Chapter 191 – Into the Grey Veil
Chapter 191
Into the Grey Veil
Date : Day 3 of Frostfall 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
After everyone had boarded, Holley stepped onto The Sailer as well. The ferryman made his way to the steering position at the stern before beginning to operate the ship.
Not long afterward—The Sailer gently swayed. The hull slowly drifted away from the dock before turning toward the broad Akela River. Then, almost silently, the ship began moving.
Hyoren's eyes widened slightly.
So fast…
The ship accelerated smoothly across the river, reaching a speed comparable to the fast ferries he remembered from Earth. Yet what surprised him even more was how effortlessly it moved. It almost seemed as though the ship was gliding over the water.
Even if they were traveling downstream, the speed still felt unusually fast.
Hyoren quietly looked around.
Unsurprisingly, no one seemed interested in sitting inside the passenger cabin. The excitement of a new journey was simply too great. Especially after ten days of cooped inside the dungeon.
Jackey had already rushed to the bow of the ship. His tabby cat tail spiraled happily behind him as he enjoyed the cold wind blowing against his face.
Somewhat unexpectedly, Arianna had joined him.
She stood beside the Cat-clan Beastkin, one hand holding the brim of her wide-brimmed hat while the other tried to tame her fluttering crimson hair. Unlike her usual composed expression—a peaceful smile rested upon her face.
She appeared to be chatting with Jackey about something. Perhaps, she was telling him about the Akela River. Or maybe explaining Riverville Town before they arrived.
Then again, considering it was Jackey.
He probably just asked whether the fish and prawns there taste good…
Hyoren couldn't help smiling. A quiet chuckle escaped him.
His gaze shifted toward the other side of the ship.
Ina and Elise were standing beside the railing. Neither of them spoke. Instead, they simply rested their arms on the wooden guardrail while quietly admiring the scenery flowing past.
Hyoren smiled. He slowly walked over as well.
The harbor of Akela City gradually grew smaller and smaller behind them.
Soon, the bustling docks disappeared from view. Only the broad Akela River stretched ahead, while open grasslands extended along both riverbanks beneath the cold light of the silver sun.
Hyoren stepped closer to the railing.
The river drifted quietly beneath the ship as he silently enjoyed the passing scenery for a while.
***
The three of them continued enjoying the scenery in comfortable silence.
Only the gentle sound of the river and the cold wind accompanied them as The Sailer steadily glided along the Akela River.
After a while, Ina turned her head toward Hyoren.
The moment she did, the wind caught her shoulder-length brown hair, sending it fluttering wildly across her face.
"Ouch..."
She quickly raised a hand to brush the stray strands away.
Elise immediately noticed. Concern appeared in her emerald eyes.
"Ina. Your hair has gotten much longer now."
She smiled gently.
"Have you thought about tying it up?"
Ina gave a helpless smile. Her cat ears twitched once.
"Hmm….I've never grown my hair out before. I've always kept it short."
Hyoren quietly listened beside them.
He knew exactly why Ina had suddenly decided to grow her hair. It had started after she overheard him complimenting Elise's waist-length, silky silver hair.
He had already reassured Ina afterward. He told her that he loved her regardless of her hair length. That even with short hair, her soft brown hair and fluffy cat ears were still pleasant to touch.
But, Ina's competitive spirit was simply part of who she was. Once she had made up her mind, there was no changing it.
From that day onward, she had begun growing her hair. She had even bought hair-growth potions to help it grow faster. Unfortunately, since she had never had long hair before, she was still getting used to taking care of it.
Elise smiled knowingly after hearing Ina's answer.
"You'll have to take better care of it. Long hair needs much more attention than short hair."
Ina nodded weakly.
"I've already started realizing that..."
Without another word, Elise reached into her own storage bag and took out a small white ribbon.
"Come here."
Ina obediently stepped closer.
Elise gently combed through her brown hair with her fingers before skillfully gathering it together. A moment later, she tied it into a neat low ponytail behind Ina's neck. The wind still played with a few loose strands, but the rest of her hair no longer fluttered wildly.
Elise smiled with satisfaction.
"There. Much better."
Ina reached back to touch her newly tied ponytail.
