After the beast’s body made one final twitch a road began to slowly appear. It’s light brown paving, and a sprinkle of stones strewn about, it all gradually revealed itself.

Mia was absolutely shocked, but only for a moment. A part of her knew, she knew, that this was only the beginning of wild and strange things to come. It kind of made sense. The one thing controlling what they saw was dead, hence its power would be nullified. 

“Ah finally, the road”,  Captain Yakusuke looked relieved. Finally the Captain, Hikaru’s, and Mia’s pathway to Indra was there. From the road forward it’d be a straight shot to their destination. 

The Captain looked back, “So uh, since you used that Seshi to kill that beast, you don’t really have a way of travel…”  Captain Yakusuke had a smug look on his face as he was somewhat enjoying Hikaru’s predicament. Mia, sensing the comedic vibe, gave him a smug look as well. 

“So now there’s two people who enjoy my pain, of course you’d be imprinted by the Captains hijinks”, Hikaru groaned. Over the many years in Captain Yakusuke’s service he was the go-to target when it came to his Captain's playful sadism. Even the rest of the division joined in on the fun.

 Captain Yakusuke calmed his joy, “Well, it seems you’ll have to walk. Don’t worry tho-”.

 “AHA!” Hikaru cut him off. “You know it completely slipped my mind…” He struck a confident pose and pulled out his blutklinge. “AWAKEN”, the repulsive transformation appeared and it still looked like a brutally crippled Seshi. “I can just ride you”. 

Mia and Captain Yakusuke looked at him in disgust. The bluklinge’s limbs seemed immobile, there was no possible way for it to make a suitable mode of transportation. But, as you’d painfully expect, its limbs began cracking and shifting and making horrible noises. Craaacrrrrunnchsh. With each movement Mia and the Captain squirmed, its sounds were as bad as nails on a chalkboard.

Finally, after two minutes of mind-numbing pain, it now somewhat resembled a Seshi… Somewhat. 

Just like before, its head was equine, but with a long row of teeth that went up way too far. This time however its jaw looked as if it were punched in and broken, and its eyes were darting back and forth. Its body on the other hand was rather normal, except for the three extra legs that awkwardly protruded out. The “blutklinge-Seshi” Still had six legs and was a shade of crimson. The skeletal tail acted as the connection to its hilt. Overall, it was horrifying. Seshi’s neigh like a normal horse but, this was NOT a Seshi, not in the slightest.

NEIYAAAACHHAAAHHHHhhhhhh! Oh it's shriek was terrible, even worse than the sounds it made while transforming. Their journey ahead was going to be far from enjoyable. 

Hikaru patted it, “There's a good boy. I’m surprised this actually worked, usually I just use you for offensive means or hauling cargo… Either way this is a win”. Hikaru continued patting and ruffling its mane between his fingers while the other two held back a buildup of vomit.

The Captain spoke up, “well if you’re gonna stop flirting with your own sword then let’s be off. I wanna get Mia’s training on the way… And see what she’ll be capable of”. He slowly got on top of his Seshi and motioned Mia to accompany him. 

“It’ll be at least two hours till we make it to Indra so I hope you can occupy yourself, talking’ while riding’ a Seshi will get you a quick trip to biting your tongue”. 

The three began venturing down the road. Their destination was directly at the end of it so getting lost would be impossible. As they rode they could see animals grazing and birds flying. Every so often they’d pass a weary traveller shuffling down the road, they’d offer assistance but got turned away often.

The jostling of the Seshi was comforting. 

Mia’s eyes were struggling to stay open, eventually she gave in. 

“Ah!” She was here again, this mysterious plane of existence. Just as before she stood on an inconceivably large body of water, clouds were in the sky and nothing else surrounded her. 

“I’m here again… Is this a dream?” She was calm. A small ripple of water echoed through the surface. Mia looked down, her reflection looked back and oddly looked up.

“Welcome back Mia, we- I’ve been waiting for you”. That voice appeared again, it sounded as if it was coming from multiple directions. Mia turned around, looking in different directions. “Where is she?” She wondered. 

Mia looked forwards again, her eyes wide. A girl, that girl, she seemed familiar but she couldn’t put her finger on it. “I know her, I’m sure I do…” Mia felt confused. “Um-”

The girl had brown hair down to the middle of her back and piercing light blue eyes. She stood there elegantly, her bust(c cup) and the rest of her body, was wrapped in a white cloth, tied at the hip. Mia noted her elegant pale skin and how the light caressed it beautifully. 

The girl walked up to her, “You can finally see me Mia. Oh I’ve waited so long” She hugged Mia tightly, her hair smelt of roses. “Now, now that you can see me then you can learn”. The girl took a step back and held Mia’s hands.

“Mia”. 

Mia blushed, completely caught off guard with all of it. 

