After an hour of walking, Orano and Caitrin finally encountered a man driving a horse-drawn carriage. To their relief, he was also headed to Nethilor. They inquired if they could join him, and he agreed.

With a means of transportation secured, all that remained was to await their arrival in Nethilor.

------(A Few Days Later)----(Nethilor)------

Nethilor was a city of arid landscapes and sparse population, yet it served as a vital warehouse for the Kingdom of Faye. Essential supplies were often left and stored here after long journeys, making it a crucial hub.

Upon their arrival, Caitrin was once again plagued by aching bones. "I thought I'd get used to it by now," she grumbled sarcastically.

Orano, however, remained energetic and focused. He examined the compass, his expression intense. "The compass is reacting to magical energy. That means we're close. It resembles the place I saw in the rift, but I can't spot the rocky area."

"Let's ask at the nearest shop," he suggested, turning to Caitrin.

"Aren't you getting a little tired?" she retorted.

Ignoring her question, Orano continued walking. They eventually found a bar, approached the bartender, and explained their situation. "Do you know how to find the place we're looking for?"

"It's not far from here. You can walk there. But that's not your biggest concern," the bartender replied.

Caitrin's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"We've been facing a serious problem lately. We have a specific route for transporting supplies, and people from other places use that route as well. But recently, a dangerous creature appeared and attacked our carriages. Fortunately, there weren't many casualties, but we lost a lot of supplies, and the creature is still out there. Despite our attempts to eliminate it, we haven't been successful in rescuing our supplies."

Caitrin's face paled as she muttered, "A creature? Again?"

Orano turned to the bartender. "We'll deal with the creature. But I need more information about the place you mentioned."

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The bartender's eyes widened. "Wait, you're going to fight it? That creature is incredibly dangerous, even for experienced adventurers!"

Orano was undeterred. "For some reason this creature sounds intriguing, exactly which way we should go."

The bartender sighed reluctantly. "It's located east of here. But I urge you to proceed with caution."

Orano nodded and turned to leave. Caitrin caught up with him, her voice filled with fear and anger. "Hey! Are we really going to fight another creature? This is the fourth time! How many more will we face?"

"Do you remember the creatures we encountered in the previous kingdoms?" Orano asked.

"Yes, I do. But why are you asking?"

Orano gazed at the sky. "Snakes, Pertingers, and the Eirin we saw before. These are just a few of the 'Extremely Dangerous' creatures listed by the Royal Society. Others include the Tigo, which I mentioned, the Bona, a bull-sized creature with goat-like horns, and the most dangerous of all, dragons."

Caitrin scoffed. "They all sound dangerous."

She paused, her expression thoughtful. "I didn't know they were real. I saw them with my friends when I was little, but I'm pretty sure I saw a dragon years ago."

"Each creature has its own strengths and weaknesses," Orano explained. "For example, an Eirin is faster than a dragon, but it can't match the dragon's power. The same goes for a Tigo. Although they are slow, they possess immense strength."

Caitrin's voice trembled. "And we're going to search for a Tigo right now, right?"

"Exactly. Let's go," Orano replied.

After a fifteen-minute walk, Orano and Caitrin arrived at a rocky hill. Despite the recent end of winter, the heat was intense, and the hill was eerily quiet.

They found scattered remains of horse-drawn carriages and supplies, evidence of a recent attack. Orano crouched down to examine the debris. "As the bartender said, these items have been here for about a week. The decaying food indicates the creature is still nearby. We must be cautious."

Caitrin nodded, and they continued their search. The scattered remnants made it difficult to find clues leading to the creature. Orano focused on gathering evidence, while Caitrin approached one of the carriages.

Inside, she found spare clothing, water bottles, and a necklace. It seemed designed for passengers. The other carriage contained food supplies and mines, suggesting it was for transporting goods. Frustrated by the lack of useful evidence, Caitrin moved on.

The silence was unnerving, and there were no signs of people or animals. The absence of clues made Caitrin increasingly uneasy. They needed to be quiet and cautious.

As her confusion deepened, she stumbled upon a peculiar sight: claw marks on the rocks. These were no ordinary animal scratches; they were enormous.

Caitrin's eyes widened. "It was here. But where did it go?"

She examined the other rocks but found no more marks. The single claw mark suggested a limited hiding area.

Her confusion grew. As she turned to continue her search, she felt a chilling sensation. Someone was watching her. The feeling was unsettling, and it persisted. Caitrin slowly turned around, her fear mounting.

To her horror, she saw a Tigo standing atop a rock, its eyes wide with anger, staring directly at her.