Vlad and Sera rolled across the open plains in the rugged double-cab pickup truck, wind mana stone humming beneath the steel frame. The vehicle, with oversized off-road tires, and an open cargo bed in back, was built for rough country travel, not ceremony.
"I still can't believe the Church handed you something this nice." Sera said, running a hand along the dashboard.
Vlad chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "Actually, they didn't. The one they gave me got torn apart by a monster a few years back."
"Then this…?"
"A blacksmith in a border village built it for me as repayment for pulling her family out of a collapsing mine. I've been using it ever since"
She nodded, glancing around the cabin. "It's very practical. I like it."
"Me too. It's also a great improvement from the first one."
"Really, how so?" she asked.
"To put it simply, this one is faster, sturdier, and has a better appearance. The previous one was a simple hatchback."
"I see. Those cars are build mainly for comfort rather than any practical work."
"Exactly." Vlad nodded.
"How did the priests respond when you told them that you wrecked the car they gave you?" Sera asked.
"Since I made it out alive, they didn't mind the fact that the car got destroyed." Vlad responded.
"I see." she nodded.
"That said, they were very insistent on taking this one for a test drive when I showed it to them. Guess they liked it as much as I do." he added, and the pair shared a small laugh.
"So," she continued, changing the topic. "where exactly are we going?"
"About that... Back when I was traveling the country, I kept hearing stories—one of which was about a man who could kill monsters with his bare hands."
Sera arched a brow. "That's not exactly rare, is it? There are plenty of strong fighters out there that are like that—me and you included."
"If they can use magic, sure. However, this one can't. At least, that's how the stories go."
She turned fully toward him. "Are you serious?" her eyes widened—shock, excitement, one couldn't be too sure.
"I'm dead serious. No mana, no spells—just pure physical strength. They say he protects a small town. He was born and raised there. He now runs the whole place too."
Sera stared out the windshield, processing the information. "That shouldn't be possible... A non-mage taking down monsters, solo? With bare hands? Even a magically gifted child can overpower most adults—non-mages, in an arm wrestle. Just how strong is this person?"
"That's a very good question, and exactly what we're going to see for ourselves."
Vlad pressed the accelerator, and the pickup truck surged forward, eating distance toward the town of Tepis.
A high stone wall encircled the settlement, four guarded gates piercing it at cardinal points. Sentries stood watch atop the ramparts.
When Vlad identified himself as the Hero, the gates opened without question.
Whispers and admiring stares followed them through the streets—everyone knew the Hero on sight, and the headmaster of the Divinia Magical Academy was hardly less recognizable.
They parked near the town hall and walked the rest of the way.
The receptionist—a young woman, flushed the moment Vlad smiled at her.
"H-hello!" she greeted, louder than she had intended.
"Hello." Vlad greeted back with a charming smile. "We'd like to speak with the mayor, if he's available."
"He just stepped out." the receptionist said. "Though, he shouldn't be out for too long." she replied, trying her hardest to hold back her excitement.
"Alright, thank you." Vlad thanked her warmly. "We'll come again and check once he returns."
"Understood." the receptionist nodded.
With that, Sera smirked, wrapped her arm around him, and the pair left.
"Let's grab lunch while we wait," she suggested. "There's probably a place nearby that serves excellent beer."
"How would you know something like that?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.
"Just call it intuition." she shrugged.
At one particular restaurant, Sera ordered a full liter of beer without hesitation and downed half in one long pull.
Vlad watched her, concerned. "Are you sure about that? We're in public after all."
She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Please. This much is nothing to me."
"I meant that there are people staring at us." he said, having thought that she misunderstood his statement.
"Let them stare." She leaned back, casual. "I'm not here to play headmaster today."
"It's not just about you. It might reflect poorly on the academy too." he cautioned, but Sera just brushed it off.
Although Vlad was concerned about Sera's public image, as well as the reputation of the Divinia Magic Academy being muddied a bit, the people watching them were concerned with other matters entirely.
The truth was much simpler.
In plain traveling clothes—his armor stowed, her robes replaced with a simple blouse and trousers, they looked like any young couple out for a meal.
Of course, their otherworldly beauty only helped the observers' image of them.
In fact, more than a few patrons had assumed they were on a date—including their waiter.
This was the reason why they were given the couple's special meal, which was spaghetti over cheese sauce, sprinkled with cheddar flakes, and a single chocolate mousse for dessert, for free.
They would've been given a large cocktail with only one straw, had they not ordered for different drinks.
Vlad had thought that the restaurant had given them the dessert for free as thanks for all the good they had done. Of course, that wasn't the case at all.
He reached for his own drink, but paused when Sera's fingers lightly grazed the back of his hand as she passed him the pepper shaker. The touch was fleeting, almost accidental, yet neither pulled away immediately.
For a brief moment, the noise of the restaurant seemed to soften. Vlad studied her face—the easy way she held her glass, the small tilt of her head as she listened to the murmur of conversations around them.
