The hunters’ voices blended into a background hum as Ronin rode, the rhythmic clop of hooves vibrating up through his legs.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm96rYHLTuX
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMuNh4fOl5
Disconnected from their conversation, he fidgeted with his left hand, the crystalline surface cool and unnaturally smooth beneath his fingertips. The red orb embedded in his fist caught the afternoon sunlight, casting tiny, shifting reflections onto his sleeve like shards of stained glass.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ393kifRBWv
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6joWIjbqxY
Noticing his distraction, Gloria guided her horse closer, the faint scent of sweat and oiled leather drifting between them. “You’re not good when it comes to socializing, are you?” she teased, her voice carrying easily over the creak of saddles and the whisper of wind through tall grass.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzxUBXRAp6
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1AYG76HRo
“My social skills liven up only when I need them to,” Ronin replied, his tone flat as he watched a hawk wheel overhead. “Talking about things that don’t matter to me feels like a pitiful way for distracted minds to avoid their problems.” He flexed his crystalline fingers, feeling the subtle resistance in the joints.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbDb6tHFNO
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV10mV3CUrW
A voice from the group piped up, rough with emotion, “No! Talking about my wife and child is not a pitiful thing.”136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHNn1lzBvw
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QQQ23bRdj
“Maybe you’re right.” Wyran clenched his fist, the leather of his glove creaking softly. “I’ve been struggling with my shield and sword a lot,” he admitted, his jaw tight and gaze fixed on the horizon where the sun painted the clouds in bruised purple and gold.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZJlNkYYUX
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRhRBpzhFE
“Isn’t that your way of thinking because you’re running from things too?” Gloria asked, her eyes crinkling with a hidden smile beneath the edge of her new mask. The polished metal caught the fading light, reflecting a sliver of Ronin’s face back at him.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kfx3LsROv
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGdFvCcwSm
“Well, I’m no sage. I just have my own ideals,” Ronin replied, his gaze dropping to the shifting shadows on the ground as the horses moved.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JtXcvKISK
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdXyqWr6Nq
“Hey, we all have them, don’t we?” Kade called back, turning with a grin that flashed white in the dappled sunlight. The others nodded, the horses’ manes rippling in the breeze as they rode through a patch of wildflowers that released a sweet, earthy scent.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlCVsjO3Oz
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSe3yqQw2a
Ronin eyed Gloria’s horse, noticing its sleek flanks unburdened by packs or bundles. “Why don’t you have any bags hanging on your horse?” he asked, curiosity sharpening his tone.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoO6AtAepk3
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDOfy7IxMc
“Because I have this!” Gloria replied, her eyes sparkling as she pointed at the shimmering, translucent pouch. Light Reflected on it, casting prismatic patterns onto Ronin’s arm, it was a bit different than the ones Ronin had seen.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4OJZSTj5M
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHggdnjtCy
“Oh, of course, the dimensional pocket,” Ronin sighed, rolling his head back and feeling the stiff muscles in his neck crackle in protest.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPMXHcTflD
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDFqZECN1u
“You’re one to talk,” Kade shot back, laughter rumbling in his chest. “You didn’t bring anything either. I assume the Old Man gave you one too?”136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DpgrnZB39
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ9qAdirJE
“It’s… complicated,” Ronin replied, his voice dropping to a hush as the wind picked up, carrying the distant cry of a hawk. “So I won’t say no, but don’t ask me more than that.”136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMd4ibTjlB
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6z7GizQ0KK
A brief silence settled over the group, broken only by the rhythmic creak of saddles and the soft snort of a horse. Ronin finally spoke again.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1hB1I05zo
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCb5cq1v5we
“Anyway, what are these horses called?” Ronin asked, running his hand along the fine, silken mane of his steed, feeling the powerful muscles shift beneath him with every stride.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IgCSilEH5
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjPv43s4sc
“These bad boys? We call them Greizers,” the lead rider explained, pride coloring his words. “They’re adept at using wind and gravitational magic to levitate just above the ground, which gives them a strange, weightless glide. When they pick up speed, you can feel the air humming around their hooves. Not everyone can tame them—they’re a reaver-class beast breed.”136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUvjBOYlFQ
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCr640VxHvu
“Reaver class?!” Ronin’s eyebrows shot up. “Then can I assume we’re going this slow because of my artifact?” He eyed the group, catching their sheepish nods and shrugs. The horses’ pace felt almost lazy, the wind barely tugging at his cloak.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxZRQ6qEPB
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH95px55mN
A pause hung in the air before Wyran asked, “Why do you never take off your artifact?” The question was quiet, almost lost beneath the steady rhythm of hooves and the creak of leather saddles.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZwmD1LSN5
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnVeW9xS6X
Ronin turned his head, his gaze sharp beneath the mask, making the speaker drop his eyes. “What’s your name?” he asked, his voice low.
