The Settlement Lord sighed as he addressed their situation.
"With the second tide's encroachment, we are expecting a few beast groups overwhelmed by insanity."
"Manpower, then, would be needed more than ever. However, friend Silver is supposed to be on the field..."
"Friend Dawn, I must remind you that there will be plenty of rewards to be earned during this tide, more than the prior tide."
Dawn shook her head and rebuked.
"I suppose you have already planned how to handle this second tide with my absence?"
"If so, then it would be difficult to change the plan on the spot, without prior consideration, correct?"
"Thanks to Edifce's help, I was able to complete my duty earlier than expected, but you didn't anticipate my return this early.
"Meaning, that my further absence from now should be fine, as long as I return at the time you had planned."
"..."
This reasoning silenced the Settlement Lord.
Without any retort, he sighed and gave in.
"I guess you are not wrong. So be it. I will allow your leave, but I require you to be back by tonight's end."
"I understand. Thank you, Lord, for allowing this."
"Yes, yes. Please, take your leave now, before the tide's arrival. I will send notice to the guards surveilling the area."
Dawn and Edifice bow as they leave.
The Settlement Lord orders the young guard to deliver her message.
Receiving the two women, the young guard escorted them out of the building
The door shuts as they leave.
Left behind in his quiet study, the Settlement Lord continues to think about Dawn's sudden request.
'Even if a 'dear friend' is within that caravan, her arguments seem too well-planned...'
'There is no doubt something deeper going on, but I trust that all is safe.'
'If I were not so caught up in these tides and my Settlement, I'd go and investigate their matter myself.'
With the pressure of the tides that threaten his home, the Settlement Lord does not relent in his duties, regardless of his personal interests.
Retrieving the map, he laid it out on the table again, preparing for the final moments before the tide's arrival.
...
Dawn and Edifice returned to the area where the trade caravan was held, accompanied by that young guard.
The 'merchants' had already packed all of their gear, ready to head out at a moment's notice.
The guards stationed received the message from the young guard.
Edifice called out to her people.
"Please ensure you have left nothing behind!"
"We are moving out now, before the beast tide arrives!"
"Ensure that you are battle-ready, it can not be certain whether we'll escape from being implicated by the tide!"
At her call, the merchants aligned themselves to be ready to leave.
The surrounding guards were also ready to see them off.
Turning to Dawn, Edifice questioned her.
"Are you ready to head out?"
Dawn answered with a nod, with her Mystical Weapon in hand, and her armour bound tightly.
Edifice left with the other merchants to retrieve their beasts.
Walking up to the frontmost carriage, Dawn knocked on the closed entrance and called.
Selene opened the entrance and questioned.
"You're actually able to join us?"
"Yes. The Lord was able to grant me leave."
"And you're fine with joining us?"
Dawn understood the underlying sentiment of those words.
"Yes... The Settlement will be fine in my absence, and I will return soon enough."
"I see. Well, wanna get in?"
Dawn entered the carriage and sat beside Selene.
Laying the spear on the floor before her, Dawn tried to get comfortable sitting in her armour.
The merchants brought their beasts to pull the carriages.
Edifice also returned and tied her beast.
Looking back through a window, she quietly called out to Selene and Dawn.
"We should meet at our first location in five hours."
"I assume that's when the tide of beasts and Spirits will arrive."
"Please, do protect Selene if we do encounter a beast group. I will be responsible for these other Cultivators."
Dawn gave her a Solemn nod.
Looking back, Dawn gave the Settlement one last glance.
She was leaving. In a sense, she was abandoning her duties.
Defending the Settlement was her reason to be here.
However, defending, or at least helping, her friend was more important.
Dawn was assured that the Settlement would be able to survive in her absence, so she had few worries.
Silver Extreme was also here, personally taking action during the second tide.
Helping Selene was something she wanted to do, anyway.
Dawn was more worried for these merchants.
Most were Cultivators of low rank; even the highest among them were bottom-line Second Foundation Cultivators.
She understood how exhausting and dangerous the tides can be.
Dawn and Edifice were the only ones suitable for facing the hundreds, if not thousands, of beast groups.
Closing the entrance behind her, Dawn remained close to Selene.
They felt the carriage begin moving; they were finally setting off.
"How are you feeling about this, Selene?"
"Nervous? I'm not too sure."
"Well... I guess you should feel nervous at this moment."
"Really...?"
"Of course? This could be a big moment in your life."
Selene sighed as she realised that Dawn still didn't know of their circumstance.
To Dawn, it was merely the next step in Selene's cultivation journey.
To Selene, it was a matter of success or failure.
Not because of the beast groups that threaten them, but the situation regarding Great River Bank Settlement.
The inheritance they sought out was substantial towards the competition against the other Immortal Seeds.
Selene needs those Dao Art scriptures for her ascension to the Second Foundation.
Edifice needs the Mystical Weapon to amplify her combat strength.
Currently, altogether, they were the weakest party; second was Immortal Blade's Immortal Seeds, then Immortal Monolith's Immortal Seeds.
With this inheritance, they'd have a chance at matching, if not surpassing, Immortal Blade's group.
Selene mulled over their situation for a moment before turning back to Dawn.
She decided to clear her mind of these problems for a while.
One of her dearest friends was sitting right next to her. When would they be able to meet again?
"I never expected to see you in armour, Dawn."
"I'm only wearing this because of the tides; it was simply a wise choice."
"Is that so?"
Edifice listened from the window to their happy chatting.
Smiling faintly, she set her sights on the Settlement's boundary.
Rising off into the barren distance, she planned the first site they must visit.
Northeast to East-Northeast of Iron Mountain's divot.
A crevice which leads to a cave system.
Simply named, Mineral Caves.