Leora drove us back to the Hunter’s Association HQ. As soon as we arrived, I cashed in a favor that President Bob owed me. The man didn’t even hesitate, happily granting us access to the World Path—the teleporting satellite machine designed to bridge unimaginable distances. In a flash, it cut our travel time short and deposited us at the northern entrance of the World Wall.
It was easy to gain access from there, showing our Hunter License.
Selena, true to form, had swapped her casual attire for something that screamed "hunter archetype." She now sported dark leather armor reinforced with carbon plating, camo pants, military-style boots, and—of all things—a baseball bat slung casually over her shoulder. I raised an eyebrow at her choice of weapon.
And I thought she''d abandon it soon.
“Why a bat?” I asked.
She smirked. “Felt like it. Besides, it’s a classic.”
Her miniaturization technique allowed her to switch gears as she pleased, so it wasn’t a surprise. Leora, on the other hand, kept it traditional. Her katana was strapped securely at her waist, a reminder of her formidable skill. And me? Still in my suit. Weapons? Overrated.
Leora glanced around as we stepped into the sprawling city. “I haven’t been here in a long time,” she said, her voice tinged with nostalgia.
“The Walled City,” I replied, taking in the sight. “A city inside the World Wall. It’s my first time here.”
Selena craned her neck to look up at the massive ceiling above us. “Saaaame. Sure looks bright in here. Makes you wonder where all the power comes from to supply the lights. But the ceiling? Damn, that’s gotta be a thousand feet up. Maybe twice that.”
I brought the conversation back on track. “We’ll only be skirting along the Outer Wall and looking for towns or villages. The World Wall is too big to search blindly, but we know our target should be in the northern sector.”
The World Wall was divided into four cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West. The Northern Walled City, where we stood now, served as a bustling hub for hunters, traders, and adventurers.
The Wall itself wasn’t just a defensive structure; it was humanity’s shield against hostile cryptids, treacherous dungeons, and forbidden regions. But over time, the hunter culture had transformed it into more than just a fortress. Hunters would venture beyond the wall for treasure, glory, or simple survival, and they needed a place to rest, resupply, and trade.
Thus, the Walled City was born. What began as a modest outpost had grown into a sprawling urban center, constantly expanding as more hunters settled within its confines. Even now, the city thrived, its streets bustling with life.
Leora’s eyes swept over the vibrant cityscape, her hand instinctively brushing the hilt of her katana. “Hard to believe this place exists inside the Wall. It’s almost... peaceful.”
“Don’t let it fool you,” I said. “This is just the surface. The real dangers are out there, beyond the wall.” Yeah, I knew better. I always knew better.
Selena tapped her bat against her palm, her expression unreadable. “So, what’s the plan, boss? We hitting the villages first, or do we stir up some trouble here to get intel?”
“Villages first,” I said firmly. “The Saint’s not likely to be in a populated area. If anything, he’s lurking in the outskirts, somewhere he can keep a low profile. The northern towns will give us a starting point.”
The three of us set off, weaving through the city’s labyrinthine streets.
“Let’s find an inn,” I suggested. It wasn’t like we could set off immediately. Rest would be necessary before we plunged into the unknown. In summary, we’d need a base of operations.
Leora nodded, her expression softening. “I know a place.”
She moved ahead with a confidence born of familiarity, and I kept pace beside her. Selena hung further back, giving us space. It wasn’t often that I got moments like this with Leora, and I appreciated Selena’s consideration.
Without thinking, I reached out and held Leora’s hand. She glanced at me, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
“So, how’s Leon?” I asked, my voice quiet.
Leora’s eyes lit up at the mention of our son. “Hmmm? I left him with Stefan for the time being. He’ll be safe with him.”
“I know that. That’s not what I mean.”
I had gone to great lengths to ensure Leon’s safety while we tackled this mission. Stefan was reliable, but I hadn’t stopped there. Grue was acting as an additional bodyguard, and I’d even asked Atropos—my sister in all but blood—to keep an eye on him.
Leora smirked, the corners of her mouth twitching upward in that mischievous way that always made my chest tighten. “Leon just started kindergarten. Thankfully, he’s managed to refine his aura control... so he shouldn’t accidentally set his school on fire. Maybe.”
“Maybe?” I echoed, arching a brow.
She chuckled softly. “He’s a work in progress, just like his dad.”
