An intriguing Companion

It was morning, and Mira and Gareth were walking together. They had both set off at dawn, and with no conflict between them they traveled together in the same direction.

There was a comfortable silence as they both walked. Whenever they fought the beasts, Gareth still fought the battles with his crazy style.

The way he fought, and the ferocity that was evident in his moves was something that surprised Mira. She herself would not dare to fight these beasts while risking her body that way. Beasts were much more stronger than the average humans. Their bodies were strong, their skins thick. Their claws and fangs were strong enough to rival weapons.

Mira was a sword user, and with her techniques she could fight these awakened beasts with ease. But, as she watched this young man who confronted these beasts with his arms and legs moving so fast her eyes barely caught their movements. Incapacitating and killing the beasts with ease, she was stunned. Even more so, when she could find no hints of techniques in his movements.

She could not stop her eyes from glancing at him once in a while as they walked together under the trees. She found it hard to understand this traveling companion of hers. She could feel the little amount of world energy he had when compared to hers. Most likely, he was someone who recently awakened.

Mira was someone who was near her first completion. The initial completion of the Awakening Realm. If it was purely a matter of outlasting this traveling companion of hers in a head-on fight, her world energy reserves were at least five times his. However, did that really matter? Her sword alone against his fists and kicks. This guy could finish her in at most a few minutes with his raw strength and that crazy way he fought.

She had techniques, yes. However, the best they could help her with in such a situation was keeping her life and running away. It might be a different story if she had reached initial completion, but facing him head-on, in such a fight, before then was a very bad idea.

She could not stop herself from wondering just how much talent this guy had in him. Everything about him was completely absurd. 

Mira's talent was something she could rate as being not too bad. Her Foundation was rated as three, her Soul as two. The highest rating for both talents was five. With her talents, she was qualified to be accepted into a sect. She had awakened at twenty-five and her age could not be considered as awakening too late. But, so what? That was the minimum qualification for almost every sect. In a sect, that level of talent was common, not outstanding in any way.

Mira knew that with her personality, joining a sect was asking for trouble. The decision she made after her awakening was simple. She would walk her own path. It has been five years since, and she had never once regretted the decision she made.

"Is there something . . . Is there something on my face?"

Gareth had to ask, he could feel her glancing at him ever so often.

"Nothing like that." She shook her head. "I was actually thinking about a few things and would love to get some answers from you. If you do not mind."

A small smile graced her lips as she finished saying those words. 

"Alright." Gareth nodded.

"You should have awakened recently, right?"

"A few weeks, give or take."

"Well, I actually guessed right."

Gareth raised his brows at this. 'Was that all?'

"Most sects would be recruiting soon. A few weeks from now, maybe. Which sect would you be joining?"

"Why would you think I will be joining a sect."

"Tsk. Tsk. That will be a waste of perfectly good talent."

Gareth did not reply her.

"I know quite a lot of important people in Magkesia. It is something you have no choice but to. You could always get information on the best things quickly if you do. Even those young masters know the importance of having good connections."

Mira said as she picked an herb from the mountain.

"Opportunities and resources could come that way too. You might not know who hears something, or someone who knows someone who happened to get some juicy details."

His traveling companion had gotten all chatty all of a sudden. This was a ... welcomed development.

"I am joining the Martial Seekers Sect."

She paused before continuing.

"Should have guessed so. Your style fits theirs."

"What do you mean?"

"In the whole of Magkesia, who does not know that they are the only sect in these parts that focuses on using their bodies as weapons. You know, all their core techniques are focused on close quarters combat. No flashy moves. It is like they are against 'flashy' moves or something." She said, waving her sword and shooting off sword rays.

Gareth had seen the moves she had used when fighting the beasts. They were indeed flashy, but just as equally deadly.

"I understand you now. Our styles indeed fit."

She snorted.

They continued their journey. They entered whatever beasts territory they could when they were near. They would never find beasts that were too strong in this parts of the mountain, but they were still cautious. If they did meet one, well... 

*

It was some time past noon. Gareth had been careful with his clothing this time around. There were no bloodstains on them as he had protected his clothes with world energy. It was a bad idea to reek of blood with how deep into the mountains they were.

It was quiet between the two. There was a lot they had talked about with each other since Mira started it. It could be said they knew about each other more than just their names by now.

They were getting closer to the halfway mark of the mountain range, and they would reach there in a few days. At that time, they would have no choice but to get on the safe route. Fighting beasts at the initial completion or any completion at that was a no no for Mira. She had also warned Gareth against having any silly ideas. Gareth also knew that he would be forfeiting his life if he was besieged by so many of such beasts at once.

It had been a peaceful journey, and they were the only humans in these parts of the mountain.

They however began to hear the sounds of conversation, and the people conversing were moving closer to them. 

"It is about to mature."

"Has Peter made sure it won't get away this time around."

"Who is there!" Someone shouted. 

Everywhere became silent at that.

Mira had stopped and signaled Gareth to do so since they heard the first voice. 

Some people walked out from behind the trees and stood before them.

There were five in the group. 

Mira froze when she saw them.