The night sky stretched endlessly above them as the magical flying boat glided through the air, its sails shimmering with an ethereal glow. The soft hum of magic resonated beneath their feet, while the round tables on the deck carried an assortment of food gifted by the villagers of Willowshade. Laughter and light conversation filled the air, though some remained lost in thought.
Kael set his plate down and turned to Ronan. "Ronan, can you tell me what happened with the Flamecrest family's noble?"
Ronan's expression flickered for a brief moment before he leaned back against his chair, his face betraying nothing. "I don't know," he said simply. "You heard what the Willowshade village chief said. That's all I know."
Kael frowned, sensing the evasion, but before he could press further, Ronan picked up a book the doctor had given him and flipped it open. The conversation died there, and soon the soft rustling of pages was the only sound Ronan made.
His fingers trailed over a detailed illustration of a creature. The description caught his eye—a monster with the ability to enhance healing after absorbing its core. His brows furrowed as he murmured, "These monsters are too strong..." He turned the page, scanning for alternatives. After an hour of reading, he found something promising.
A beast unlike any other—a large, sleek creature covered in sapphire-blue scales that shimmered like water under the moonlight. Webbed claws, a serpentine body, and glowing fins that emitted a faint, soothing aura.
Ronan murmured, "This one looks good… and it's not very far from here."
By morning, Ronan stood at the front of the ship and turned to Aria. "Stop the boat here."
Aria, startled, tightened her grip on the controls before gradually slowing the vessel. "What happened?" she asked, brows raised.
Ronan glanced at the landscape below. "We—Kael, Darius, Garrick, and Sylphie—will take a detour from here."
Aria's eyes narrowed. "You're not coming to the academy with us?"
Ronan shook his head. "No. We are not going to the academy. We just have something to take care of first."
She frowned, sensing something unsaid. Meanwhile, Ronan approached Orin, who leaned against the railing, gazing at the clouds.
"Take care of yourself," Ronan said in a rare moment of sincerity.
Orin smirked but nodded. "You, too. Try not to get yourself killed."
Nearby, Aria clenched her hands at her sides, remembering the scolding she had received from her uncle, Alaric. He had reprimanded her for underestimating Kael's team despite their apparent weakness.
I would like to see what made them worthy of my uncle's recognition, she thought. They're supposed to be the weakest team. Why should I even listen to them?
Ronan was in the middle of discussing something with Kael when Aria stepped forward.
"Where exactly do you want to go?" she asked, crossing her arms.
Ronan gave her a calm look. "Monster hunting."
Aria's expression darkened. "Kael, your team has two injured members. How about we help you?"
Kael opened his mouth to respond, but Ronan cut in. "Thanks for the offer, but no thanks. We can handle it ourselves."
Aria's eyes flashed with irritation. "We can't just abandon our teammates." Her gaze darted to Kael. "Even if it's a temporary team, we should stick together."
Kael hesitated, sensing tension between them. He glanced at Ronan before finally nodding. "It's okay. You can come along."
Ronan sighed but didn't argue further.
By the afternoon, the group—Aria, Orin, Selena, Eryk, Leon, Ronan, Kael, Darius, Garrick, and Sylphie—arrived at the location Ronan had pinpointed. The magical flying boat hovered over a dense forest, the canopy rustling below as if disturbed by an unseen force.
After an hour of searching, they spotted the monsters—sleek, aquatic creatures prowling near a riverbank. Their sapphire scales gleamed under the sunlight, their glowing fins pulsing faintly. Aria's eyes narrowed as she used her perception skill. There are only six of them.
Ronan turned to his team. "Kael, Darius, Sylphie—you three will fight. I can't engage directly, but I think I can take one down. That leaves the other six to you."
Aria snapped her gaze back to Ronan. Six? Are these four taking one vs two monsters? Even though those monsters are not so powerful, one against two is a bit overkill. Confusion crossed her features, but before she could demand an explanation, Kael, Ronan, Sylphie, and Darius leapt from the ship.
Kael's last words echoed in her mind as he disappeared into the trees below.
"Wait here for us."
Aria clenched her fists, her frustration mounting. What are they planning?
The group stood at the river's edge, their eyes locked onto the monstrous creatures slithering in the shallows. The beasts had shimmering sapphire-blue scales that glistened under the sunlight, webbed claws that could tear through stone, elongated serpent-like bodies, and glowing fins that pulsed with an eerie luminescence. Ronan tightened his grip on his flying daggers, scanning the creatures with sharp eyes.
"These are Tide Serpents—their scales are nearly impenetrable. Their weak point is the throat," Ronan stated, his voice steady. "Sylphie, use your vines to restrict their movement. If you find an opening, go for the kill. Kael, attack as well, but use your illusions to keep them disoriented. Darius, you'll be our main attacker—your Thunder element can bypass their scales and stun them. I'll provide support with my daggers."
His teammates nodded in unison.
"Any questions?" he asked.
"No," they replied in sync, their expressions resolute.
Above them, on a floating magical ship, Aria, Orin, Selena, Eryk, Leon, and Garrick observed the battle. Aria leaned on the railing, worry creasing her brow. "Garrick, will they be okay?" she asked.
Garrick chuckled, "They'll be fine," he assured her. "Watch closely."
Down below, Kael made the first move. With a mere touch to his cape, countless illusory copies of himself sprang into existence, rushing toward the six Tide Serpents. The creatures recoiled in confusion, their glowing eyes darting between the mirages. Taking advantage of the distraction, Ronan hurled a flying dagger. Mid-flight, the blade curved upward and pierced cleanly through a serpent's throat, emerging from the top of its skull. The beast collapsed instantly.
Darius wasted no time. Lightning crackled around his feet as he activated Thunder Step, vanishing in a burst of speed. He reappeared beside another serpent and drove his spear into its throat, killing it in one precise strike. Without hesitation, he unleashed Storm Shroud, a thunder technique that summoned crackling arcs of electricity in a ten-meter radius. Bolts of lightning surged through the water, shocking the serpents caught in the illusion. The monsters thrashed violently, momentarily stunned.