“It’s Wyran…sir,” came the hesitant reply, barely more than a whisper.
Ronin let out a dry chuckle, the sound muffled by the mask. “Wyran? Did you know your name means ‘Deserted’?”
Gloria reached over and gave Ronin a sharp tap on the head, the movement swift despite the mask covering the lower half of her face. Her eyes narrowed above the mask, voice stern but slightly muffled. “Don’t be mean to him!”
Ronin rubbed the spot, feigning offense. “Hey! Why would you hit me? I’m just telling him its meaning!” His tone was light, the corners of Gloria’s eyes crinkling in silent amusement above the mask.
Kade spoke up, curiosity in his voice. “Even I’m interested in your answer to that question, to be honest.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡin2dk9KrRr
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TYe0QxwtR
A heavy silence fell, broken only by the steady clop of hooves and the wind rustling through grass. All eyes turned to Ronin, then the group burst out together: “What?!”
Gloria leaned forward, her gaze sharp and incredulous above the mask that shielded her mouth and chin. “How can that be possible?”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QQz4JxjgH
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWPmFw2EzV
“What do you mean how? It is what it is.” Ronin states flatly with a poker face136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpFjuLFBJF
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kRMMlg9nc
Ronin’s expression stayed unreadable. “What do you mean, how? It is what it is.”
Kade’s skeptical voice cut in, tossing a half-eaten purple apple to the plains. “An artifact loses its power when combined with or consumed by organic beings. It can only be used as an object or embedded onto something else before being used. You saying the artifact is a part of you is nigh impossible.” The others murmured their agreement, faces tight with disbelief.
Ronin shrugged, the motion making his cloak rustle. “It is what it is.” His voice was final, leaving the others to exchange dissatisfied glances as the horses continued their slow, steady march through the open plain.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpKZxRyoRW
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yhtnhDUvy
Ronin squinted up at the sky, the sunlight glinting off the crystalline surface of his hand as he shielded his eyes. High above, Baverins wheeled in slow, wide arcs, their dark wings catching the light. “By the way, what are those birds doing over our heads? I have been noticing them since we departed,” Ronin asked, tracking their movement.
“Those are Baverins, they are large birds that Kade uses to scout the terrain,” Guothur replied, his deep voice steady as he watched the sky with practiced eyes.
Ronin turned in his saddle, studying the older man. “And, who are you?”
“I am Guothur. Except the Flame Queen, I am the oldest hunter in this group,” Guothur replied, a faint smile creasing the weathered skin around his eyes.
Ronin’s head tilted slightly in Gloria’s direction, the gesture subtle beneath the smooth, impassive surface of his full-face mask. His voice carried a note of curiosity, but his expression was hidden from view. “What do you mean, second oldest?”
Gloria’s eyes glinted with a hint of mischief above the lower half-mask that covered her mouth and chin. “Oh, it’s nothing. Dragons and gods have long lives. I’m almost a hundred years old, but for other species, that would be around twenty-five or twenty-six.” Her tone was light, pride shimmering in her gaze—she waited for Ronin to show even a flicker of jealousy.
But Ronin’s masked head turned away, his posture abruptly shifting as he spoke over her, “Kade, why did you let me sit with you? Doesn’t that cut your ability to use your power to scout?”
For a heartbeat, Gloria’s gaze lingered on him, her eyes losing their playful spark. The pride in her expression faltered, replaced by a brief, uncertain flicker. She shifted in her saddle, fingers tightening on the reins as a faint flush crept up her cheeks, hidden by her mask. The silence that followed was just a beat too long, awkward and heavy, before Kade answered.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEaUVymOiQ
Kade’s voice was calm, the steady clop of hooves and whisper of grass underscoring his words. “That’s because we’re not too far from town. I know these lands well. And I wanted to experience how it feels to navigate the terrain without sensing mana. I must say, the world looks like it’s lost its charm and glow because of sitting with you.”
Ronin adjusted his full-face mask, the gesture practiced and precise. “At least you can see one at a time. I can see both forms of the world at once. It’s nauseating, trust me.”
A deep, rumbling voice broke in, tinged with amusement. “Why do you wear a mask, are you trying to be more like Miss Gloria?” Jembo, the tiger beastman, teased, his striped ears flicking back.
Ronin turned his masked face toward Jembo, the expression unreadable, only the faintest tilt of his head betraying any reaction.
