When Nathalie opened her eyes, she noticed the large expanse of the lush forests got even smaller in numbers every several yards they covered.


    The sun peeked among the billowing clouds, and beamed at its zenith, brightening everything beneath it with a glow and heat, but not enough to make her swelter.


    From the horizon, the blues and the verdant colors below it now revealed patches of loam and dirt in the distance.


    "We''re almost there, entering the Western Territory!" Jonathan signaled, in which she nodded.


    The fresh, smothering cool breeze now turned into a slap of warm breeze to her face, but it didn''t dissuade her as her eyes were on every detail she could find.


    Then, the small patches of greeneries like shrubs and trees began to scatter out, now painting the emerging whole brown and golden canvas as what she witnessed.


    A surge of joy coursed through her, giving all the tingling sensations in every inch of her body as she marveled at it: from the pack of animals roaming around, and occasional stampede, to a group of them staying under the shade of several lone trees.


    Meanwhile, Jonathan stole a glance, and a smile quirked up his lips when he noticed her dazzled brightness on her face.


    From the creation of her mind came to life, and everything was too surreal for her.


    Nathalie noticed a sudden vibration on her pocket near her waist, so she pulled out her phone, and there, the only person who would''ve contacted him without even an hour had passed.


    With a click, she opened the video.


    ...Arnold''s face occupied the whole screen, that was how it''s so close.


    But then, he spoke but an inaudible sound while he pulled away in disdain, like how his ear hurt.


    After which, she typed, [I can''t hear you. I''m traveling, it''s a heavy buzz in here so type it, father. So lower the volume.]


    He took a curt nod, then let the tip of his tongue out as he went in total focus. He took his time to type even a single phrase.


    Then, he responded, [Where are you now?]


    [Do you want to see?] After which, she changed the camera; from there, he observed from her point of view, which then he exclaimed in amazement. Then, she also showed Jonathan, who also had Stravwuark with him, and hovered mid-air.


    [Ahh, so you''re about to enter the Western Territory then.] After which, he sent a pondering emoji and sticker, which made her giggle in silence. [Be careful out there, are you and that Grand Duke Salvatore on good terms lately?]


    [I can''t say for sure.]


    She was about to reply when she noticed he started to write once more.


    [Is that an important secret mission?] In which, Nathalie changed the camera, then nodded while she tucked her hair locks back from the strong current of the wind. [Well, have you asked Ashtra to hide his presence?]


    [I think so?]


    [Make sure about that. You''re entering the den of the strongest tribe of werewolves known to every citizen in the Dysnomia Empire. You may trick their eyes, but not the suspicious shift of sound and smell in there.]


    Nathalie narrowed her gaze as his fair warning was beyond valid; she mustn''t slip this up this time.  A small conversation came with them after sending each other regards before she bid farewell to him.


    Once done, she sighed and glanced at the beautiful savannah that welcomed her gaze.


    But as usual, all of the animals ran away when they noticed two colossal figures hovering in the air like no other.


    Then, she opened a link to Ashtra, ''Maybe you should hide your presence completely?''


    "Why should I?"


    ''We''re essentially trespassing here, fool!'' she retorted, rolling her eyes. ''Even these creatures noticed you.''


    "Well, they should fear me."


    "Oh, so you''ll do it like that, then?"


    "....Fine…"


    After which, she then beckoned at Jonathan to do the same thing; so far, they stopped running away and began to do their natural activity.


    Then, a couple of messages popped up on her phone, mostly from Arnold, but she didn''t mind much as far as Jonathan was concerned.


    [Miss Quinn, this will be hard to pull through, going there unnoticed at that.]


    [How were you able to rope the twins to your side then, surely they aren''t that much distance from the central part of the Western Territory.]


    [I came there for a visit, of course. We''ve had an arrangement with Sylvester.]


    [At this point, I don''t need to think deeper about what kind of arrangement is that.]


    [Please, get your mind out of the gutter.]


    Nathalie then caught his gaze, who averted immediately, which she rolled her eyes. ''I could taste the fakeness in the air.''


    [Whatever, Jonathan.]


    He then sent sorry emojis as spam before texting, [Anyway, I got there even before Athan set his eyes on it as he was busy with something else, I bet he didn''t see it coming yet.]


    [TBH, I had the same reaction. So, not surprised.]


    [Yes, now, I took a formal visitation, you know— the usual noble decorum— then offered gifts; in return, he let me choose what I wanted, so I went with several things: including the twins.]


    After which, her eyes now met Dusk and Dawn, who peered with a hint of nostalgia in their eyes. She knew all too well as this was their homeland, but at the same time, so many cruel and terrible memories molded to what they were now.


    For the most part, Jonathan was their blessing in disguise, and even she understood their part.


    She then replied after giving it a thought, [Especially with the sudden changes in the manuscript… Have you told them about what happened?]


    From there, she noticed that Jonathan was typing, then disappeared as he went on it several times. He showed so much hesitation as he ever had since.


    Alas, he answered, [No. I Don''t think I can. I hope I don''t have to, and the changes would be a hoax.]


    Jonathan then scratched his head before raking his hair out of frustration.


    ''Oh goodness…'' Nathalie pressed her temples from the stress that awaited them, and she surely needed to buckle up for it would be a bumpy ride as they venture deep into the large canyons henceforth.