Odyssey Of Survival

Nate stood among the hunters, his posture relaxed but his senses sharp, as they all gathered before the towering gates of the grand palace. The massive stone structure loomed over them, its intricate carvings and imposing presence a testament to the power that resided within. It had been three days since they last came here, and during that time, he had been staying with Tiaa, adapting to their ways, observing the people, and trying to piece together what lay ahead. But now, finally, it was time to move forward.

Alongside him stood the familiar faces he had grown accustomed to—Nefer, Meni, Djer, and Tiaa—all clad in their battle gear, their armor gleaming under the sun, their weapons strapped firmly to their bodies. Each of them carried an air of preparedness, a quiet but unmistakable readiness for the mission they were about to embark on. And then there was Nate, standing out from the rest, dressed in simple clothing without a single piece of armor protecting him, only the rod slung across his back.

As the five of them stepped through the massive palace gates, a strange sensation washed over Nate.

It was the same as before.

That eerie, unsettling feeling—the inexplicable awareness that he was being watched. It crawled over his skin like invisible tendrils, prickling at the edges of his consciousness, sending a subtle shiver down his spine. His eyes flicked around, scanning the towering walls and the high balconies that overlooked the courtyard, but there was nothing. No one staring at him. No suspicious figures lurking in the shadows.

Still, the feeling remained.

He exhaled slowly, pushing the thought aside. Maybe it was just something about this place. some strange force embedded in these ancient walls that made people feel like they were never truly alone. Either way, he wasn't about to let his guard down.

Not when he had already learned the hard way that danger had a habit of showing up unannounced.

Suddenly, the air was filled with a loud, commanding noise—the sound of heavy footsteps, the rhythmic clinking of metal, and the deep, booming voice of an approaching figure.

The king had arrived.

Stepping out from the grand palace entrance, the king made his presence known, flanked by several guards, all clad in full armor from head to toe. Their polished metal plates glistened under the morning light, their weapons sharp and ready, their expressions void of emotion. But it wasn't just the guards that caught Nate's attention—it was what they were dragging behind them.

Cages.

Three massive iron cages rolled forward, each one secured with thick metal bars, their sheer weight evident by the effort the men exerted in pulling them along. Inside the first two cages, Nate's gaze fell upon the beasts he captured few days ago.

But it was the third cage that stood out the most.

Unlike the others, this one was smaller, more compact, and tightly wrapped in thick layers of cloth, leaving only a small gap at the top—just enough for whatever was inside to breathe. And yet, despite its size, something about it felt off. There was a presence, a familiar feeling emanating from within, but Nate couldn't see what was trapped inside.

He didn't ask.

It wasn't his business.

Whatever their purpose was for these creatures, it had nothing to do with him. He wasn't here to get involved in their affairs—he was only tagging along to get closer to the Koryathans when they finally made their appearance. That was his priority. That was all that mattered.

As the king walked further into the courtyard, his eyes swept over the gathered hunters, nodding approvingly as he observed their preparation. Each of them was fully equipped, their armor fitting tightly, their weapons ready for battle. They looked exactly as warriors should.

Then his gaze landed on Nate.

For a moment, he simply stared.

Nate, still casually glancing around, barely noticed the attention until the king spoke.

"Is he with you?" the king asked, his deep voice carrying across the courtyard.

Nate's eyes shifted toward him, his casual demeanor unchanging. He wasn't expecting to be addressed directly, but now that he had the king's attention, he supposed it was inevitable.

The king studied him for a second longer before repeating, "Are you with them, young man?"

Nate offered a small, confident smile, nodding slightly. "Yeah. I'm going with them."

A moment of silence followed as the king's sharp gaze assessed him once more.

Then, with an air of authority, the king spoke again. "Mind yourself. The place you are headed is not for the weak. The journey alone will be harsh, and when you arrive, it will only become worse. You have no armor, no protection. You do not look like someone built to survive out there."

Nate chuckled under his breath, reaching back to casually place a hand on the rod strapped across his back. His fingers brushed against the smooth, solid material, the weight of the weapon familiar in his grasp. His smile didn't waver as he responded.

"I have this."

For a brief moment, the king simply stared at him, as if trying to gauge whether his confidence was justified or merely reckless bravado. But as his eyes flicked to the hunters around Nate, he noticed something.

