The sun was nearing the horizon, its weak rays filtering through the tall trees. The forest around them was quiet, with only the sound of crunching leaves under their feet. The air was slightly cold and filled with the scent of nature, while the dense trees cast long shadows over the narrow path.

  After a while of silent walking, Mirai broke the silence and asked, "How much farther do we have to go?"

  Hikari looked ahead and said, "The city isn't too far. But…" He paused for a moment, then added thoughtfully, "We rushed out of the city without considering taking a carriage."

  Mirai replied, as if the thought had never occurred to her, "That didn’t even occur to me."

  Hikari nodded and added, "I know, but the journey would’ve been much easier if we had waited."

  They continued talking for a while until a strange noise among the trees shattered the calm. Both Mirai and Hikari stopped and looked cautiously into the thick shadows. Suddenly, a large beast appeared, its eyes gleaming and fangs bared, looking menacing. It didn’t take long before the creature leapt at them, but Mirai was fast. With a single swift strike, she brought it down with ease.

  After the battle, Hikari moved forward, but Mirai remained standing, staring at the beast’s lifeless body. Noticing her silence, Hikari paused and asked, "Mirai, is something wrong?"

  Mirai approached the beast, then picked it up effortlessly and said, "Let’s eat it for dinner."

  Hikari stared in surprise and said, "Ah… I don’t think we need that. I’ve got ready-made food in my bag. Also, if you cook this beast, the smell might attract other creatures."

  Mirai replied confidently, "I feel like eating it. Save your food for later. And don’t worry about other monsters. They won’t be able to do anything."

  Realizing it was pointless to argue, Hikari said, "Alright then. It’s going to get dark soon. We should stay here. Traveling at night would be dangerous."

  Mirai answered indifferently, "Fine."

  Hikari opened his bag and pulled out some firewood and a glowing red gem. He arranged the wood in a circle, then used the gem to light a fire. Moments later, he took out two small tents from his bag.

  Mirai looked at him in surprise and said, "How can your small bag hold all of that?"

  Hikari smiled proudly and replied, "It’s a magic bag."

  Mirai asked curiously, "Isn’t it heavy?"

  Hikari answered with a smile, "No, the bag has no weight. I can store massive trees inside it, and it’ll still feel lighter than a feather. Even better, the food inside never spoils and always stays warm. And no one but me can use it. If someone tries to steal it, they won’t even be able to lift it."

  Mirai said with clear admiration, "That’s amazing. Is it some rare artifact?"

  Hikari, still feeling proud, answered, " No, my parents crafted it together before I left the village."

  Mirai murmured to herself in awe, "Creating something like this must’ve taken serious skill. Your parents must be incredible."

  She then began skinning the beast and cutting the meat with expert skill. After preparing the meat, she placed it over the fire to roast. Hikari watched her craftsmanship with amazement, then pulled out some salt and spices from his bag and said, "Good thing I brought these. It’ll taste better with seasoning."

  As the fire crackled, Mirai carefully arranged the meat on skewers while Hikari seasoned it, adding a delicious aroma that blended with the forest air. They both sat by the fire, waiting for the food to cook.

  Hikari said, "Your skinning and butchering skills are amazing. Have you taken a survival test before?"

  Mirai answered without hesitation, "Yes. I stayed in a forest for several months. The test wasn’t difficult, but the food was terrible."

  Suddenly, Hikari remembered something. He opened his bag and pulled out four pieces of white diamond. He placed each piece in a different direction around the camp, then returned to sit by the fire.

  Mirai asked curiously, "What are those diamonds?"

  Hikari replied, "They’re called Detection Diamonds. Placed in the four directions, they create a barrier around us with a range of about two hundred meters. If anything enters the barrier, whether it’s human or monster, the diamond turns red and emits a sound. That way, we can sleep safely without having to keep watch."

  Mirai looked at him with admiration and said, "That’s incredible. You’re ready for anything."

  They sat beside the fire, the smell of roasting meat wafting through the air as the sky darkened and the stars began to fill the heavens. After a stretch of silence, Hikari broke it by asking, "Mirai, what are your plans after we leave Silverine?"

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Mirai thought for a moment before replying, "I’m not really sure. I want to explore new places and pass the time."

  Hikari smiled and said, "Looks like we have the same goal. I love traveling and discovering new places."

  As they talked, the meat finished cooking, and the delicious aroma filled the air. Mirai pulled one of the skewers and tasted it, then said, "It’s ready. Let’s eat."

  They began their dinner, the flavors enhanced by the spices Hikari brought. After the meal, they each entered their tents, and soon they drifted into a peaceful sleep, the magical barrier quietly standing guard.

  They woke up the next morning without incident. Hikari packed their things into his magic bag, and they continued walking through the forest. Along the way, they encountered a few monsters, which Mirai handled with ease and little effort.

  During the journey, Hikari noticed something on Mirai’s left arm and kept glancing at it. She noticed his stare and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

  Hikari replied awkwardly, "Ah, sorry… I was just curious."

  "About what?" she asked.

  He answered hesitantly, "I’ve been wondering for a while about the sword you hide in your left arm. Why do you conceal it? Isn’t it heavy? Doesn’t it get in the way during combat?"

  Mirai paused to think before replying, "It’s part of my training. I use my left arm for attacking, so I hide a heavy sword in it to make my arm stronger and faster. Of course, the sword is very heavy, but I’ve been training with it since I was a child, so I got used to it. Now it doesn’t get in the way at all."

