'Mian, can I defeat her?'
'That cannot be calculated. It would be difficult. She has been active for years.'
'So she's probably as strong as a god by now,' kayon speaks while shrugging his shoulders.
'That depends on what you mean by god'
"Someone whose strength is unfathomable." Kayon was quiet for a moment. "I'm only at 10.1% fusion," Kayon said quietly.
"I still need more power… and more time."
'Master...'
"I know."
Warm hands slid around Kayon's waist from behind, an embrace both gentle and familiar.
"Who were you talking to?"
Kayon flinched slightly before turning.
"Oh… it's you, Carai. You scared me."
She stepped in front of him, close enough that he had to meet her eyes. Her gaze lingered, searching his face as if weighing every small reaction.
"You looked pretty deep in conversation for someone who was just thinking."
"Come on, don't look at me like that," Kayon said with a faint smile. "I was just thinking, that's all."
Carai didn't answer immediately. Her eyes stayed on him for a few more seconds, quiet and unconvinced.
Then she turned away.
"Get ready. We're leaving."
Before Kayon could respond, footsteps approached from the camp behind them.
Dravena was walking toward them. When she noticed the two watching her, she slowed for a moment, then continued.
" I see you're already awake."
She stopped a few steps away.
"We're about to continue the match. If we keep moving, we should reach it by this afternoon."
Carai nodded and gestured for Dravena to go. Dravena turned and headed back toward the camp to prepare her men for the journey.
"Come on, Kayon."
Carai caught his hand and pulled him into the tent.
Dravena's soldiers formed up quickly, lines tightening efficiently. A few quiet orders passed down the ranks, and within moments the camp was already being dismantled behind them.
Moments later the march began.
They moved across the desert in a long, steady line. Sand crunched beneath their boots as the sun climbed higher in the sky. In the distance, a dark green line slowly rose along the horizon.
A forest.
As it grew clearer, towering trees began to take shape beyond the dunes.
Carai glanced toward Dravena.
"Is that our destination?"
Dravena shook her head.
"Not quite. We're heading to the mountains at the center of that forest."
Carai frowned slightly.
"But aren't there Forlorns in that forest?"
Dravena slowed and glanced back at her.
"I see your concern. And yes, they are there. But only the smaller types inhabit the outer areas."
"Ah… I see."
Silence followed as they continued forward. The only sound was the steady rhythm of boots pressing into the sand.
Eventually the dry air began to change.
The heat began to fade.
The dry smell of sand slowly gave way to damp earth and leaves that drifted toward them.
They reached the edge of the forest.
Massive trees stretched high above them, their branches weaving together to block much of the sunlight. Small creatures darted between roots and fallen leaves, too small and timid to be called Forlorns.
Soon they reached the base of a mountain. A massive boulder rested against the rock face, large enough to block what looked like a natural opening.
Dravena handed her blade to one of her men and stepped forward.
She planted both hands against the boulder and pushed. Stone scraped against stone as it slowly rolled aside, revealing a narrow entrance carved into the mountain.
Inside, two large men stood guard with spears in hand.
The moment they saw who had opened the entrance, both straightened.
"Boss has arrived!"
One of them turned and ran deeper into the tunnel.
"I'm going to tell the others!"
Dravena stepped aside and gestured toward the opening.
"We've arrived. Let's go in."
Carai's face lit up with excitement. She grabbed Dravena's arm and pulled her inside.
"Come on! I want to see it!"
The two disappeared into the tunnel, leaving Kayon standing behind, slowly a smile crept onto his face,
'wow was she always that enthusiastic hehe she was hiding this side of herself'
He then followed them behind.
The passage was narrow and damp. The smell of wet stone and dust filled the air, and each step echoed softly against the tunnel walls. The deeper he went, the darker it became.
Then,
A glow appeared ahead.
At first it was faint, like distant moonlight spilling through a crack in the rock. But with every step it grew brighter, spreading across the tunnel walls.
Kayon raised a hand to shield his eyes as he stepped out of the passage.
And stopped.
An enormous cavern opened before him.
