Valen looked over the horizon, scanning the endless ocean spanning all around the ship, broken only by the handful of ships escorting the one he was sailing on. Being in the revolture’s nest was considered a boring job, one where you only had to look around and spot threats to the ship. But Valen had grown fond of the job, it allowed him to distract his mind from the happenings on the ship. The other hunters mostly traded exaggerated stories of their hunts. This always gathered attention, Valen came to realize, hunting stories seemingly in high demand.

  He was encouraged to tell the story of how he fell the Valstrax once again, and Valen obliged, being sober this time around to not distort the tale too much. Both times it seemed like the whole ship was in the room, staying quiet in respect just to let the story unfold, though they booed when he described the confrontation with the elite hunters, oohed when the Valstrax crashed and the ground, and gasped when Valen managed to jump on its back while it was rocketing forwards. And he then cheered once he had dealt the finishing blow.

  Still, it was with all these evenings that Valen realized what he was missing by not going to hunter parties, that feeling of camaraderie, where other hunters respected your feats, even though they may not be as big as what they had done themselves because Hunting was not a job that could be done by one person… It was a community effort, and this was what these parties represent, the collective might of the hunters.

  He smiled while reminiscing the nights. The other hunters learned to respect his distances, as he didn’t want to be mobbed constantly, which is why he enjoyed being on watch duty. He had spotted a Lagiacrus looking around once, and it stared for a bit at their fleet, Valen raised the alarm this time, but it seemed like it had realized it wasn’t a fight it could win and simply swam away.

  However one thing worried Valen, it was the fact that even though he wasn’t officially part of the fifth fleet, he had been informed that he was still required to find a Handler. A handler’s job was to fill in the paperwork for the hunter and manage their belongings while he was on the hunt. They also took charge of the research aspect of the commission, recording everything unusual and drawing the maps that would be used to navigate around.

  He had heard how much more paperwork was required for the hunters at Astera, given that they needed to learn anything they could about the new continent. He could deal with it, sure, but there were also enough Handlers for every Hunter that was on the fleet, and he did not really want to be saddled with somebody he didn’t like. So he believed he would have to try to find somebody tolerable while he could.

  Adem tapped him on the shoulder breaking him of his reverie and pointed in the distance. Valen squinted. He could see something but wasn’t sure what, so he pulled out his binoculars and looked through them, and he smiled. There was boiling water towards there, which meant that the target of their fleet, Zorah Magdaros, was keeping its heading.

  They never actually saw the Elder yet, only the result of its passage. The water was deep enough for him to be fully submerged while he swam towards the New World; they could only confirm his presence by the boiling water that he created as he swam.

  The scant reports that were done of it while it was still on land were that it was massive, but they yet had to see it for themselves. They knew some Elders existed that were bigger than anything else they knew, the chief example being Dalamadur, the snakelike Elder being long enough to wrap itself around a small mountain. Lao Shan Lung was the most famous example though, the Mountain Elder was able to make the earth shake with each step while it traveled around. The few individuals that were known were kept track of, as it was the Elder that was the easiest to find.

  Valen noted the direction he saw the bubbles, and started climbing down from his vantage point. He needed to report this to the captain so that they could be sure they kept the correct heading. The rope ladder was now familiar to him, and he deftly climbed down, the action not unnoticed by the Captain, who nodded to the pilot and went to wait for Valen at the bottom of it.

  “Any news?”

  “I spotted some steam bubbles, we are deviating a bit, but still keeping the correct trajectory.”

  “Good. Your shift’s over anyway, you’re free to do whatever you want. Tell me the heading before you go too, a small deviation may not look like much, but after a long time, it has a huge impact, and it takes time to correct.”

  Valen nodded and gave the exact headings he had spotted the signs. The Captain then thanked the hunter and went to the Pilot so he could steer the boat.

  The Hunter descended to the lower deck, where some hunters were chatting animatedly. One of them, a brown-haired woman that he knew wielded an Insect Glaive, was one of the few hunters in the fleet who already had a Palico companion. Said Palico, named Flighty, was… in one word? Hyper. She never sat still and always seemed to fidget, and even Adem admitted that he struggled to handle her, before shaking his head and saying that after hearing about her tales, he knew she was not to be underestimated, doing her best to make the task easier for her partner hunter.

  Said Hunter was called Rapha?lle, and though she only took down a Rathian, Valen seemed to recognize some talent in her and would not be surprised if she grew into a fine hunter. The limited ground available on the boat meant that the only way hunters kept sharp on it was a dedicated room where they could wail on dummies all they wanted. However, there were restrictions like a couple of Gunlance wielders that were ordered to not use any shelling at all. It also extended to Valen, but it wasn’t like it was something that was needed for his Switch Axe. Besides he would crash into walls well before he started to decelerate.

  He passed by the table of hunters, only acknowledging them with a nod, before joining Aiden who was sitting in one of the corners of the room.

