds.

"Hold tight!" Kael barked, pulling hard on the reins as the Pegasus dipped instead of unnecessarily confronting them.

The birds, however, didn't leave them. They descended like a curse from the heavens, screeching and diving.

Mia drew her short daggers, slashing a few that got too close. "Are they targeting us on purpose?" She couldn't help but wonder aloud.

Kael clicked his tongue. "Let's land somewhere."

He spotted an island to the south, a modest landmass surrounded by steep cliffs, dense forest within. "There!"

The Pegasus dove sharply and, after a minute of tight maneuvering, landed within a clearing outside what appeared to be an ancient stone wall enclosing a small village.

Kael dismissed the beast with a whisper, sending the Infernal Pegasus into his mystic tattoo on his arm, owing to his experiences of the natives getting wary or afraid of them during the past couple of days. He understood that he could not let Ignis parade in a village. Its image was too terrifying to the natives who were living ordinary lives.

The two of them stood facing a heavy wooden gate, slightly ajar. To their surprise, no guards around.

Mia glanced at Kael as they walked into the village, which seemed quite desolate and ghostly. "There are definitely people inside. I can sense life… but no one's coming out."

Kael frowned. "Let's check it out. We'll find an inn, stay the night, and leave by dawn."

Shabby stone houses lined the narrow path, and wooden shops with cracked signs swayed with the breeze. No candles burned in the windows. No chatter. No barking dogs. No market scents. Just... silence met these siblings.

Mia muttered, "This place is strange."

Kael didn't reply. But he stayed alert of any unexpected ambush.

They walked in silence until they reached a crooked building with a faded sign swinging above it: "The Dawnwell Inn".

The door creaked open without resistance.

Inside, the inn was as run-down as expected. Torn curtains. Dust is layering the floor. A warped chandelier that hung on one hinge above the common area.

But at the reception desk stood a fat, bald man, in a stained tunic with a lopsided grin. His eyes lit up as they fell on Kael and Mia.

"Well now… travelers," he said with a raspy voice. "Didn't expect guests today. Welcome to the village of Lira."

Kael and Mia exchanged a glance, both noting how his sudden appearance was far too smooth for someone in a supposedly abandoned town.

The man continued, wiping a cup with a dirty cloth. "You're just in time. We have plenty of rooms. And don't worry. I don't charge much. Only 1 gold coin a night, meals included. We also only prepare fresh food."

Mia blinked. "That's… incredibly cheap."

The man chuckled. "Look around you, lady. We aren't in a condition to charge high."

Mia then took the opportunity to ask. "Alright, we take the room. But anyway, what's with the village? It's too desolate."

The man maintained his smile as he said eloquently. "It's just that time of the year. Folks are too scared to come outside because of the monster attacks. Truth to be told, you're the first guests we've had in weeks."

Kael and Mia exchanged glances.