After the battle, Shio makes it back home. He noticed Gio standing near the lake and just looking across the lake.
Shio goes up to him.
"So you saw the heroes?" Gio asked.
"Yes."
Gio turns around to look at Shio. He noticed that Shio seems to be amazed from it.
"Shio, you should go to Sumiko. You're ready for the trials. Before you say anything, I'll be fine being here, so don't worry about me." Shio slowly turns his back at Shio and looking at the lake.
As Shio was about to say something, Gio stopped him with a hand signal. Shio heads back inside the house and prepares for his journey.
Gio was seen leaning against the wall.
"Be careful not to travel at night and remember don't spend too much money in Sumiko. And if you get there, the event should be in a big building."
Shio nods at Gio and begins to leave the house. It seems that Shio is planning to join the merchants and some adventurers to Sumiko.
Gio watches Shio walk into the distance and waves goodbye to him. Shio waves back at him and was no longer seen in the distance.
"He sure have grown and it seems that he's getting stronger as well. I hope that he will be okay without me."
Gio sighes.
Upon making it to the caravan. The caravan seems to be ready to departs to Sumiko City. Before the departure, one of the merchants announces, "Adventurers, tell me your reasons for traveling to Sumiko City."
No one answered but there was an adventurer who answered out of the blue.
"I want to become a Hero. That's why I'm going to Sumiko City. My name is Delin and I'm going to become a hero." stated Delin.
One after another, adventurers starts to state their names and their reasons. But Shio didn't seem to state his reasons or name.
As the caravan departs. Shio was riding in the third carriage which other few adventurers were also with him. Sitting next to him was a girl who didn't state her names or reasons.
Some of the adventurers in their carriage looks at the two of them. Seems that Delin was also in the carriage as well.
"So who's the two lovebirds over here," smiled Delin as he looks at the girl and Shio.
"We're not a couple, but we're here for the Trials as well," said Shio as his face somewhat starts to be red.
The girl also said the same thing but was harsher to Delin.
"Well, you guys should tell your name to us. We're just a bunch of adventurers."
"Names Shio."
"My name is Penelo."
"Well then, nice to meet you both. That's all the adventurers left in this cart. I guess that's all left to say."
As time passes. Night seems to be upon them. The merchants begins to make a stop for the night. The caravans start to set up camps and asking the adventurers for night watch.
Delin noticed that Penelo didn't help set up and walks up to her.
"Not going to help them huh, well I guess you're quite a unique one."
Penelo didn't respond back. Delin left her and helps the merchants.
As Shio was busy helping the merchants setting up camp. He noticed Penelo on top of the tree.
Some minutes passed. Camp was done set up. Food was being prepared and seems that some merchants were telling stories of their travels along with some adventurers on night patrol.
As food was done. Shio was handed a plate that seems to be soup with some vegetables on the side. Shio begins to eat it right away.
As he finished eating. He noticed that bed rolls were set up around the camp. He seemed to chose the bedroll near the campfire.
Night was upon them. Some adventurers took on night duty while others were asleep. Shio didn't volunteer for it but couldn't sleep. He laid on his bed roll looking up at the starry night sky and listening to the crackle of the campfire.
As he was still up. He noticed one of the adventurers was getting tired and told him that he would do the night watch.
The adventurer thanks him. Shio was on night watch, his mind starts to wander off. As he slowly was closing his eyes. He hears some noise near a bush.
He stood up and checks out what it was. He found nothing and goes back to sitting next to the campfire. During that night, he noticed that Delin wasn't asleep and just looking at the starry night sky.
Some hours passed. Dawn was rising and so was the sun.
"Shio, what're you doing up this late?" yawned Delin as he sit next to him.
"I couldn't sleep and so I went to be on night duty."
"Well, you could go to sleep if you want to. I'm up now."
Shio didn't respond back but seems to still be tired.
"Shio, tell me why do you want to become a hero."
"I never thought much about it. I just want to save people that's all."
"What about you Delin?" Shio asked.
"I wanted to be famous and be strong to save and protect others from harm."
The two somewhat forms a bond. In doing so, Shio starts to daydream and soon went to sleep. Delin looks at Shio sleeping.
"Shio, I hope that you and I will pass the trial for which we could be a great team if we succeed."
As the sun rises, the merchants seems to be up and prepares to leave for Sumiko City. Others were starting to wake up.
"Wake up sleepyhead, it's time to head out," said Delin as he tries to wake up Shio.
Shio opens his eyes to noticed that everyone was done packing except for him. He starts to clean up and wash up while food was being served.
Food was done and departure was set in motion.
While the trip to Sumiko City was long and had a few stop. It was still fun and it seems that nobody got hurt along the way.
The journey to Sumiko City is over. There it was Sumiko City.