The snow so white, a beautiful yet dangerous landscape.
I was wrapped in a scarf, with a nose reddened by the cold.
It seems like you recovered really well.
Daren spoke to me while leaning on my shoulder; he was too weak to keep walking on his own.
...I only had some inconvenience.
I had no problem helping, I just felt an emptiness in my mind.
At that moment, Liria approached and asked in a serious voice.
It was very strange, but I guess you just fainted.
...haha maybe.
"I hope that's all it is."
Not only did I feel that something was missing in my conscience, but also in my being, an indescribable void.
I felt something and realized that Elia was looking at me, as if she knew something that the others didn't, eyes as if they were searching for something.
...did something happen, Elia?
_no, nothing is happening._
She just averted her gaze, pretending as if nothing was happening.
"I hope nothing bad happens."
Liria was healing Daren, the help of a healer was too expensive, surely that's why they are so highly valued.
At that moment, Daren came up with a brilliant plan to score points.
I just came up with a new tactic! , since we know your skills Noah we can- ahk
Daren received a kick in his heel from the same lira.
You're not even fully okay, and you already want to jump into a fight, it seems you didn't learn anything from the previous confrontation.
Daren lowered his head, showing signs of defeat in the face of the truth.
"Although it is true that we have to act quickly"
Look at the group stone, the other students (hunters) had in their records group defeats, around 4 to 5 approximately.
Elia spoke in a soft voice.
_a defeated group...
She had a disappointed look on her face; I guess she cares about her grades after all.
...don't worry, there are still several days left, and if we find other hunters, we'll beat them and take their points, what do you think?
_...goob
With a brief response, the disappointed face disappeared like the footprints we left in the snow.
And where are we going?
Daren asked, I suppose he wants to know where we're going.
We are looking for other students.
Liria responded coldly, hitting the nail on the head with Daren's thoughts.
Haha ok, Elia, pass me my sword please.
Daren stood up normally, showing that he has already recovered from his injuries.
Elia pinched me and gave me Daren's sword without realizing it; it was a bit heavy.
Elia My sword?
Daren was sweating cold, Elia didn't have her sword and glanced at me sideways.
_n-noah, g-give me my sword.
Raising his hand trying to catch his sword, he had a grimace wanting to smile.
I looked at Elia for a moment, she also looked at me but at the same time she was looking towards where Daren was.
I understand what you wanted to do.
I approached Daren and spoke to him directly.
...I can't give you your sword.
Hey! Why?!
...Why? Even if you have a plan, you act recklessly.
Daren didn't say anything more, he just kept walking even though he looked a bit angry.
Elia approached and stood beside me, she had some scratches and was also holding her damaged bow.
...your bow broke.
Yes
She responded with few words, turning the atmosphere into an uncomfortable conversation.
I need to break the ice.
...give me your bow, I think I can fix it.
Elia looked at me with a confused face, but in the end, she ended up giving it to me.
I remembered the same process I used when creating the magical artifacts, because in the end, I saw that the structure of the artifact became more solid.
I don't have perfect control over mana, but I think I can fix it
I didn't have a mana stone, but maybe it will work with the mana from the environment.
What are you doing, Noah?
Daren spoke to me, but his eyes were closed, in my hand holding the bow, a light emerged outlining the body of the bow.
Where it was broken, the two parts started to come together until it looked like it had never been fractured.
...here, it should work now.
Elia received the bow slowly, but she also felt the gazes from Liria and Daren.
Both seemed surprised, especially Liria, who appeared more affected.
...what happens.
How could you put something like this together?
Eh, is it strange to join two objects? But I only did what I remembered from making wooden artifacts.
...no, isn't it normal?
_without a mana stone as a medium, it should be impossible._
So that's it, but then... How do they produce mana to perform magic?
Don't get worked up, Liria, maybe it had a very small mana stone.
Daren had a worried expression.
If he didn't want to have problems, it would be best to agree with what he said.
...yeah, I had one saved in my pocket haha.
Liria frowned.
How did they allow a swordsman to have a magic stone?
Damn, I hadn't thought of that, I need to come up with another excuse.
...this-
I can't believe that was it, it seems like you're having trouble explaining it.
Liria turned around and continued walking.
I suppose everything got sorted out one way or another.
Elia kept looking at me, but when I turned to look at her, she always averted her eyes.
She's very bad at pretending.
I looked ahead, Daren and Liria were talking, it was clear they were good friends. Elia walked beside me, holding the bow with both hands under her waist, she looked a bit cute.
Why did I feel the need? I brought my hand to her head, caressing it.
She looked at me.
...it wasn't my intention.
A beating sounded better than a report, but I was surprised, Elia did the same as me.
A rare gesture, but soothing, as if we were lifelong friends... a smile to remember.
Yes, let's do our best.
The sun shone brightly, leaving a good impression of four people and their rising relationship.
∆
On the other side of the great snowy mountain.
Grunts were heard, alerting the nearby birds.
It wasn't very different, just the same white landscape.
_Javier, back!
Luna shouted fervently, she carried a wooden staff and at the tip of it was a blue sphere.
Activating a small magic circle from the sphere, a 2-meter earth wall quickly formed behind Javier.
¡crash! A thunderous crash was heard; it was that of a wolf.
Thank you, luna!
Who exclaimed was Javier, who with a quick movement, his sword flashed a golden light, cutting through the wall of earth and the wolf behind it.
