"Now? We're just need to find some locals." Lanius replied, trying to mask the truth. The Winter knew that in reality, they weren't in Shurima, but rather in Ixtal, an isolated nation.
While Ahri had learnt of its existence from Mesfin's diary, Lanius had a few brief memories of the Winters visiting the nation. Apparently, if one were to discover the secret nation, their days were limited.
Mesfin had extensive ten paged description about it in his diary,from the climate to the locals. The reason behind his analysis was the fact that his wife, Viom was from Ixtal.
The chapter ended with a note from Mesfin: "While these lands are filled with vastaya and humans alike, one should not be fooled and approach them recklessly. They're extremely cryptic and secretive, and would kill to ensure their nation's secrecy."
The Winter and the Nine Tailed Fox had agreed to not reveal information about Ixtal to anyone unless it was necessary. At best, they'd just find some Shuriman villagers on the coasts and fix their ship, then go on their merry way.
"Foxy, under no circumstances should the Ixtali find about Kayn's nature." The young man whispered into the vesani's ear as they roamed through their jungle.
The vesani looked at him straight in the eyes. "Rhaast?" she asked, also whispering.
The young man nodded and took his eyepatch off. He then activated his Sovereign's Dominance and scanned the area. The place was filled with mixed energy trails, rendering the ability almost useless.
The young man deactivated his ability and rubbed his forehead, as if he had a headache.
"Can't find anything?" Freida asked.
"Vaarn...nothing." he thought. "I cannot use it. It's like trying to see through murky water."
"Well...you do not need it in here. You can still hear the magic." Freida replied.
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The hunter rushed through the jungle. He had picked up her scent, a scent he thought that he'd never pick in his whole life. His father gad given to him a cloth that belonged to the Fox Demon. Over the years, Fox Demon disappeared and the memory of the scent hid itself deep inside the hunters brain.
But it resurfaced now, as he accidentally made it into the beach. The scent that dilated his remaining lupil and made his guts tingle in ecstasy. The demon was back, yet the scent was kind of different...but the key points remained the same.
The hunter picked up other scents too. One in particular was on a black bandage that was hanging from the broken ship. It was different than the rest, stronger that caused his nose to burn a bit. The bandage had the demon's scent mixed in with the owner's.
The hunter continued to run towards the fox demon, following the trail. He occasionally let out a growl. He was gonna add her to his collection...dead or alive.
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"Ugh...how much more till we find a village?" Ahri asked as she hacked away at some plants with Mesfin's kama in one hand and her own in the other.
"No idea." Lanius replied as he looked around. "I got no memories of a village anywhere near here. Not to mention that almost everything looks the same."
"Why...why is it so hot in here?" Rakan muttered as he wiped his forehead.
"It's a jungle mieli, what do you expect?" Xayah muttered, she herself had taken off her cloak.
"Ay Lanius...can't you do something about this heat? I swear that we could fry an egg by cracking it over a rock.
"I suppose I could do something..." Lanius muttered. He raised his hand and clenched his fist. Soon, a light cold feeling engulfed the Ionians.
"Much...better." Xayah exclaimed with a sigh full of relief.
"Ok, Let's carry on." The Winter insisted.
"Let me handle this." Kayn passed by her and raised Rhaast, then began to slice the plants in an orderly manner, making way more efficiently.
Akali kept Mesfin's weapon and tossed her kama to Rakan, who also started to open a way in front of him.
With the three opening a path, Ahri, Xayah and Sett acted as sentries and Lanius led the way. They made quite a steady progress, tho the young man always had a feeling that they were being watched. He brushed that feeling off and kept walking onwards.
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"My Yunalai...we have foreigners." the servant said as he approached the young princess.
"Foreigners? Are you sure, Bayal?" she asked with her soft voice. The princess brushed her silky whire hair as she looked out of the window.
"I am, my Yunalai. They came with a ship this morning. The ship crashed at our shores." The servant spoke, as he scratched the back of his head.
"Pilt-ovans?" she asked again as she got up and placed a tiara on her head.
"Doesn't seem like it. Three humans...two vastaya...and..." Bayal hesitated.
"And?" the princess asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Forgive me, my Yunalai...but you don't know the legend of the fox demon..." Bayal replied.
The princess chuckled. "You're only seventeen years older than me... I do know about the legends of this land and supposedly this creature existed well over half a century ago...much more actually."
"Well...the thing is that...demons don't age." Bayal seemed nervous.
"And? Over the centuries the Ixtali fought with other Demons, Darkins, the Void. Another demon is nothing to us." the princess stopped to look at him.
"The demon we talk about...rumours say that she had wiped out an entire village in a night. Not to mention that the other foreigners could reveal the location of our city.
The princess sighed and got up from her bed. She walked to the right wall and picked up her Ohmlatl.
"Well...I suppose that it can't be helped...it's time for me, Yun Tal Qiyana to find them." the princess smiled as she left her room. "Arm yourself and follow me, Bayal."
The servant's eyes momentarily widened. "You would go all alone against the foreigners, my Yunalai?"
"You'll come with me. Those that find Ixtal do not live to speak of it." Qiyana exclaimed.