She looked… content. Peaceful in a way he hhadn't seen in her in a long, long time. At the beautiful sight in front of him, Vlad's heart could only melt in response.
Sera met his eyes across the table and offered a quiet smile, the kind that didn't need words.
Neither of them spoke for a little while. They didn't need to. An hour or so later, they returned back to the town hall.
The mayor waited in his office, reading a book. By the way the book was opened, it seemed as though he was almost finished with it.
He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark brown skin, and a neatly trimmed beard framing a strong jaw.
A long coat draped his shoulders over a white shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbows, fabric stretched taut across a chest that spoke of years of brutal labor and combat, and neatly braided dreadlocks that reached his shoulders.
Knock! knock! knock!
"Enter." the man said, responding to the knocks on the door. Guess I'll continue another time...
He rose as they entered, placing the book on a shelf filled with a row of others similar to it. The spine of the book had the number 8 written on it, showing that it was the 8th edition to the series he was just reading.
"To think the Hero himself would visit our little Tepis," he said, his voice deep and steady. "and the Mistress of Ice beside him."
"Please—call me Vlad."
"My name is Seraphina."
"Then feel free to call me Thomas."
The three sat.
Sera leaned forward slightly. "We've heard stories," she said with a small smirk. "about monsters killed with bare hands. By a man without a single ounce of magic whatsoever. It makes one curious, wouldn't you say?"
Thomas gave a confident half-smile. "Well, what do you think?"
"I think I'd believe it more if I saw it myself." she voiced.
"Yeah, maybe next time." he responded with a chuckle.
"Ahem." Vlad cleared his throat, wanting to grab both their attention.
He launched into the explanation—the looming war, the Demon King's resurgence, the need for allies strong enough to stand against the enemy's aura.
Then finally, he asked Thomas to join them in the fight as allies.
Thomas listened in silence. When Vlad finished, he exhaled slowly. "I understand."
"Then—"
"But I can't leave."
Sera's eyes narrowed. "You realize what's at stake, right?" she asked rhetorically. "The entire world—"
"I know." Thomas's gaze hardened. "But this town has no one else. There are no mages, no reinforcements, none of that. It's just me, and me alone."
He told them the rest.
Monster attacks had grown frequent, as well as vicious—sudden, devastating raids that tore through livestock, homes, and also a few unfortunate lives.
The wall bought time for evacuation, but nothing more. Without Thomas to meet the monsters head-on, Tepis would fall within days, or a week at most.
He'd begged neighboring cities for aid, but none of them answered. Tepis had nothing to offer—no resources, or any strategic value. Why waste soldiers on a backwater? Such was the current situation Tepis was facing.
"I hope you can understand." Thomas finished, bowing his head.
Sera leaned forward. "If we kill the Demon King, no human settlement will ever be threatened again." she reasoned. "Your town will also be safe."
"And if you fail?" Thomas met her eyes. "Or if you're too late? What good is saving the world if I can't even save my own people?"
Vlad placed a hand on Sera's arm before she could argue.
That's because he understood all too well where Thomas was coming from. After all, even he had times when he stopped taking on missions to check up on his sister.
Although no one knew of it, Vlad did return at least once every 6 months to check up on her, as well as the rest of his friends and family. He made sure to hide his presence so that no one could detect him, and left once he made sure that all was well with everyone.
Even if I save the world, would I be able to live with myself if I couldn't save her, if I couldn't save them? He wondered, thinking about his sister, as well as the people he grew up with in the orphanage.
After that brief moment of contemplation, Vlad finally spoke.
"I understand." he said quietly.
Thomas exhaled. "Thank you."
However, Vlad was still determined to recruit Thomas.
He leaned forward. "Then let me make you a proposal."
Vlad offered to eliminate the monster threat at its source—permanently. If they cleared the nest, Thomas could leave without condemning Tepis to destruction.
"I'll also create a barrier around the entire town while you're away." he said.
"Is that even possible?" Thomas asked.
"Of course it is. After all, he is The Hero. If anyone can do it, then it's Vlad." Sera chimed in, her tone a mix of excitement and respect.
Vlad let out a soft akward chuckle. Receiving praise from Sera had left him slightly embarrassed. Especially after all this time.
Thomas studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "If that's the case, then you have yourself a deal."
They spent the remaining day poring over all the reports of the most recent attacks, until a pattern emerged—the monsters always came from the same direction, retreating toward a low mountain on the horizon.
"There seems to be an extensive cave system beneath it." Thomas said, tapping the rough map. "That's probably their lair."
Vlad folded the map. "Then that's where we start."
Sera cracked her knuckles, a faint smile touching her lips. "Guess I finally get to do some stretching after being holed up in an office for weeks."
Thomas stood. "I'll show you the way at first light."
All the while, the male silhouette drifted unseen behind them, patient, silent, and keeping perfect pace with their every move.
Looks like I'll get to see a fight between humans and demons first-hand, even if it's on a small scale. I'll just think of it as an appetizer, getting me ready for the main course.