Hunt 34: Onward to the Shrine

Xross Blades arrive back in Icajuinawe after getting the final piece they needed. After arriving back at the guild, Raylin headed to the blacksmith to get her new armor. After getting her new Kirin gunner armor made, she went back to the guild to see how the progress is going.

Icajuinawe Guild: Early Evening

Raylin walks in and sees them looking at the pieces. "How's it going?" She asks. They look and see Raylin in her new armor. "You look good." Link said. "Thank you." Raylin said smiling and then looks a Lyra. Lyra looks back to the pieces. Raylin looks at Zedept who's staring at the pieces. "Zedept?" Raylin asks. Zedept doesn't answer. "Hey, you there?" She asks as she leans over. "Huh?" Zedept said looking to his right and seeing Raylin in her Kirin armor.

"Welcome back and it looks good on you." Zedept said as he looks back at the pieces. Raylin just smiles and sits down at the table. "This is confusing. If there's only 4 pieces, then why is there a missing spot in the middle." Lyra said as the pieces form an old map of the continents with a triangle in the middle. "I wonder." Zedept said softly. "Wonder what?" Link asks.

"Well, when I went back home to get Shikaiza, there was a note left for me from Master saying "This will help in your journey that you'll take in the future." It said." Zedept said. "How does that help?" Lyra asks. "There was a torn map piece with a picture of an island on it. I was never sure how it would help but now." Zedept said. "Now what?" Raylin asks. Zedept reaches into his bag and pulls out a folded piece of paper.

"This is what was with the note." Zedept said as he unfolds it and it unfolds into a triangle. Zedept places the piece into the hole. "It's a perfect fit." Lyra said. With all the pieces together it shows an island in the middle of the 4 continents. "An island in the middle of the continents. Is it possible?" Raylin asks.

"We don't know. The waters around the area that this island is supposed to be is surrounded by whirlpools and no boats have even gotten through." Link said. "But it has to be there." Zedept said. They look at him. "This island holds the location on where Alatreon is. We must get there no matter what." Zedept said in a bit of an angry tone.

"Don't worry, we'll get there." Raylin said placing her left hand onto Zedept's right shoulder. Zedept looks at Raylin and the others. "You're right." Zedept said. "Of course she is." Link said. "Now then, according to the map, Southern Continent looks like the closes one." Lyra said. "Then we're off to the Southern Continent." Zedept said folding up the old map. Everyone nods and they leave for the Southern continent.

Southern Continent: Garetaten – Mid-Day: 3 Weeks Later

After taking a boat that took them straight from the Northern Continent to the Southern Continent, they went to Garetaten. "Looks as busy as ever." Lyra said. "Yeah, this place hasn't changed." Raylin said. "Looks who's here." A familiar voice said. They look and see Angel and Taylor. "Hey you two." Link said. "Hi." Lyra said. "What brings you guys here?" Angel said. "We got a lead." Raylin said. Angel and Taylor see Raylin in her new armor.

"New armor?" Taylor asks. "Yep, I needed new armor and we hunted some Kirin so why not." Raylin answered. "So where are you heading now?" Angel asks. "To the guild. I need to talk to the leader about something." Zedept said. "Alright then, guess we'll see you later." Taylor said.

"Don't tell anyone that we're here. We won't be here for long." Zedept said. "No guarantees." Angel and Taylor said together as they leave. "The Creators and Kana are going to know we're here aren't they?" Link asks. "Yeah." Zedept replied. "We better get going then." Link said. Zedept nods and they head towards the guild.

Garetaten Guild: Leader's Room

Xross Blades enter the room. "Welcome back Xross Blades." The leader said. They bow. "Sir, we need some support." Zedept said. "Oh, what do you need?" The leader asks. "There's an island past the whirlpools and we need a boat to get through them." Lyra said.

"I see, so you need Garetaten's help to get through?" Leader asks. "Yes sir, the northern port city from here is the closes one to the island." Raylin said. "And why should I help you?" Leader asks. "Please sir. The northern port can only be accessed with your approval." Link said.