She then glanced toward one of the passenger cabin's windows, using the glass to look at her reflection.
A small smile spread across her face.
"Thank you, Elise."
She looked at Elise's own hairstyle before chuckling softly.
"Now we're matching."
Elise gently flicked her own silver ponytail, which was tied with a green ribbon.
"That's true. We're matching now. Fufufu."
Hyoren quietly watched his two lovers interacting with one another.
A warm feeling spread through his chest. The two of them had never truly quarreled. Never argued. Whenever one of them needed help, the other would naturally lend a hand.
Of course, they still teased each other from time to time. Sometimes bickering. But it was always harmless. And not last long.
Seeing the two women getting along so naturally, Hyoren couldn't help smiling.
He quietly turned his gaze back toward the endless grasslands stretching alongside the Akela River. The cold wind brushed across his face as The Sailer continued its journey.
I really am blessed… And incredibly lucky…
After finishing inspecting her newly tied ponytail, Ina smiled in satisfaction and gave a small nod. Then she turned toward Hyoren.
Hyoren immediately noticed. She had been about to ask him something before her hair going wild.
"What is it, Ina?"
Ina smiled.
"I wanted to ask you something."
She rested both hands on the wooden railing while her cat ears twitched lightly.
"Is this your first time riding a ship?"
She giggled.
"Nyahaha. I've been noticing your curious expression ever since we departed."
Elise also stepped back beside the railing.
Now, Hyoren stood between the two women. Ina on one side. Elise on the other.
Elise smiled teasingly.
"Ina is right. You've been looking around the entire time."
She covered her smile with one hand.
"Like a child who just got a new toy. Fufu."
Hyoren scratched his cheek with an embarrassed smile.
"Is it really that obvious?"
He laughed awkwardly before nodding.
"I've ridden ships before. But that was back in my old world. So at least I'm already used to the swaying… The wind… And everything else."
Ina nodded with interest.
"Hoo… Then why have you been looking around like such a curious cat?"
Hyoren smiled wryly.
"Because I'm curious about how this ship moves."
He gestured toward The Sailer.
"The ships in my old world moved using sails… Or engines driving propellers.. Or paddle wheels. Some even relied on oars."
He glanced toward the river flowing past them.
"But I can't find anything like that on this ship."
Elise smiled softly.
"Fufufu. You forgot already, Hyoren? I think you've asked this question before."
Hyoren blinked.
"Huh? Really?"
Elise nodded.
"Yes. The first time we arrived at Akela City."
Hyoren's eyes widened slightly.
A forgotten memory slowly resurfaced. Back then, he and Elise had been waiting in line outside the Gate of Guts.
He had only just survived an entire month inside the Forest of No Return.
His appearance had been completely different. He wore crude leather armor he had crafted himself from Horned Rabbit. His hair had grown long and unkempt. A thick beard covered much of his face.
While waiting to enter Akela City, he had noticed ships gliding upstream along the Akela River.
Unable to understand how they moved, he had asked Elise the exact same question.
"I see..."
Hyoren scratched his cheek again.
"How did I forget that?"
Elise gently tucked a loose strand of her silver hair behind her pointed ear.
"Fufufu. So many things have happened since then. It's only natural that you forgot a small detail like that."
She smiled apologetically.
"And besides… I don't actually know the exact mechanism either. I only know that it works through magic. So neither of us thought much about it afterward. It simply became one of those passing questions that was easy to forget."
Hyoren nodded in understanding.
"I guess you're right.”
Ina leaned forward against the railing, her eyes following the river ahead.
"I can answer that!"
Hyoren turned toward her.
"Please do, Ina."
Ina nodded.
"All ships in Akela indeed move using magic. The exact mechanism..."
She scratched her cheek with a wry smile.
"Or what kind of runes are used… I don't know either."
She raised a finger.
"But generally, they use magic tools to compress water and then eject it behind the ship. That pushes the ship forward."
Hyoren narrowed his dark eyes.
Compress water... then eject it...
His thoughts immediately connected the explanation with something from Earth.
It's basically using the same principle as water-jet propulsion...
The idea surprised him. However, he kept the thought to himself and allowed Ina to continue.
