After time elapsed, Komeri explained everything that had happened but did not tell them about his death.....yet. The next day, as the sun rose, Komeri was packing but light.
"So, you're suggesting that I visit this capital?" Komeri asked.
"Yeah, there is a dungeon run there that might take place, so I was thinking you could get me some nice materials there... you could take your time, if you need to" Sooduru replied.
Sooduru then handed him a map, which made Komeri feel very assured.
"This is the first time I see a map here, but could you explain it to me?" Komeri asked.
"Sure thing," Sooduru said, then began to explain about the map. They are the realms or regions: the living realm, where there are 7 human kingdoms, 9 beastfolk kingdoms, and the rest of the region is just the wild; and the dread realm, which is occupied by 5 demon kingdoms ruled by demon kings and queens.
Lastly, the last region or realm is the Ruin Realm, which other people suggest has no inhabitants, or that there are shadow beasts lurking in the misty fog, so nobody claims that place....it's a mystery.
After saying thier goodbye the began to move.
"Kamiru, Opus, let's go," said Komeri.
"I see Musa and Sooduru will be staying," said Opus.
"Yeah, they say they have to finish what they started.....or something," replied Komeri.
After instantly purchasing a travelling carriage they loot their belongings into it.
The three began to ride in a travel carriage, with Kamiru turned as tiny as Opus and floating right next to Komeri's right, while Opus was on the left. However, in the carriage, they were not alone. In front of them was a woman adventurer; she wore a red cropped leather top with shorts, had short red hair, and leather gauntlets. Next to her was a child who clung to her; she looked 12 but had the same red hair, only longer, and wore a medieval-style wizard robe.
With a shy look, the woman looked flustered and wanted to say something. Komeri looked back at her in confusion. "Umm, um, what are those things?" the woman said, pointing at the floating Kamiru and Opus.
"Eh..." They all looked surprised, including the child.
"Umm," Komeri was confused.
The child then slapped the woman's head as if she were the adult. "Learn your manners, big sis!!... I'm sorry for her rudeness," she said, bowing while forcing her to do the same.
"Wait, it's like their roles of maturity have switched," Komeri thought, amazed that a small sister seemed more mature than the big sister but the appearance where not matching to him.
"Oh, it's OK," Komeri said.
The small sister with a gentle smile introduced herself. "My name is Liana, and this is my big sister, Drana. We are adventurers," Liana said.
"My name is Komeri, and these are my spirit companions, Kamiru and Opus im also an adventurer," Komeri said, pointing to them both with confidence.
"So, they are spirits? They look so cute," Drana said with a slightly shy expression but was eager to open up,with an amazed gaze.
"Who are you calling cute, you mortal soul?" Kamiru said angrily while Opus held her in place to prevent her from going further.
The little sister Liana crossed her arms and legs, leaning back on the bench. "So, are you headed to Vorica too? I heard there is a dungeon run there,but is in the next week its prettyearly to go dont you think" Liana asked.
"Can you tell me more about the capital Vorica?" Komeri inquired.
"Sure thing... Drana," Liana said, looking in Drana's direction.
"O-oh yeah... where should I start? Vorica is the capital of the beast folk, so you might see half-beast humans or just full beasts wearing human clothes and have humanoid figures. In addition, that place is known for two things: the gladiator tournament and the dungeon mines," Drana said.
"Oh, that's reassuring to know," Komeri replied as they continued to move. Their carriage, pulled by a ground beast, suddenly stopped. Taking a look outside, they saw they were in some monster territory and were completely surrounded by giant mantis-like beasts, they had black exoskeletons and they don't look happy.
"Fuba mantises, huh... Drana, let's fight them," Liana said.
"Y-yes," Drana replied.
"Hey, Komeri, are you coming? We might get materials from their bodies to sell at the guild, you know," Liana called out.
"Sure," Komeri said, jumping off and moving to their fighting positions.
"Kamiru, Opus, I want you to let me handle this one. I don't want to be the center of their attention... yet," Komeri said telepathically.
With that they position themselves.
"I'm a flame mage, so I will take the supporting role. Drana is a brawler, so he will go ahead, but..." Liana looks at Komeri.
"Don't worry, I will go in with Drana. I'm a swordsman," Komeri replies.
"Alright, let's begin."
The black mantises were agitated; they began to emit black malice around their bodies and attacked with their pincers ready.