“Soon you’ll go through a hard test, a test that will determine your future. During that test I want you to know that everything will be okay. You may be scared and it may make no sense but afterwards you’ll understand”. 

Mia looked at her, “Who are you and what is this place, also where is that other person that was here last time?”

The girl looked at her and smiled, “I’m a part of you, well now I am. I used to be a complete person but not anymore. Right now we’re inside of you, only recently have I been able to even make contact with you, ever since that attack”. The girl paused, “Mia, this place is the only place where I can exist. You can’t tell anyone about me. Promise me you won’t”.

Mia hesitated for a moment but agreed, afterall, something like this would be rather difficult to explain to anyone. 

“The other person you mentioned, he is also a part of you. You said your driving force was revenge, he’s the part that feeds on your rage and hatred. He can only cause trouble, and I plan for him not to”. The girl looked to the left and right, “He’s not here right now which is good, your mind and soul are stable. You’re strong for not being a complete mess right now”.

“It seems like our time is up. Soon Mia, soon i’ll tell you my name, and show you how to be strong”.

“Wait, WAI-”.

“Wake up…. Oi… Wake up dammit… Everytime I swear”... Mia could hear someone familiar.

“WAKE UP GOD DAMMIT!”

“AH!”

Mia jolted up and looked around. Around her were loads of people walking about doing their daily deeds. Houses and shops decorated the streets. 

“Where am I?” She said in a groggy tone.

“Where do you think? We’ve arrived, we’re in Indra”. A voice came from behind her, it was Hikaru who was still riding his hideous blutklinge. People surrounding them stared with eyes of horror and disgust.

The bustling city of Indra, home to thousands of people enjoying their daily lives. This place is where Mia’s training truly begins, a place where the mysterious woman lives…

“You gotta stop sleepin’ on a horse, it’s dangerous”. Captain Yakusuke shook his head, thinking of complaints he could say.

“Well, one more corner and we’ll arrive. I hope she’s home”. 

Clop clop clop … Cloockop clooclop. Seshi and Hikaru’s blutklinge came to a halt in front of a very odd looking building. 

Mia looked up at it, “this is it… Isn’t it…” The building was in the shape of a screaming head with a smokestack coming out of the top. 

“Ah! It’s been a while since I’ve seen it. She never fails to impress”.  Captain Yakusuke was smiling as he got off of Seshi. “Now hopefully she’s here, otherwise we’ll be stuck waitin’”. He walked up to the head house and knocked on a big door inside the mouth. In the background, Hikaru was getting off his “Seshi” and turning it back into its original form. 

  KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! Captain Yakusuke knocked repeatedly on the big door. 

CCHH CRASH BSSSSH! The sounds of rummaging that things falling came from the inside. Mia thought, “what is happening?... I have a bad feeling about this”. 

… Silence…

WAAAACCCHHAAAAA! The doors bursted outwards and a leg shot through, following it came a person… A woman.

“Ah, here we go…” Hikaru sighed.

Captain Yakusuke’s face welcomed the foot unhappily. The captain went flying back, CRAAAASH! He fell into some boxes and groaned.

“Ouch”, he said.

“What the hell are you doin’ knockin so loudly you piece o’ shit!? I was sleepin!’” The woman yelled at him from across the street.

“Ugh… I just knocked loudly and therefore that justifies a lethal kick to the face? Damn, I think you broke my jaw”.

“That’s what you get you damned bastard!” She continued yelling at him.

Mia stared at her, she was just as Hikaru said, exactly like he said. The woman was slightly taller than her and wore a sun and moon bandage around her head with tufts of red hair coming out the bottom. She wore tan baggy leggings and pointed shoes, and had a chest wrap around her breasts. The woman was just as strange as Hikaru mentioned, but to Mia, she seemed fun. 

“Hey there missy! What the hell do you think you’re starin’ at!” The woman walked over to Mia and got close to her practically touching her face to face. 

WAAAAP! With a smack she slapped Mia upside the head. “Weren’t you told that starin’ is rude?!” The woman seemed aggressive to say the least. 

She paused from her unbridled rage and looked past Mia, at Hikaru. “Oh it’s you…” She looked him up and down… For some reason the air seemed different… Suddenly her rage just drifted away as soon as she saw him.

“HIKARU!” She screamed as she lunged towards him, arms outstretched. “OH IT’S BEEN SO LONG!”.

Hikaru scrunched up, he was unable to avoid the woman’s bear hug, her clasp was inescapable. The woman nudged against him with a joyful look on her face.

Across the street Captain Yakusuke slowly got to his feet while rubbing his face, “How will I pick up ladies with this now?” He limped over to Mia, “That’s her Mia, that’s the person who’ll teach you how to be a huntsman. He stopped talking and continued to rub his face.

“That woman right there… Is Alli Verona, The former Captain of division two”.