After a brief rest, Julian sat quietly, the flickering fire casting shifting shadows across his face. Opposite him, Gumble sat cross-legged, his expression as cold and unreadable as stone. He broke the silence first.
"Why did Lord Mondrick send you after us?" His voice carried no warmth, only blunt curiosity.
Julian met his gaze without flinching. "He ordered me to head to the place where wind-element beasts gather the most. He told me to ask you to guide me."
At that, Gumble exhaled heavily, almost in disbelief. "Heading into a nest of wind beasts isn't easy. For someone at your level, it's nothing short of suicide."
The fire cracked. Silence stretched between them. Julian's tone, however, was steady, unwavering. "Tell me."
Gumble studied him for a long moment before finally shaking his head. "Very well. I'll tell you once we reach our destination in the west. I don't know the exact locations myself."
Julian only nodded in response, wordless yet resolute. Soon after, the group rose from their brief rest and pressed onward into the darkened road, their steps heavy with unspoken tension.
In Newsouth City, life surged in chaotic waves. Streets overflowed with merchants shouting over one another, the markets alive with color and noise. Once a modest town, Newsauth had swelled into a sprawling hub after the catastrophe, chosen as the base of the Rox Alliance. But its expansion had been reckless—its streets were crooked, its order fragile, and beneath the surface, unrest simmered.
Within the alliance's great hall, tension was thicker than the air. Dozens of key figures gathered around a vast table, all eyes on the man at its head—Manuel. His stern gaze swept the chamber before he spoke.
"You all know the problems that threaten the alliance's stability." His words cut sharply, silencing the room. "With the loss of several promising talents, the strength of our next generation weakens by the day. Meanwhile, rival alliances grow bolder, expanding faster than us."
His fist slammed against the table, the sound echoing like thunder. Fury twisted his face as he growled, "The other alliances have announced a competition—a test of strength for the young, a showcase of the next generation. I have received our invitation, and refusing would brand us as weak." His voice rose into a roar. "So double the training. Triple it if you must! I want talent strong enough to crush the opposition—and I want it fast!"
The hall trembled beneath the weight of his anger. No one dared to argue. Instead, as if compelled by a single will, the gathered officers rose in unison, bowing deeply in obedience to Manuel's command.
Later, in the quiet of the corridor, Nua waited for him. When he emerged, she stepped forward, curiosity written across her face.
"Father," she asked, "what's this about a competition?"
Manuel's features softened slightly as he regarded his adopted daughter. "It's a contest between the alliances across the continent. Only those under twenty may enter."
Nua's eyes lit up with eager determination. "Then… can I join?"
He recognized the glint in her gaze and sighed, replying firmly, "You may. But on one condition—you will train under me, from now on."
Her smile faltered for a moment, disappointment flickering across her face. But then, her lips curled into a wide, excited grin. "Agreed!" she said with renewed energy, her voice ringing with youthful resolve.