Having been saved by Grin gave Fay a completely new perspective on his creatures. They weren't just mindless killing machines—they could help him, and he even felt their loyalty was starting to grow.
It would still be a long time before he truly understood them, though. He was only beginning to scratch the surface of his new powers.
[Guide, now that you've taught me something… is there more to this?]
Fay asked, unsure of who else he could turn to for guidance. Kimya didn't seem like the teaching type—he got angry far too easily.
[I can offer only simple advice, young one. You must find a teacher among your own lands. We guides exist only to support those who show exceptional talent. And you are still just one among thousands. With the new humans from your world joining the hums of this one, there are more now than ever, young one.]
"What a letdown…"
Fay continued walking behind the others, patting Grin every few minutes, sensing he had made the creature work too hard over the past few days. He also noticed that the large hyena had begun to shrink slightly as they moved.
Fortunately, they were close to the village before he had Grin eat his portion and disappear.
As they neared the settlement, everyone in the village came out to help—even those who had initially opposed the migration. Fay was surprised that, in the end, everyone had chosen to move on.
The entire tribe had packed up. Those who could still walk carried what little they had left. No one wore the same joyful expressions they had on the first day Fay arrived. That made him feel a deep sadness. He had hoped to remain in the village that had finally shown him warmth after so long.
[Nice prey you've brought, little hunter. We leave tomorrow, so eat lightly. The rest will be packed for the journey.]
After that, Fay went looking for Mira. He spotted her trying to help Horin tend to the wounded. The little girl ran back and forth, fetching bandages and ointments for those dragged out by the floods.
"Mira? How are you doing? We brought lots of meat."
Fay tried to speak to her, but the girl kept moving.
He followed her until he saw her duck into a tent where Horin was helping an injured elder woman.
Beside the elder stood the woman who had helped them.
"I brought the food I owe you!"
Fay called out once he was sure she had finished the healing process.
[Good, we'll need it for the others. I hope it's enough for us older folk—we're going to need plenty of help for the journey ahead.]
Fay could only nod. He didn't know what the journey would be like. He hadn't even fully adjusted to life in the village, let alone grasped what this new world truly looked like.
[Seems you're already worried, young one. Cheer up. We've traveled for years—this is just one more stop in many. That is our way of life: to face danger and, at times, run from it. There are far too many problems to believe we're safe in this little canyon.]
Fay sighed, a mix of emotions weighing on him—until everyone's attention turned to his sister.
[Looks like we have another summoner! And a healer at that!]
The elder's excitement was visible; her age seemed to fade for a moment. Even Fay was surprised to see Mira somehow coax the slime into splitting and producing another one—this new one moved as if it followed her will. It was about the size of a baseball.
"Mira, what did you do?"
The little girl, crouched and poking the slime as it jiggled under her touch, laughed before answering.
"Don't know. I asked if we could be friends… and it turned into two?"
[That's strange—and new. For her words to influence another creature like that is impressive. She will be our new healer… someone who can assist me.]
Fay felt a flicker of envy. He edged closer to the slime, trying to do the same, almost pleading.
[Seems you don't have that gift, young summoner. But your path does not lie with these creatures. You are a hunter. Power—that is what you will earn.]
"Do you think you can teach me to use my summons?"
Fay asked with hope, wondering if she might be the teacher the guide had spoken of.
[I cannot. Your path is battle, mine is healing. If I teach you, it may interfere with your growth. But I can help your sister… and with time, she may become just as skilled as I am.]
Mira, who heard that, jumped with joy—the little creature she had summoned bounced just as happily on her head, somehow managing to stay balanced despite all the movement.
"That's good then… I may not be able to heal—yet—but I hope Mira will be able to."
Horin, who had stayed quiet throughout the interaction, glanced at the siblings. Her feelings were complicated. She didn't hate her own creature—she loved it, and she loved the one who had given it to her. But that didn't stop the sting she felt watching the siblings gain their powers so effortlessly, without sacrifice.
She shot Fay a glare before turning back to finish her work.
The next day, the entire village was ready to leave just before dawn. Everyone had eaten and prepared for the journey ahead. Their path would lead them toward a distant mountain range. Fay was told that a forest near those mountains would shelter them.
He remembered the place he'd first arrived—it had only been a small section of that forest, roughly two miles in that direction. This meant they'd be heading even deeper, far past the place where he and Mira had first entered this world.
"Mira… you're going to have to walk a lot, but in a week we should reach our destination. If you start feeling tired or unwell, promise you'll tell me, alright?"
The first of the group began to leave the canyon, the place they had called home for years. Now, they would have to search for a new one.