Five more wolves approached Javier, trying to surround him.
Javier sharpened his eyes, wielding his golden sword as if it were dancing, swiftly defeating the five wolves without giving them a chance.
A sharp piece of ice was shot towards Javier, but he cut it in two with his sword.
There was an ice monkey among the branches of the tree, it looked like a normal monkey, but this one had white fur and was albino. It also carried a sack on its back filled with a bunch of ice pieces.
_now you'll see.
Luna pointed her staff at the frozen monkey, summoning a blast of water in the shape of blades.
The frozen monkey was caught off guard, being filled with knives all over its body, and thus fell to the ground.
Good job, Luna.
_hehe, thanks
Javier and Luna teamed up, just the two of them, even though they had initially planned to add someone else.
I would have liked Noah to join too.
You could see Javier's sad face; Noah and he always teamed up for any activity.
Although I felt that since classes started, they had been drifting apart a bit.
_me too, but I guess it was their decision._
How do you think? How do you think? He was going to team up with us, but some girl took him away! He was going to team up with us, but some girl took him away!
Javier's frustration was palpable; he couldn't meet with Noah anymore because a third party had interfered.
_d-don't get mad, we can't do anything right now.
You're right, it's pointless to bother me now.
Calming the situation, Luna took a deep breath.
What do you mean, a woman?
Feeling a pressure in her chest, Luna didn't understand her own body.
Is something wrong, Luna?
Javier noticed Luna's strange behavior.
N-no, I'm fine.
Are you sure? I wouldn't want anything to happen to you.
Haha, you are very kind.
Luna gave a warm smile, causing Javier to blush.
_o-ok.
Javier turned his face; for him, Luna was like a radiant angel, from the tips of her toes to the last strand of her hair.
That was the relationship of these two, of two good friends.
In the distance, on a rocky cliff attached to the great mountain, an identity was observed.
Dressed in a black tunic, covering his entire face, making him impossible to identify, he had one of his hands raised touching his ear.
Sir, I located the person we are looking for.
Alright, don't do anything stupid, just watch their movements and let me know if anything happens.
_o-ok sir, but isn't my mission to eliminate it?
With a deep exhale, the other identity seemingly responded to the call.
_the person you're watching is the so-called hero, do you think you can defeat him?
N-no sir.
Alright, don't ask stupid questions next time.
The intercom closed, the identity just stayed watching Javier from the cliff.
A hero, huh?
Closing his presence with some ominous words, he vanished with the wind.
A group of heroes, it is said that people from the three continents will emerge as the chosen ones to defeat corruption (the demons), so far four candidates have appeared, but none have emerged on this continent.
Suspecting thus of one possible, Javier... the saint of the sword.
No one knows who the other person is, but it is believed that they live in the countryside, away from society.
Javier felt like he was being watched.
_¿uhm?...
Is something happening?
Luna tilted her head when Javier abruptly turned to look at a small cliff in the distance.
_no, it was nothing._
_ok, if that was all, we must continue.
Javier continued walking with Luna, not without first glancing sideways at the same cliff as before.
He had strong senses and was able to tell when something was wrong.
I'll be on alert, who knows if something will happen.
Luna was counting on her fingers.
_30-40-50, ah~, I don't know how many points we have.
He had a downcast face, the students with normal participation were unable to see how many points they had.
Who cares, let's just get more!
Javier raised his voice, intending to cheer up Luna, who was worried.
Haha, always in a good mood.
Hehe, that's me.
Both went uphill, in search of stronger monsters.
In that moment, Luna came up with a crazy idea.
_and if we venture into the mountain? , the underground monsters give more points, right?
_ehhh, do you already want to venture into the caves? , there are still several days left until the event ends, take a breather instead.
It was true that the underground monsters gave more points, but they were also compensated by their enhanced intelligence and strength, making them extremely dangerous.
_luna, the event hasn't started yet, it would be best to upgrade our equipment.
Y-you're right!
Luna was overly excited, and Javier knew it; she was always like that when it came to standing out with a good score in any area.
Not because he wanted to be the center of attention, nor to humiliate others, but to receive his father's praise.
Mr. Edmunt controlled one of the largest markets on the continent, making him someone with overwhelming economic power, although it is suspected that his father was a warrior named a hero.
A warrior who fought in the wars of 100 years ago, where an infection contaminated the fourth continent.
The surroundings seemed dull, the trees died, and it is said that from that place the moon was red, all the people who inhabited the continent were corrupted, becoming demons.
Edmunt wanted a son to honor his father's memory, but he and his wife had Luna, a cheerful little girl.
He still had hopes, when he went with his daughter to the church, to find out if he would be a candidate for hero, he was denied.
Luna wouldn't be a candidate for hero.
Of course it will!
Mr. Edmunt, calm down, maybe your daughter isn't a hero candidate but-
_but nothing!_
Edmunt's fury fell upon the church sisters, who, in a desperate decision, expelled Edmunt from the place.
Pulling his little daughter, Edmunt had veins bulging on his body, bringing his hand to his face.
The little moon watched this, she was a girl, but she knew the situation she was in.
Striving to the limit, I study, practice tirelessly, just to be accepted by my father.
Believing that standing out at Eldoria Academy would change something, but that would be harder than she thinks.
Since Edmunt set his sights on Javier.