"Haaa… it''s so hot!"


    The sun zed down on the endless wastnd, its scorching heat only adding to the heaviness of the silence as Neron and Lilith began their journey.


    "You could use Magic to solve that, you know?" Lilith responded, not even sparing the boy a nce.


    "True…" Neron sighed, walking slightly behind her, his steps slower than usual after their exhausting battle.


    Despite his fatigue, his mind churned with questions about their new destination.


    Lilith walked with a confident stride, seemingly unaffected by the duel that had left the wastnd in ruins. Her long, white hair swayed with each step, and her aura of calm dominance remained unshaken. She didn''t bother looking back as she spoke, her voice cutting through the still air.


    "You''ve got questions?" She said simply, as though reading his thoughts.


    Neron nodded, quickening his pace to walk beside her. "Yeah, plenty. For starters, who exactly is this Lewis Griffith? And what are these Arcanas?"


    Lilith smirked, ncing at him from the corner of her eye. "Figured you''d ask eventually. Lewis Griffith was... well, you''d probably call him a legend. Back in his time, he was known as the Great Sage. A genius unlike any other, someone who understood the very fabric of the world and how to manipte it."


    "Ohh?"


    "What''s amazing is the fact that he couldn''t use Magic… sort of like the opposite of you, actually."


    "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    "I mean, despite not having Magic himself, he had an amazing mind. He could understand Magic more than anyone else, and he ended up advancing the craft beyond what many thought was possible…" She smiled softly. "I even learned a thing or two from him."


    Neron furrowed his brow. "You speak like you knew him."


    Her smirk widened.


    "Because I did. Lewis and I were... friends. If you can call it that. We traveled together for a while. He was always looking for answers, pushing the boundaries of what was possible. The man was brilliant, no doubt about it, but also reckless. Too curious for his own good."


    Neron absorbed this information, his curiosity only growing. "And the Arcanas?"


    Lilith stopped walking, turning to face him fully. Her crimson eyes bore into his as she answered, her tone serious. "The Arcanas aren''t just items, Neron. They''re artifacts of unimaginable power. Each one contains the highest form of Magic, the kind that can bend, twist, and even rewrite thews of the world itself. With an Arcana, you don''t just wield magic—youmand reality."


    Neron stared at her, his mind racing.


    "And Lewis had them? That means he must have been invincible!"


    She shook her head. "No, he only found a few. The Arcanas are scattered across the world, hidden in ces most people wouldn''t dare to tread. Even Lewis, with all his knowledge and power, couldn''t find them all. But the ones he did find… well, let''s just say they''re not something you take lightly."


    He frowned, the weight of her words sinking in. "If they''re so dangerous, why are we going after them?"


    Lilith''s expression softened slightly, though her gaze remained firm. "Because you need them. Your powers are immense, but they''re raw, unrefined. The Arcanas will help you understand more about yourself and what you''re capable of. If you want to stand a chance against what''sing, you''ll need every advantage you can get."


    "Oh… okay."


    They continued walking, the barren wastnd gradually giving way to a rougher, more mountainous terrain. As they climbed a narrow path nked by steep cliffs, Neron couldn''t help but voice another concern.


    "Do you really know where we''re going? Or is this one of those ''we''ll find it when we get there'' situations?"


    Lilith chuckled, herughter echoing off the cliffs. "Rx. I know exactly where it is. I''ve known for years."


    That admission stopped Neron in his tracks. He stared at her, incredulous. "You''ve known? Then why didn''t you go after it before?"


    Lilith paused as well, turning to face him with a shrug. "Because I didn''t need it."


    "Really?"


    At this point, Neron raised his brow in disbelief.


    "The Arcanas are a tool, Neron. Powerful, yes, but only necessary for those whock something. I''ve always had what I needed. You, on the other hand…" She gestured vaguely at him. "You''re a work in progress."


    Neron rolled his eyes but couldn''t suppress a small smile. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."


    "Anytime," she quipped, turning back and resuming their trek.


    The air grew colder as they ascended, the terrain bing increasingly treacherous.


    Neron used his staff to steady himself on the uneven ground, his mind wandering to the journey ahead. He couldn''t shake the feeling that this search for the Arcanas would change everything.


    The idea of wielding power capable of altering reality both thrilled and terrified him.


    Lilith, on the other hand, seemed entirely at ease, her movements fluid despite the difficult climb. She led the way with the confidence of someone who had traversed such paths countless times before. Neron couldn''t help but admire her resilience, even if her nonchnt attitude often grated on his nerves.


    ''Just how strong is she?'' He couldn''t help but wonder. ''If powers that can alter reality aren''t tempting enough for her… just how powerful could she be?''


    Throughout their duels, there wasn''t even one time where she appeared to be struggling.


    Whether it was Martial Arts or Magic, Lilith was a monster.


    Neron couldn''t help but wonder:


    ''When we find the Arcanas… will I be a Monster like that too?''


    ***********


    "Hmmm…"


    Unbeknownst to the two who were advancing to their goal, a figure watched from afar, hidden among the shadows cast by the rocky cliffs.


    Cloaked from head to toe, the figure remained perfectly still, their presence masked by a power that couldn''t easily be defined as Magic. They had been following the pair for some time, their gaze fixed on Lilith with an intensity that bordered on obsession.


    As Neron and Lilith disappeared around a bend in the path, the figure finally moved, stepping into the faint light of the setting sun. Their voice was low and filled with an ominous weight as they muttered to themselves.


    "At longst... I''ve found you, Lilith."