  “Valen! Finished your turn at the watch?”

  “I did, found some steam bubbles” Valen nodded. “So I know we’re in the correct direction. Haven’t noticed anything else.”

  “Eh, I still remember the Lagiacrus incident. Everybody was on edge then!”

  “I’m glad, it shows that not all monsters are bloodthirsty beasts, and some simply live their lives… Any news you got from our companions?”

  “Just a hot-head claiming to have downed a Chameleos while only wearing Wroggi gear. Yes, it might offer protection from its poison but not… From everything else. Besides, he also claimed he had tracked the Elder after finding it passing by a village in a record time.”

  Valen chuckled. “Indeed, those quirky things are hard to track, what with their ability to simply… disappear. Besides, it's not like it wouldn’t fly.” He frowned. “I’ve rarely heard about Chameleos attacks by the way. They only seem to steal from lone hunters or merchant convoys.”

  “You’re right, they tend to keep to themselves. And are curious beasts. The only one I heard about that attacked a village was apparently in pain and had been attacked by something else. They, along the Kirin, are the most tame Elders.”

  “We mostly hear about Kushalah and Teostra right? Doesn’t surprise me, these are plenty aggressive.”

  “You might say… That they’re Toasting their competition!” said Aiden with a wide smile.

  Valen groaned. “How do you keep coming with these?”

  “I simply do! My old party said it was an acquired taste!”

  Shaking his head, Valen said. “I can imagine…” He looked out the window. “I’ve got time to kill, should we get to the training area?”

  “Suits me! I’ll find you there!” Aiden said while he sat up, he needed to grab his weapon, keeping it in his room as he didn’t need to carry it with him while on the boat.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Valen and Aiden spent the rest of the afternoon training together, fluidly alternating between motions on the training dummies. Aiden having chosen to use a Sword and Shield this time, the light weapon allowing him to stay nimble and partially deflect attacks. Valen proved he was almost able to keep up with him however, his mastery of the Switch Axe built over the years showcased by the fluid motions he displayed, to the awe of the other hunters.

  The two hunters gathered quite a crowd, as they usually did when training, which cheered on the two of them, though Valen did use the occasion to give some tips about his weapon for the other Switch Axe users, and some general tips. Aiden however, due to his jack-of-all-trades status, gladly helped everybody who had some trouble with some part of a weapon. Both hunters had long since gained the respect of the whole ship for their willingness to share their experience.

  They parted after the meal shared with every other hunter, tired but satisfied from a good day.

  Thunderous steps, terrified screaming, and trailing saliva filled Valen’s senses. Everything he felt, heard, and saw was focused on one thing. The Yellow-Scaled beast. The Enemy. He knew this was what led him to a pitiful childhood, knowing they were gone… Gone before he was able to remember them.

  He only knew that they cared for him, that they would love and shelter him until he was ready, but they were taken before it was time. As well as everybody he then knew. He saw houses crumble, splinter, and tear. Fire, a force that was normally tamed in the village, now growing rampant and uncontrolled everywhere, its great hunger devouring everything in its path. Blood, the crimson red liquid that was the lifeforce of beings, now spilled everywhere, its meaning unquestionable. Smoke emitted by the rampant fire now collected near the ground, giving the whole scene a hazy appearance, as if it wasn’t the normal proceeding of Life, as if it didn’t belong.

  Then suddenly a gigantic form shifted. It looked around and immediately seemed to zero on the observer, who simply couldn’t move, fear stopping him utterly, as if his mind refused to acknowledge the reality. Yellow, dirtied scales were what he could see, with some glint of blue. A gigantic maw lined of razor-sharp teeth as long as his forearm, and a thickly built tail, that would break every bone in his body should it smash him. The Enemy had now spotted him and seemed to enjoy his fear. It raised its head high, and after taking a deep breath, roared, a concussive force that smashed into him and knocked him on his ass. It saw him helpless, and it delighted into it, savoring the moment.

  Taking deliberate steps, it approached slowly, small thumps shaking the ground with every footstep, betraying the sheer mass of the creature. The observer tried to back away, but the fear paralyzed his legs too much to stand up, causing him to backpedal away on the ground, shuffling away. Even then, the terror didn’t increase its pace, still deliberately approaching. This action betrayed its intelligence… And the sheer joy it took into the act, it knew it had obliterated every life in the village, save the observer. It knew it had destroyed every building, rendering the attempts to rebuild too costly to be attempted. And now it was about to extinguish the final soul of the settlement, rendering it void of its inhabitants.

  Now the observer could not back away anymore, a wall blocking the only path away from his nightmare. And it was close now, and in attack range.

  And thus it stopped, and simply stared at him, from malevolent eyes that only spoke of a wish to harm, to destroy, because its internal pain was too great, that others had to suffer the same. It opened its maw, glistening drool coming out of it into drops that splashed next to him. He was so close he could smell its breath, a mix of rot, smoke, and blood that made him gag. But he couldn’t retch, every muscle of his body now frozen in fear that a twitch would cause the other to react… Save one. His heart, so important to his life, now thundered stronger than ever. Every beat reverberated through his bones.