An entire settlement thrived beneath the mountain. Small caves had been carved along the cavern walls, and the open space below was filled with rows of tightly packed tents.
Lanterns and glowing crystals lit the paths, and people moved between tents as if this hidden world had existed for generations.
Voices echoed through the cavern. Metal rang in the distance. Somewhere, water flowed through carved channels.
"You've got to be kidding…"
Kayon slowly tilted his head back.
The cavern ceiling stretched far above, lined with pale glowing stones that bathed the entire settlement in a soft silver light.
His eyes narrowed as he studied the crystals.
"How are those giving off light?"
'Master, those appear to be fluorescent stones embedded in the cavern walls.'
Kayon let out a quiet breath.
"So that's what those are… amazing"
In the distance, Carai could be seen dragging Dravena across the cavern floor.
Kayon chuckled. "Well… that's a funny sight. Dravena being pulled around by someone who barely reaches her shoulders."
A soft laugh sounded behind him.
"True," Saeriel stepped beside him. "She is quite a giant, isn't she?"
She folded her arms and watched the two in the distance, though her eyes occasionally drifted toward Kayon.
"Yes," Kayon said thoughtfully.
"Compared to most people. She's about two point fifteen meters, and Carai is what… one point seven? That's enormous."
Saeriel blinked.
"Wow… that really is tall… wait." She paused, tilting her head. "How do you know that?"
Kayon flinched.
"Fuck," he muttered under his breath, then coughed lightly.
"Well," he said, eyes darting left and right, carefully avoiding her gaze, "you see… I have the power to measure things with my eyes."
"Ohh, is that what it is?" She leaned forward, raising a hand above her head to mark her height. "Then how tall am I?"
Kayon hesitated, then slowly looked her over, starting at her feet and moving upward until he reached her eyes.
"Well… you're almost the same height as Carai," he said. "One point six eight meters."
"Huh… so I'm the shortest among us."
Her cheeks puffed slightly as she looked away, mumbling under her breath.
"I hope you don't hate short women…"
"Huh?" Kayon hesitated a second too long.
She grins and immediately waves it off. "Ah… don't worry about it. I was just mumbling."
He straightened and started walking toward the tunnel leading deeper into the settlement.
Saeriel quickly stepped in front of him.
"Oh! I almost forgot," she said. "Please come with me."
She pointed down another path between the tents.
"I'll take you to where you'll be staying."
"Oh… alright. Lead the way."
They walked through the settlement together. People glanced up as they passed, their gazes lingering on Kayon.
Kayon lowered his voice. "At this rate, they're going to stare holes straight through me."
Saeriel noticed it too. Her eyes flicked around the street before she suddenly grabbed his hand and pulled him into a nearby shop.
They slipped inside.
"Sorry about that," she said quickly.
She lifted her hand to gesture then froze.
She was still holding his hand.
Her fingers immediately released his as if she had touched fire.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" she blurted, her face and ears turning bright red.
She stood there awkwardly, suddenly fascinated with the floor.
Kayon tilted his head slightly. "Is there a reason you dragged me in here?"
"Ah.. right! Just a moment."
She hurried toward the front of the shop, grabbed a bundle of folded clothes, and returned with them.
"I think the reason they're staring at you is because of your face," she said.
Kayon frowned and touched his cheek. "Is there something on my face?"
Saeriel waved her hands quickly.
"No! No, that's not it. It's just… people think you're a woman."
Kayon blinked.
"They do?"
She nodded nervously. "If you wear our men's clothes, they'll probably realize you're not."
Kayon glanced down at his outfit.
"…I suppose these do look a little feminine."
"They really do," she admitted.
Kayon looked at the clothes.
"…You expect me to change here?"
He shrugged and began removing his outer clothes.
Saeriel froze.
He pulled his shirt off and was about to remove his pants when he glanced over his shoulder.
"Are you enjoying the show?"
Saeriel snapped out of her daze.
Her entire face turned crimson.
"S-sorry!"
She spun around and hurried out of the shop.
Kayon scoffed softly and finished changing. After tying his hair back, he stepped outside.