Upon arriving at the inn, we were greeted by Ruthia, who had been waiting for us with a watchful eye. The moment her gaze landed on Jina's injured arm, her expression changed dramatically. A cold, terrifying look took over her face.
— "ISHIDA, it's a man's duty to protect a woman! How dare you return unscathed while Jina is injured!" she exclaimed, her voice thick with concern and reproach.
Jina, however, responded with a reassuring smile, placing her delicate hands on Ruthia's shoulders.
— "It's fine! It doesn't even hurt... Besides, Ishida saved me. If it weren't for him, I'd be in much worse shape." Her soft, gentle voice seemed to dissipate the tension in the air.
Ruthia, still somewhat reluctant, nodded slowly.
— "Well, I suppose it's good that you took care of Miss Jina. Now, both of you go take a bath while I finish preparing dinner for you." With those words, she walked away toward the kitchen, the comforting aroma of dinner beginning to spread through the inn, promising a warm meal after such a hectic day.
After a refreshing bath, I found Jina already seated at the table. Approaching, I greeted her and sat beside her. I noticed she was wearing a simple white dress—She looks enchanting in that dress. Her long silver hair was tied up in a bun, revealing her porcelain neck. That was when my gaze fell upon a necklace around her throat, which had caught my attention earlier during our hunt.
Curious, I asked:
— "I noticed you kept that delicate necklace on even during the hunt. Does it hold special meaning for you?"
Jina smiled faintly and replied:
— "Yes, it was a gift from my mother. It always brings me good memories."
— "You mentioned in the forest that she passed away... I'm sorry for bringing it up."
— "It's alright... it's been a few years now," Jina said, her voice heavy with sorrow as her eyes drifted to a distant point.
— "She was so sick, and the crisis in Zherwood had already taken hold. The medicines were mercilessly expensive, and the healers were helpless, with few options," she continued with a heavy sigh.
— "My mother was one of the dedicated herbalists who gathered the precious Zher leaves. But when the terrible slimes invaded, she lost her job. It didn't take long before the illness took her. Even my father's wages weren't enough for treatment. So, I decided to work as a guide in the city, throwing myself into cultivation in the hope that one day I could save this town from the slimes and see it flourish again."
Jina paused, the pain evident in every word she spoke, then continued, her voice strained:
— "It was all in vain. My mother passed quickly, and to this day, the mysterious cause of her illness remains unknown." She fixed me with a fiery gaze, a flame of determination igniting in her eyes.
— "But it's alright. My mother was an extraordinary soul, and for her, I will keep fighting for this town! I'm sure that's what she would have wanted."
I looked at her and gave a comforting smile.
— "You're amazing, Jina. I'm sure your mother would be so proud of you, just as your father must be."
— "You've turned your pain into a strength that can guide others."
I noticed Jina had lowered her head, but she soon raised it with a smile and crescent-moon eyes, saying:
— "Thank you, Ishida." She sighed and looked at me curiously.
— "But enough about me... What about you, Ishida? How did you end up here in Zherwood?"
I smiled and said:
— "To be honest, I don't have many memories of my childhood. By the time I realized it, I was already in the Undercity. I was lucky enough to meet a great friend who taught me about cultivation and this world. Unfortunately, we're from different worlds... so I decided I wanted to become stronger so I could see her again someday."
— "Ohhh, so you're in love, Ishida? Hehehe," Jina teased, a mischievous glint in her green eyes.
I felt my cheeks grow warm, but I quickly changed the subject, pretending not to be affected by her teasing.
— "As I was saying, I'm heading to Rivercalm to become an adventurer."
Jina raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
— "You plan to enroll in the World Hunters Association's School?"
— "School? No, I'm just going to become an adventurer!"
— "Yes, school. The highest-ranking adventurers were students there. They say it's an excellent academy, capable of turning its students into powerful figures. Unfortunately, it's expensive and a bit hard to get into, but once you're in, you can learn the best cultivation and combat techniques. Plus, you can gain vast cultivation resources."
— "Interesting. I'll check it out once I get to Rivercalm."
— "The school isn't in Rivercalm—it's in Moonridge, in the city of Zion. Rivercalm has a teleportation array linked to Tradehaven, one of the major commercial cities in Moonridge. From Tradehaven to Zion isn't too far; it takes a few weeks by carriage to get there."
— "Moonridge? Zion? Tradehaven? Teleportation array?" I asked, clearly confused.
Jina gave me a knowing look, sighed, and explained:
— "First, this entire continent is called Moonridge and is governed by the Hunters Guild. Zion and Tradehaven are two of its major cities. Teleportation arrays are created by formation masters to link cities, but they're expensive to use—usually reserved for large merchant groups or powerful cultivators. You'll learn more when you reach Rivercalm; you can also get information about the school there."
I nodded, wondering if the school was really the right choice... but I quickly set the thought aside since it was still a ways off. My first goal was to earn some money and help Jina deal with these slimes. I'd think about the rest later.
After dinner, Jina said goodbye and headed home. I went up to my room and prepared to meditate. With my eyes closed, I focused deeply. After a while, I felt the connection to Zherwood again. I could sense the Zher trees—a faint connection, but one that brought both comfort and an odd sensation... How can I feel something so far away?
The connection didn't last long and soon faded. I tried to reconnect, but I had no success. This time, the link felt stronger, yet I sensed it could be even more intense. Maybe I need to improve my cultivation to strengthen this bond.
After cultivating a little longer, I went to bed—tomorrow would bring another day of hunting with Jina.