The day quickly passed by; Asher was not that injured to begin with, and Anny''s healing has almost healed all the wounds he had sustained previously.


    Looking at his room for one last time, Asher departed as he closed the door.


    As he stepped outside, the bright light of day hit him like a warm embrace. It was a stark contrast to the dimly lit corridor of the inn, which had become his temporary sanctuary. The sun had climbed high in the sky, casting sharp shadows of the passersby on the cobblestone streets. People bustled about, going on with their daily routines, seemingly unaffected by the whispers of danger that had been haunting the town. Yet, when their eyes met his, there was a brief pause, a flicker of curiosity or perhaps fear, before they hastily looked away.


    "Hey, look, it''s him!!."


    Whispers grew into murmurs as Asher walked through the town square. It seemed like everyone knew about his encounter with the waves of monsters. The whispers grew louder, turning into hushed conversations that he couldn''t help but overhear. People pointed and talked in low voices, casting furtive glances his way.


    He hastened his steps to reach the guild. Soon after crossing some streets, the tall building could be seen.


    There he saw three people standing near a carriage waiting for him.


    "Oh, you came earlier than we expected."


    Anny greeted him with her usual warm smile, the kind that could brighten even the darkest of days. Gian and Liber, on the other hand, offered more solemn nods of acknowledgment.


    "That''s good to know."


    Asher nodded as well after seeing them. He looked at the carriage, the one used for rough travels, not like the luxurious one running in the city.


    "If now everyone is here, let''s depart as early as possible."


    Liber clapped his hand once to gather their attention towards him.


    "We''ve got a long journey ahead of us," he said with a firmness that brooked no argument. "We need to be prepared for anything. Have you got your gear, Asher?"


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Asher patted the strap of his bag, feeling the reassuring weight of his weapons and supplies. "I''m ready."


    The trio climbed into the carriage, the wooden wheels groaning under their weight as it began to roll out of the square and onto the dusty road leading out of town. The driver, an older man with a stern countenance, cracked the whip, and the horses pulled them away from the prying eyes of the townsfolk.


    "Oh! Ash I almost forgot to ask, what''s your ability? Anny told me it''s related to space, but she also didn''t know the specifics."


    Liber asked him with curiosity, as he was sitting beside Anny.


    Asher chuckled to himself, amused by the irony of the question. ''Mister, are you not asking too early? You should have waited for the mission to end.'' He thought, shaking his head slightly as he leaned back into the carriage seat.


    The leather was worn but comfortable, and the smell of old wood and horse manure filled the air.


    "Well, it is related to space as my source element, but my ability is actually weird in a sense."


    Asher began explaining his power, his voice low and measured as if weighing each word before saying it aloud. Anny leaned in closer, her eyes bright with interest, while Liber nodded thoughtfully.


    "I can actually walk in air; I call it air step."


    Asher''s revelation was met with astonishment. Anny''s eyes widened, and even Gian leaned in closer, his curiosity piqued.


    "Walk on air? That''s incredible!" Anny exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. "How does it work?"


    "Well, even if you ask me that, I also don''t know how it works properly."


    Seeing Anny in excitement, Ash felt guilty for lying but didn''t let it show on his face.


    "But the basic principle is that I manipulate the space around my feet to create a pathway for me to walk on."


    Liber looked at him, the curiosity burning brighter in his eyes. "So can you also do it for us?" he asked.


    "If you mean to make a pathway for you as well, then no, it''s not possible. I can make you stand still in midair, maybe. Anything more should not be possible."


    Asher replied, hoping they wouldn''t push for a demonstration.


    "That''s still pretty amazing!" Anny said, her enthusiasm unabated. "Can''t wait to see it in action!"


    Looking satisfied Liber also nodded.


    "What are your abilities, by the way? I know at least that Liber has fire as his source element and Anny got light as hers."


    "You probably know that I am an awakened, a rank 2. So I have got two different sets of abilities. My first ability, as you have seen previously, is to make those fire serpents that wrap the opponent and blast if needed."


    Asher nodded thoughtfully at him; he had seen it previously in Enor village.


    "And what is the second ability?"


    "Hmm, that''s a secret. When the time comes, I will show it to you."


    Liber replied with a mysterious smile, leaving Asher intrigued but not pressing further. He knew that everyone had their own pace when it came to sharing personal details.


    "And yours, Gian."


    "I will also keep it a secret for now then."


    Gian replied with a wink and a smirk, his eyes gleaming with mischief.


    Asher couldn''t help but feel a twinge of annoyance. He had just shared his most valuable secret, and yet these two were keeping theirs close to the chest. He took a deep breath, trying to push the feeling aside. It was their choice, after all.


    "Fair enough."


    Seeing his annoyed face, Anny chuckled in amusement.


    "Don''t mind them; they are just playing around."


    Looking at Anny, who tried to comfort him, Asher finally decided to relax.


    The travel after that went in a peaceful silence. Sometimes, in between jokes, they will play and small things will be talked about.


    The scenery changed quite fast as time passed. Evening soon came as they reached near the Hilo village.


    Looking at the village from afar, everything looked normal, but as the carriage reached near the village walls, marks of struggle to tear the walls apart could be seen.


    "This is not good; it seems like the monsters have been here recently."


    Asher''s voice cut through the serene quiet of the carriage. The closer they got to Hilo village, the more apparent the signs of a recent battle were. The once-sturdy wooden gates hung awkwardly on their hinges, and the cobblestone path leading to the village was scuffed and stained. The silence grew heavier, and even the chirping of the birds seemed to fade away.