"Berserk," said Drana as the energy erupted around her in a reddish glow, and she launched forward with great strength, breaking the ground beneathher feet. "Impact boost!" On the other hand, Komeri also moved forward but was cautious about it.
"Inburn," Liana said, shooting fire from her hands.
There were explosions and the beatdown from both Drana and Komeri continued as they dodged while hitting the mantises on either the head or abdomen, avoiding the pincers and moving with agility and skill.
The last one was in sight, but Drana and Komeri did not waste any time. With great speed, they reached it in an instant together. "AAAAHHHH!!!" they shouted as they punched the mantis's abdomen at the same time, blowing it into pieces with a loud bang.
They were now covered in the purple blood of the monsters they defeat. "Okay, now we grab the body parts of the mantis," Liana said.
"Okay," Drana and Komeri both replied as they began to load the parts into their carriage. After a few minutes, they continued their journey.
After a while, they reached the Vorica capital. The gates had opened with the capital gaurds of bulls, so when they showed their identification, they managed to enter.
"Welcome to Vorica Capital," Liana said.
Komeri was amazed by the atmosphere. All around were the nicely paved floors, red and white cement buildings, and a whole variety of little rivers and mini waterfalls. But the most amazing thing was the citizens, from half cows to full-on wolf humanoids; they filled the area as demi-humans and humanoid beasts.
Sooner or later, Liana and Drana were waiting for him to finish selling the monster parts to the guild; they had done the same before him.
"500 gold and 200 silver... not a bad combination," Komeri thought, exiting the guild.
"Can we eat meat now?" Kamiru asked.
"Patience, Wolf," Opus replied.
The two spirits were in Komeri's pocket soul dimension in his consciousness, not in physical reality, so as to hide themselves while still being with Komeri.
As soon as he leaves the building, both sisters began to rap their arms around Komeri, one on each side, pressing their chests against him.
"Komeri, we missed you," Liana said.
"Y-yeah, we were so lonely," Drana added.
Komeri sighed and then looked at them with a worried but calm expression.
"So what's the catch? Spill it," Komeri said.
Switching to pleading expressions, they seemed so upset that they jumped onto his waist rapping their arms around it. "Please, Komeri, can we be teammates in this upcoming gladiator tournament? We are desperate since they won't let us be a team of two!.....its tomorrow" Liana exclaimed.
"Y-yeah, and plus the reward for the tournament is—" Drana was then stopped by Komeri from finishing.
"Shut... if you say 'reward,' I'm in," Komeri replied.
"R-really?" the two said as they still clung to his waist.
"But first... get off me!" Komeri said as he punched their heads, and they fell.
After everything calmed down, they entered the gladiator arena to register, but something caught Komeri's eye. "I agree that this is one of the beast folk kingdoms, but it is filled with most mammal types," Komeri thought.
"Guys, here," Komeri said, handing them a white mask with only eye holes and a moon-shaped symbol on its forehead.
"Umm, Komeri, what's this for?" Drana asked.
"If we are going to be a team, I thought we would need something matching. We will also be called the Night Moon," Komeri explained.
"I see, that's reasonable" Liana replied.
◇◇◇◇
In some dark room next to the arena, there is a half-cat male wearing a hooded robe. He looks human but has black cat ears and a tail. He looks down at the contestants. The other is a full-on wolf female with a humanoid figure, grey fur, and wearing hard-plated armor. She is just polishing her sword, and the most active one is another full-on fox with white fur. She wears a cropped top of plated armor for her chest and very long pants; she is just doing push-ups.
"I get the feeling something will happen today," said the half-cat.
"You always say that... maybe it's just you being very excited, don't you think?" said the wolf female, looking at the fox pausing mid-polish.
"I can't wait," the fox grins, showing its sharp canine."plus we might find someone that can challenge ive been waiting for this" she adds
"She's a total muscle head" both the haf cat and wolf female thought,with a awkward expression.
◇◇◇
Komeri could feel a shiver down his spine while he sat in the inn with Liana and Drana.
"Is something wrong?" Liana asked.
"Just a thought about what's going to happen tomorrow," Komeri replied.
"Don't worry; I'm sure we'll win," Drana said.
"I hope so," Komeri responded
In his mind he thought they might be a great chance to run into one of hisother school mates or just other students from different schools...that might be the case.