A female hunter in Nargacuga armor looks up from hearing Link's voice. Moke looks to his right. "You ok?" He asks. "Yes sir." She said and then looks at Link. Moke looks back at Link and then at the female and just smiles. "I'll think about it." Leader said. "Guess that's all for now." Zedept said and everyone bows. "We'll take our leave." Lyra said and they leave the room and head to the lobby.

Guild Lobby: Mid-Day

Xross Blades sits down at a table. "Why is he always like that?" Raylin asks placing her head onto her right hand. "Being a guild leader in a place like this is tough. He has to be like that in order to get everything done." Zedept said. "You would know him better than us." Lyra said. "Excuse me." A female voice said.

They look over to see a female in Nargacuga armor. "You're Link from Tavenbast's training school?" She asks. "Yes." Link answered. She removed her helmet to reveal long pink hair and light blue eyes. "Do you remember me?" She asks. Link's eyes widened. "No way, Miki?" Link asks.

"Yep, it's me." She said. "What are you doing here?" Link asks. "After all this time, that's the first thing you say to me." Miki said in a sour tone. "Sorry, good to see you're doing well." Link said quickly. "That's better." Miki said in a happy tone.

"Link, go and talk with her." Zedept said. Link looks at him. "Go ahead, we got time to kill so go and talk with her." Lyra said. "I'm sure she wants to talk to you alone." Raylin said. Link looks at all of them stumped. Link sighs. "Alright, let me know if anything happens." He said. "Are you ordering me around?" Zedept asks giving an evil looking stare.

"No." Link said backing up. "Let's go." Miki said grabbing Link's right arm and running out of the guild. "She was from his class right?" Lyra asks. "Yeah." Raylin said. "Have fun little Link." Zedept said before taking a drink.

Garetaten

Link and Miki are walking around. "What have you been doing since graduation?" Link asks. "My dream." Miki answered. "Dream?" Links ask as he looks at her. "Remember when Teacher asked us what we wanted to do after we become hunters?" She asks. "Not really, a lot of stuff has happened since graduation." He said.

Miki sighs. "Mine was to become a guard at Garetaten." She said. "And?" Link asks. "I'm a trainee at the moment. I was in the leader's room when you guys entered and I heard you begging for help." Miki said. "That's good. When did you get that Narga armor?" Link asks.

"This was a gift from dad as a congrats for becoming a trainee." She said. "That's good." Link said. "It was my mother's before she died." Miki said sadly. "That's right, your mother died shortly after we got into training 5 years ago." Link said looking down. "But I feel her close to me when I'm in this armor." Miki said happily. Link looks up and at her smiling. "So what you been doing?" She asks him.

"Traveling around and hunting." Link answered. "I know." Miki says. "How?" Link asks looking at her. "The stories about the hunts that Xross Blades does travel throughout the continents." Miki says as she walks backwards in front of him. "Like what?" He asks. "Let's see, Jhen Moran was a surprised to everyone back home. The Nargacuga and Jinouga impressed everyone and the Barioth that you guys killed." Miki said as she counts them on her fingers.

"Yeah, they were tough." Link said. "But the most recent was the 4 Kirin hunt that happened a few weeks ago." Miki said turning around to face forward. "So news about that has reached here already?" Link asks scratching his right cheek with his right index finger. "Yep, your mom is proud of everything you've done so far." Miki says looking back at him from her left shoulder.

"She is?" He asks. "Of course and Teacher is proud too and the students that are still in training look up to you now." Miki said as she stops and turns herself towards Link. Link stops. "I see, this is a surprise." He said chuckling while rubbing the back of his head with his right hand.

Miki grabs his left hand with both of hers. "Come with me." She said and pulls him. "Wait Miki, slow down some, it's hard to run in this armor." Link said as Miki continues to pull him. After climbing on top of some buildings, they reach a rooftop with a view of the entire city. "Wow, it's a great view." Link said. "Yeah it is, but just wait until nightfall." Miki said.

"We're going to stay here now?" Link asks. "Yep." Miki said walking towards a tarp. She pulls it back to reveal a hidden room. "This building is not being used right now so it's my little hideout." She said as they entered.

Garetaten: Night

Miki and Link heads back onto the roof and they look at the stars. "Pretty aren't they?" Miki asks. "Yeah, just like back home." Link said. "Back at school when everyone would laugh at you, I never did." Miki said looking down. Link looks at her.