Her amber eyes drifted toward the endless grasslands stretching along both banks of the Akela River.
"Ships in the past really did rely on sails and oars, Hyoren. But nowadays, sails are mostly used only on large ocean-going ships."
She tilted her head.
"As for propellers or paddle wheels..."
She smiled awkwardly.
"I've honestly never heard of them. Are those mechanisms from your old world?"
Hyoren nodded.
"Yeah. The ships in my old world also gradually stopped relying on sails. They mostly use engines now."
He paused, trying to organize his thoughts.
"How should I explain it… I'm not exactly an expert in machinery either..."
Even so, he tried his best.
He explained how fuel was burned inside an engine. How combustion generated power. How that power was transferred into rotating a propeller beneath the ship.
"And the spinning propeller pushes against the water… Which moves the ship forward."
By the time he finished, both women wore the same blank expression.
Elise blinked.
"I didn't understand any of that..."
She turned toward Ina.
"What about you?"
Ina slowly shook her head. Her cat ears swayed gently from side to side.
"Me neither."
Then she laughed.
"But thanks for explaining anyway!"
She clapped her hands once before continuing.
"Anyway, Hyoren. Nowadays, large ships in this world still rely on sails. Of course, they don't completely depend on the weather anymore. They use wind magic tools to guide and strengthen the wind, making voyages much more reliable."
She glanced around The Sailer.
"But… I'm not really sure why this kind of propulsion isn't used on larger ships as well."
Hyoren smiled faintly.
He thought he understood the reason. Although he wasn't an engineer, he knew a little about water-jet propulsion. It worked exceptionally well for relatively small and fast vessels. However, for enormous cargo ships or ocean-going vessels carrying massive loads, it became far less practical.
Perhaps, that was why the people of Kresneger still relied on magically assisted sails for long-distance sea travel.
After thinking for a moment, Hyoren voiced his guess.
"I can only speculate… But maybe that kind of propulsion simply isn't suitable for really large ships. Perhaps the ships become too heavy for the mechanism to power."
Ina nodded thoughtfully.
"That does sound possible."
Neither of them could say for certain.
Without knowing the actual runic mechanism behind the magic tools, it remained nothing more than speculation.
The conversation naturally came to an end. Their curiosity had been satisfied, at least for now. Once again, silence settled over the deck.
***
The three of them simply stood together beside the railing, quietly admiring the vast grasslands and the flowing Akela River as The Sailer continued its swift journey toward Riverville Town.
Time quietly passed.
The scenery flowed endlessly beside the river as the ship continued downstream. Gradually, Hyoren noticed the landscape beginning to change.
The endless grasslands that had stretched along both sides of the Akela River slowly disappeared.
Instead, the riverbanks became noticeably lower. The solid grassy shores gave way to shallow, waterlogged ground where clear water pooled beneath clusters of reeds and dense aquatic plants. Small patches of marsh grass swayed gently under the cold breeze.
Farther ahead, unfamiliar trees began appearing.
Unlike the tall trees found in forests, these were shorter, with broad roots spreading across the saturated earth. Some roots disappeared beneath the shallow water, while others twisted above the muddy ground before sinking back into the marsh. The deeper they traveled, the more numerous those aquatic trees became.
Soon, they formed scattered groves stretching across the flooded landscape.
The air itself seemed different. Cooler. Heavier. A faint scent of wet earth mixed with river water drifted through the breeze.
Hyoren narrowed his eyes.
Is that the fog…
In the far distance, a thin layer of pale mist floated silently above the marsh.
It wasn't thick enough to hide the scenery completely. Instead, it drifted lazily between the trees, giving the distant wetlands a quiet, hazy appearance.
The farther the marsh stretched, the denser the mist seemed to become.
"Hoo..."
Hyoren looked toward the changing landscape.
"We're almost at our destination?"
He gestured toward the scenery ahead.
"These are the Greyveil Marsh?"
Ina followed his gaze before nodding. Her brown hair and newly tied ponytail swayed gently in the river breeze.
"Yes… But I think we're only at the edge of it."
She looked back at Hyoren.
"Not the proper marshland yet."
