"Sorry, Raiden," Javier said when they began to march together. "For not talking with you in the last few days."

"You are not my girlfriend to say that kind of stuff," Raiden said. "If you have to apologize for something, apologize for not training enough in the last few days."

"I can’t apologize about that," Javier said while showing a smirk.

"It looks like we all made some progress with training," Ruth said while throwing a stone in the air and making it fall down slowly. "Still, it looks like my technique will take the longest to show any real effectiveness in battle."

"Let’s play the long game, there is no need to worry," Raiden said. "It isn’t like we will be thrown in a battlefield tomorrow."

"What is that supposed to mean? I never heard such a saying," Ruth said.

"It means patience is golden," Raiden said.

Raiden began to wonder whether his words might have inadvertently tempted fate. This sense of superstition made him more cautious about what he said, realizing that their journey ahead could be unpredictable.

Moreover, with their instructor absent from their march, Raiden noticed a newfound freedom. Without her watchful eye, there would have been no immediate consequence if they had decided to test their newly honed techniques. This realization made him acutely aware of their responsibility to handle their skills responsibly, lest their training inadvertently lead to trouble or mishap.

Raiden’s internal conflict between cautious optimism and the unpredictability of their situation added depth to their focus, setting the stage for potential challenges ahead in their training and beyond.

In any case, the group would have to walk for a few days, so perhaps his words had no real meaning... besides, it wasn’t like they were traveling particularly close to the coast.

Still, Raiden soon saw his mother talking with some warriors at night, and then they moved away from the camp... she was getting ready for something. Maybe they were scouting ahead and that would make sense since the elves and dwarves were no longer with them.

The next day, Harth told them that the trip was supposed to last five days, so that make everyone realize even more the dimensions of Lunaria kingdom. However, when the night came once again, Raiden woke up in the middle of the night with some shouts.

"Get ready to move!" Lenore shouted. "The enemies are attacking! Leave your tents behind and travel light!"

Raiden felt like he almost had a heart attack... he never woke up like that before, but soon he left his tent and found Iri doing the same with her sword in hand. They had some stuff in their tents, but soon they realized that they would have to leave it behind when they saw some warriors running away from the camp toward the closest port.

"Have the other group arrive there already?" Raiden asked while he was dashing alongside Iri.

"Most likely not... knowing Mom and Dad, he probably ordered the groups to set a camp a few kilometers away from the port towns to catch the enemies off guard.

That seemed like something Lenore would do... she didn’t have the chance to show her intelligence often, but she was showing how cunning she was when she had the chance to...

As the group ran along, their breaths labored and hearts pounding, it wasn’t long before the distant boom of cannonballs echoed through the night air. The acrid scent of the ocean mingled with the adrenaline-filled atmosphere, signaling to Raiden and his companions that Lenore had strategically led them closer to the coast without anyone realizing it.

Raiden’s mind raced with the implications of this situation. Being near the sea meant potential advantages—they could possibly secure ships to attack the enemies or use the terrain to their advantage in the ongoing battle. Lenore’s foresight became evident in this critical moment, turning what could have been a dire situation into a strategic opportunity.

Amidst the chaos and urgency, Raiden found himself both worried and awed by the unfolding events. He gripped his spear tighter, feeling the weight of responsibility that came with their unexpected confrontation. Yet, amidst the confusion and danger, a sense of confidence stirred within him, knowing that Lenore’s cunning had positioned them strategically for whatever lay ahead.

Before long, they could see the port town in flames ahead... it didn’t even take ten minutes for them to reach the place, so the messengers probably ran for around the same time. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

The veteran warriors began to show the difference in their physical skills as they began to run much faster than before... like two times of what Raiden could do at his best.

"You two, help the survivors; don’t get closer to the boats!" Harth raised his voice, showing that he was serious about that. "Stay close to your friends. Iri, you shouldn’t leave my back no matter what."

Iri was almost seventeen and she was stronger than Raiden, and she probably had more techniques as well. While Raiden felt a bit bothered by that, he knew better than to protest. It was better to show his valor with actions instead of words.

Before long, the group that was meant to guard the port town also arrived in the area and joined them. Soon, a small army of super-fast warriors arrived in the port town. From a distance, Raiden was able to see the enemies fighting the inhabitants of the place while a fleet of ships kept firing cannonballs at the buildings...

Raiden’s expression tightened with a mixture of intrigue and confusion as he surveyed the attackers. Amid the chaos of their hurried escape, he couldn’t help but notice the distinct features of the attackers. Some appeared almost human at first glance, but on closer inspection, their hybrid nature became apparent, mixing traits of animals like wolves, tigers, dogs, and cats with humanoid forms. This diversity among their foes hinted at a complex and potentially dangerous enemy force.

"They aren’t like Altria... they are a lot more beast-like," Raiden thought while furrowing his eyebrows.

The sight of these hybrids stirred both fascination and worry within Raiden. Their varied appearances suggested they might possess a range of abilities and strengths, making them formidable adversaries in combat. Raiden’s training and preparation were put to the test as he mentally cataloged potential strategies to confront such unconventional opponents. Not like he had to, after all...

"Are they ancestors of people like Harth and Altria?" Raiden wondered.

As they continued their swift advance towards the coast, Raiden’s thoughts raced. The encounter showed the unpredictable nature of their journey and the myriad challenges they faced. Nevertheless, the enemies wouldn’t be easy to deal with... Raiden could see them jumping from rooftop to rooftop like it was nothing, beheading elves and splitting dwarves like they were made of twigs.