"I always thought that you was different from the others." Miki said as she continues to look down. Link remains silent. "But when I saw you kill that Great Jaggi and everyone was praising you, it made me happy." She continued. "Miki." Link said. A meteor shower starts and they both look up. "The annual shower is here." Miki said.

"That' right, with everything that's been happening, I forgot about it." Link said. "Link." Miki said. Link looks at her and sees her looking at her with her body facing him. Miki suddenly kisses Link.

"Link, I care about you a lot so after your journey is done, please come back to me." She said as she leans forward on him. Link is speechless. All he does is close his eyes and wraps his arms around her back. "Ok, I promise." He said softly while blushing. Miki closes her eyes and smiles as the meteor shower continues.

The Next Day

Miki and Link walk into the guild and sees a fight happening. "What's going on?" Link asks. "Welcome back you two." Zedept said. They look to their left and see Zedept and Raylin leaning against a wall. "What's going on here?" Miki asks. Zedept looks to his right.

"Ask those two." He said. They turn and see Angel and Taylor. "If those two are here." Link said. "Why you little." A female voice said. "Is that all you got?" Lyra's voice asks. Link sighs. "It's her isn't it?" He asks. "Sadly." Taylor said. Link and Miki gets through the crowd and sees Lyra and Kana fighting. "Knew it. Sorry about this Mi…ki." Link said but then notices that she wasn't there.

Lyra and Kana swing their swords but are blocked by Miki's Night Wing (Nargacuga's Duel Swords). "Kana of The Creators, stop now or I'll have you put on suspension." Miki says to Kana. "You may be a traveler but I can have your license suspended." She says to Lyra.

"So stop, both of you now." Miki ordered. Kana, Lyra and Link are shocked at Miki. "I got it." Kana said sheathing her greatsword. "Fine." Lyra said sheathing her long sword. Miki sheathes her dual swords. "We'll settle this at a different time." Kana said before leaving. Angel and Taylor leave too.

The crowd dissipates. "Damn Link, I didn't know your girlfriend can do that." Zedept said. "Gi..girlfriend?" Link asks while blushing. Zedept makes a smirk. "You saw us last night didn't you?" Link asks.

"Nope, didn't see a thing." Zedept said closing his eyes and looking away while keeping his smirk. "It's ok Link, no need to be embarrassed." Raylin said. Link gets a frustrated look on his face. "Link, don't mind your friends, they're just happy for you." Miki said wrapping herself around Link's left arm. "Really?" Link asks them. They all look at him and smile.

"Thanks guys." Link said. Zedept walks forward. "Link of Xross Blades." He said seriously. "Yes?" Link asks. "If you want to stay with her here, that's fine with us. We talked about it last night and the 3 of us agree that if you want to stay then we won't stop you." Zedept said. Link is shocked to hear what Zedept just said. He then looks at Miki and back at Xross Blades.

"Think about it, we leave tomorrow morning." Lyra said. "We got permission to go to the port city." Raylin said. Link looks down. "Think about it." Zedept says and they leave. "Link?" Miki asks worrying about Link.

Garetaten: North Gate – Early Morning

Zedept, Lyra and Raylin are at the port. "Think he'll come?" Raylin asks. "It's his choice." Lyra said. Zedept looks past the gate, towards where the island is supposed to be. "It's almost time." He said. "Hold it!" Link's voice said.

Zedept smirks and turns around and sees Link and Miki. "You made your choice?" He asks. "Yes." Link said as he catches his breathe. Link looks up. "I'm finishing this journey with you." Link said.

Zedept looks at Miki. "We talked about it and I want him to finish it too." Miki said. "There's a possibility that we may not come back alive." Zedept said. "That's the life we choose when we decided to be hunters." Link said. "Then let's get going." Zedept said. Link nods and turns to Miki. "I'll be back and in one piece too." He said. "You better." Miki said. Link smiles and heads onto the boat.

"I'll make sure to bring him back to you, even if it cost me my life." Zedept said to Miki. "Thank you." Miki said. Zedept nods and enters the boat. The boat leaves the port with Miki watching. "Be safe." She says with a tear flow from her right eye.