[MORNING - ATHER CITY GATES]
clip-clop... clip-clop... clip-clop...
The sound of horse hooves echoed on the stone road as three riders left the gates of Ather City. The morning sun illuminated their journey toward the vast desert.
"Wow! I've never ridden a horse this far!" Ren exclaimed with sparkling eyes, sitting on her brown horse while trying to balance herself. "Usually I just walk or take a carriage!"
Azariel, riding in front, smiled thinly. "The journey to Zaruneth takes three days. Prepare yourself, little girl."
"Who are you calling little!" Ren protested while puffing out her cheeks.
Meanwhile, Kai rode calmly beside them, both hands holding the reins relaxedly. His eyes observed the scenery changing from green meadows to rocky terrain, heading toward the sandy desert.
"By the way," Ren turned toward Kai curiously. "Who are you really? Earlier when those Wyverns suddenly fell, you didn't look surprised at all."
"Coincidence," Kai replied in his flat tone.
"What kind of coincidence?" Ren grew more curious. "And why do you want to go to Zaruneth? Are you an adventurer too?"
Kai was quiet for a moment. "I just... want to see."
"See what?"
"How the world has changed."
Azariel looked back with a slightly suspicious gaze. There was something strange about the way this white-haired teenager spoke, as if he had seen this world before in the past.
---
[FIRST DAY - EVENING]
CRACK! CRACK!
A campfire blazed in the center of their small camp. Ren sat hugging her knees while Azariel was cooking something over the fire.
"I'm so hungry..." Ren complained while holding her stomach.
"Be patient, the food is almost ready," Azariel said while stirring soup in a small pot.
Kai sat somewhat apart, his eyes gazing at the stars in the night sky. The atmosphere was quiet and peaceful.
"Kai," Ren called out. "Aren't you hungry?"
"Not really."
"Eh? Really?" Ren got up and sat beside Kai. "You're so weird. You've just been quiet this whole time."
"I'm thinking."
"Thinking about what?"
Kai glanced briefly at Ren. "About how someone can be so... noisy."
"HEY!" Ren immediately protested while lightly hitting Kai's shoulder. "I'm not noisy! I'm just... expressive!"
THUD!
Because she was too enthusiastic while hitting, Ren lost her balance and fell sideways, almost into the campfire!
WHOOSH!
In an instant, Kai had already grabbed Ren's arm and pulled her back to safety. His movement was so fast it looked like a mini teleportation.
"Hah... hah..." Ren panted while looking at the campfire that had almost burned her hair. "Thanks..."
"Be careful," Kai said while releasing Ren's arm.
Azariel, who witnessed the incident, furrowed his brow. "That reflex... too fast for an ordinary human..."
---
[SECOND DAY - NOON]
They were resting under a tree when...
GROOOAAARRR!!!
A pack of Sand Wolves emerged from behind the sand dunes! Their red eyes glowed, and sharp fangs gleamed under the sunlight.
"Sand Wolves!" Azariel immediately stood while taking a dancing stance. "They hunt in packs!"
"I can handle this!" Ren jumped while casting a spell. "Yuelin Technique—"
SNAP!
The soft sound of a finger snap.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
All the Sand Wolves suddenly collapsed and fell into deep sleep, like dolls that had lost their power.
"..." Azariel and Ren were completely speechless.
"What just happened?" Ren asked with her mouth still open.
Kai walked casually past the sleeping Sand Wolves. "They're just sleeping. They'll wake up later."
"SLEEPING?!" Ren screamed. "How do you make monsters sleep with just a finger snap?!"
"Relaxation technique," Kai answered with a serious face.
"THERE'S NO SUCH RELAXATION TECHNIQUE LIKE THAT!"
Azariel shook his head while smiling thinly. This teenager was becoming more mysterious by the minute.
---
[SECOND DAY - NIGHT]
They sat around the campfire again. This time the atmosphere was more familiar after the Sand Wolves incident.
"Kai," Ren said while chewing bread. "Who are you really?"
"Someone who's traveling."
"Traveling?!" Ren almost choked. "Who travels to a barren desert like this!"
"Me."
Azariel laughed softly. "He is indeed unique, Ren. But..." he looked at Kai seriously. "I feel like I've heard about someone with strange abilities like that before."
"What abilities?" Ren asked curiously.
"The ability to make monsters sleep easily. There's an ancient legend about a hero who..." Azariel stopped.
Kai looked back with a slightly wary gaze.
"Ah, maybe it's just coincidence," Azariel shook his head. "Besides, that's just a fairy tale."
"Thank goodness..." Kai muttered inwardly.
"Hey, you guys know what," Ren suddenly got excited again. "I have a new trick!"