  Hikari said admiringly, "That’s amazing. It’s a unique way to train. I noticed you became faster and stronger after using it."

  Mirai said, "Let’s drop the topic for now. By the way, are there any other kinds of training I can do to improve my swordsmanship?"

  Hikari thought for a moment before replying, "I don’t think I can teach you anything new. But there’s always basic training, like building endurance, increasing body speed and reaction time. Also, fighting in different environments and under changing conditions helps you maintain balance and improve your sword use in any situation."

  Mirai felt slightly disappointed and muttered to herself, "I’m already used to those things. Seems like there’s nothing new to learn."

  They continued walking until they exited the forest at sunset. The city of Antel appeared in the distance, not far from them. Once they reached the city and entered after nightfall, they headed straight to the nearest inn, "Star of Antel." They rented two adjacent rooms and rested after a long day.

  In the morning, they woke up early. After getting ready, they met in the lobby and stepped out to explore the city streets.

  "So, what now?" Mirai asked.

  Hikari replied, "We could head to the guild. But what do you say we check out some shops? Like weapon shops or magic stores."

  Mirai thought for a bit, then said, "I’m curious about those shops. Let’s go."

  **At the Same Time, at the Antel City Guild**

  "We searched all across the northern forest and found nothing," said Sai, the squad leader.

  Guild master Haru replied, "It’s been a few days since their deaths. It’s possible he escaped."

  The mage Kazuha added, "Maybe the mage brought reinforcements. It's hard to believe a single person could have taken them all down."

  Vian spoke next, "That squad was chasing a criminal mage, but they were killed by the sword. That likely means the mage had a swordsman supporting him."

  Among the squad members stood an elf with silver hair, named Arnato. He said in a calm tone, "Well, that doesn’t matter now. What are we going to do, Haru? We’ve searched everywhere and found nothing. Should we drop it?"

  Haru paused, deep in thought, then answered, "Yes, there’s no point in searching blindly. The report of the squad’s death has already spread to every guild in the kingdom. If the mage is found, you’re to cooperate with other teams to eliminate him. We can’t afford to lose another squad."

  Sai said, "Alright. We’ll wait then."

  The team members then left the office.

  As soon as they exited the guild, Sai said, "I’m heading to train."

  Vian added, "I’ll train with you, Sai."

  Kazuha said, "I’m going to the magic tools shop. I’ll buy more power diamonds, just in case."

  Arnato replied, "I’ll go with Kazuha."

  The four split up, and Kazuha headed to the magic tools shop with Arnato. Upon arriving, she requested thirty power diamonds from the shopkeeper, who went to fetch them.

  "Isn’t that a bit much?" Arnato asked.

  Kazuha smiled and answered, "No. I want to shock that mage with my own power."

  Arnato sighed. "You became an S-rank just a week ago, but you still can’t fully control it. If you lose control, we could all die."

  Kazuha smiled again. "Shouldn’t a teacher trust his student? I’m confident in myself."

  Arnato replied, "You need to—"

  Suddenly, the shop’s door opened, and Arnato felt something unusual stir within him. He turned toward the entrance and saw Mirai and Hikari entering. Just then, the shopkeeper returned and handed Kazuha a small pouch. She took the bag and said, "Let’s go, Master Arnato."

  They began walking through the shop, and as they passed Mirai and Hikari, Arnato suddenly stopped, turning his gaze toward Mirai, an unsettling feeling creeping into his chest.

  "What’s wrong, Master Arnato?" Kazuha asked, noticing his reaction.

  He whispered, "Kazuha, the girl in the kimono. Tell me about her magical energy."

  Kazuha stared at Mirai, then said, "That girl has no magical power."

  "Are you sure?" Arnato asked, skeptical.

  Kazuha replied, "Yes, and you have sensory abilities just like I do. You can tell that yourself. Why are you asking me?"

  Arnato turned away again, eyes focused on the distance as he walked slowly. His voice was calm but laced with doubt. "I just wanted to confirm something. Let’s go."

  They left the store, but the strange feeling lingering in Arnato didn’t leave him as they walked toward the training grounds. Meanwhile, Hikari and Mirai continued visiting shops throughout the city.

  At that moment, Mirai was feeling a little bored, finding nothing particularly interesting. Hikari, on the other hand, was delighted by the variety of goods in the stores. Time passed quickly, and sunset was approaching.

  "Ah, time flew by. Sorry, Miss Mirai. The day passed without you getting anything useful," said Hikari.

  Mirai replied, "It’s fine. It’s not like I had anything urgent to do. Also, stop being so formal with me. Just call me by my name, no need for titles."

  Hikari said, "Alright then, Miss—uh, I mean, Mirai."

  Then he asked, "So, Mirai, is there anything specific you want to do now? Or maybe we should get some rest and prepare for tomorrow?"

  Mirai paused, then answered calmly, "Nothing in particular. Let’s just end the day quietly. But tomorrow, let’s go to the guild and look for a meaningful quest."

  Hikari smiled and nodded.

  As they walked toward an inn for dinner and rest, Mirai recalled the moment she passed by Arnato and Kazuha in the shop. She had fully noticed Arnato’s gaze. She hadn’t mentioned it to Hikari yet, but in her heart, she knew this wouldn’t pass quietly.

  That gaze had lingered too long, and it wasn’t the kind that forgets.

  (To be continued in Chapter 6.2)