Her amber eyes turned toward the seemingly endless wetlands ahead.
"The Greyveil Marsh is enormous. Our destination is still quite far. Riverville Town lies much deeper inside. We'll pass several riverside settlements before reaching it."
Hyoren nodded in understanding.
"I see..."
Beside him, Elise rested both hands on the railing as her emerald eyes swept across the unfamiliar scenery.
"These are only the outer edges..."
She quietly watched the drifting mist weaving between the aquatic trees.
"Yet it already feels so gloomy…"
The gentle smile on her face faded slightly as she took in the silent wetlands ahead.
The broad grasslands behind them had long disappeared. Now, only the endless marsh stretched before The Sailer, while pale mist drifted silently over the flooded wilderness, giving the Greyveil Marsh an atmosphere that felt quiet, ancient, and strangely mysterious.
***
Not long after entering the Greyveil Marsh, The Sailer approached the first settlement.
Hyoren's eyes naturally drifted toward it.
It wasn't a town. It was unmistakably a small village.
The village had been built upon a broad patch of firm, elevated ground that rose slightly above the surrounding wetlands. It wasn't much higher, but it was enough to keep the land dry and stable, allowing proper buildings to be constructed.
Dozens of wooden houses stood neatly together. Every house had a simple thatched roof, while thin wisps of smoke rose lazily from several chimneys into the cold winter air.
There were no two-story buildings. No stone structures. Only modest homes built by hardworking villagers.
Life continued peacefully despite the season.
Several women gathered in front of their homes, sorting and drying their recent harvest beneath the pale light of silver sun.
Nearby, a few elderly villagers sat together weaving baskets from reeds harvested from the marsh.
The men were equally busy. Some repaired farming tools worn down from the previous harvest. Others carried large woven sacks into wooden storage sheds, while several loaded bundles onto simple handcarts.
Children could occasionally be seen running through the village paths, their cheerful laughter briefly breaking the quiet atmosphere of the marsh.
Hyoren's gaze shifted farther outward.
Beyond the last row of houses, he noticed fields spreading across the higher ground surrounding the village. The farmland now lay empty. Winter had already ended the growing season, leaving only neat rows of prepared soil stretching across the landscape.
Even so, the orderly irrigation channels cutting between the fields immediately caught his attention.
Combined with the bundles of grain drying throughout the village, it wasn't difficult to guess what they cultivated here.
Hyoren noticed the grains more carefully.
Rice...
He quietly smiled to himself.
Well... that actually makes perfect sense. Back on Earth, rice had originally been cultivated in wetlands…
The abundant water throughout the Greyveil Marsh would make irrigation far easier than in ordinary farmland.
So this is where the rice sold in Akela City comes from…
His curiosity was quietly satisfied.
Meanwhile, The Sailer continued gliding forward.
Soon, they passed a modest wooden dock extending from the village into the river.
The large passenger ship belonging to Akela Ferry Service was already moored there. Its two decks towered over the small dock as several passengers disembarked, carrying luggage and supplies before walking toward the village. Other villagers waited patiently nearby to board for the next part of the journey.
Although that ferry had departed Akela Harbor earlier than The Sailer, it had now fallen behind because of its scheduled stop.
Their guild ship smoothly passed it without slowing down.
Hyoren smiled.
"So those scheduled ships stop at every settlement along the river. No wonder the journey takes much longer if we use them."
Ina nodded.
"Yeah. If we took that ship… We probably wouldn't reach Riverville Town until afternoon."
She briefly glanced toward Holley, who continued steering The Sailer from the stern. The experienced ferryman simply nodded without taking his eyes off the river ahead.
Ina then looked back at Hyoren.
"That's why we're using this ship. We should arrive in another two or three hours."
Elise watched the ferry gradually disappear behind them before smiling softly.
"Fufufu. It would certainly take much longer if we had to stop at every settlement along the way."
Hyoren nodded in understanding.
"I see."
He turned his gaze back toward the endless marsh ahead as The Sailer continued its swift journey deeper into the vast Greyveil Marsh.
***
Not long after leaving the rice-farming village behind, The Sailer approached another settlement.
This one looked completely different.
