Chapter 16: Hunting Trip (1)
The carriage rattled gently as it rolled over uneven earth, the thick canopy of the forest casting dappled shadows across the group. Inside, Arah sat with his back straight, and a thick, small book open in his lap, the same one Iane had insisted they study.
Pages rustled as he turned to the next section, his eyes scanning detailed sketches and notes on soul beasts found in the upper zones. He had already committed the creatures of the black and red zones to memory.
"You’re quite the dedicated learner, aren’t you? Already digging into the upper zones...quite paranoid, aren’t you?" Iane said, glancing sideways with a small smile.
Arah didn’t look up. "Just trying to be ready, that’s all."
It wasn’t paranoia, it was just basic preparation. The Association’s rules had mentioned it, in its rules sometimes, that beasts from higher zones migrated into lower ones. That meant danger didn’t always follow the map. If something went wrong, he wanted to be able to act, not freeze.
Iane leaned back and crossed his arms.
"By the way," he added casually.
Arah marked his place with a finger and glanced at him.
"What’s your relationship with the old man Kren?"
It was an expected question. Kren had dropped him off at the Association gates earlier that morning, and it was no secret he’d once led Iane’s team.
"...He’s my guardian," Arah said.