Orano and Caitrin raced through the city streets, their hearts pounding in their chests. The Bona, despite its immense size, moved with astonishing agility, leaping over obstacles with ease.

Caitrin gasped for breath, her lungs burning. "They're too fast," she muttered to herself. "Why did we encounter this creature now of all times? And how did it even get here?"

Orano, his grip tightening on his sword, remained focused. "If I make a wrong move, it could regain its strength," he thought. "I have to wait for the perfect moment."

As the Bona slowed, Orano prepared to strike. But just as he was about to leap, a blinding flash of purple lightning illuminated the sky. The Bona let out a pained roar, its powerful body shuddering.

The lightning struck again and again, each bolt more intense than the last. Finally, the creature collapsed to the ground, its body marked with deep wounds.

Caitrin caught up to Orano, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "I finally caught you," she said, panting. "I saw a flash of light back there. What was that?"

Before Orano could respond, a figure emerged from the shadows. A young woman, her sword resting on her shoulder, stood atop the fallen Bona.

"So you came all the way here to hunt creatures, huh?" she taunted, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Rookie."

It was Nijimura Rai, her grin widening as she looked at them.

As Caitrin recognized Nijimura Rai, a wave of surprise washed over her. "Her again?" she muttered to herself.

Orano, his expression hardening, turned to Rai. "What are you doing here? And why is the creature running amok?"

Rai shrugged nonchalantly. "I was just passing through, looking for a challenge. One of the merchant's creatures escaped and started causing trouble. Since I was the closest thing to a hunter in the area, I took care of it. It's a good thing it had a decent bounty, but it gave me a run for my money."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

She glanced at Orano with a smirk. "Maybe if you'd been a bit faster, you could have claimed the reward. But looks like I won this round."

Orano studied the fallen Bona. "The creature and the reward are yours," he said. "I don't need them. But I'd like to take one of its horns. They have healing properties."

Rai was taken aback. "You chased this thing all over town just for the horns?" she asked, her tone laced with disbelief.

"That's all I need," Orano replied, his voice firm.

Rai sighed. "Fine. You can have the horns."

She stood up, her swords glinting in the sunlight. "Now that I've dispatched the creature, it's time to collect my reward. Good luck on your journey. But be warned, there are far greater dangers ahead than mere beasts."

With a final glance, Rai vanished into the city, her figure disappearing like a wisp of smoke.

Caitrin watched her go, her mind racing. "Can you believe we met her here?" she asked Orano. "It's not been long since we left the creature hunter ceremony."

As Caitrin spoke, Orano's gaze wandered across the cityscape. "I didn't expect to see her here either," he mused. "But the interesting thing is, she led us here."

Caitrin's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice filled with confusion.

Orano pointed towards a towering structure. "Look there."

Caitrin turned to follow his finger and gasped. The clock tower, their destination, was directly opposite them. It was the same clock tower she had seen in her vision.

"This was easier than I thought," she said, a mix of relief and disbelief in her voice.

They ascended the tower, their hearts filled with anticipation. From the summit, the city stretched out before them, a breathtaking panorama of color and activity. Caitrin was captivated by the city's beauty, but Orano's focus remained on the Rift.

As they gazed upon the Rift, Caitrin noticed something peculiar. "I saw this place before," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "It's the city of Reues in Vurudora."

"Exactly," Orano replied. "We both saw the same location. It's the most famous city in Vurudora."

Caitrin's confusion deepened. "This is the second time this has happened," she said. "Why does the Rift keep showing us the same places?"

Orano shook his head. "I don't have an answer for that," he admitted. "Given everything we've experienced, the Rift's mechanics are likely quite complex. With further investigation, we might uncover the reason."

He turned his attention to the city below. "Before we go any further, you were planning to sell your necklace at an auction, right? We should inquire about the details first."

Caitrin slapped her forehead in frustration. "You're right! How could I forget?"