Instead of being built upon a broad stretch of dry land. Most of the village stood directly above the wetlands. Only a handful of buildings occupied the few patches of naturally raised ground.
The majority of the houses, storage buildings, and wooden walkways rested upon sturdy platforms supported by countless thick wooden stakes driven deep into the marsh below.
The elevated platforms connected the entire settlement together, allowing the villagers to walk from one building to another without stepping into the muddy wetlands.
Hyoren quietly observed the unusual village.
Interesting… Even the lifestyle here had adapted to the marsh…
Then something else caught his attention.
Scattered throughout the shallow water surrounding the settlement were dozens of enormous fenced enclosures.
"Hmm?"
He raised a finger.
"What are those?"
Elise and Ina followed the direction he pointed.
The structures consisted of countless thick wooden stakes firmly embedded into the marsh. Strong wire fences stretched between them, enclosing large sections of shallow water. Each enclosure stood roughly two meters tall and covered a surprisingly wide area.
Inside, large creatures slowly swam through the water.
Ina smiled.
"Oh… This village mainly raises domestic monsters."
She looked toward Hyoren.
"Those are called Vyan."
Hyoren's gaze remained fixed on the creatures.
They resembled enormous water birds. Their overall appearance reminded him of a cross between a duck and a goose. They possessed broad bodies, wide flat beaks, and dark feathers that resisted the water clinging to them. The only striking contrast was their beaks. Each one was a deep purple.
However, their size was what surprised him the most. They were far larger than any duck. Each one was roughly the size of a big breed of dog.
"Vyan..."
Hyoren studied them curiously.
"They're domesticated monsters? And people raise them like Moss-back Squirrels?"
Elise gently rested both arms on the railing.
"Yes… But calling them domesticated isn't entirely accurate. They're still monsters. They'll attack people if given the chance."
She continued watching the large birds wading through the water.
"Vyan are native to the Greyveil Marsh. They can spit poison from their beaks. And their meat is poisonous as well. So unlike Moss-back Squirrels… They aren't raised for meat."
She pointed toward the sturdy enclosure.
"That's why their pens are built so securely."
Hyoren frowned slightly.
"If they can't really be domesticated… And their meat can't even be eaten… Then why do the villagers keep them?"
Ina giggled.
"Nyahaha. Because their eggs are delicious."
She pointed toward the flock.
"Vyan can't fly. And they aren't good at diving either. In the wild, they simply lay their eggs on muddy ground and leave them there until they hatch."
She gestured toward the fenced enclosure.
"By building their pens over the wetlands like this, the Vyan spend most of their time swimming or resting on the wooden platforms. But when they lay an egg..."
"It rolls off the platform and sinks to the bottom. The farmers simply collect the eggs from underneath."
She smiled proudly.
"It's much safer than trying to gather them in the wild. Their care is easy too. The villagers only need to throw food into the enclosure from time to time. As long as the fences remain intact… The Vyan can't escape."
Hyoren nodded slowly.
Only then did he notice several heating devices positioned around parts of the enclosure. Warm air drifted gently across the platforms, preventing the monsters from freezing during winter.
"I see… So the eggs we usually eat at home come from Vyan?"
He had often wondered what kind of eggs Ina and Lena bought for their meals.
Since he always trusted the two of them to purchase ingredients—he had never thought to ask.
They tasted somewhat like chicken eggs. Yet they were richer in flavor. And noticeably larger.
Elise nodded with a smile.
"That's right, Hyoren. They're one of the Greyveil Marsh's specialties."
Silence gradually returned once more.
The Sailer quietly passed the waterside settlement, leaving the raised platforms behind. Hyoren continued watching the Vyan enclosures until they slowly disappeared into the distance.
Beside him, Ina and Elise exchanged warm smiles. Seeing Hyoren become fascinated by the ordinary sights of Kresneger somehow made the journey even more enjoyable for them.
***
The Sailer continued gliding swiftly along the Akela River. One settlement after another slowly passed by.
Some villages specialized in fisheries.
Wooden fish cages floated quietly beside their docks, gently rising and falling with the river's current. Small fishing boats were tied neatly along the wooden piers, while large fishing nets hung outside houses to dry after the morning's work.
