They watched as Alisha, Lark, and Mara fought their matches in between breaks as they conversed.
Except for Mara, both Alisha and Lark won their matches, leaving the spectators in awe of their skills.
Aengus observed with interest, allowing himself to relax slightly.
“Hey, miss me, you two?”
Nate returned, a faint smile on his face.
“Nate, did you get any good news?” Sofia asked.
Nate leaned in closer and whispered, “Yes, I heard they’re going to open it tomorrow, right at the west outskirts of the city. Though the news isn’t confirmed, it’s got the highest chance of being true.”
“Oh, that’s good. Any news on what we’re going to face besides the other contenders?” she inquired.
“No, I haven’t heard anything about that yet,” Nate replied. “But I did hear that we’ll be spending 15 days inside. It’s going to be a long time, and the chance of survival is extremely low for ordinary hunters.”
“Huh, that’s a long time. I hope we can get through this by staying together,” Sofia said softly, concern flickering in her eyes as she considered their uncertain future.
After watching the matches for another hour, Alisha, Hank, Lark, and Mara joined them one by one. They had won the majority of their fights, though there were a few losses.
Overall, their performance couldn’t be considered bad.
“Let’s go, guys. We’re done here. Tomorrow is the day we’ve been waiting for,” Sofia announced solemnly, walking beside Nate as she led the way.
“Tomorrow?” The word echoed in their minds, heavy with the weight of the unknown.
The next day would determine their fate and destiny. Tension filled the air, but they knew they couldn’t falter now. Each of them had their own aspirations, dreams, and fears.
Aengus was no different—he too had a purpose, though it may differ.
After taking their money from the counter, they headed outside and saw it was already late afternoon.
As they walked, Aengus glanced at the six of them, suddenly reminded of the first party he had ever joined. That had ended in tragedy, a catastrophe that haunted him still.
Their faces came to his mind, and for a split second, he thought he saw Aria and Yona crossing the street far away in the opposite direction, like a fleeting illusion.
He shook his head and joined the group as they left for their residence.
—
Meanwhile, in the opposite direction, a different scene was unfolding.
Aria and Yona were actually there, walking along the same street.
“Hey, wait, you two!”
Drake suddenly appeared from the sidelines, followed by a stern-looking knight and a graceful young lady with a happy smile on her lips.
Aria suddenly stopped, feeling someone’s gaze on her from behind. It felt strangely familiar.
But when she turned around, the crowd of people made it impossible to catch sight of the disappearing figure.
“What happened, Aria? What caught your eye?” The graceful young lady stopped beside her and asked with a faint smile.
Aria blinked and returned to her senses, her emerald-green eyes appearing lost for a second. Her silvery hair fluttered in the afternoon breeze, making her a picturesque sight.
She turned to Yona and the young lady.
“Nothing, Princess Delilah. I just thought I saw someone familiar from the past,” she said, her expression distant.
“Don’t tell me you’ve seen Ethan again? Ohhh.. Come on, sister Aria. He’s long been… well, you know what I mean, right?” Drake said softly, careful not to incur her wrath.
“Who are you two talking about?” Princess Delilah asked.
Yona answered, “Your Highness, he was our companion once, but he became a victim during the Arcadia City incident. Lady Aria had a special connection with him. She had just fallen in love at that time, which might be why.”
Princess Delilah looked sympathetic. “Ah, I didn’t know you had such a tragic experience, Aria. May the gods bless him.”
Aria squinted at Yona but remained silent, helpless at her friend for revealing personal matters.
“I’m fine, Princess Delilah. Just some old memories… that’s all I have now. But sometimes, I feel like he’s still alive out there,” Aria said, her voice carrying a mixture of emotions.
Princess Delilah smiled warmly. “Well, if he is alive, I’d surely like to meet him someday to understand what caught your eye, Aria.”
Aria’s spirits lifted slightly, and a faint smile played on her lips as she remembered the old days. Though her time with Ethan had been brief, she had fallen for him, without fully understanding why. There was something deep and inexplicable that drew her to him, as if they shared a bond beyond space and time.
That thought rekindled a flame of determination in her. She had to uncover the truth about Ethan—whether he was truly dead or still out there alive somewhere. And to do that, she needed to become stronger, stronger than she had ever been.
The knight accompanying them cut in.
“Your Highness, forgive me for interrupting, but we need to move soon. We have to return before evening falls,” he reminded, keeping their task in mind.
“Yes, I know,” Princess Delilah replied. “Let’s go, Aria. We need to get prepared before we enter Dwarvania.”
“Yes, let’s go,” Drake added in enthusiastically. “We need to make our weapons—stronger and more powerful.”
Aria and the others had come to the market to enhance their weapons with the help of a special blacksmith.
Princess Delilah had followed them out of longing for outside world. It was Princess Delilah’s birthday, and since the king couldn’t host a grand banquet due to all the recent chaos, he had allowed her to come along. With protection of course.
When Aria, Drake, and Yona first sought help from General Leon, they unexpectedly met Princess Delilah for the first time. Delilah, being around the same age as Aria, immediately connected with her, and the two got along well.
General Leon, known for his strength and fairness, welcomed them into his home and provided shelter at his own residence near the castle. He recognized their potential and the dangers they faced, so he personally ensured their safety by assigning his most trusted personnel to guard them. As a further measure, he gave them a communicator, a direct line to him and his forces, should any trouble arise.
The knight who followed them was S-rank, and a few special shadow guards blended into the environment, ensuring their safety.
Though the two groups had headed in different directions, it wouldn’t be long before their paths would cross again, each fighting for survival and fate.
