Vivi stood beside her mother, her eyes locked on her father, Ravi.

"Father… I want to live with Auren and train there. Please…" Her voice trembled with both courage and fear.

Ravi raised a brow, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You want to train there, with Auren? But our Raman City has its own training methods."

Vivi shook her head furiously. "No… no, Father! Please… I want to train with Auren. Please."

Ravi glanced at his wife, searching for guidance. "What should I do?"

Her mother's voice was soft, almost a whisper. "This is your friend's city… you can't chain her heart. Let her choose."

Ravi turned toward Velmore. The elder nodded firmly. "We would love to have her here. Her safety will be our responsibility."

Ravi let out a long breath, his eyes lingering on his daughter's hopeful face. "This is a hard decision for me… but I see no reason to say no."

Before he could finish, Vivi leaped into his arms, wrapping herself around his shoulders. "Thank you, Father! Thank you so much!"

*******

Meanwhile, inside the cave, Auren and his friends sat beneath the roots of the great tree. Each bite of its fruit filled Auren with joy.

Auren (eyes widening with wonder): "I've never tasted anything like this… this is the best."

Dax chuckled, leaning back casually.

Dax: "Haha, told you. This is our favorite spot."

Nyra smirked, glancing toward the cave's mouth. Beyond it, clouds stretched endlessly, a soft rain drifting down, the wind making their clothes flutter.

Nyra: "Look outside… isn't it beautiful?"

Auren's gaze followed hers. He felt the moment sink into his heart—the clouds, the rain, the quiet peace of being here.

Auren (smiling, voice filled with hope): "This world is so beautiful, Dax. When we set sail for adventure, we'll love every view the world has to offer. One day, we'll reach that cave-water, and then… maybe we'll see what lies beyond Winland—the history, the truth, and that mythical power we're chasing."

Dax pressed his palms against his knees, rocking forward playfully.

Dax: "Yes, yes! That would be amazing."

Auren leaned slightly, watching Nyra's face as if searching for her answer.

Nyra (raising a brow): "You want me to go with you, Auren?"

Auren (softly): "How could I say no?"

She paused, then smiled faintly.

Nyra: "Well… you just got here today and somehow became friends with us already. If I don't go, this idiot—" she jabbed a thumb at Dax, "—might actually die out there."

Dax (sticking his tongue out): "Awweee, die, whatever."

She ignored him, her smile growing as she looked back at Auren.

Nyra (gently): "I think this would be amazing."

Dax leaned closer, curiosity lighting up his face.

Dax: "By the way, Auren… what's your ability?"

Auren lowered his gaze for a moment, then slowly looked up at him.

Auren: "I'm… a hunter."

Dax's eyes widened.

Dax: "Ouu, wow! But you shouldn't build it up like that, you almost made it sound scary."

Nyra smirked, brushing a strand of hair back.

Nyra: "So we have a hunter with us, huh? Well, I'm a summoner… and a little bit of an archer."

Dax: "And I—have the ability to transfigure myself."

Auren gave a faint nod, recalling.

Auren: "I saw a glimpse of it… when you saved me."

Dax tapped his knee with a grin.

Dax: "Yaa, yaa, yaa… that was just a sample."

Nyra crossed her arms, eyes glittering with challenge.

Nyra: "What if you guys show me some fight? Let's see who's better."

Dax raised his brows.

Dax: "What? Are you serious?"

Auren shifted uneasily.

Auren: "Oh… I mean, I never really fought like this before."

Dax: "No, Nyra. Auren is new, and I've been here a year. It's unfair—he might get hurt against me."

Auren smirked faintly, eyes sharpening.

Auren: "Well, leave it then… but remember, I'm a hunter. He might get hurt against me."

Dax blinked, surprised.

Dax: "You're new, you can't defeat me. Accept that fact."

Auren tilted his head.

Auren: "Are you afraid? Then it's fine."

Dax: "Enough! I'll fight. Just don't be surprised if you get hurt."

Auren: "I don't have my sword with me… but still, I can fight."

Nyra smirked and summoned her blade in a flash of light.

Nyra: "Take this." She handed it to Auren, her smile playful, though inside she thought: Interesting… this will be fun to watch.

The two stood facing each other. Behind them, the mouth of the cave opened to clouds rolling beneath and a soft light cutting through mist, making the scene almost divine.

Auren closed his eyes, whispering under his breath.

Auren: "Hunter Spirit."

Red strings of energy danced across his fingers, wrapping the sword's hilt like glowing veins.

