Zeke marveled as the sky gradually turned dark, then looked at the face of their benefactor looming overhead. Rhea, the Titan, had run tirelessly for the entire day without a single break. She didn't even seem to notice their weight as she carried his group in the palm of her hand. Her stamina seemed endless.
The journey continued for another hour, but just as the sun was about to fully disappear behind the horizon, Rhea's steps slowed. She crouched low, hiding behind the treetops, and continued this way for a few more minutes. Just as Zeke was about to ask what was going on, Rhea lowered them to the ground. They were gently placed down, moments before the Titan shifted forms.
"That was a long walk," Rhea said as she appeared beside them. This time, she was in her humanoid form.
"What's with the sneaking around?" Zeke asked.
"Nothing much," Rhea said with a shrug. "I just don't want to be seen."
"Seen? By whom exactly?"
"Them," the Titan said while pointing in a random direction.
Zeke followed her gaze, but no matter how hard he looked, all he could see were trees.
Rhea chuckled. "There's a town in that direction. I don't know what it's called, but it's the last stop before you reach the Deadlands."
Zeke gaped at her. "You mean… we've already crossed the jungle?"
Rhea smirked at him. "Are you surprised?"
Zeke nodded, unashamed to admit it. Rhea's speed had exceeded his expectations. Even on a high-end airship, they couldn't have traveled this fast. Only a high-level Wind or Space Mage could have surpassed her speed.
He bowed to the Titan. "Thank you for this."
Rhea waved him off. "I was the one who delayed your journey in the first place, so it's only fair I make up for it. Besides… I haven't seen Cas this excited in a while."
Zeke smiled. Though he hadn't always seen eye to eye with the elf, he had gained immensely from their interactions. In truth, he felt he had benefited more from their meeting. Even so, he appreciated the sentiment.
"What are you going to do now?"
Rhea shrugged. "We'll probably stay here."
"Are you really going to remain couped up in this place?" Zeke asked. "Despite all your strength?"
Rhea chuckled. "Strength, huh? You know, little half-Dragon, I'm actually quite young—for a Titan, at least. Right now, there are many humans who could easily hunt me down."
Zeke remained silent. Since meeting her, he had regarded Rhea as a pinnacle existence, someone who seemed to fear no one in this world. It was sobering to realize that even someone of her caliber didn't feel safe walking openly.
"I see," he said awkwardly.
It dawned on him that Cassius's reluctance to leave this place likely stemmed from fears for his wife's safety. Even the talented elven Mage wouldn't be able to protect her from the true powerhouses of the continent. It seemed life was difficult for everyone. Yet, Zeke wasn't disheartened. Instead, he was looking forward to the day he would join their ranks.
"Stay safe, Rhea," he said, extending his hand. "I hope we meet again."
"Likewise," the woman said with a wide smile, locking forearms with him. "Maybe you'll give me more of a fight then."
Zeke smirked. "Who knows, maybe I'll be the one to chase you around next time."
Rhea guffawed, slapping his shoulder so hard that Zeke almost lost his footing. But with the Titan's strength, it probably felt like just a friendly pat to her.
"Wouldn't that be a sight," she said teasingly.
The next few minutes were spent with everyone bidding farewell to the Titan. The Chimeroi thanked her profusely. Despite the one-sided beating they received, they had all improved tremendously with her help. All three had practiced using [Blood Boil] on her, with even Gravitas mastering the technique at some point.
Snow embraced Rhea tightly; out of all of them, she had become the most attached to the Titan. Zeke was certain that the Titan had also grown fond of the girl. Whatever she might claim, it must get quite lonely in the jungle, so far from civilization, especially for someone as outgoing as her.
"We'll be off then," Zeke said after the two separated.
Rhea nodded, a strained smile on her face. "Take care..."
They approached the treeline in their usual formation, with Ash in the front and Gravitas at the rear. The rest of them stayed in the center. Snow kept glancing back for a long while, but eventually, the figure of the Titan disappeared from sight, hidden behind a wall of green.
They made good progress. Now that they were closing in on the edge of the forest, there weren't many creatures around, and even those they came across were weak enough for Ash to dispose of on his own.
"Do you think I'll see her again," Snow asked after a while.
Zeke opened his mouth but hesitated. They were on their way to return Snow to her tribe on the other side of the Deadlands. Given her status, it was highly unlikely that she would ever return...
"That's up to you," he said eventually. "Everything is possible if you work hard enough."
Snow studied his expression for a long moment before nodding mutely. There was a peculiar look in her eyes, but Zeke couldn't discern her thoughts. He just hoped he hadn't given her false hope.
"Light ahead," Ash called out.
Moments later, they broke through a thick tree cover, and Zeke could also see it. The village, nestled on the cusp of the jungle, appeared like a beacon of civilization amidst the untamed wilderness, its lights twinkling with the promise of shelter and respite after a long journey. However, his eyes were immediately drawn by something else: The wide open plains behind the village.
The transition was stark, almost unnatural, like the edge of a great abyss separating two worlds. It was as if a giant had drawn lines with a massive pen: Green on one side and black on the other. Zeke couldn't shake off the feeling of unease as he observed the stark boundary, where the vibrant ecosystem of the jungle yielded to the desolation of the plains.
"So these are… the Deadlands," he murmured.
It took Zeke a moment to realize the others were waiting for him. Clearly, he had been more affected by the sight than the Chimeroi. Maybe because they couldn't sense Mana the way he could? Whatever the reason, Zeke had an ominous feeling looking at that place.