Several villagers sorted their catch into woven baskets.
Hyoren recognized a few of the fish immediately.
The familiar Red Pike and the shimmering but small glowing fish. There were also several unfamiliar fish.
His eyes lingered on them for a moment before The Sailer continued downstream.
The next settlements focused on raising freshwater prawn monsters.
Instead of fish cages, long rows of shallow ponds spread across the marshlands, separated by narrow earthen embankments. Villagers walked carefully along the raised paths, checking bamboo traps before carrying woven baskets back toward nearby storage sheds.
Occasionally, a large prawn could be seen swimming beneath the clear water.
One of them was lifted from a trap, causing Hyoren's eyes to widen slightly.
It was much larger than the freshwater prawns he remembered from Earth. Its shell gleamed with a vibrant sapphire-blue color instead of the dull grayish-green he was familiar with.
Ina noticed his curiosity and smiled.
"Those are called Bright Prawns."
She pointed toward one of the ponds.
"They're quite delicious. Especially when grilled… Or coated in flour before being fried."
Hyoren nodded with interest.
"I'll have to try one someday."
Ina giggled.
"Nyahaha. You will… Riverville Town is famous for its prawn dishes. Let's eat them there."
Hyoren smiled.
“I can't wait.”
The ship continued its swift journey.
Soon, more villages appeared along the river.
Some resembled the first settlement they had passed, with broad rice fields stretching across the higher ground surrounding the village.
Others were easily recognizable by the enormous fenced wetlands where flocks of Vyan leisurely wandered through the shallow water.
Village after village drifted past.
Although each settlement relied upon a different livelihood, together they formed the lifeline of the Greyveil Marsh, supplying Akela City with fish, prawns, rice, eggs, and countless other products harvested from the vast wetlands.
Hyoren quietly admired the changing scenery before his gaze eventually drifted toward the bow of The Sailer. There, Jackey and Arianna were still talking—completely absorbed in their own conversation.
Jackey was animatedly explaining something.
His hands swung through the air with exaggerated gestures as though acting out the entire story. His tabby cat tail spiraled energetically behind him.
Meanwhile, Arianna continued laughing from time to time.
Sometime earlier, she had already stored her wide-brimmed hat inside her purple storage bag after the wind repeatedly threatened to carry it away. And now, her long, wavy crimson hair had been loosely braided. The braid rested gracefully over her left shoulder, while only a few loose strands danced gently in the wind.
Hyoren smiled faintly.
"Jackey and Arianna seem completely lost in their own world. I wonder what they're talking about."
Elise followed his gaze. A quiet chuckle escaped her lips.
"You were right… The muscle brain and the genius brain..."
She covered her smile.
"They're like water and oil. But somehow they seem to be absorbed in each other's words. Fufufu."
Beside them, Ina's cat ears immediately stood upright. Even her swaying tail froze.
"That stupid brother of mine. I hope he isn't bothering Arianna."
She instinctively took a step toward the bow.
Before she could continue, Hyoren gently reached out and lightly held her wrist.
"Let them be."
He nodded toward Arianna.
"Just look at her."
Ina stopped. She turned her attention toward the noblewoman once more.
Arianna was laughing again. Although she still carried herself with the elegance expected of a noble lady, the smile on her face was genuine.
Whatever ridiculous story Jackey was telling—she was clearly enjoying it.
Ina's ears slowly relaxed.
"Now that you mention it… You're right…"
Her tail resumed its slow, gentle swaying.
Hyoren smiled.
"For someone people call a muscle brain… Jackey is surprisingly good at talking with others. He knows when to joke… And more importantly… He knows when to stop. He has excellent instincts. Not only in battle… But when dealing with people too."
Elise nodded in agreement. She looked toward Ina.
"You should know that better than anyone. As his older sister."
Ina slowly nodded.
"That's true…"
A helpless smile appeared on her face.
"I was just worried he'd accidentally offend a noble. Sometimes… His jokes go a little too far."
Hyoren looked toward the pair once again.
This time—Arianna was the one speaking. Jackey listened with unexpected seriousness. His head nodded every so often as he paid close attention to her explanation.