I shook my head, but her words brought a warmth to my chest. Leon was growing so fast. I hated missing these milestones, but knowing he was safe—and hearing the pride in Leora’s voice—made it bearable.
We continued walking, her hand warm in mine, as the bustling streets of the Walled City began to quiet. Selena followed at a distance, her presence unobtrusive but steady.
Leora led us to a modest inn tucked away in a quieter part of the city. The sign above the door was weathered, but the building itself looked sturdy.
“This place hasn’t changed,” she said as we stepped inside.
The innkeeper greeted us with a polite nod, and within minutes, we had our rooms sorted. Leora and I would share one, while Selena took another down the hall.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
Rather than an inn, it was more of a hotel suite—though in hunter culture, the terminology often blurred. The suite was well-furnished, a mix of rugged practicality and modern comforts that suited the transient yet demanding lifestyle of hunters.
We decided to eat in the room, keeping things simple and private. The food was hearty and filling, designed to fuel hunters for long journeys and tough battles.
After dinner, the atmosphere shifted. Leora and I gravitated toward each other, the unspoken longing of three years apart pulling us closer. We didn’t dive into anything wild—at least, not at first. Instead, we just cuddled, holding each other close as if to make up for all the nights we’d spent apart.
We talked. About Leon. About the world. About the lives we’d built in the time we couldn’t share. There was no rush to leave this moment; the Saint could wait.
But as we talked, the closeness between us began to shift. What started as quiet intimacy soon escalated into something far more passionate. Our hands explored familiar territory, our lips rediscovered each other, and before we knew it, we were lost in each other completely.
By the time we were done, we were both sweating, panting, and tangled in the sheets. The tension of years apart had been released, leaving us breathless but content.
In the end, we fell asleep in each other’s arms, the blankets pulled over our still forms. I kissed her forehead softly, whispering, “Goodnight, my love.”
Her breathing was steady, her face peaceful as she rested against me. For a moment, I allowed myself to forget the battles ahead, focusing only on the warmth of the woman I loved.
To surmise… it was cheesy as fuck.
Worth it.
Selena’s groan of frustration dragged me from the haze of sleep. I opened my eyes to find her standing in the doorway, glaring at us with her hands on her hips.
“Oh, fucking great,” she said, exasperation dripping from every word.
I realized I was still naked, tangled in the sheets. Leora, equally uncovered, sat up and grabbed a pillow, chucking it directly at Selena.
“Hey, this is trespassing!” Leora snapped.
Selena caught the pillow with ease, looking unimpressed. “We’re on a high-stakes mission for the sake of you lovebirds’ peaceful life, and you’re in here making out and fucking each other’s brains out! Do you know how insane that is? Do you know what it feels like to wake up in the middle of the night, panicking, because you’re checking the security bugs you painstakingly set up in your best friend’s room—only to hear moaning and sexual groaning?”
I blinked at her in disbelief. “Wait, hold on. You bugged the room? I mean, I appreciate the dedication as a bodyguard, but you had to know this was coming eventually. We’ve been apart for three years…”
Leora smirked, picking up where I left off. “And obviously, we’d be fucking each other’s brains out the moment we got the chance.”
Selena threw her hands up in exasperation. “Oh, come on! I’m trying to be a good sport here! I even got a lead on where we can start our hunt, so how about you two lovebirds get dressed and focus?”
With a dramatic stomp, Selena turned and walked out, slamming the door behind her.
I turned to Leora, whose smug grin hadn’t faded in the slightest. “Uuh… just checking, are we at fault here?”
Leora shrugged, pulling the sheets up lazily. “Not really. If she didn’t want to hear anything, she shouldn’t have bugged the room. Besides…” She leaned over, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “It was worth it.”
I chuckled, rolling out of bed to start getting dressed. “Let’s not keep her waiting too long. We’ve got a Saint to hunt.”
Leora groaned in mock protest but started getting ready as well. Outside, Selena’s muffled grumbling could still be heard, but I figured she’d survive.
Five minutes later, Leora and I, now properly dressed and somewhat composed, found ourselves standing in Selena’s room. She sat on the edge of her bed, arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently.
“Good,” she said, her tone sharp and unimpressed. “The lot of you need to work more. While you two were being intimate—throwing glances, flirting, and doing God knows what—I was out there actually being productive. Running around inns, spending my credits like a champ, talking people up, buying drinks…” She leaned back slightly, arms spreading in mock exasperation. “And guess what? I found two leads.”
