Leaving Nexus, the capital, was the easy part—or so I’d thought. I set my sights westward, heading toward the Nature Clan. Out of all the clans, they’re the most amicable to humans, largely because we supported them during their revolution against the Mystic Clan centuries ago. It’s a fascinating bit of history, actually. Back then, the Mystics were united under a single set of rules and ideals. But the two leaders of the clan—one a Phoenix, the other a Dragon—had a disagreement about whom to back during the Second Great War.

The Phoenix King sided with the Alpha Ninf, who had this absurd vision of ending death altogether (as if mortality wasn’t already enough of a mess), while the Dragons supported the status quo and the other Alphas. When the war ended, the Dragons, ever so clever, broke off and formed the Nature Clan, complete with their shiny new laws, government, and a reputation for neutrality. I figured their neutrality with the Alphas would make them the perfect place to begin my mission.

My first stop was the city of Victorie—a quaint little human settlement whose economy thrives on trade with the Nature Clan. They call themselves the "City of Love," which is terribly fitting for two reasons. First, because the Second Great War ended there, ushering in this so-called “era of peace” (which, let’s be honest, is debatable). And second, because they allow every species to live there. Yes, every species. It sounds lovely in theory, doesn’t it? A beacon of harmony and diplomacy. But in reality, politics muddy the waters, as they always do.

Some species simply don’t get along. Be it from wars or centuries-old grudges, there’s always something. Take the elves, for example. Most humans can’t stand them—something about their exclusivity and reluctance to trade or communicate. Personally, I don’t share those prejudices. As humanity’s most brilliant representative (if I do say so myself), I hold the philosophy that respect and diplomacy require us to treat all beings as equals. Of course, that doesn’t stop me from believing humanity is inherently superior. We are the pinnacle of creation, after all.

That said, there is one species I absolutely detest—but I’ll save that rant for another day.

Now, as I strolled through Victorie, soaking in the sights and mingling with the diverse crowds, I realised I’d made a rather glaring oversight: I wasn’t carrying a single coin. Normally, this wouldn’t be an issue. I could easily declare my noble heritage to any merchant, and they’d be falling over themselves to fund my righteous cause. But alas, this was a stealth mission. No grand declarations. No revealing my identity.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

After all, I hadn’t exactly left Nexus under formal circumstances. It was more of an… escape. My mother, Mari, would have never let me leave if she’d known my true intentions, so I slipped away under the cover of darkness. By now, I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire army was out looking for me.

With no money and no desire to stay in Victorie, I decided to press on toward the Nature Clan’s lands. Famished and exhausted, I convinced myself it wouldn’t be a problem. I’d hunt for food and camp in the forest. Simple enough, right?

Wrong.

As it turns out, I’m dreadful at hunting. I tried fishing with a makeshift net—no luck. I attempted to catch wild animals using spells to sneak up on them while invisible, but I couldn’t find anything. Well, not anything. I did spot a rabbit, but the blasted creature dodged my attack (even while I was invisible, mind you) and vanished into a hole. I couldn’t even dig it out—not even with an explosion spell.

By the time night fell, I was hungrier, more tired, and thoroughly annoyed. I set up a campfire and prepared to collapse from sheer exhaustion when I saw her.

She was a girl—young, not very tall, and, dare I say, rather pretty. She looked about my age, perhaps a bit younger. What struck me most was how she seemed to glow in the dark. At first, I thought it was a trick of my weary mind, but no—it was real. She was literally glowing.

I could barely speak, but before I could utter a word, she placed a finger on her lips and smiled, as if telling me to stay silent.

“You look tired,” she said, her voice playful and lilting. “So you don’t need to say a thing! It was really funny watching you fail miserably at catching food today.”

She giggled, clearly enjoying herself, which was terribly humiliating for me, considering I could barely move.

“But don’t worry!” she continued, still grinning. “I’ve got you covered. Think of this as a treat for entertaining me today, hehe~.”

She set a basket beside me and gave me one last radiant smile before retreating into the night. Summoning what little strength I had left, I managed to ask, “Who… who are you?”

She glanced back, her glowing form almost angelic against the darkness. “I’m Zoi! And if you keep being this fun to watch, we’ll meet again.”

The next morning, I woke up convinced it had all been a dream—until I saw the basket. Inside was an assortment of baked goods, still warm and impossibly delicious. I had no idea who Zoi truly was or why she’d helped me, but I was too hungry to question it.

After finishing the meal, my strength restored, I resumed my journey toward the Nature Clan.