The duel had lasted only seventeen minutes. Luna tried to check on Toki but was utterly exhausted from losing focus.
Her surrounding aura broke, and her clothes melted like glass. Before she fell, Toki caught her.
"Thank you, Luna. I understood your hints," he murmured with a generous smile, supporting her on the soft grass. "Sorry for the delay."
Toki stood and warmed up. "Alright, Shon, I'm ready."
Shun laughed mockingly. "Wonderful! Can you endure it?"
Toki removed his shirt. "Yes. I promise. Let's finish this."
From that moment until sunset, Shun taught Toki how to extract his spiritual pulses by making a sapling bloom using his spiritual energy.
Toki failed multiple times, haunted by painful memories. Each time he delved into his soul, criticism and a pounding headache almost accompanied him.
Shun approached and placed his hand on Toki's shoulder. "Don't let anything distract you from your goal."
"We will search for you…" he whispered determinedly inside himself, "…even if it's at the bottom of the courtyard."
Finally, he succeeded in generating the pulse.
Early in the morning, Toki and Luna headed to the village gate with their belongings.
Raizel waited, in his usual foul mood. Sophie hurried to bid them farewell after Shun informed her of their departure.
They set off to the first village to deliver boxes full of fruit.
Raizel led the horse, muttering, "Damn it! That scoundrel Shon. Why do I have to accompany the kids?"
"Hey! Try not to be a burden. The coasts here are tricky."
"I was lucky, it seems." Luna replied, playing with a lock of Toki's sleeping hair.
Toki recalled what Shun said yesterday:
"You're tasked with transportation because of the breed of a certain monster roaming outside the villages. They may appear at any moment. I trust you to complete this work."
They walked among hills along a dirt road. The sound of the horse's neigh and the rolling wooden wheels echoed.
They arrived at a village near mushrooms, known for its spices and herbs. They delivered the first batch and collected the balance before heading to the next station.
Raizel explained that these villages operate in coordination, fulfilling each other's needs—it's the alliance.
Suddenly, the cart jolted; the horse ran swiftly while Raizel tried to regain balance.
Toki and Luna remained calm. Toki reclined, saying lazily, "If tricerhameo arrives, it's fine."
"Take your time!" Luna smiled understandingly.
Monstrous creatures appeared everywhere, medium-sized with strong limbs and long tongues.
Toki stood, grabbed an apple, and raised his rusty sword toward them.
With a wide smile and cold expression, he said, "You've come to your doom… isn't that wonderful?!"
***
Author's Note: This chapter, along with some other chapters, will undergo revisions.