"Let's go," he said, shaking off these thoughts. "We'll get some food and rest before continuing our journey tomorrow morning."
Nobody had any complaints, so they made for the entrance to the town. When Zeke spotted the guards, he thought for a moment that there would be trouble. Yet, the men merely glanced at them momentarily before returning their gazes to the tree line. Nobody even asked them a question, let alone ask for a fee.
Despite the late hour, the wooden gate stood wide open. But that wasn't the only peculiarity of the place. Zeke had wondered if they would find an inn still accepting guests, though he needn't have worried. From the looks of it, more than half of the buildings here were either inns or bars. Through the opened doors, he could see patrons celebrating.
"What a strange place," Zeke muttered as he watched another group pass them by.
Though they were laughing and joking, clearly intoxicated, their eyes turned sharp as they scanned his group. Zeke couldn't help but notice that none of them seemed weak. It had been the same with the last group and the one before. There didn't seem to be a single ordinary person in this town; everyone was at least at his level, with most far surpassing him.
Now that he thought about it, that wasn't all too surprising. How would a regular person even get here? They were far from civilization, with the unforgiving jungle at their backs and the merciless Deadlands ahead. It certainly wasn't a place for raising a family. No, these people clearly weren't here to idle their time away.
Zeke looked at the surrounding people with new eyes. Some appeared to be guards, likely accompanying merchants. Others had the telltale look of adventurers, sporting weathered gear and rough faces. He also recognized many Korrovan natives; it wasn't hard to guess why they might be here…
"What do you think about that, Master?" Ash asked, startling Zeke out of his thoughts.
He followed the man's hand to see him pointing at a relatively upscale building with a more subdued atmosphere. There were guests inside, though the atmosphere was a lot less rowdy than the other places they had seen. It was clearly a place catering to a wealthier clientele.
Zeke smiled. "It's perfect."
They were stopped just outside the door by a figure who seemed to be a blend of waiter and guard. The man appeared strong, though not on par with the Chimeroi. He scrutinized their group before fixing his gaze on Zeke. "If you wish to bring your companions inside, you'll have to pay full price for them," the man said.
Zeke raised a brow. He had never even considered not paying for the Chimeroi and wondered why this even needed to be said. He nodded at the man. "A table for five, then."
The guard's expression turned into a smile as he heard those words. "Right this way, sir."
They were led to a table in the corner, and Zeke sat down first, positioning himself toward the center of the room, with his back toward the other patrons. One reason for his choice was to ensure the Chimeroi had a clear line of sight, ready to react in case of an attack. But more importantly, he wanted to give Akasha the opportunity to eavesdrop on any conversation while they ate.
After they were all seated, Zeke addressed the waiter. "Are there rooms available?"
The man smiled brightly. "Certainly, sir. How many would you need?" He scanned the Chimeroi, his gaze lingering on Snow momentarily. Out of their group, she was the only other person who appeared fully human. "One for you and your... lover. And another one for your guards?"
Zeke frowned. Though Snow was quite lovely, she was still a child. What kind of a person did this man take him for? "We'll take separate rooms," he said firmly, noting too late the grin that spread across the waiter's face.
Had he just been tricked?
"I'll prepare the rooms, sir," the man said with a light bow, though it was likely to hide his massive grin as much as to be polite.
Zeke felt indignant as he watched the waiter's back disappear up the stairs, though the feeling vanished after a moment. What did he even care? If there was anything he had plenty of, it was money. He put the matter out of his mind and turned toward his companions. "Order whatever you want and make sure to get your fill. This might be the last time we'll get to eat in such a nice place."
His announcement was met with cheers, mainly from Snow and Vulcanos, though even Gravitas had an excited twinkle in her eyes. Zeke realized they had likely never eaten in such a fancy place before. Immediately, he felt a pang of guilt. The Chimeroi had been nothing but loyal, risking their lives on more than one occasion for his sake, yet he had never even treated them to a nice meal.
Zeke knew he had a tendency to develop tunnel vision, but this just wouldn't do. He wanted his followers to benefit from him as much as he did from them. Just because they were bound to him didn't mean he shouldn't treat them with respect.
He watched in silence as the Chimeroi began to devour their enormous portions, his face one of deep contemplation. Had he ever asked them what they wanted? Not as a reward at any given moment, but what they wanted to achieve in life—their goals.
No, he hadn't.
A surge of shame rushed through him at this realization. For a while now, he had been content with treating the Chimeroi 'fairly,' thinking himself better than the Slavers of Korrovan, though he might not be all that different in the end. Most of them didn't mistreat their Slaves either; they simply used them without a thought to their needs and wants... very much like he had been doing.
Zeke sighed, shaking off those dark thoughts. He wasn't perfect and had never claimed to be. The only thing that mattered was that he did what he could to improve himself. One step at a time…
His eyes settled on Ash, who was sitting next to him. He had known him for the longest, yet he knew almost nothing about the man. Noticing his gaze, the Chimeroi stared back with a puzzled expression. It was a comical sight to see the fearsome warrior drenched in sauce, yet Zeke suppressed his laughter. This wasn't the time.
He cleared his throat, trying to make the question sound casual. "Say, Ash… Do you perhaps… have any hopes or dreams?" The table fell silent as the Chimeroi all stopped eating and stared at him, clearly bewildered.
Nailed it.