Sol was preparing to leave the Euda church before Anais could follow him, but she was already at the exit.

(Anais) - Hey!

*Sigh*

(Sol) - Why do you want to come with me?

(Anais) - I talked with chosen ones and they said that someone should supervise your doings.

(Sol) - Ah. . . Right. I am still not trusted by everyone.

(Anais) - Yup.

(Sol) - I hope you are ready.

*Nod*

After everything that happened at Euda's church, the owl that left Sol and Olaf's message was a couple of days away from its next stop. It was Ryuji and Eleanor. They were training with Zeka and trying to learn more about Ryuji's powers.

*Step*

*Hit*

*Grunts*

*Drop*

(Ryuji) - Why are you so rough every time?

(Eleanor) - Because we don't know what can happen next. It would help if you are prepared for the unknown.

(Zeka) - Get up!

(Ryuji) - Can we take a break?

(Eleanor) - Fine, you shall take a break.

*Sigh*

(Ryuji) - Thank you!

(Eleanor) - After you defeat me at least once.

(Ryuji) - Come on.

(Zeka) - We can do it.

(Ryuji) - I am tired. You are a scythe, you don't need food, water, or sleep.

(Eleanor) - I'll go easy on you this time.

(Ryuji) - That's what you say every time before beating my ass.

*Zeka laughs*

(Ryuji) - Stop laughing.

*Eleanor laughs*

(Ryuji) - Both of you.

Ryuji tried his best this time and managed to corner Eleanor. She tripped over a rock and lost her balance giving Ryuji his first win in his training.

*Cheering*

(Ryuji) - I did it!

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(Eleanor) - Only because I lost my balance.

(Zeka) - Look who is making excuses now.

*Chuckles*

(Eleanor) - What is so funny?

(Ryuji) - Nothing.

(Eleanor) - As promised you are allowed to take a break.

(Ryuji) - Ah. . . I can't wait to take a shower.

Zeka transformed back into a glove and they went to a town near their training ground. Their new training ground was near a mountain. There was a small town nearby with a couple of people making their living off the mining. The main attraction for people passing through the town was a place with thermal water.

Ryuji and Eleanor went there to relax. On their way to the place with thermal water, they saw a cart upside down on the road.

(Eleanor) - What happened here?

(Villager) - A griffin attacked me and took my horse.

(Ryuji) - Do you need help getting back to the town?

(Village) - If it is not too much to ask, I would need some help.

Ryuji helped get the cart back on its wheels and Eleanor helped the villagers gather the goods that got scattered from the attack. Then they helped push the cart in the town. When they arrived the villager wanted to pay them for their help, but Eleanor refused and went to the tavern.

(Tavern Master) - How can I be of service to travelers?

(Eleanor) - We heard about a griffin roaming around those parts.

(Tavern Master) - Yes. We made a request a couple of weeks ago, but no one came. It is a remote zone and not many adventure through those parts.

(Eleanor) - Is there a bounty or something up for whoever gets rid of the griffin?

(Tavern Master) - I don't want to be disrespectful m'am but a griffin is strong.

(Ryuji) - The appearance is deceiving, I know, but she will manage.

The Tavern Master pointed towards a board at the end of the tavern, where villagers were asking others for help. Between all the papers there was the one with the griffin. The bounty for killing it was not a big one, but Eleanor considered this as a final test for Ryuji training. They returned to the Tavern Master with the paper and accepted it.

(Tavern Master) - I wish you the best of luck in your hunt.

(Ryuji) - Thank you!

Eleanor got a room with two separate beds for the night and left the place with thermal water for when they would finish with the griffin. Ryuji couldn't sleep and went outside to take a walk. It was peaceful in the town. There was something that disturbed the silence, that was the griffin roar that everyone in the village could hear.

The griffin had his nest somewhere on the mountain. Usually, the griffins were peaceful creatures living in remote areas, such as this, but they would not go hunting so close to civilization. Ryuji went back inside to find Eleanor with her hands crossed and looking at him speechless.

(Eleanor) - Where were you?

(Ryuji) - I was taking a walk.

(Eleanor) - Didn't you cry about how tired you were during our training?

(Ryuji) - I couldn't sleep thinking about the griffin.

(Eleanor) - Do you know anything about griffins?

(Ryuji) - I only saw them mentioned in books. But there were not a lot of details.

(Eleanor) - They are a rare creature a breed between an eagle and a lion.

*Shocked*

(Ryuji) - You mean. . . ?

(Eleanor) - Not in that sense. Its body is half eagle and half lion. One of them being the king of the sky and the other king of the jungle.

(Ryuji) - Have you seen one before?

(Eleanor) - No, they are rare, and I haven't heard one approaching civilization like this one.

(Ryuji) - What could have happened that caused this?

(Eleanor) - That's what we are going to find out tomorrow. Now get to bed.

Ryuji jumped in bed and they both went to sleep. Early in the morning, people were yelling outside. Eleanor went to see what happened while Ryuji was still asleep.

(Eleanor) - Excuse me, what happened?

(Young Man) - The griffin attacked the farm in the town, taking one of the cows.

(Eleanor) - Has this ever happened before?

(Young Man) - Never. It is the first time.

(Eleanor) - It will probably be the last time as well.

(Young Man) - What makes you say that?

(Eleanor) - We are going to handle the griffin.

(Old Woman) - You are out of your mind lady.

Eleanor went back into the tavern and woke Ryuji. They prepared and went to the mountain. The path was steep and there was no sign of the griffin nest. The mountain was quiet. No sign of movement. Ryuji started to think that the griffin left. And when they prepared to descend back in the town a roar broke the silence and made some rocks fall from the peak of the mountain.