  Thump, and the enemy growled a deep sound that made his skeleton shake.

  Thump, it approached one more step, the head now directly above him.

  Thump, a deep exhale washed over him, making the potent smell even stronger.

  Thump, it reared back, like a serpent coiling back to strike, and he knew it the moment he dreaded most was coming.

  Thump, a flash of movement, a blur, and the empty void that was its maw encompassed his being, and a scream built up into his being, and he released it, as he knew it was now over. The sound reverberated back from the surroundings to him.

  He knew it was over, he knew it was only his wounded mind that could not go over the fear, the event, but the panic that had settled into him refused to acknowledge that fact, gripping him like a vice that refused to release him, that did not allow to move on. He had lost everything to that event, and he would remember it forever more, now that it realized that the one that would protect him was no longer here to guard him, it came back with a vengeance, paying him back for all the years where he was sheltered.

  He panted, drawing in quick, shallow breaths, ineffective in calming his raging heart, breaths that would not allow his rational mind to come back. His surroundings moved, regularly, like he wasn’t in a natural place, like he wasn’t in a safe place. There was a weight on his belly, at first he was scared that it was his enemy, but then it was anything but. It wasn’t oppressive… But gentle, comforting, it wanted him to return, to know that it was over. At first, his panicked mind glossed over this fact, but then a flash of memory came to him, of instructions drilled into him. His subconscious latched on to it and his body reacted.

  The quick breaths stopped and he filled his lungs in their entirety, one long breath as deep as he could… And released it all in an instant, the air rushing out. The panic lessened a bit, and he was now aware of wood, though it was hard to perceive with the surrounding darkness.

  Another deep inhalation, as far as he could draw, and he released it again, the explosive exhale steadying his heart the panic was now far less present, but it still latched on it, still clang on him, like it wanted him to know there was still danger, that it was inescapable, but the details around him sharpened, he now felt that he wasn’t on hard ground, but covered by soft material, two orbs was staring at him, and not with anger and hostility… They were full of concern, of safety.

  Finally, a third, final intake of air, that while it was filled, seemed to lighten his head, finally making it realize everything was in his mind, that it wasn’t real, that it was only his imagination, and the panic almost desperately clung on, it didn’t want to come back.

  He blew all his air out, in a sharp moment, and with it, all of the trauma that had bubbled up washed away, Valen finally knowing that it was over. That he was no longer young, that he was no longer defenseless. The blurry image he had before now had sharpened, and he could see Adem resting his head on his belly, his eyes betraying the wariness they had for him, but they also told him that there was no danger there.

  He took a couple more breaths that washed away the remnants of his panic attack, then once he was certain it would not come back, he gazed into those green eyes and said: “Thank you Adem.”

  “Are you well Master? You never had such a panic attack before.”

  “I was having them regularly at one point… But I haven’t gotten one since a decade ago… Since I met Nikki.” He stroked Adem on his head, the motion comforting them both. “I remember it well… I had one panic attack back then when I was still wary of her when I refused to acknowledge she would not do me harm. And the fact she comforted me then, even defeating my demon for me, it was there that I knew she cared for me, and it was from there that I took the first step toward her, and our friendship started.

  Valen frowned. “I have not gotten a single more panic attack since, so I believed I went over it.” He sighed. “It looks like Nikki had a greater impact on me than I expected. Though the fact that it happened only now while I had bigger periods where I didn’t see her is strange… Maybe it’s the fact I’m in a completely unfamiliar environment.” Shaking his head he finished. “I never had a nightmare and by extension, a panic attack that bad since then, so I’m worried they’ll return.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to be at your side if it happens again!”

  A smile graced Valen’s face. “Thank you Adem, you can't imagine how much that means to me.” He then stretched and started getting out of the bed. “I need to take some air, I’ll go to the nest, don’t think I can go back to sleep anyways.”

  Adem answered with an affirmative and helped Valen to put on his clothes. Then they both went up the deck and climbed the mast, surprising the person currently on duty on the nest. “Valen? You don’t get to your turn until morning normally.”

  “Nightmare, I need to get fresh air anyways, so I figured I may as well take my turn.”

  “Ah, I understand.” He gave a hand to Valen, hauling him into the large wooden basket. “I’ll warn the others then, so they can relieve you earlier. Don’t argue, you don’t need to pull double duty.”

  “Thanks.”

  Then the other person started climbing down, and Valen focused on the surroundings, Adem by his side. Dawn was barely visible on the horizon, the sun hadn’t peeked over yet. But Valen wasn’t looking at the endless sea around him. He was looking at the sky above, hoping to see a sign, to see something only he could understand. But the clouds above were only reflecting the light of the rising sun on the horizon.

  “I hope I can see you soon… Nikki.”