A few days passed, and the group was busy preparing to leave for Tancki Valley. Mika and Carl handled the supplies, ensuring they had enough food, clothing, and medical items for the journey.

Meanwhile, in the castle courtyard, Azrael and Jarred were sparring, their movements precise and focused. Kyle sat by the doorway, cleaning his weapon as he watched them intently.

His gun, named Sovereign of Dawn, was a unique-grade firearm. Like swords, guns, shields, and armor also had different grades, each granting blessings to their wielders.

Despite using it for a long time, Kyle had yet to awaken the unique blessing of Sovereign of Dawn. He could feel, however, that he was close to unlocking its true potential.

As he meticulously wiped the barrel, Mika stepped out of the castle, arms crossed and smiling as she observed Azrael.

“I still can’t believe how quickly Azrael has improved,” she said with a hint of admiration.

Kyle nodded, his gaze fixed on the young warrior. “Yeah. He’s come a long way. I remember the first time I saw him fight. He couldn’t use the Curse Dagger for more than a few minutes. Now, he can wield it for an entire day without breaking a sweat.”

Mika smirked, her tone teasing. “Well, I’m not about to let him surpass me. It’d be embarrassing to rely on someone younger for protection.”

Kyle raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Really? Even that’s something you need to worry about? You’re not a kid anymore. Leave the competition to him.”

“Hey! I’m not competing with him,” Mika shot back, annoyed. “I just don’t like the idea of needing protection from someone younger.”

Kyle shrugged. “Fair enough. But let’s face it, he’s bound to surpass you eventually. Look at him, he’s already mastered using a cursed weapon without exhausting his mana. Not to mention, he’s figured out how to expand his mana pool from that book he read. Something even you couldn’t manage.”

Mika glared at him but stayed quiet as Kyle continued.

“Honestly, even I couldn’t do it. Expanding your mana pool sounds easy in theory, but it’s a lot harder than it seems.” He tightened his grip on Sovereign of Dawn. “And don’t forget, he comes from the Vandey family, assassins led by Dred Vandey, the fastest member of the SDS.”

Mika let out a deep sigh, conceding. “Fine, you win. Still, I’m glad he’s with us. It’s not every day you get to travel with a royal. Might as well make the most of it.”

“Mika,” Kyle called, stopping her as she turned to leave. His tone was more serious now. “What’s the plan once we manage to send him back to the South Continent? We’ve got money now. We don’t need to steal anymore. So… what happens next?”

She paused, smirking as she glanced over her shoulder. “We’ll figure it out when the time comes.” Then she disappeared inside, leaving Kyle to his thoughts.

*

The following morning, the group prepared to leave the castle. After weeks of snowfall, the weather finally cleared, replaced by warm sunlight and the vibrant bloom of plants.

Carl stood near the carriage, gently stroking the horse's muzzle. His attention shifted as he noticed the others stepping out, Mika led the way, followed by Kyle and Jarred, while Azrael lagged behind, busy packing his essentials into his empty space, including the books he’d been reading.

Carl called out, "Az! Let’s go!"

Azrael looked up, quickly walking to catch up. "Coming!"

*

As usual, Kyle took the reins, driving the carriage, while the rest settled inside.

"Hmm," Azrael mused, gazing out at the passing scenery. "It only took a few weeks for the snow to disappear."

Carl responded, "That’s the North Continent for you. The climate here is unpredictable. No one can ever say what kind of weather we’ll face next."

Azrael raised a brow, intrigued.

Carl continued, "Visitors from other continents often fall ill because of the rapid shifts in climate. But those who live here permanently have adapted to it."

Azrael leaned back thoughtfully. "Doesn't sound like the best place to live, if you ask me."

Carl shrugged. "I wouldn’t want to live here either. If I could choose, I’d settle in the Southeast Continent."

Azrael rubbed his chin. "If I remember correctly, the Southeast Continent is known for its rich farmlands. They thrive on agriculture there, with fertile soil perfect for growing fruits and vegetables."

"Not to mention, it’s the most peaceful continent," Carl added.

Their conversation faded into silence as the carriage rolled into a sprawling forest, far larger than the one near Caroline Mountain.

Kyle glanced at Mika, who was poring over a map beside him. "So, do I just keep going straight?"

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Mika nodded. "Yes, but this forest is bigger than the last one. It might take us until late afternoon or even evening if we stop to rest."

Carl leaned back. "We’ll have to let the horses rest anyway. No avoiding that."

Jarred chimed in, "Exactly. No need to rush. If we reach Tancki Valley by nightfall, that’s perfect timing for a good rest."

Mika sighed, defeated. "Why does no one ever take my side?"

Carl and Jarred chuckled, while Kyle and Azrael exchanged amused smiles.

*

Hours passed as they traveled deeper into the forest. Carl and Jarred lounged inside, taking a nap, while Mika sat up front, her eyes darting around.

Kyle noticed her tension. "Relax, Mika."

"It’s better to stay alert than to be caught off guard," she replied, scanning their surroundings.

"Suit yourself," he muttered, shrugging.

