⸻
Six days later, Nua met Sandro to bid him farewell before he embarked on his monster-hunting journey, set to begin the next day. They sat together for a while, speaking quietly, sharing a gentle, unhurried conversation.
Nua spoke softly:
"Sandro…"
Sandro raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"What is it?"
She smiled and continued:
"Have you ever heard of a place in the south?"
Sandro frowned slightly, his tone laced with curiosity.
"A place in the south?… You mean the Great Desert?"
Nua nodded, sitting confidently despite a faint blush on her cheeks.
"The Great Desert… they say it stretches endlessly, and no one has ever crossed it. They also say it's filled with incredibly powerful monsters, far stronger than anything here… I don't know why, but I feel like I want to explore it."
Sandro leaned closer and blew a gentle breeze onto her face, smiling.
"Stop, dreamer… I'm not dismissing your goal, but the Great Desert's heat is extreme. It can even melt iron if you stay there for an hour. And there's no food… it's impossible for humans to cross. Still, my father once told me, when I was little, that there's an ocean beyond it… but I don't know anything more."
A flash of disappointment appeared on Nua's face. Suddenly, she stood, lightly tapping Sandro's shoulder.
"Return safely from your hunt."
Then she turned and walked away, leaving Sandro standing, watching her retreating figure as he murmured to himself:
"I don't think she understands…"
⸻
The next day, at sunrise, a large crowd gathered at the city gates, preparing to set out on the hunt. They were divided into groups of five, numbered from one to five.
Sandro was in the fourth group, wearing a leather chest armor, a cloak that draped from his shoulder to his knees, and a single-edged sword strapped to his waist on his back.
When all the groups assembled at the city gates, the head of the Rox Alliance stood on a high platform, accompanied by one of the five Saviors, the genius Manuel, along with three alliance leaders and the strongest members. Beside them was Nua, chosen by the alliance leader to be his successor.
Manuel addressed the hunters with a deep, confident voice:
"Young hunters, today marks the start of your journey into the hunt. For some of you, this may be your first time, but know that this experience will sharpen your skills and prepare you for a bright future. It is also a chance to prove your strength and raise the banner of the Rox Alliance high. I wish you success and fortune in this journey—may your determination be steadfast and your resolve unbreakable."
When the speech concluded, everyone applauded warmly. Some faces were bright with excitement, others bore the weight of awe at the presence of these great figures.
Finally, the hunt was officially announced. Each group moved to their designated areas—some toward dense forests, others to different regions—setting out to hunt monsters, gather their cores, skins, and other resources, beginning an adventure in a world that grew more dangerous with each passing day…