Odyssey Of Survival

There was a common misconception among the hunters, a foolish belief that Nate had been acting out of generosity when he separated from them and ventured into the wilderness alone, risking his life to take down dangerous creatures so they could return with them.

But the truth was far from that.

His departure had nothing to do with charity or kindness. In fact, the real reason he had gone alone was because he needed to recover his full strength, and that meant absorbing the beast crystals in secret. If he had stayed with the hunters, they would have eventually noticed his strange behavior—the way his body would strengthen at an impossible rate, the way the energy from the crystals would disappear when he touched them. He could already imagine the suspicion that would have grown among them, the quiet murmurs behind his back, the cautious glances filled with doubt. He knew they would start asking questions, and if the wrong people heard, it could ruin everything.

So, he had to go alone.

The moment he had fully restored his abilities, feeling his body returning to peak condition, he had decided that rather than waste any more time sneaking around, he would use his position among the hunters to get closer to the king. That was where the real answers lay.

It wasn't the beasts outside the city walls that interested him—it was the ones inside.

The only way to uncover how the king intended to open the portal was to get close enough to him, to understand the role the hunters played in all of this, to learn how the humans were involved in something they didn't even realize was far bigger than them. And to do that, he first needed to fully integrate himself into the hunters.

If gaining their trust meant hunting a few more beasts for them, then so be it.

—

They now walked back toward the city, their shoulders weighed down by the massive creatures they carried across their backs, their steps slower than before, but they pushed forward with exhausted determination. Some of the beasts were so large that their tails dragged behind them on the ground, leaving deep trails in the dirt as they moved through the open plains toward Kemet Ra.

At first, the group had been skeptical, uncertain about whether the beasts Nate had subdued would remain unconscious for long. But Nate, with his usual calm certainty, had assured them that these creatures wouldn't regain even a fraction of their strength for at least two days.

And so, trusting his words, they carried them without hesitation.

By the time they finally reached the towering walls of the city, exhaustion hung heavy in the air. Their bodies ached, their breaths came out in deep, tired exhales, but they kept moving, their goal finally within sight. As they entered through the city gates, the crowd that filled the streets began to part instinctively, the people stepping aside without hesitation as they caught sight of the monstrous carcasses the hunters carried.

Whispers filled the air.

People exchanged uneasy glances, muttering amongst themselves as they took in the sight of the infamous hunters returning from the wilderness. But their attention wasn't just on the beasts. The absence of Hapu was noticeable.

Everyone in Kemet Ra knew the hunters. They were one of the strongest groups in the city, and for one of their members to be missing—it only served as a grim reminder of the dangers lurking outside the walls.

As the group made their way toward the palace, the tension grew heavier.

The king's palace stood tall at the heart of Kemet Ra, an enormous structure made from dark stone, its towering pillars lined with intricate carvings that depicted the history of their people, from the days of survival in the wild to the rise of the first rulers. Massive braziers burned on either side of the entrance, their golden flames casting eerie shadows against the stone walls, while guards dressed in deep red tunics stood at attention, their hands resting firmly on the hilts of their weapons.

As the hunters approached, one of the guards stepped forward, his face impassive.

"The king is holding an important meeting," he stated, his voice unwavering. "He will summon you when he is ready. For now, take the beasts to the cages."

Meni gave a tired grunt but didn't argue. The group nodded in silent agreement before heading toward the back of the palace, where the beast cages were kept.

When they arrived, something immediately caught Tiaa's attention.

Lined up in perfect rows were new cages, their metal bars gleaming under the sunlight. These weren't the same weak, rusted enclosures they had seen before—these were stronger, reinforced, built to withstand immense force. It was clear that these weren't just meant to hold ordinary creatures. Whatever the king was planning, he had taken steps to ensure nothing would go wrong.

The hunters, though too tired to care, simply tossed the beasts inside before securing the locks.

Meni exhaled loudly, stretching his shoulders as he turned to the group.

"We're done for now," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Go rest. The king will call for us when he's ready."

One by one, the group began to disperse, some stretching their sore muscles, others simply walking off in silence. But as the others moved, Nate remained still.

Something wasn't right.

It was subtle—an instinct, a gut feeling he couldn't shake off. A creeping sensation, as if something in this place was off-balance, unnatural. It wasn't a physical presence, not something he could see or hear, but rather something lurking just beyond his understanding, just out of reach.

It was the same feeling he had back in the forest—the feeling of being watched.

His gaze drifted toward the towering walls of the palace, his sharp eyes scanning every detail, every shadow, every movement in his surroundings, but there was nothing. And yet, the unease inside him didn't fade.

Before he could dwell on it any longer, Tiaa's voice cut through his thoughts.

"That expression…" she murmured, watching him carefully. "You don't have a place to stay, do you?"

Nate blinked, momentarily pulled from his thoughts as he turned to look at her.

For a brief second, he considered brushing off the question, but in the end, he simply nodded. He had no intention of making any assumptions just yet. He had come too far to act carelessly now. Until he was certain of what was happening in this city, he wouldn't interfere unless absolutely necessary.

Tiaa studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod.

"Then come stay with me for now," she said simply. "At least until you find somewhere else."

Nate didn't respond immediately, his mind still lingering on the strange feeling in the air. But after a moment, he gave a small shrug, deciding that for now, he would go along with it.

Whatever was happening in Kemet Ra, he would find out soon enough.

—

The streets were quieter than usual as Nate followed closely behind Tiaa, his eyes scanning the surroundings out of habit, noting the way the shadows stretched long under the flickering torches that lined the dirt pathways. The closer they got to her place, the more he noticed the stark difference between the homes.

Compared to the others, Tiaa's house stood out—not in grandeur, but in the way it was maintained. The walls were sturdier, built with a care that most homes here lacked, and though still modest, it carried an air of quiet stability that seemed to match the way she carried herself.

When they stepped inside, Nate found himself even more surprised by what he saw. Tiaa's place was strikingly neat, as if every item inside had a specific place where it belonged. A woven mat covered part of the ground, the edges fraying slightly from use but still well-kept. A wooden table sat in the center of the room, small yet sturdy, with a few clay cups and a pitcher resting atop it. Against one of the walls, there was a simple bedding area, a thick cloth rolled neatly over what looked like a bundle of straw and softer fabrics underneath. Shelves made of carved wood held a few clay bowls, dried herbs tied in small bundles, and what appeared to be hunting tools, each arranged with precision.

The air inside was cooler than outside, likely because of how the house was structured, and there was a faint, earthy scent lingering—a mix of dried plants and something subtly sweet, perhaps from some of the herbs hanging on the shelf.

Tiaa shut the door behind them, the wooden latch falling into place with a quiet thunk. Without hesitation, she walked towards the table, her movements deliberate as she reached for the heavy hunting cloak she had been wearing throughout the day.

Nate watched in silence as she undid the fastenings, pulling the thick material away from her body. Beneath it, she wore a simple, thin garment that clung to her in ways the hunting gear never did, the fabric outlining her figure far more than he had expected. The dim lighting inside the house made the material seem almost translucent in places, and for a brief moment, his gaze traced the curves revealed beneath it—the toned lines of her stomach, the way the cloth accentuated the shape of her hips.

He hadn't expected her to be so at ease, as if his presence here didn't even register as something worth acknowledging.

But then, just as he thought she was done adjusting, she did something that made him freeze.

Without a word, without hesitation, she reached for the hem of the last piece of fabric on her body—her fingers curling around it—before she pulled it up.

****

Support with Golden Tickets and Power Stones.