Dax grinned and his arms twisted, shifting into two massive axes.

Nyra: "Listen, both of you—it's just a skill test. Don't take it too far."

Dax: "Charge with your might, buddy. Come!"

Auren lunged first, blade cutting the air. Dax blocked, but Auren's sudden kick sank into his stomach—only for his belly to morph into a puff-ball, soft and bouncy. Auren's eyes widened.

Auren: "What…?"

In the next instant, Dax's other arm swelled, morphing into a hulking fist.

BOOM! The strike sent Auren crashing into stone.

Dax: "Oh, Auren, leave it."

Auren staggered, one hand on the ground, catching his breath. His voice came out low and steady.

Auren: "Leave? I never learned how."

His eyes flashed open—hunter's aura flaring—and he darted forward with speed that ripped the air.

Steel clashed. Tang! Tang! Tang! Auren's hunter reflexes carried him faster, sharper, relentless. But every time he struck, Dax's body warped—axe, hammer, blade—an impossible fortress of shifting weapons.

Then, with a grotesque twist, Dax reshaped into a small beast-like monster, his fists pounding Auren like a bag of sand.

The air inside the cave was heavy, carrying the smell of wet stone and old moss. Water dripped in the distance, but near the opening high above, light leaked in. From where Nyra sat on a flat rock, she could see the fight—Auren and Dax clashing right under that opening. Behind them, clouds rolled outside, flashes of thunder cutting through, almost like nature itself was watching. For Nyra, it looked unreal, like the world had arranged this scene just for her eyes.

Dax grinned, his body shifting slightly, his skin rippling as if shadows crawled under it. "Come on, hunter, show me that spirit."

Auren breathed heavy, sweat dripping down his neck, his eyes sharp but tired. His boots scraped against stone as he pushed forward, sword flashing. Dax twisted, body half-transfiguring into something sharper, faster. When their weapons met, the sound cracked like iron striking thunder.

Nyra leaned back, chin resting on her hand, her other hand brushing her bow lazily. She wasn't going to step in—not yet. She wanted to see. The cave opening above made their fight look almost like a stage, thunder rolling behind them as if it was all planned. "Not bad," she muttered, smirking to herself.

Auren slashed again, but Dax transformed—skin hardening like steel, arm bending into a sharp blade. The counterstrike was too fast, too brutal. Auren barely managed to block, his knees sinking into the stone with the force. His chest heaved. He wasn't going to last.

Dax tapped his temple playfully, "Yaa yaa yaa, hunter. Is that it?"

Auren gritted his teeth, pain flashing in his ribs. He felt the stone floor biting into his boots, the air vibrating with thunder above. He lowered his gaze for a second, then lifted his head, eyes burning. Something inside cracked open.

The cave shook.

Nyra straightened, her smirk fading. From Auren's body, a surge of energy pulsed, hunting marks glowing faintly across his skin. His second stage. She could feel it—like the pressure of a storm crawling across her skin. Sparks burst, tiny lightning snapping around his hands.

Dax blinked, then laughed, "Finally."

Auren roared, charging forward with speed he didn't have a moment ago. His blade cut through the air, sparks flying as it met Dax's shifting arm. Thunder lit the cave, and for a heartbeat, Nyra saw both of them as silhouettes against the storm outside.

Still, it wasn't easy. Auren stumbled once, his body almost failing him. Dax pressed in, each strike heavier, his shifting form relentless. Auren's breath grew ragged, his arms shaking from the effort.

"Don't fall," Nyra whispered under her breath, eyes locked on him.

Stone cracked under their feet. Dax lunged, transforming his whole upper body into a beastlike form, claws slashing. Auren barely dodged, a cut tearing across his sleeve. His chest burned, lungs screaming—but his eyes were locked, unbroken.

With one last push, he planted his foot hard, sparks exploding from the ground. He spun, blade glowing with his storm energy, and struck. The impact flared with light, echoing like a thunderclap inside the cave.

Dax slid back, his form snapping back to normal, chest heaving. For a moment, silence. Then he chuckled, raising both hands. "Alright, alright… hunter wins."

Auren collapsed to one knee, chest pounding, sweat pouring. His victory wasn't clean, but it was his.

Nyra laughed lightly, clapping once. "Well, that was worth the view. Thunder, cave, and two idiots fighting… not bad scenery."

Auren looked up, managing the faintest grin despite his exhaustion. Dax just flopped down beside him, tapping his shoulder. Friends again, fight over.

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