Setting Off Again

At six o'clock the next morning, the fresh air drifted gently through the window, brushing against Allen and Laxus's bodies.

Allen slowly opened his eyes; Laxus, sleeping on the other bed, awoke almost at the same moment. Their gazes met, and after confirming both were fully alert, they quickly got up and began a simple wash.

After washing up, they moved quietly, shouldering their backpacks, intending to slip away without a sound. As they tiptoed downstairs, however, they found Bessy, Ur, Damon, and Uriel sitting silently in the spacious first-floor hall, as if deliberately waiting for the two of them.

Just then, sharp-eyed Bessy noticed Allen and Laxus descending the stairs. A warm, kindly smile immediately spread across his face. Squinting, he waved at them and greeted enthusiastically, "Yo~ you two young lads, you're up quite early! Come, come, how about joining us for a bite to eat?" Hearing this, Allen and Laxus first nodded politely in response. "Good morning, old sir! Thank you for your kindness, but we'll pass. We'll just grab something to fill our stomachs along the way."

However, Bessy seemed to have anticipated Allen's reply. Without changing his expression, he shot a subtle glance at Ur beside him. Ur caught the hint at once, stood up, lifted a bulging sack resting nearby, and strode quickly to Allen, handing it to him. Allen tried to decline, but Ur gripped his hands firmly and said, "This bag is nothing much—just some food. It's the least we can do. Don't refuse anymore."

Unable to resist Ur's insistence, Allen could only take the heavy sack of food with a resigned look. Seeing this, Bessy hurried over, first giving Allen a warm, firm hug, then gently patting his back. He spoke earnestly, "I know you two are strong, but this road is long and fraught with danger. Never let your guard down! If you have time, feel free to come visit us."

Hearing Bessy's concerned words, Allen exchanged a glance with Laxus beside him. Both nodded solemnly, indicating they would remember Bessy's advice.

Allen looked seriously at the four people before him and thanked them sincerely, "Thank you all for your generous hospitality. We will definitely be extra cautious. We'll see you again when we return!" With that heartfelt farewell, Allen and Laxus stepped out through the main door of the Wild Cat's Eye.

Laxus was still young. Although he had experienced a similarly emotional parting not long ago, his feelings were still hard to settle this time around. Even after they had been walking for a while, he could still deeply feel the genuine, passionate goodwill from Bessy and the other three.

Compared to Laxus's inner turmoil, Allen remained unusually calm and composed this time. He didn't soothe Laxus as he usually would, because he understood clearly that for a child this age, some emotions needed to be digested and borne on their own.

As expected, after silently trudging along the road for a stretch, Laxus gradually pulled himself out of his low spirits and returned to his usual lively, restless self. Now, he finally had the leisure to start noticing the scenery around him.

Looking up inadvertently, he was surprised to find that Allen was leading him uphill. Curious, he asked, "Big brother, are we heading up the mountain now?"

Allen nodded slightly. Then he unfolded the map clenched in his hand and pointed to a spot, explaining to Laxus beside him, "We're currently around the outskirts of Obanis. According to the route I've planned, we need to cut straight through Mount Hakobe, then reach Crete City, the northernmost city of Fiore. After we arrive at our destination, we'll turn around and cross the Vast Forest Sea, then reach Croba. From there, we'll take a train back to Magnolia. The plan is to complete this training journey within two years, but the actual schedule will depend on circumstances." After saying this, Allen stared intently at Laxus, expecting some response or suggestion.

But Laxus seemed somewhat spaced out, his eyes glazed as he watched Allen point and gesture across the map. As for what Allen had actually said, he hadn't absorbed a single word. But that was fine—for Laxus, as long as he followed Allen, everything else was nothing to worry about.

Allen naturally noticed the dazed look on Laxus's face. He couldn't help shaking his head in resignation, lightly tapping his own forehead with the hand holding the map, muttering inwardly: This guy, why is he always so out of it? But now's not the time to complain. Better hurry and get moving.

So Allen quickly folded the map and stowed it in his pack. Without another word, he simply waved at Laxus to signal they were off.

Before long, the two finally arrived at the foot of Mount Hakobe. They stopped in unison, looking up at the towering, cloud-piercing mountain range.

The entire mountain, starting from its midsection, was tightly wrapped in a thick layer of pure white snow and ice, as if draped in a magnificent silver garment. The summit itself was hidden among hazy, drifting clouds.

At that moment, Allen took the map out of his backpack. Alternating his gaze between the map and the surrounding environment, he seemed to be searching for clues or landmarks to determine their direction. After some thought and comparison, he chose a direction and resolutely led the way, with Laxus following close behind.

At first, the mountain path at the base was fairly flat and easy to walk. But as they ventured deeper into the mountain, the road grew increasingly rugged and uneven. The once dense forest gradually thinned, with fewer and fewer trees on either side, replaced by steep cliffs and jagged, rocky slopes. At the same time, white snowflakes began drifting down from the sky, and a biting cold rushed toward them. Sensing the sudden drop in temperature, Allen and Laxus quickly pulled thick cotton coats from their backpacks and put them on, guarding against the chill to avoid catching a cold.

Just as the two were fully focused on climbing, a strange sound suddenly broke the mountain's original stillness. The noise was like an owlman's screech mixed with a beast's roar, instantly capturing their attention.

Allen and Laxus exchanged a glance, understanding each other without words. They quickly searched for a nearby hiding spot to conceal themselves. Soon, they found a hollow behind a large boulder. Crouching low, they slipped inside and peered through the rock crevice toward the direction of the sound, wanting to see what had made such an eerie noise.

Before long, the strange sound rang out again, this time accompanied by the clear patter of running animals. Then, a sturdy mountain goat shot toward Allen's direction like an arrow from a bow. Its eyes were filled with terror, its hooves flying, as if some terrifying pursuer was hot on its heels. Sure enough, not far behind the goat, several gorilla-like monsters appeared. These creatures were tall and muscular, with sharp fangs protruding from hideous, ferocious faces. They howled and flailed their claws as they chased the fleeing goat.

Seeing this, Allen lowered his voice and said to Laxus, who looked equally serious, "These gorilla monsters are Balkan. They usually move in packs and are extremely fierce and brutal—carnivorous creatures. Unless absolutely necessary, we must never provoke the Balkan lightly." After speaking, Allen's gaze remained locked on the rapidly approaching group of Balkan, ready to respond to any sudden developments.