During their meal, Alyssa couldn't help but ask, "Moon, you're a mage. I saw your attacks; they're pretty powerful. I wonder how you're also strong physically. You were able to stop Marcus's punch from yesterday quite easily. Are you a hybrid fighter?"

Moon swallowed the mouthful of food before responding.

"I'm not a hybrid fighter. I think it just comes down to the level difference. I'm level 18 currently."

Hybrid fighters were awakeners who pursued strength outside their primary class specialization.

Mages who trained their physical bodies to match warriors, or warriors who developed magical capabilities beyond basic sword enhancements. It required significant dedication and resources to maintain both paths simultaneously.

Of course, hybrid fighters didn't gain any skills outside their man classes, and their power in their secondary capability was very weak, almost negligible. Still, some firmly believed that it was useful.

Alyssa's eyes widened immediately. "I knew you were high level, but eighteen? How come I've never seen you in the base before…"

The veterans were mostly level 16-17. It had taken most of them a year or so to get to that stage, it wasn't easy. Of course, others with talent, resources and connections were able to reduce that amount by plenty, but those people were known, unlike Moon.

Before Moon could formulate a response, the Lieutenant interrupted, a smile on his face. "Alyssa, are you interrogating our new friend? Don't make him uncomfortable now."

Alyssa turned toward Moon quickly, her expression apologetic. "I-I didn't mean to, don't—"

Moon shook his head, cutting off her apology. "It's all good."

He didn't answer her unspoken question about why he'd never been seen at the base before. The Lieutenant's intervention had given him an easy out, and he took it without hesitation.

They continued eating, soft laughter escaping their mouths as they exchanged jokes and stories about past hunts, near-death experiences, and the peculiarities of various beasts they'd encountered. The mood was light, and comfortable.

Moon remained silent mostly, joining in on conversations a few times.

♢♢♢♢

When morning light filtered through the trees, the group broke camp and continued their journey toward the area where the elk had been sighted.

The weather was windy but nothing unbearable. The horses moved steadily, their hooves finding purchase on increasingly rocky terrain as the landscape shifted from forest to more open ground.

Pat! Pat! Pat!

As they continued, getting closer to their destination, the sky darkened. Clouds formed above them with unnatural speed, gathering like a living thing. Then rain began to fall heavily, transforming from a few drops to a downpour in mere seconds.

The Lieutenant raised his hand, signaling the group to slow.

"This is it," he called over the sound of rain hammering against stone and earth. "The elk's territory. Stay alert. The rain will mask our sounds, but it works both ways."

The veterans tightened their formation, weapons ready despite the weather. Water ran down armor and soaked through cloaks, but no one complained. This was part of the job.

Moon pulled his Cloak of the Two Extremes tighter, grateful for the enchantment that kept him comfortable despite the deluge. His staff remained dry in his grip, ready to cast a spell at a moment's notice.

Through the rain, shapes began to emerge in the distance. Trees gave way to a clearing, and in that clearing, there was unmistakable movement.

"There," Marcus whispered, pointing.

Even from this distance, Moon could see why the veterans had been hunting the elk for three weeks.

It was magnificent.

The elk stood under the pouring rain, its body slender yet packed with lean muscle. Its coat was dark brown, almost black where the rain had soaked through. Massive antlers crowned its head, branching out in elegance. It was currently feeding on a smaller beast it had killed, tearing flesh with surprising delicacy.

The Lieutenant immediately signaled with his hands for silence, then gestured specifically toward Moon to move closer.

Moon dismounted carefully and slowly walked toward the Lieutenant while keeping his eyes fixed on the elk.

They were a good distance away so he wasn't worried about being heard. Still, he made sure to avoid branches and debris that might crack underfoot.

Once he was close enough to hear the Lieutenant's whisper, the man asked, "What are you planning on doing?"

Moon thought about it for a moment, observing the elk's behavior, the way it moved, how it positioned itself even while feeding.

"Let's stay and observe for now," Moon whispered back.

"There's no rush. You've said you've always spotted it in this general area, which means it doesn't want to leave despite knowing the danger. So it won't run far. Let's understand its routine before doing anything."

The Lieutenant's eyes glinted with approval before he nodded. "Good plan."

He signaled for everyone else to retreat back to a safer observation distance. Only he and Moon remained at the front, watching the elk as it continued its meal, seemingly oblivious to their presence.

Moon went over the knowledge he'd gathered about this creature from the group's previous encounters.

The majestic giant elk was incredibly rare, to the point that its appearance was often taken in legends as foreshadowing of important events—the birth of a king, a great victory, or significant change.

Of course, those were just stories, but the rarity was real.

The elk was incredibly fast, faster than the veterans' horses could match over distance. And it never fought back. Never attempted to stand its ground. It always ran, using its superior speed and knowledge of the terrain to escape.

That behaviour was what had allowed it to evade capture for weeks.

But as Moon watched, he came to a few reasonable conclusions. The beast was either hiding something in the area or protecting something. Either way, that attachment to this location was an advantage for capturing it.

The group had always tried to brute force their way. Whether to surround it, chase it down, or corner it through their large numbers. Not that they were unable to think of other approaches, but after the first few failures, it had become a matter of pride. They wanted to prove they could catch it.

Moon continued watching, noting details. The elk fed in a specific spot, its body angled so it could see most approaches. Every few seconds, its head would lift, ears swivelling to catch sounds despite the rain. After several minutes, it moved to a different position, always keeping certain rock formations and tree clusters within sight.

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