The day they bid farewell to the volcanic range, Monica stood at the foot of the mountain and looked back at the place where she had lived for half a year.
"Can't bear to leave?" Akes walked to her side and took her hand.
"A little." Monica spoke softly as the wind lifted her long hair.
"There will be many more places in the future." Akes gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Volcanoes, oceans, forests, snow-capped mountains—Yulan Continent is vast. There are still many places we can go."
Monica nodded, took one last look at the dormant volcano, then turned around. "Let's go."
The flying magical beast spread its wings and soared into the sky with a clear cry, carrying the two of them northward. The volcano grew smaller and smaller behind them, eventually becoming a black dot that vanished at the end of the sky.
It took nearly a month to cross the O'Brien Empire.
The O'Brien Empire was the strongest military empire on Yulan Continent, vast in territory and fierce in temperament. From above, the empire's towns resembled pieces on a chessboard, neatly arranged across the land. Its roads were straight, its farmland orderly, and everything exuded a sense of rigor and order.
Akes and Monica did not linger within the empire.
Even so, they still ran into trouble several times.
The first time was in a small town in the eastern part of the empire. It was an unremarkable little place with only a few dozen households and a dirt road running through it. Akes had intended to stop there for the night and replenish their food and water. But the moment they landed at the town entrance, they drew a crowd.
Flying magical beasts were a rare sight to ordinary people. This one was enormous,