[Third-person POV]
"A year has passed since the hero fell into the demon lord's hand. Divine Seer, while I do trust your judgment, a new hero appearing within a year is unlikely." Talking in a graceful yet commanding tone, the woman in charge excluded a majestic aura befitting a ruler.
The one who spoke was Maleina O'Sirren, the current ruler of the continent of the Spring. As a ruler of the whole continent, her powers and authority weren't something anyone could trifle with.
Being the ruler of one of the four continents, she bore the sole responsibility of warding off the demon lord army. Ever since the hero has fallen, the suppressed monsters are repopulating in a troubled way.
Fortunately, when the hero subdued some of the wild lands, the Empress refrained from promptly seizing control of the territory. Establishing a new settlement from the ground up in this freshly acquired territory would require considerable time. Now that the hero was absent, and with the escalating monster population, all the efforts invested in development seemed destined to be squandered.
"The stars align with the aspirations of the people, shining brighter than ever. This new hero may indeed be the one to bring about an end to it all." In contrast to the Empress, the Divine Seer harbored hope and remained stress-free.
"In the annals of the peril posed by the demon lords, these creatures are not easily vanquished. For four thousand and five hundred years, the hero's objective has been to uphold a delicate balance for humanity's survival. What leads you to believe that this hero is different?" Unimpressed by the Divine Seer's divination, the Empress egged the Divine Seer for more answers.
She acknowledged the Seer's capabilities, but placing faith in nonsensical wisdom seemed foolish. As the Empress, entertaining beliefs in the unimaginable would only burden her with needless worry.
The news of the hero of the Spring's demise spread, causing widespread concern throughout the continent.
What she needed to do most was calm the people of the continent and have them live without any worries, and the news of a new hero was a great thing. While the Empress didn't believe the second part of the words the Seer had said, a new hero was something she could believe.
"Maleina, as a seer, trusting my capabilities is a must." The Seer wanted to say more but refrained from doing so.
"Then, tell me where the location of the hero is." Demanding an answer, all the Seer did was smile.
"The Island of Peace. Home to the races that have affinity with nature." The Empress's face darkened upon hearing the Seer's answer.
"Unless you use force, the hero won't leave." Expecting such an answer, the Empress could only express displeasure.
Forcing a hero to do her bidding was both necessary and the worst option. If handled poorly, she could lose everything.
"Imperial Commander," the Empress beckoned her most trusted aide.
"Yes, Your Majesty?" Startled by the sudden call, she responded flusteredly but quickly composed herself to maintain her decorum.
"You've heard the seer's prophecy. Your mission is to locate the hero. Divine Seer, provide us with a more specific location if possible. 'An island' is too broad a hint."
"There is one clue I can offer. On the island of Peace, the largest tree will serve as your guide. Once you sense their presence, you will recognize the hero."
~
[Roy's POV]
"Ugh..." Waking up in exhaustion with Janis on top of me asleep, all I could do was groan as I felt my knees being weak and my waist hurting from the intense action.
We did everything we could think of and more. Using her mouth, breasts, hands, rear, and everything she could offer alongside water magic.
This exhaustion I felt was wholly different from our first night. It's just a theory, but because of my mana, which energized me to a degree I never thought was possible, losing it would cause many issues. Like the drug analogy, I first thought about it when I heard this from Janis.
Speaking of Janis, she was nibbling on my cheeks as she slept. The heat we shared was getting unbearable, and I would like to use magic, but that would make me even more exhausted than I already am. Mortal needs are a pain in the ass.
Should I wake Janis up? With her face up close, it was hard not to stare at her. Slowly, due to my exhaustion, I returned to sleep.
~
"Janis, I have a place I want to visit. Would you like to join?" After a swift recovery, a sudden thought came to mind.
Janis and I had just wrapped up our lunch, and with no other plans in sight, it seemed like the perfect moment to propose.
"Do you have anywhere to go?" She seemed puzzled by the sudden proposal, knowing I hadn't mentioned anything earlier. This impromptu invitation caught her off guard.
"I've been thinking about heading to the shoreline, specifically the island's eastern side." My conversation with Remi lingered in my thoughts, and I felt compelled to investigate further, just in case a clue awaited me.
With nothing urgent on my agenda and the allure of exploration, I felt a sense of security in traveling now. It seemed like the opportune moment, and the worst-case scenario would be a minor disappointment if we came up empty-handed.
"Do you need to go right away?" Janis questioned, sensing a hint of urgency.
"Not necessarily, but my mind won't let it go until I check it out." I spoke with determination, expressing my thoughts without reservation, though Janis's disappointed expression hinted at a possible pressing matter.
"This expedition shouldn't take more than a day. Once we're done, we can focus on whatever you have in mind," I suggested, hoping to sway Janis's decision.
"What's on your agenda, then?" I inquired, curious about her desires.
"It's a secret," she replied mysteriously, with a tinge of annoyance.