None of them seemed worried.

Not a single one of them showed doubt.

In fact, if anything, they carried a quiet certainty in their eyes, they had already seen what Nate was capable of. They knew, without question, that he was more than he appeared to be.

The king exhaled through his nose, his initial skepticism fading slightly. If the hunters trusted him, then he would not argue the matter further.

With a final nod, he turned back toward the front.

"Move out."

And with that, they set out.

----

The scorching sun hung high above them, beating down on the endless expanse of sand as the group trudged forward. The harsh desert wind carried fine grains of dust, stinging against their exposed skin and making every breath feel dry and heavy. But despite the relentless heat, the hunters moved with steady determination, their armor glinting beneath the sunlight, their weapons clanking lightly with each step.

At the head of the group, the king traveled in luxury, seated comfortably inside his enclosed carriage, which was being pulled by a pair of sturdy desert horses. The wheels rolled effortlessly over the packed sand, absorbing every bump and shift in the terrain. Unlike the rest of them, the king barely felt the cruel heat or the exhaustion creeping into their bones. He remained in the shade, untouched by the elements, as if the world outside was of no consequence to him.

Nate, on the other hand, had no such luxury. He walked alongside the hunters, his clothes clinging to his skin from the heat, his muscles already beginning to ache from the relentless journey. Yet, his expression remained as indifferent as ever, his mind elsewhere, his gaze occasionally flicking toward the heavily wrapped third cage being pulled by a group of soldiers.

Whatever was inside, it wasn't just an ordinary beast.

That much, he could tell.

A soft rustling sound beside him made him glance to the side, where Tiaa had silently fallen into step beside him. Unlike the others, she wasn't weighed down by full armor—just light protective gear that allowed her to move freely. She walked close, her body shifting slightly as she leaned in and whispered under her breath.

"What do you think is inside the third cage?"

Nate kept his gaze ahead, his expression unreadable. "I already know what's inside."

Tiaa's eyes widened slightly, and she instinctively stepped closer, so close that her shoulder brushed against his, and her face nearly touched his as she leaned in to hear his answer.

"What is it?" she pressed, her voice even lower now.

Nate smirked slightly, his tone casual as he responded, "Trouble."

Tiaa blinked. "I'm sorry—what?"

He finally turned his head slightly toward her, his smirk deepening. "You wanted to know what's inside, right? Well, I just told you. Trouble."

Tiaa let out an annoyed huff, pulling back slightly before she bumped her shoulder against his in irritation. "You're an ass," she muttered.

Nate only chuckled, clearly enjoying teasing her.

A few steps behind them, a hushed conversation was taking place among three of the hunters.

Meni leaned toward Nefer and Djer, his voice low and filled with amusement. "I told you guys. Those two are fucking each other."

Nefer scoffed, shaking his head as he kept his gaze forward. "That's impossible. Tiaa has always been strict about keeping her distance from men. There's no way she'd just open her legs for him—a stranger, at that."

Djer, however, hummed in thought, his expression far more speculative. "I don't know, Nefer. It's actually highly likely that she's been sleeping with him."

Nefer turned to him, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "And what exactly makes you think that?"

Djer smirked, gesturing subtly toward Nate. "Look at him. He's handsome, strong, and he's got that whole mysterious confidence thing going on. The guy barely breaks a sweat, even when things get rough. If you were a woman, tell me you wouldn't be the first one to open your legs for him."

Nefer rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Djer."

But even as he dismissed the idea, he couldn't help but glance toward Tiaa and Nate again, noticing the way she lingered near him, the way they interacted. Maybe Djer wasn't entirely wrong.

Ahead of them, Nate—who had been casually conversing with Tiaa—suddenly felt the weight of eyes on him. His instincts kicked in, and he slowly turned his head, his sharp gaze falling on the trio behind him.

Immediately, their reactions were suspicious.

Meni quickly averted his eyes, pretending to be focused on the horizon. Djer, for once, was completely silent, staring ahead as if deep in thought. And Nefer, despite having no dirt on his armor, was suddenly very invested in cleaning an already spotless section of it.

It was almost too obvious.

Nate narrowed his eyes slightly, suspicion flickering through his expression. They were acting like they had just been caught doing something they really didn't want him to know about.

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