Dune and Mindya trailed behind the others, their footsteps soft against the dirt path. Cadogan walked ahead with steady strides, leading the group toward Rendely.
Atlas and Ned stuck close to him, occasionally pointing out distant birds or chatting quietly to pass the time.
Around them, the world stretched out wide and calm, just grasslands and soft hills rolling in every direction.
Dune kept glancing at Mindya out of the corner of his eye. She moved like a restless animal, twitchy and strange in small ways. Her hands fidgeted constantly, grabbing at her sleeves, cracking her knuckles, even bringing her fingers to her mouth now and then to bite her nails. It wasn't aggressive, just… off.
Like her body didn't quite know what to do when there wasn't a threat around.
He sighed. This is gonna be tough.
"You know what an academy is?" he asked, keeping his tone casual. "Ever been to school?"
Mindya turned to him, genuinely confused. "No? What's that?"
He blinked. "seriously?"
She nodded like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"Alright," he muttered, scratching the back of his neck. "So, an academy is like… a place where people gather to learn. About all kinds of stuff, combat, Neba control, history, tactics, whatever. You stay there for a while. There are teachers, rules, training sessions—"
"Ugh," she groaned mid-sentence, wrinkling her nose. "Sounds boring."
Dune snorted. "But Bloodrose Academy's not like some dusty old school. It's where warriors go to evolve, to break limits. The kind of place where you can actually get stronger. Learn more about your Neba, push it past what you thought was possible… well, that's what Cadogan said."
That got her attention. She didn't say anything, but her pace quickened a bit, her steps lighter.
"You want to get stronger, right?" he asked.
She glanced at him and nodded once.
"Then this is the way. But strength ain't the only thing you'll need there."
She gave him a side eye. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You need to learn how to act around people." He looked at her seriously now. "I'm not saying you need to change who you are, but…Bloodrose Academy is in the center of the city, right near the castle. Nobles live there. People with power and Influence. You cause trouble, and they won't just glare or manipulate you, they'll erase you, if you don't want to be treated same way as you were back in Varrinor, Varrinir or whatever it is, then you have to adapt.
Mindya's eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't argue. She looked ahead, watching the others in silence for a few seconds. The wind rustled through her wild hair.
"I don't like humans," she muttered.
Dune chuckled. There was a pause.
"You know… I used to be someone who didn't trust anyone. All I cared about was surviving. I thought… if I just kept my head down, stayed strong, did what I had to, I'd be fine."
He paused, "But then… I met people who showed me something different. People who didn't care how closed off I was.
Nely… the twins… even Elijah. A small grin crept onto his face as he thought about that last name. "Tch… annoying guy."
Mindya tilted her head, watching him with a bit more interest now.
"Truth is, it took me a long time to realize I was wrong. That thinking only about myself wasn't living, it was just… surviving."
He looked ahead again, voice calm but honest.
"Now? I feel free. I don't have to pretend. I can be who I am and still be strong. I want to meet more people, help them, learn from them. I want to understand how others feel, what they've been through."
He looked at her then, more seriously. "And I think you can change too. Not into someone else, but into who you really are. The part of you that's been buried under all the pain and fighting. You just… haven't met that someone yet, or you just haven't explored world enough."
For a moment, Mindya didn't respond. The wind blew a little harder, brushing her hair across her face. She tucked it behind her ear slowly, her expression unreadable.
"I dunno if I've got a 'real me' buried somewhere… but if she's stronger and cooler maybe I'll try to find her."
Then, out of nowhere, Mindya grinned and reached out to smack his shoulder, not hard, but enough to catch him off guard.
"Piece of cake," she said with a laugh. "Trust me, Dune boy. I'll act like a polite little lady. Hahaha."
Dune raised a brow. "That is not convincing."
But she was already skipping ahead a few steps, hands behind her back, whistling something out of tune.
"You never told me what kind of Neba animal you have," Dune said, glancing at her.
Mindya raised a brow, then flashed a toothy smirk. "Snake of a Thousand Bites."
"That's… what?"
She shrugged. "This ability makes my punches sharper, and it makes people bleed like crazy. And the wounds? Hehehe… They can't be healed by Neba."
Dune's eyes widened a little. "That's actually kind of insane."
The creature who killed Leon also had same type of ability, it's really dangerous.
"It is, but there's a problem." Her voice dropped a bit. "When it's active, I can't heal either. If I get hit, I bleed just like they do. No healing with Neba and no second chances."