Jembo grinned, tail flicking. “Oh, I am Jembo. But feel free to call me Jem.”136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUl81o9jtMC
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgtwBlJXoc
Ronin thinks “I can’t just tell them, ‘Oh, it’s a high tech mask.’ ”.
Ronin’s gaze lingered, the black eye-slits of his mask fixed on Jembo in an attempt to distract him from the question. His voice was playful, “You don’t say ‘Nyan’ like that girl I saw near the guild. Is it because she was a cat and you’re a tiger?”
Jembo’s tail lashed, pride sharpening his words. “I’m surprised you know of Tigers. They were our ancestors. They live in the forbidden lands. But yes, you’re right—although we are relatives of the cat family, I hope you do not mistake us for them. They are animals, and we are not.” He emphasized his point with a firm nod.
“Yeah, right,” Ronin replied, his tone light. Jembo grunted, feigning annoyance.
Jembo shook his head, a resigned smile tugging at his mouth. “I should have kept my mouth shut.” The group’s laughter rippled through the air, mingling with the steady rhythm of hooves and the soft breeze.
As the day wore on, they gathered herbs and made a few small hunts, the earthy scent of crushed leaves and fresh game clinging to their clothes. By nightfall, they camped in an open field, the grass cool and damp beneath their boots, a patch of trees rustling nearby.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYscrV6pAA
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6m66GCBOa1
“Won’t you tie the horses?” Ronin asks
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskHh9OZ1NH
“Greizers are loyal companions, they won’t leave their riders even if a giant cyclops were to appear.” Jembo says
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLVCUE6wsJ
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodjiYXauwR
“Shit, you have those one eyed monsters here too?” Ronin asks
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UQSdvlONR
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVSjhwLanh
“They are everywhere.” Kade says
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBglqIitvd
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QokXMCS9q
As the day sets in and night rises. Gloria insists ronin to make the meal, on which Ronin gives in and prepares the dinner.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51cgRAcmm8
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuh0ZBZ4mVy
He crouched by the campfire, the flames casting flickering shadows on his mask. The others gathered around, drawn by the promise of food and Gloria’s determined request, though Ronin grumbled under his breath.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHWdzlHYv5
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgptOiELA94
Kade leaned in, eyes bright with anticipation. “I don’t have a favourable opinion of a veg diet, but the way the Old Man and Gloria talk about your cooking, I’m eager to taste it.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtLh6fECne
Ronin shot Gloria a look. “Gloria, you have any dairy product with you?”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYEkEOo6ow
She rummaged in her dimensional pouch, pulling out a small jar. “Yes, I did bring some Traenicon milk, but unfortunately it’s ruined,” she said, disappointment creasing her brow above the half-mask.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4a1P1OcMA9
“What’s a Traenicon?” Ronin asked, curiosity piqued.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGTHjeN1R8
“You don’t know about the rulers of the plains?!” Wyran blurted, scandalized.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCcH9p8ujR
Ronin rolled his eyes, the firelight glinting off his mask. “Gloria didn’t tell you I’m from the mountains?”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeKc1Bhpeo
Wyran explained, “It’s a branch species of Binecons—the cosmic cow species.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6UqEco7wA
“Oh, so it’s a cow. Why not just say that?” Ronin muttered, snatching the jar from Gloria. He popped the lid, and a tangy, earthy scent of curd wafted up, thick and inviting. “You call this ruined? It’s perfect for a dish I’ve been dying to taste.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Hs6JUatBq
He wiped the dust from a large steel pot Jembo had crafted, the cold metal ringing as he set it near the fire. Pouring in the curd and a splash of water, he stirred, the mixture swirling into a creamy base. He added a generous spoonful of flour and handed it to Gloria. “Stir it. Make it thick.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPNioD2N0x
Ronin’s knife flashed in the firelight as he chopped green chilies and garlic, their sharp, pungent aroma rising and mingling with the night air. He tossed in a handful of spices from Gloria’s stash—coriander, cumin, a pinch of turmeric, and a secret blend that made Gloria’s eyes widen with curiosity.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJWxNunWtq
He glanced up. “This isn’t a restaurant, so you’re getting plain fry curry. That’s all.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95tKYevWJs
Wyran frowned. “We know curry, but what’s a plain fry curry?”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGF7oZwcxEE
“It’s a dish that changes with the cook’s skill. Easy to make, hard to balance. You’ll see,” Ronin replied, voice low.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYhWqmRExZ
Gloria handed him the thickened dough. “Done.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmb4pooqGLQ
He nodded, adding a swirl of red chili powder and finely sliced green chilies, then returned the bowl to Gloria. “Stir again. Get the colour even.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6ixPlYd4T
He heated a steel pan, the metal hissing as he poured in oil. The scent of hot oil and spices filled the air, making stomachs rumble. When the oil shimmered, he leaned over the pan, spooning in a heap of ground spices. “Brace yourselves. This’ll be spicy—don’t sneeze in the food.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnasykWTMK
The spices hit the oil with a wild sizzle, sending up a cloud of mouthwatering, nose-tingling aroma. The campfire crackled, and even Ronin sneezed twice before folding in the dough, the mixture turning golden and crisp at the edges. The curry thickened, bubbling with flecks of green and red, the scent now a riot of tang, heat, and toasted flour.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsVBGC93PZ
“It’s ready. Bowls out. Bread ready,” Ronin commanded, voice sharp.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8WOikjPe4
Sneezing and laughter echoed as they served themselves, the curry’s aroma so intense it made eyes water. Ronin sat with his share, puzzled when no one took a bite.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUb9BQ5C6Sy
“Eat up,” he ordered.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqntpRDsAze
Kade eyed his bowl warily. “I fear my intestines will burn if I eat something so spicy.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLGL52uNAM
Gloria gulped, then turned, lifting her mask just enough to dip bread into the curry. She took a slow, cautious bite—a long pause, then another, faster, her eyes widening with delight.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF24f6eACXZ
Seeing her eat, Wyran steeled himself and tried a bite. His face lit up. “UMMM! This is… jilecious!” he mumbled, mouth full, eyes wide. “I’ve never tasted anything so good!”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7ApJ0LWuH
The others dug in, and soon the pot was scraped clean, every last drop mopped up with bread. The firelight danced on satisfied faces.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6e0tAaKgWD
Kade licked his lips. “I take everything back! You’re cooking every time we hunt. Grandma Sil needs to try this!”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCn44FRQ0F
Ronin waved a hand, voice mock-menacing. “Hey, hey, this is a one-time deal. Next time, the dish might be you.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LfJoxHkYN
The threat made everyone laugh—except Gloria, who just smiled behind her mask.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYCA7eGBMi
Ronin leaned back, exhaling. The warmth of the curry lingered, a pleasant burn on his tongue and a fullness in his chest. “That hit the spot. Now I can retire for the day.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNZQ74xtt4
But Furvin licked his lips, frowning. “The dish is awesome, but it felt… incomplete.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vvrBtCTJk
“Oh shut up, Furvin, it was PERFECT!” Jembo retorted.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisFa70VwXy
Wyran nodded, “Now that you mention it, I too felt something missing.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9X0spopV63
“You’re right,” Gloria agreed, thoughtful. Kade just looked at Ronin, waiting.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HRCvVxEbQ
Ronin shrugged. “Well, you’re not wrong. It’s missing something fibrous—like roti. But there wasn’t enough flour, and the dish was meant for Gloria, so I couldn’t make it.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6oGMsQvSe
“It was for both of us!” Gloria protested.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1v0n631OUt
“You got just that much for both?” Ronin asked.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCCXwvHiM6
“What do you mean ‘just’?” Gloria snapped, Annoyance hinting in her voice.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQSFzePXv6
“I can just eat a tree if I need to,” Ronin deadpanned, earning confused looks.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QqoYyKPyu
Gloria groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Stick to fighting, Ronin, I told you this before but your jokes suck, even worse in the wild.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYV4WF73e5
“Didn’t Old Dwarf tell you about my absorption ability?” Ronin asked.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPJMOjYacr
“No,” Kade replied, frowning.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRPXBNXs4s
“Gosh, that Old Dwarf…” Ronin muttered. “I need sleep. No more discussions.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGy7dnKGyA
Ronin let out a soft, muffled huff behind his mask and stretched out by the dying fire. Best I keep my abilities hidden for now. Too many eyes, too many questions, he thought, letting his body relax as if drifting into sleep.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkc1yUuDDkc
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2prveDdxGj
The embers of the campfire glowed low, casting a gentle orange halo over the group as they settled into the hush of the forest night. The spicy tang of Ronin’s curry still lingered in the air, mingling with the earthy scent of dew-soaked leaves and the faint musk of horses nearby. Stomachs full and tongues tingling, the hunters sprawled around the fire, some still licking their fingers, others already drifting toward sleep.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzHmKCGvra
A gentle breeze rustled the canopy above, sending tiny motes of ash swirling skyward. Gloria, sitting a little apart, watched the flames dance, her mask hiding a small, contented smile. The memory of the meal—its creamy tang, the fiery bite of chilies, the subtle crunch of toasted flour—was still vivid on her tongue. She found herself craving just one more bite, wishing for a scrap of roti to mop up the last golden streaks from her bowl.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ixid8pAcO
Kade, sprawled on his back, let out a low, satisfied groan. “I swear, Ronin, if you ever open a tavern, I’ll be your first customer. Even if you serve nothing but that plain fry curry.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyUxsgjSnK
Jembo, still sniffling from the spice, grinned. “I’d pay extra for the nose-clearing effect. Beats any medicine I’ve tried.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ipxby70j4
Ronin snorted softly, eyes already half-closed. “Don’t get used to it. Next time, you’re all eating whatever you can catch or dig up yourselves.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8V6XhVtDG6
Wyran, picking at the last crumbs in his bowl, said, “I’ve never tasted anything like it. The spices… the way the curd thickened, the crispy edges—how did you get that texture?”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6nY8Wh3Hw