Leora nodded, her tone calm but genuinely appreciative. “Good work.”
I added, “As expected from Selena. So reliable.”
Selena shot us both a glare. “Shut it. You two sound insincere as hell. Flattery will only get you so far.”
I held up my hands defensively. “No, seriously. I mean it. Without you, we’d still be aimlessly wandering around the Walled City. So… what did you find?”
Selena stood, her posture sharp and businesslike despite the lingering irritation in her expression. “Two things. First, there’s a settlement outside the northern gates of the Walled City. Hunters and scavengers who venture deeper into the Outer Wall have reported seeing strange phenomena. Weird lights, unnatural fog, people vanishing without a trace—the works. Locals are calling it ‘The Saint’s Shadow.’”
Leora frowned, crossing her arms. “Sounds like a lead. What’s the second one?”
Selena smirked, clearly enjoying the moment. “A trader I spoke to swore up and down he saw someone matching the Saint’s description. Pale, otherworldly, glowing eyes. Said the guy was heading into the Outer Wall, not too far from the settlement I just mentioned. He seemed terrified just talking about it.”
I exchanged a glance with Leora, her expression mirroring my own mix of intrigue and concern. “Two leads in the same area. Sounds like our best bet.”
Selena nodded, grabbing her gear and slinging her bat over her shoulder. “Exactly. So, are you two lovebirds ready to actually do something, or should I give you more time for cuddling and pillow talk?”
Leora rolled her eyes but smirked, clearly unbothered. “We’re ready. Let’s go.”
The Mornlit Village was still a bit of a trek away, and the journey through the Outer Wall wasn’t for the faint of heart. Low-level cryptids often roamed the area, ambushing anyone regardless of size or strength. Worse, sometimes high-level cryptids hid among the weaker ones, making every encounter potentially lethal. This was why traveling in groups was the norm, and why Selena had arranged for us to join the Steel Mountain clan’s caravan.
As we passed through the northern gates of the Walled City, we showed our Hunter Licenses and Golden Passes to the guards. They gave us a once-over before nodding us through, their expressions a mix of respect and wariness. The gates groaned open, revealing the vast expanse of the Outer Wall beyond.
The Steel Mountain clan was easy to spot. Their caravan consisted of a rugged-looking truck, two off-road buggies, and several motorcycles. A dozen hunters milled around the vehicles, some double-checking their gear while others chatted or smoked.
My eyes quickly found their leader—a tall, rough-looking man with a stubble beard and an eye patch. He radiated the kind of seasoned confidence that came from surviving countless hunts. As we approached, he greeted us with a wide grin.
“Hello there, my fellow hunters!” he called out, his voice gruff but friendly. His one good eye settled on Selena before shifting to Leora and me. “Selena, your companions, I presume?”
Selena gave him a curt nod. “Yeah, they’re with me. Don’t worry—they can handle themselves.”
The man chuckled, crossing his arms. “Good, good. Just hope they don’t mind sitting on top of the truck. Space is tight, and the ride’ll be rough. We’re looking at a two-day journey. Terrain’s rugged in most parts, but we’ve got a stretch of dedicated highway thanks to some volunteers some time back. Good folks, those. Anyway, are we good to go?”
Leora spoke up, her tone calm but firm. “We’ll manage. Thanks for letting us tag along.”
“Don’t mention it,” the man replied, extending a hand. “Name’s Bastian, by the way. Leader of this little clan. We’re headed deeper into the Outer Wall for an expedition, but passing through Mornlit Village is on our route.”
I shook his hand, noting the strength in his grip. “Appreciate the help, Bastian. Name’s—”
“Don’t care,” he interrupted with a grin. “Names are just noise out here. Let’s focus on keeping everyone alive, yeah?”
Ok. That was on purpose. I wouldn’t believe otherwise.
Selena smirked. “See? This is why I like Steel Mountain. No-nonsense.”
With that, we loaded up. Leora and I climbed onto the top of the truck, finding a spot among the tied-down crates and supplies. Selena opted for one of the buggies, likely for the thrill of it.
As the caravan roared to life and began its journey, I glanced at Leora. She was already scanning the horizon, her hand resting on the hilt of her katana.
“Ready for this?” I asked.
She met my gaze, her blue eyes steady. “Always.”
The truck rumbled beneath us as the caravan picked up speed, the Walled City fading into the distance. Ahead lay the unknown—the cryptids, the Saint, and whatever else this journey would throw at us.