"There were times when I'd hunt alone," she continued. "Sneaking out, trying to survive, you know. And I'd get hurt bad. Could barely move. I'd lay in some dirt hole, bleeding out, hoping I wouldn't die."
Her voice cracked slightly. "I didn't have potions or anyone to patch me up. So… I sometimes went to Rudy."
Dune looked over at her. Her eyes were distant, fingers twitching slightly.
"I hated it. But I didn't have a choice."
Dune glanced at her,, "But now it's all over, you won't ever have to do that again."
Mindya blinked, startled.
"I'll help you. We will, That's what people do when they've got each other's backs." He gave her a small, real smile. "You've got mine, and not only mine, Ned, Atlas, even Cadogan would help you if you need it, without hesitation. We are travelling together, so we also have to protect each other."
For a moment, her eyes widened.
"Damn, Dune-boy. Nice talking skills you got there."
Before Dune could respond, the ground shook beneath their feet. A deep rumble rolled through the air.
Something huge was approaching them.
They turned, just in time to see something massive cresting the nearest hill.
A towering turtle, few hundred meters tall, trudged forward with slow majesty. Its ancient shell, layered and vast, bore stone homes, shops, ropes, and lanterns swaying in the wind. Its green eyes glowed with eerie wisdom, and its moss-like beard rippled under its chin. Curved horns arched back from its head like a forgotten god of the forest.
Mindya spun in place, grinning wide. "Yesss! I knew it was Turtle Dreadmarch! I'm gonna buy everything. Meat, bugs, fish, oooh, I hope the fried scorpion guy is still alive!"
Dune stared, stunned. "This is…the Caravan?"
So this is what "turtle" she was talking about?
The turtle lowered its head, and opened its mouth. A wave of warmth burst out, bathing the field in a purple glow. Inside its gaping maw, a shimmering light pulsed, an ethereal fire-like portal swirling with deep violet energy.
Dune squinted against the light. "Purple?—"
Cadogan stepped forward, calm as ever. "yes… It's a Zeten. A purple one. One of the strongest creatures on Sanatria."
Dune's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
"It allows us passage in exchange for our Neba. It feeds on it, not to harm us, but to live. Cadogan gave a small smile. "Thankfully, Dreadmarch is friendly. Has been for generations."
"Let's go."
The group moved forward, following Cadogan's lead. As they stepped into the glowing mouth, the portal flared, and they passed through.
In the blink of an eye, they found themselves standing in the middle of a busy street, inside the turtle Dreadmarch.
Buildings and stalls lined the inner shell, music echoed in the distance, and the scent of food filled the air. Open space stretched around them, with people everywhere, traders, travelers, and merchants shouting out deals and showing off glowing wares. The whole place buzzed with energy.
"Welcome to the shell town," Cadogan said with a grin. "Let's get settled."
Dune stepped into the bustling street, his eyes bouncing from stall to stall, from the glowing lanterns above to the colorful mess of foods and items on sale. It felt like a dream, or some strange pocket of the world untouched by chaos.
But then, something tugged at his chest. A hollow pull, deep in his gut.
He froze and looked down at his hand, focusing inward.
"…Wait."
Dune's brows furrowed. "What the hell? My Neba's been cut in half."
Behind him, Atlas cursed under his breath. "Mine too. It was full before we stepped in."
Ned checked himself and let out a sharp exhale. "Half gone. Damn it."
"Tch. This weird feeling again!" Mindya groaned.
Dune turned to her. "You know about this?"
She crossed her arms. "That's how Dreadmarch works. Once your Neba reaches a hundred, fully charged, he takes half of it. That's the price for the ride."
Dune blinked. "Ans you didn't thought to mention this?"
Cadogan, who had already been inspecting a nearby vendor, turned back to them calmly.
"That's how the bond works. Dreadmarch feeds off charged Neba, but he never takes all of it. It's a symbiotic relationship between humans and him. In exchange, we travel in safety, faster than anything else across the land. And…" He glanced at the thick walls of the turtle around them. "We're protected by one of the strongest Zetens in existence."
Dune let out a breath, eyes narrowing slightly as he clenched his hand again. "Still… would've been nice to know."
Mindya laughed. "Come on, Dune-boy. It's just Neba. You'll charge it back in no time. Besides…" She pointed ahead at a stand overflowing with food. "We're here now, and I'm starving."
She bolted off before he could argue.