After a moment, she spoke up again. "The horses will need water soon. Let me check the map for any nearby streams."

Kyle tilted his head, listening to the gentle rustle of leaves and birdsong. "The quiet here... it feels peaceful."

Mika glanced at him briefly. "Yeah, it does," she said, then pointed to the map. "Oh! There’s a river not far from here."

"Alright, let’s head there," Kyle said, guiding the carriage toward the marked spot.

*

The group stopped by the riverbank. Mika led the horses to drink while Kyle sat on the soft grass nearby. Azrael hopped out of the carriage, catching Kyle’s attention.

“Oh, you’re awake? Thought you were sleeping,” Kyle remarked.

“Not sleeping, just reading,” Azrael replied, stretching his arms.

"One of the journals?"

“Nope. I grabbed some interesting books from the castle library. Figured they’d make good reading material for the trip.”

Kyle smirked but said nothing.

Azrael’s attention shifted to the clear river water. “Wow, you can see the fish so clearly here. We could catch some for dinner.”

Kyle stood, intrigued. "I’ll handle it with earth magic, I'll shoot them with rocks."

“Hold on,” Azrael interrupted. “If you use earth magic to shoot them, you’ll end up piercing the fish, and there won’t be much left to eat.”

Kyle frowned. “I could make smaller rocks…”

“Not necessary,” Azrael said, closing his eyes to focus. “I’ve got this.”

Kyle raised a brow. "You? With water magic?"

Azrael nodded. "Yep. Wizards don’t just summon water; we can control it too. It’s harder, but..." He closed his eyes, focusing, then opened them with determination. "Watch this."

With a wave of his hand, a sphere of water rose from the river, a fish wriggling inside it.

Kyle’s eyes widened. "Whoa! You did it!"

"Ha! Told you I could!" Azrael grinned.

Mika approached with a container. "That’s impressive," she said, smiling as Azrael repeated the process, catching more fish.

The commotion stirred Carl from his nap. Rubbing his eyes, he sat up and looked around. “Why did we stop?” He blinked at the scene before him. “Wait, are those fish?”

Azrael beamed, holding up a fish. "Look at this one, Carl!"

Kyle, not to be outdone, used his earth magic to create a small stone trap in the shallows after learning from Azrael that he can manipulate rocks, catching a large fish.

"Got one!" he exclaimed, triumphant.

"That’s a big one!" Carl pointed out, laughing.

Jarred, now awake, joined Mika on the sidelines. They watched the group’s antics with amusement, content to sit back and enjoy the moment.

The air was filled with laughter and chatter as they continued their impromptu fishing session, their earlier tension momentarily forgotten in the simple joy of the moment.

*

After catching fish, the group continued their journey through the forest. However, their fishing efforts had taken longer than expected, and nightfall crept in before they could leave the woods. They decided to camp for the night and resume their travels in the morning.

Mika sighed, her frustration evident. "I thought we’d be sleeping in Tancki Valley by now."

Jarred shrugged. "Not my fault we spent so much time fishing."

Carl crossed his arms defensively. "Hey! If it weren’t for us, we wouldn’t have fresh fish to eat tonight."

Mika raised a skeptical brow. "We already have plenty of food in the carriage, don’t we?"

"Y-yeah," Carl stammered, "but none of it’s fresh fish. It’s better to have variety, right?"

Mika pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering something under her breath.

Kyle, who had been scanning their surroundings, suddenly froze. "Wait," he said, his voice low. "I think I heard something."

The group immediately went silent, their eyes darting around the darkened forest.

Carl glanced around and frowned. "Wait... where’s Az?"

Before anyone could respond, Azrael emerged from the shadows, carrying a squirming child draped in tattered clothes.

"Put me down!" the kid yelled, thrashing against Azrael’s grip. "You don’t know what I’m capable of! You’ll regret this!"

The group stared, baffled, tilting their heads in unison as they took in the sight of the defiant child.

"Uh..." Kyle broke the silence, glancing between Azrael and the kid. "What exactly is going on here?"

Azrael shifted the child in his arms, keeping a firm grip. "Found this little one snooping near the carriage."

The kid, clearly unimpressed by the situation, tried to land a punch on Azrael but failed miserably. "I mean it! Let me go, or you’ll be sorry!"

Jarred crossed his arms and smirked. "Feisty, isn’t he?"

Mika, meanwhile, crouched to meet the child’s eyes. "What are you doing out here all alone?" she asked gently, her tone softening.

The kid’s struggles slowed, his gaze shifting between them warily. "None of your business," he muttered, though his voice held a hint of fear.

Azrael sighed, lowering the child carefully to the ground but keeping an eye on him. "Look, we’re not here to hurt you. Just tell us why you’re sneaking around."

For a moment, the child hesitated, his small frame tense as though weighing whether to bolt or speak. The group exchanged glances, silently agreeing to wait for his response.

The night around them remained quiet, save for the soft rustle of leaves and the distant chirp of crickets. The stillness was almost comforting, though the tension in the air was evident as they awaited the boy’s reply.