Ronin’s lips twitched beneath his mask. “Trade secret. Maybe I’ll teach you if you survive this hunt.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJ0EDzDIoM
A companionable silence settled over the group, broken only by the crackle of the fire and the distant hoot of an owl. The night pressed in, cool and comforting, the afterglow of the meal warming them from within.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkmna7wOj4
Gloria, emboldened by the camaraderie, glanced at Ronin. “Next time, I’ll bring more flour. And maybe some fresh herbs. You’ll have no excuse to hold back.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTjqyjDzUD
Ronin grunted, but there was a hint of amusement in his tone. “You bring the ingredients, I’ll consider it. But only if you promise not to complain about the spice.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQVqN8DaTG
She laughed, the sound light and genuine. “Deal. But you’ll have to teach me how to balance those Flavors. My last attempt nearly set the kitchen on fire.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkl1gNmduv
Jembo chimed in, “You should’ve seen it. Smoke everywhere. Even the horses sneezed.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNf0vsOwb4
The group erupted in quiet laughter, the tension of the day melting away in the warmth of shared stories and full bellies.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUff0oLje8
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYpdtSEfC4
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSQ2MdMtD5
“I will keep watch” Wyran says.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2khXiIgKVZ
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhH0MMe0BJ
“Me too.” Gloria says, the sound of her clothes shifting fills the air.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkM8YgVlyl
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnBGd76VcW
A few minutes pass
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstC3rcUyqC
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtNVewcbaR
Still hungry. Healing’s great, but this metabolism is a curse. I’m burning through energy faster than I can replace it, Ronin grumbled inwardly, his stomach already rumbling again.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXVZFRpyQG
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lmBFbdLwV
As he gets up, he expected everyone except Wyran and gloria to be asleep.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOztPkYwQR
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwflcTbMseG
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGru6e0yJW
He rose quietly, expecting only Wyran and Gloria to be awake. To his surprise, Wyran was slumped against a tree, snoring softly, and Gloria was curled up on the ground, shivering, looking more delicate than ever.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4JajQCJx9
A faint smile tugged at Ronin’s lips. He slipped off his coat and gently draped it over Gloria’s shoulders, the heavy fabric cocooning her in warmth.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAXknlxfn7
As he turned to leave, a small hand clutched at his pant leg. Gloria, eyes half-lidded with sleep, mumbled, “Where are you going?”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulnaYx8NhC
“Nature calls,” he replied in a low, gruff voice, careful not to wake the others.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkJMhpfTLA
Gloria’s hand fell away, and she rolled over, pulling his coat tighter around her. Ronin padded away into the trees, the forest swallowing him in shadow.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlqeGODBK6
A few minutes passed. Gloria, cocooned in his coat, stirred. The warmth was comforting, and a faint, unfamiliar scent—smoke, steel, something wild—clung to the fabric. She pressed her nose to the collar, sighing. Then, as the night’s chill crept back in, she realized Ronin still hadn’t returned. He’s taking too long for a nature break. A frown creased beneath her mask. And we’re in dangerous territory…
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxEAhVDGEx
She rose, careful not to wake the others, and slipped into the woods, following the faint trail Ronin had left. The moonlight filtered through the canopy, painting silver patterns on the leaf-littered ground. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and distant blossoms, the silence broken only by the chirr of crickets and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51W0jjkuO1
As she drew closer, she heard a low, almost reverent whisper—Ronin’s voice, carried on the breeze. “I’m sorry, friend. But I need your life to save mine.” He stood before an ancient tree, his armoured form half-shrouded in moonlight, mask glinting dully, posture solemn.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiCywFObn0
Gloria froze, heart pounding. She watched as Ronin pressed his palm to the trunk. Slowly, impossibly, the tree’s colour began to drain, its leaves curling and bark cracking as if its very life was being siphoned away. The air grew colder, the shadows deepening around him.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8LyVUSqjs
“Oh gods…” The words slipped out before she could stop them.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVaV6qHMfe
Ronin’s head snapped in her direction, his masked face unreadable but his posture suddenly tense. A faint red glow flickered behind the left eye-slit of his mask—predatory, unnatural.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNe21tmtdA
“Gloria?” His voice was sharp, a ripple of alarm and something rawer beneath. “Why are you here?”136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbb8tVHIoo
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbwsFEBOjS
Shit, I let my guard down. Ronin thinks
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3pg2aq2YG
Gloria’s training took over. She drew her sword, levelling it at him, her hands trembling but her voice steady. “Ronin… what are you? Who are you really?”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9GaAWR35a
He let out a long, muffled sigh, shoulders sagging. “You shouldn’t have followed me. I told you I was just… lightening myself.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZOVJyuFFa
“You call this lightening? Don’t lie to me!” Gloria’s voice cracked, a mix of anger and fear. “I saw you drain the life from that tree. That’s not something any normal person can do. Are you even Ronin? Or a demon?”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBvs2mAjPj
So she thinks I am a demon, I need to deescalate this situation. Ronin thought136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG2DnnJ2mC
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NNKJ2pi8T
He stepped forward, hands raised, palms open. “I am Ronin. I wish I could give you a better answer, but that’s all I have.” His voice was calm, but there was a gravity to it, a weight that made her chest tighten.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWwPAAvEgP
She hesitated, sword still raised. “That’s not enough to trust you—”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLaabvG5d7
He cut her off, a note of vulnerability slipping through the mask. “You have every right to be afraid. But I promise you, I’m not your enemy. Not now, not ever.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZUTXRJY2r
The silence between them was thick, the air heavy with the scent of dying leaves and cold earth. Ronin’s hand drifted out, not toward her, but toward the coat she clutched unconsciously to her chest.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69SKLMJ8Oi
“…May I have my coat back?” His tone was softer now, almost pleading.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrJVVnOcLt
Gloria blinked, caught off guard, and thrust the coat at him, her cheeks burning beneath her mask. “Don’t change the subject.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2C4uilanU
He accepted the coat, wrapping it around his shoulders. For a moment, he just stood there, the two of them separated by confusion and fear.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡft6wFpz7RX
“Do you… hate me now?” The words were barely audible, muffled by the mask, but raw with vulnerability.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBFZO4efS6
Gloria’s grip on her sword loosened. “No. I don’t hate you. I just—” She faltered, searching for words. “I don’t understand. And that scares me.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaDHvuXtPH
Ronin nodded, the red glow in his mask dimming. “I don’t blame you. I barely understand myself.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqfvjVetnf
A hush fell, broken only by the distant chirr of crickets and the soft rustle of leaves. The forest felt both impossibly vast and claustrophobically close.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7UqF8P3kz
He finally broke the silence. “Now that you know about this, I might as well show you the rest. Remember how my spear disappeared as I turned out of my room?” He extended his right hand, and with a shimmer, the Ramoon Spear materialized, cosmic runes glinting in the moonlight. Gloria’s eyes widened.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5ttczuGsC
“How…?” she whispered, awe and fear mingling in her voice.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUYxptC3wT
“I call it the dimensional ability,” Ronin said quietly. “It just… happened one day. I’m still learning how to use it. My left eye stores things. I wish I could explain it better.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYn8EO4qn2J
Gloria’s grip tightened on her sword again, but her voice softened. “Just—How much are you hiding? And Why tell me this? You barely know me. I haven’t even told you the full extent of my powers—and not like they’d work on you anyway.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQcrt276L4
Ronin’s shoulders slumped. “Maybe because… I want someone to know who I am, even if it’s just a glimpse.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaxWN4zuDZ
She let out a shaky breath, lowering her sword. “It’s midnight. We can talk more later. Let’s head back.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWLRxPgjFp
He nodded, turning, but paused. “By the way… how far are we from Illumin Forest?”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9miOIvxDk
She sheathed her sword, voice clipped but steadier. “Another day, maybe. We’d have been there by now if it weren’t for you.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneWvnb38GZ
He stopped, the moonlight catching the edge of his mask. “Gloria.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBM4K814uAv
She flinched. “Yes?”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgrKabPOXP
I am supposed to be her god’s father. It falls on me to protect her, but what if she thinks I am a monster?. Ronin’s mind spiral.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡui8ptIEZYd
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZB0IdXRJr
“Do I… scare you?” His voice was barely above a whisper, raw and uncertain.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL64bfJhYQr
Gloria hesitated, then nodded, her voice trembling. “You do. Who wouldn’t be?” She came out raw “Magic doesn’t work on you, runes fizzle, you’re terrifyingly good at martial arts, and you killed the demon lord without being a hero. You’re the first person since the Great Holy War to be unaffected by the curse.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ719M1sj4LO
He stared at his crystalline hand, voice shaking. “I get it. I try not to let it show, but… even I’m scared of what I’m becoming. I just hope I don’t turn into the mindless monster I was before I met the old dwarf.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhQJxKwZ5m
“You’re not a bad person, Ronin.” Gloria’s hands clenched around her armoured skirt, her voice trembling but sincere. “You’re just… lost. That happens to everyone at one point or other. That’s life.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEi8i9NA6x1
He let out a shaky breath, relief flickering across his hidden face. “Didn’t think I’d hear that from anyone but the old Dwarf.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrXCODMlXN
Instead of helping her, she is the one helping me instead. I guess I am still as useless as I was before. Ronin thinks.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtqMVt9IdZ
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8U6rFgtThz
