Zion and Aria walked side by side, their footsteps quiet on the dusty road. They had left Elijah's home early that morning, eager to begin their journey to Sash Village.
The sun was high overhead, casting a warm glow over the landscape. Zion felt a sense of excitement and nervousness as he walked. He had never been to Sash Village before, and he wasn't sure what to expect.
Aria, on the other hand, was quiet as she trailed behind him. She wasn't the type to stop talking but she could not bring herself to speak to Zion not after realizing the reason behind his sadness. She didn't want to bother him.
As they walked, the landscape around them began to change. The rolling hills and green forests of the countryside gave way to a more rugged, rocky terrain. Zion could see the distant outline of mountains rising up in the distance.
After a few hours of walking, Zion and Aria came to a small stream. They stopped to rest and refill their water bottles. Zion sat down on a nearby rock, taking a moment to stretch his legs.
Aria sat few inches away from him and gave him her back. Seeing this, Zion frowned.
"Hey," he called as he stood up and walked over to her side. She turned around to face him but carefully avoided staring at him. "What's the matter? You've been acting strangely since we left the village and this is not like you."
"It's nothing, big brother," she forced herself to say. "I just don't feel like talking."
Zion knew she was lying. How could someone like her not feel like talking?! He lowered himself and brought his face close to hers so that he could see her face. There was no joy on her face just as he guessed.
"Tell me what the problem is, did I wrong you in anyway?" He asked her.
"No," Aria mumbled.
"You are making me worry about you," Zion grunted and stood up. "If it's about what Elijah told you earlier today then I have nothing to say concerning that. Since you've known the problem at hand, you can decide to leave, I won't stop you."
"Big brother!" Aria exclaimed and got up. With an angry look on her face, she said. "If you are hoping that I am going to leave you, then you are only dreaming. I will not leave you, I can't..."
Zion's eyes widened in surprise as Aria's words poured out in a passionate torrent. He had never seen her so emotional, and it took him aback.
"...I won't leave you, I can't," Aria continued, her voice shaking with intensity. "You're my big brother, and I care about you. I won't abandon you just because things get tough."
Zion felt a lump form in his throat as he gazed at Aria. He had underestimated her devotion to him.
"Aria, I..." he began, but she cut him off.
"No, big brother, listen to me," she said, her eyes blazing with determination. "I know what Elijah told you, and I know how you are feeling right now. But I believe in you. I know that you are going to overcome this, you are going to become the strongest beast slayer in the entire world."
Zion rememberd what she told Elijah in the morning, he felt a surge of gratitude towards her. Her words were like a balm to his soul, soothing his fears and doubts.
"Aria, thank you," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "Just knowing you're here for me makes me feel better."
Aria's expression softened, and she smiled. "Of course, big brother. I'll always be here for you, in good and bad times. I will never leave you."
The two of them shared a warm moment, their bond strengthened by Aria's emotional outburst.
As they stood there, the tension between them dissipated, replaced by a sense of unity, love, and determination. They knew they faced challenges ahead, but together, they were ready to overcome them.
With renewed spirits, they decided to continue their journey to Sash Village, side by side, and ready to face whatever lay ahead.
>>>>
Zion and Aria continued on their journey, the sound of gravel crunching beneath their feet filled the air. As they walked, Zion's thoughts turned to the examination that awaited them in Sash Village.
In two days' time, they would be taking the infamous entrance examination into the beast slayer organization, a rigorous test of magical knowledge and skill. Zion felt a mix of nerves at the prospect.
Aria seemed to sense his tension and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, big brother," she said. "You've trained many much for this, I believe you are going to make it into the organization."
Zion smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude towards Aria. She had been a constant source of support and encouragement throughout their journey.
As they crested a small hill, the village of Sash came into view. Zion's eyes widened in awe as he took in the sight of the bustling village. People of all shapes and sizes hurried to and fro, each with their own unique story to tell.
Zion and Aria made their way through the village, following the path there. When they got to a certain place, they stopped to ask for directions from one of the people around.
"Excuse me, we are asking for the man called Kai," Zion said to the man.
"You mean Kai, one of the heads of the beast slayer organization?" The man asked with a surprised look on his face.
Zion and Aria glanced at each other before nodding their heads.
"It seems like he's the one we are looking for. So how can we get to meet him?" Zion said.
"Is there anything you want from him?" The man asked.
"Excuse me, bit it's none of your business," Zion said with a frown appearing on his face. "All you need to do is show us the way or better still, take us to his place."
"Hmmm," the man sighed. "Follow me, I'll take you to his place but I won't taoe you inside."
"Whatever, thank you," Zion replied and the both of them followed the man as he led them farther into the village. They followed the man through the winding streets of Sash Village, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling community. They passed by stores selling exotic goods, children playing in the streets, and villagers going about their daily business.
As they walked, the man led them to a more secluded area of the village, where the houses were larger and more ornate. Zion's curiosity was piqued - what kind of person was Kai, and what did he do to warrant such a grand residence?
After a few minutes of walking, the man stopped in front of a large, imposing gate. The gate was adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures and symbols of magical power.
"This is Kai's residence," the man said, gesturing to the gate. "But be warned, he is not someone to be trifled with. He is a powerful magic user and also one of the heads of the beast slayer organization."
Zion nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. What would Kai be like? Would he be friendly and helpful, or cold and dismissive?
"Thank you for bringing us here," Aria said, turning to the man. "We appreciate your help."
The man nodded and turned to leave, but not before casting a curious glance at Zion and Aria. "Be careful," he said, before disappearing into the crowd.
Aria turned to Zion, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Well, what do you think? Are we ready to meet Kai?"
Zion nodded, his face set in a determined expression. "Let's do this," he said.
Together, they pushed open the gate and stepped inside.