The Eve Before Departure

Marius and the Tyrant Frost Wyrm battle wasn't a long one, as the day was still at its peak. While he traveled through the mystical woods, he passed along the coarse soil and rich grasses that lined a path towards the exterior of this mountain's boundary to the Middle Sections.

Marius picked up a few of their favorite fruits on his way back; he didn't know if any of these strange fruits will even be in the markets. As such, he decided to stock up on as much as he could, whistling one of his all-time favorite songs during his younger years.

🎵 "Welcome to the wild, no heroes and villains! Welcome to the war we've only begun, so pick up your weapon and face it... there's blood on the crown go and take it..."

Marius hummed as he strolled about the mountain path; soon, he arrived at a strange open field within the outskirts. There, a small tent was resting in the open with a beauty of peerless grace; her long green hair fluttered with the soft wind as did the corners of her simple dress.

She held onto the idle figure of an adorable little battle girl playing with two similarly small tigers in joy.

"Go Whittle White, jump!" Little Rose said as she urged the small white tiger to jump over the other.

At this time, the tiger named Little White that had grown a little more significant during the passage of a month showed a capability understanding of the human command. It rose to its feet and made a rapid dash before pressing its hinds against the floor and jumping over the head of Little Black.

When it fell on the ground, it stumbled a bit before rolling, looking a bit clumsy, but Little Rose didn't seem to care for its distress; she merely clapped her hands excitedly as she spoke, "Yay-yay! Whittle White is twalented!"

As Ria watched her daughter play, she had a warm smile on her face as she rubbed her little head, her fingers ran across her tiny horns that were hidden below her bangs.

As if affected by this, Little Rose closed her eyes before curling her body in her mother's embrace as she speaks with a voice of contentment, "Comfy..."

Ria had a happy look on her face, but at this time, she seemed to notice that Marius had arrived, she gave him a look and spoke, "Oh, honey, you're finally back from all that training, hmm... eh?"

Ria had started to greet her husband, but as if she smelled something, her eyes lit up as she spoke out loud, "Honey you've brought us Fire Cherries!"

As if Little Rose smelled it, her entire mood changed from what of comfort to one of excitement. She only now noticed that her father had arrived and had a large bag of cherries with other extremely tasty fruits.

"Dadda-dadda! I want chwerry!" Little Rose said as she broke out from Ria's embrace and stormed towards Marius.

Ria looked at this with a complex gaze as she wanted to be the first to get some, but who was a mother to complete with her daughter.

Marius chuckled as he saw both of their reactions he spoke, "My little darling don't be like that, look there's plenty to go around, wait until your brother gets back then we can all eat, we'll also need to save some for our trip."

Little Rose was a smart little child, she looked up at her father's face with an innocent expression, her large watery and rounded eyes having a tinge of sadness as she gripped his trousers with her tiny fingers and spoke, "Okway..."

Marius felt a tug in his heart as he saw this, he didn't have the strength of will to resist such cuteness, but he bit his lips and held on to his decision.

"That's my good girl, come let's rest up," Marius said as he stooped down and used one arm to pick up Little Rose, after placing her on his shoulder he walked towards Ria before sitting himself by her side.

Ria placed her head onto the Marius's shoulder with a content smile as she spoke, "I'll miss this place..."

Marius gave her a look and spoke, "Me too..."

The two remained silent staring at the surroundings before they started to chat about a variety of things, the day slowly pressed onwards, and they had both spoken until even Little Rose started to show signs of falling asleep arms.

Marius looked at this and placed her in a more comfortable position. Yet, it was at this moment, Ria's eyes flashed with a strange light as her arm that was placed behind him rapidly moved, leaving a plume of black smoke as it somehow appeared within the basket.

"Hmph! I saw that coming from a mile away," Marius said with a snort as he rapidly reacted, tugging a string that was attached to it, the basket then flew over to his legs were he clamped it and sealed it away.

Ria showed an angry look as she glared at Marius, she lifted her head from his shoulder and complained, "Hey, it's only one, why are you acting like I'm trying to take the basket?"

Marius gave her a look and replied, "Because that's exactly what you'll do, every time we did this and I consented, one became two, and two became four. I won't fall for that trick again!"

"You... humph! Fine, be that way, I'll simply act in kind..." Ria said with a sinister smile on her face, she picked up Little Rose from his embrace as her body released a clump of purple flames that blazed around their bodies before they vanished.

Marius felt a bit uneasy due to those words, he hesitated wondering if he did the right thing just now. However, before he could even finish those thoughts, a new change occurred.

With a swooshing sound, a boy suddenly appeared from the nearby shrubs, he carried within his arm a strange-looking rabbit with blazing ears, struggling to break free from his grasp.

"Father look, I found a strange fire breathing rodent," Grevlin said in excitement as he looked at his father while holding it out towards him.

____

[Fire Breath Rabbit]

[Race: Mystic Beast]

[Level: 10]

[Stamina: G]

[Strength: G★]

[Agility: F]

[Dexterity: G★]

[Mystic Power: F]

[Abilities:]

[Fire Breath - Max]

____

Marius glanced at the stats of the Fire Breath Rabbit before he nodded with pride, through his guidance Grevlin had long since arrived at Level 10, thus enhancing his survival capabilities, even his manner had undergone a slight transformation.

"That's my son, now kill it and give it to your mother once we head back, we will be eating it for dinner," Marius said in a slightly warm tone.

"Yes father!" Grevlin replied with joy, he always liked being praised by his dad and proceeded to kill the rabbit immediately.

His shadows danced as a slender hand shrouded by darkness emerged with a dagger, it slicked apart the neck of the struggling rabbit before fading into the shadows once more.

Grevlin then drained the blood with a calm expression before he cleaned it up and placed it into a container.

Marius then looked at him before shifting his eyes onto the large stone gate portal that lead to the Mountain Ax Senior's residence. He then spoke while walking towards it with firm steps, "Let's go."

Grevlin wasted no time and followed behind his father, the two figures faded into the lights as the door away crumpled and vanished into the earth.