They walked back in silence, the night air thick with unspoken questions and the scent of damp earth.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90fdIRejOu
At the edge of camp, Gloria asked, almost shyly, “What will you do if your sister forgives you?”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3lHIHTTVl
He hesitated, then spoke, voice distant but more open than before. “Maybe… repay my father and grandfather. Rebuild the family. But my hands are bloodied. I’ve destroyed more families than I can count. Sometimes I wonder if I even deserve a second chance.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxdsgiQvP5
Gloria’s tone softened, curiosity and compassion mingling. “Rebuild? How?”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQU4rGhhqF
He stared at the ground, voice rough. “Buy land, build a house somewhere peaceful. Help raise my niece. Maybe try to live a life that isn’t about running or fighting or hiding.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7CAWso3oy
“And if they don’t forgive you, or don’t want to live with you?”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9SL1GFzRS
He paused, the question hanging heavy. “I… haven’t thought about that. Maybe I’d just… keep wandering. Try to help where I can. Or disappear.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREOsF5QKpr
Gloria’s voice was gentle. “In most traditions, the eldest starts a family of his own. Marries, leads. Have you considered that?”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwD2UR7FIb
He gave a hollow laugh. “Me, marry? At this age? Oh, right… I’m back in my late twenties. Feels like a lifetime ago.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuAX7ZhJaB
She smiled, just a little, behind her mask. “You could do worse.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVYexAgCDD
He shrugged, the movement weary. “I’ll think about it after my contracts are done.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUgliaYUo8
“Contracts?” Gloria pressed.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcQlKaKJUP
He hesitated, then let the words spill. “I’m a hitman. Still have jobs to finish. Not a pretty line of work. But it’s all I know. Maybe one day I’ll be free of it. Maybe not.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDj0pNkq2n
“Must be hard,” she murmured as they reached camp.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjstLMY74Dm
Ronin didn’t reply, dropping to sit by the dying embers.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsrf2W212Z
“I’ll keep watch. You can sleep,” he said, voice soft.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjSjreTGCH
“But what about you?” Gloria asked, worry flickering in her eyes.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBrHWyShD3
“I’ll sleep during the day.” He nodded136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZhheW5ltn
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FdLAuDtIw
Gloria finally succumbed to her sleep.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccEjMOlJXi
Ronin sat awake, mind churning, trying to control the strange barrier within him. The night stretched on, silent but for the crackle of coals and distant animal calls.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GKsGvt4BA
Dawn crept over the horizon, painting the world in pale gold. The others stirred, groggy and stiff. Though the sun was not yet visible, suggesting its still a few hours before it does.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGiniJq5w5
“You were up all night?” Kade asked, eyeing Ronin’s haggard posture.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxpPL3bA7l
“Yeah. Surprised you all can sleep so soundly out here,” Ronin replied, voice flat.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRFELHJj12
“I get the newbie Wyran being out, but Gloria? You too?” Kade teased.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97AfNjzZYm
Gloria shrugged, rubbing sleep from her eyes. “I’m the leader. Ronin said he’d keep watch.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuzz1Af4PE
“He did?” Kade looked at Ronin, who just nodded.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2gFBEfx5R
“Alright, everyone, eat up and let’s move!” Gloria called, her voice regaining its usual authority.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVsKEejMZb
They packed up, mounting their horses and eating breakfast in the saddle.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVXWmmyxb9
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6CwdH49Go
Ronin sits with Jembo this time.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1q6zeK9Wf
Kade offered Ronin a loaf of bread, but he shook his head.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMfj6So7pl
“Come on, man, you can’t run on just one bowl of curry. You’ll keel over,” Kade insisted.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeisj6C7lC
“Instructor Kade’s right,” Jembo purred, tail flicking.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTKwVPRxVM
Ronin smirked. “And here I thought you were above cat clichés.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6yFgwNaVy
“We’re serious, Mister Ronin,” Furvin said, glancing back.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudOlRB4ZVH
Ronin shrugged, voice casual. “Told you, I’d eat a tree if I had to. Did so last night.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSD0Lty2a0o
Furvin snorted. “Pfft. Sure, a tree. Next you’ll say you eat rocks for dessert.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoaT8Yixqh
After a few hours had asses136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWE3Jli9ci
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTy3UrfkQw5
The sun had crested the horizon, painting the plains in pale gold, when Kade’s shout snapped everyone out of their morning lull.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUic6pYbCv
“Halt! By the Gods, look at that!” Kade pointed sharply to the east, his voice tight.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOjmeE94RI
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRz2L2QDtl
The group reined in, eyes squinting into the distance. On the far horizon, a dark, undulating mass crept across the land—skeletal banners and the glint of rusted armor catching the light.