Ren stood up and began casting a spell. Small flames appeared in her hands, then she started shaping them into...
"FIRE FLOWER!" Ren exclaimed proudly while showing a spinning fire flower in her palm.
"Wow, beautiful," Azariel said while clapping.
Kai observed with a gaze that seemed slightly... entertained? "Not bad."
"Hehe, I practiced this by myself!" Ren smiled proudly. "Someday I want to create a fire garden!"
"A fire garden?" Azariel laughed. "That's an interesting idea."
"Yes! Full of beautiful fire flowers that aren't hot!" Ren's eyes sparkled with dreams.
Seeing Ren's innocent and enthusiastic expression, for the first time, the corner of Kai's mouth lifted slightly into a genuine thin smile.
---
[THIRD DAY - DAWN]
WHOOOOSH...
Desert wind blew gently as they prepared for the final journey to Zaruneth. In the distance, the city's silhouette was beginning to appear.
"Finally!" Ren cheered while pointing toward the city. "I can't wait to see the golden palace that's supposed to be there!"
---
[ZARUNETH CITY GATES - EVENING]
CLANG! CLANG!
The giant golden gate with beautiful calligraphy carvings opened to welcome them. The view that greeted their eyes was truly amazing.
Zaruneth City spread out vast with magnificent Middle Eastern architecture buildings. The golden palace stood proudly in the center of the city, its domes gleaming under the evening sunlight. The bustling spice market was visible with traditionally dressed merchants and exotic spice aromas wafting everywhere.
"WAAAAHHH!" Ren jumped down from her horse while spinning around. "This is so beautiful! Look at the palace! Look at the spice market! Look at people wearing pretty clothes!"
Ren ran around like a child visiting an amusement park for the first time, her eyes sparkling at everything she saw.
Meanwhile, Kai walked alongside Azariel while calmly observing the city.
"This city... has developed rapidly," Kai muttered while looking at magical technology integrated with traditional architecture.
"Of course," Azariel smiled proudly. "Zaruneth is the center of spice and gem trade. We've built trading relationships with all other cities."
"It wasn't like this before," Kai said unconsciously.
Azariel looked back with suspicious eyes. "Before? Have you been here before?"
Kai realized his slip. "Ah... I heard from my parents' stories."
"Hmm..." Azariel still felt something was strange, but he didn't press further.
They walked into the city while watching Ren still running around enthusiastically, asking merchants about various unique items.
"Speaking of which," Azariel said while stopping in front of a cafe. "There's something I need to discuss with you."
Kai looked back. "What?"
"The real reason I went to Ather City yesterday," Azariel looked at Kai seriously. "It wasn't just ordinary business."
"Oh?"
"There's a creature called Zarakhesh that will appear soon."
Kai furrowed his brow. "What kind of creature is this Zarakhesh?"
"A giant monster," Azariel explained while making gestures with his hands. "It has a tail full of poison, and two large pincers that can destroy buildings."
"That's just a scorpion..." Kai muttered inwardly while resisting the urge to sweatdrop.
"I went to Ather to ask for help from high-ranking adventurers, but then there was suddenly a Wyvern attack," Azariel continued. "Luckily I met you two."
Azariel looked into Kai's eyes with full hope. "It hasn't appeared today yet, but it will appear tomorrow. Please help me... for the sake of this city."
Kai was quiet for a moment, then nodded. "Alright..."
"Thank you!" Azariel's eyes sparkled with relief.
"But," Kai continued seriously. "I need a proper bed here. I haven't slept on a soft mattress for several days."
Azariel was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly. "Hahaha! Alright! That's an easy request!"
---
[NIGHT - AZARIEL'S PALACE]
FLUFF!
Ren threw herself onto the soft bed dramatically. "Ahhhh! Soft bed! I missed you!"
In the next room, Kai lay down while gazing at the ceiling decorated with golden carvings. "Beds are indeed important," he muttered while closing his eyes.
Azariel in his own room was still awake, thinking about the true identity of the white-haired teenager. There was a mystery yet to be solved...
But for tonight, the three of them could rest peacefully, preparing for the big battle that would come tomorrow.
---
As I lay here in this comfortable bed, staring at ornate ceiling patterns that seem both familiar and foreign, I can't help but think about how much has changed. This palace, this city, even the way people speak and dress—it's all evolved beyond what I remember.
Tomorrow will bring another challenge, another test of how this world has grown in my absence. But tonight, I'm oddly grateful for Ren's infectious enthusiasm and Azariel's earnest hospitality. Perhaps traveling with companions isn't as tiresome as I thought it would be.
Still, I wonder what this Zarakhesh creature will be like. If it's truly just a giant scorpion as I suspect, this should be... interesting.
[TO BE CONTINUED...]