Chapter 38 - Training Begins
Atlas stood at a decent landing spot they’d found, a relatively high plateau where the magma wasn’t as intense as in other parts of the island. From there, their visibility was somewhat limited due to the thick mist rising around them, obscuring much of the view.
They waited as Kurogasa scouted the surrounding area. Meanwhile, a few members began setting up a temporary camp, arranging cooking gear and preparing areas for rest.
The Aether team was led by a woman named Zara, an archer. Blaze was commanded by Kaida, a fire mage. Cinder was led by Garen, a tanker, and Dusk by Ronan, another skilled archer. They would be split into two squads: Aether and Blaze would follow Edrik, while Cinder and Dusk would join Karian.
Atlas still needed more key leaders he could rely on to oversee the teams as a whole. He’d briefly considered bringing Mira, but worried that her presence might distract the troops too much.
In truth, he hadn’t been keen on letting Lyrassa join the hunt either, as her presence could be just as distracting for many. However, he decided it was necessary. His troops needed to get used to the alluring aura she gave off and learn to maintain focus, as they’d eventually be fighting in formation together.
Kurogasa reappeared from the shadows in front of Atlas, offering a slight bow. He informed Atlas that the hunting area ahead was clear, not of monsters, but of any other potential Lords who might be hunting nearby.
"I didn’t spot anyone using the same area we’re about to explore, My Lord," Kurogasa concluded.
"Good, thanks for the recon," Atlas replied.
With that, they split into two groups and set out, each team ready to begin their hunting routines. Meanwhile, Lyrassa would rotate between Edrik’s and Karian’s groups to ensure no one sustained serious injuries during the hunt.
Morganna, the Vampire Queen, sat near the camp area, close to the cooks as they prepared the food. She watched them with a flat, unreadable expression that made the cooks visibly nervous. One of them, a young woman, was so rattled that she dropped a pot onto the ground with a loud clang.
"Ah... sorry... sorry, I didn’t mean to! I’ll clean it up," she stammered, clearly flustered.