Hyoren smiled.
"But from the look of it… They're both enjoying the conversation. So let's just leave them be."
Ina watched the two for another moment. Then she smiled and nodded.
"I guess you're right. Okay then."
The three of them remained where they were, quietly watching the lively pair at the bow.
***
The peaceful journey was suddenly disturbed.
A deep rumbling echoed across the sky. Low. Distant. The sound reminded Hyoren of a fighter jet flying far overhead.
At first, it was little more than a faint vibration carried by the cold wind. But with every passing moment—the rumbling steadily grew louder.
"Hmm?"
Hyoren instinctively looked around.
"What's that sound?"
His eyes swept across the marshlands.
The river. The distant villages. The mist drifting between the aquatic trees. Yet he found nothing.
What surprised him more, no one else seemed alarmed.
At the bow of The Sailer, Jackey and Arianna briefly glanced toward the sky. The two exchanged knowing smiles before casually returning to their conversation.
Beside him, Elise and Ina remained equally calm.
Elise gently touched his shoulder.
"Calm down, Hyoren. It's a familiar sound."
She looked toward the southern sky.
"It happens every year around this time."
Hyoren frowned.
"What do you mean? The sound is getting louder. Isn't it dangerous?"
Ina smiled. Her cat ears twitched gently.
"Elise is right. There's no need to worry."
She slowly raised a hand and pointed toward the distant Southern Mountain Range.
"In a few more days… The first snowfall will reach Akela Territory."
Her amber eyes remained fixed on the mountains.
"When that happens… It becomes too cold for a certain monster…"
She paused briefly.
"So around this time every year… They leave."
Hyoren followed where Ina was pointing.
At first, he saw only the pale winter sky above the mountains. But as the rumbling continued growing louder. A tiny black speck finally appeared against the horizon. It slowly grew larger.
"What is that...?"
Elise smiled.
"An Apex Bird Monster."
Ina nodded.
"There are only a handful of Apex Bird Monsters known to mankind. And this one..."
Her expression softened.
"...is perhaps the most famous."
Hyoren briefly glanced at Ina before looking back at the distant silhouette.
"Famous? Is it dangerous and powerful? Could it destroy civilizations… Like the Shadowden Collective?"
Elise let out a quiet laugh.
"It's quite the opposite."
She rested both hands on the railing.
"Most monsters naturally attack mankind. Of course… There are peaceful exceptions. Slimes. Moss-back Squirrels. Ramtauros. And a few others."
She looked back toward the approaching silhouette.
"But this Apex Bird Monster… It has never been recorded attacking humans. In fact… It has occasionally helped reduce dangerous monster herds."
Her emerald eyes reflected admiration.
"There was even one famous battle few centuries ago. When the Shadowden Collective attacked Benign Fort in the far eastern territory of Altaria Kingdom..."
She paused briefly.
"The Ogre King's army was overwhelming the defenders. Then this bird suddenly descended from the sky. It attacked only the monsters. It completely ignored the human army."
Hyoren's eyes widened.
"Why…? Why would a monster help humans?"
Ina answered with a small shrug.
"We don't know. Most of the time… It simply ignores mankind. If people approach it… It just flies away."
She looked back toward the sky.
"The incident at Benign Fort is the only confirmed time it directly helped humanity. Otherwise… It mostly hunts other monster herds. Perhaps… It's simply searching for food."
She smiled.
"But regardless of the reason… It has saved many lives. So people naturally came to admire it."
The black speck continued growing. It was no longer merely a dot. Its silhouette had become visible.
Ina quietly watched the majestic creature. Her amber eyes sparkled.
"It always appears around the Southern Mountain Range during Autumn... Then… As early winter arrives and Akela grows colder… It leaves for warmer lands."
She rested both hands upon the railing.
"Outside of that seasonal migration… No one knows where it goes. No one knows where it nests. Or when it might appear again."
She smiled faintly.
"Because it wanders freely across the world… And because it has, on rare occasions, protected humanity instead of harming it… Many people have come to see it as a symbol of salvation…"
She looked up at the majestic bird soaring across the southern sky.
"And of freedom.”