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gi6MMTcZn
Ronin rubbed his eyes, then with a frustrated huff, unfastened his mask and pulled it off, letting the cool morning air hit his face. His hair was damp with sweat, jaw set, eyes sharp and restless. “What’s that? Looks like a moving graveyard.”
Kade’s jaw tightened. “A huge-ass army of skeletons and undead filth. Seven hundred strong, at least. Death knights, rot golems… the works.”
As Ronin squinted, his left eye tingled—vision sharpening, then zooming in with unnatural clarity. He could make out the flicker of necromantic fire in empty sockets, the shamble of bone and rotted flesh. He blinked, startled. “Huh. My eye just zoomed in. That’s new.”
Jembo gave him a sidelong look. “Your eyes zoom now? What are you, a hawk?”
Ronin shrugged, rubbing his exposed face. “I don’t know. I just focus and… it happens.”
“How did you do it?” Gloria asked, her gaze lingering on his now-unmasked features.
Ronin shot her a dry look. “Don’t ask me for a manual. I barely know how half my body works.” He turned to Kade. “How can you see them? Special eyes like mine?”
Kade’s attention flicked between the horizon and a black bird circling above the undead. “I’m scouting through my Baverian. That bird’s my eyes out there—I can piggyback its vision. That’s how I knew what was coming.”
Ronin’s lips twitched. “That’s actually cool.”
Wyran piped up, “Kade’s always had a way with beasts. Animals trust him.”
“Is that so?” Ronin mused, but before Wyran could answer, Gloria’s voice cut through the chatter.
She rode up beside Ronin, her tone all business. “We need to move. Fast. We’re not fighting that army.”
Kade was already tugging his reins. “If they spot us, we’re dead. Even the best fighters would struggle with a death knight, let alone a whole army.”
Jembo’s tail flicked, brushing Ronin’s cheek. “We’re not paid enough for this,” he grumbled.
Ronin looked at the group, then at the Greizer horses, their manes shimmering with pent-up magic. He took a deep breath, mask dangling from his hand. “You know… I’ve been thinking. We’re crawling along because of my artifact, right?”
Gloria eyed him, skeptical. “What are you suggesting?”
Ronin’s lips curled into a confident grin, his face open for the first time. “Let’s pick up the pace. If I’m not riding, your Greizers can use their wind and gravity magic again. My artifact only affects things around me in a limited radius. I can run alongside—or ahead. I’ll finally see what these horses can really do.”
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1ngdZsoG9
Kade Frowned. “Don’t kid around Ronin. We don’t have time for that. I will keep one Baverians watching over that army lets get out of this place before we get malice sickness.”136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0jFZkvxcH
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4o7wBOxVxG
Ronin’s eyes flashed, and he swung off his horse, stretching his legs. “I’m not joking, Kade. Back at Dratnir Bridge, I ran at 110 kilometers an hour for hours—carrying a dwarf, without one on my back I am sure I can out pace these steads.”136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgZR1Z5XK2
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9kPqAf3q8
The steads seem to understand as they recoil with flutters of lips.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrrFQomu1L
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJp0i0B9awF
“Now its about their pride” Kade says calming his horse “If you lag behind for even a minute, we are forcing you back on the horse back.”136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qFWmrXD6z
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnITFb2XGr
“Works for me.” Ronin says as he gets ready to blitz off.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVS3pVgPuIq
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfOHCEQ6Vi
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLu1PohYIaH
and then Add to home screen.