The feeling of soaring through the sky was new, something Igaris could've never imagined in his life.
The chilly wind brushed past his cheeks, and the desert stretched endlessly beneath him, painted silver by the pale moonlight.
Every now and then, he spotted signs of life scattered across the wasteland: caves, makeshift huts, and crumbled stone houses of other Outcasts.
"Mommy, look! Such a big bird!"
"Yes, it is. Quick! Get inside, everyone. Don't annoy the lord summoner!"
They stared in awe at the Griffin flying overhead, then quickly rushed to hide in their shelters.
Igaris remained unmoved, indifferent to the people below, and flew for twenty minutes straight.
Evernight followed him from behind, flapping her radiant white wings. Their feathers shimmered under the moonlight, a calm expression resting on her face.
Igaris cast his gaze downward.
By now, he was about fifteen miles away from his former home.
He gave a mental command to the Griffin.
The Griffin obeyed, descending gracefully and landing on a rocky platform perched atop a canyon.
The wind up here was chilly and wild, but the large rock formations surrounding them made it a perfect shelter for the night.
As Igaris landed with a smooth jump, the Griffin gently placed the boar carcass it had picked up before their flight.
Evernight landed shortly after, her wings folding gracefully behind her as she stepped lightly onto the rocky ground.
"You have good eyesight," she remarked, glancing at the natural cover around them. "This place will do."
Igaris nodded silently, then turned toward the boar carcass.
His stomach growled softly. After all, it had been hours since he last ate.
He pulled out his broken blade and started to carve the meat with swift, practiced movements.
"Evernight, do you want some?" he asked thoughtfully, looking at Evernight.
"Hmm. I don't need mortal food," she replied, sitting atop a boulder with her legs crossed.
"But I'll watch you cook. It's more amusing."
"Fine, Suit yourself.. "
With a few gathered stones and broken branches from nearby, Igaris set up a small fire pit.
Soon, the scent of roasting meat filled the chilly air.
He chewed slowly, thinking. The world around him was quiet, save for the crackling fire and the occasional howl of a beast in the distance.
The Griffin lay lazily to the side, snoring softly.
Igaris felt a small sense of happiness having the company of the two.
Though they didn't speak much, their presence was enough to keep loneliness at bay.
Of course, the feeling of being alone wasn't foreign to him. He could also survive just fine on his own.
But it wasn't so bad to have some company. Especially companions who wouldn't betray him like his childhood fiancées and so-called friends once did.
After finishing his meal, Igaris began to feel thirsty. Unfortunately, he had no water with him.
He turned to glance at Evernight.
"Evernight, could you get me some water from down there?" he asked, gesturing toward the canyon below with his eyes.
Evernight frowned but didn't refuse.
"But that water might not be suitable for human bodies," she tried to argue, clearly a little unwilling.
"It's fine," Igaris shrugged. "My body can handle it."
With a resigned expression, she gave up.
She flapped her wings and dove smoothly down into the canyon.
Very soon, Evernight returned carrying a large amount of water in what looked like a finely cut stone basin.
She placed it on the ground, and Igaris watched in astonishment.
"Where did you find this?"
"I made it myself," she replied proudly, sitting gracefully on a nearby boulder again.
Igaris drank the murky water despite its pollution to quench his thirst.
Then he let out a small burp.
Evernight giggled at the sight, while Igaris turned away and crawled into the natural bed made by the Griffin's thick fur.
His body sank into its warmth and softness.
Then, poking his head out, he asked, "Do you want to come over?"
"Fufufu, you're really cunning, My Liege. Trying to take advantage of me, aren't you?" she teased, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Igaris had no such intention, of course. He had only asked out of consideration.
"Alright then, you can stay in your own paradise," Igaris said with a shrug, raising his hand in a dismissive tone.
Immediately, Evernight turned into a shadow and dissolved into Igaris's body like mist.
As for Igaris, he drifted off into a sound sleep.
Soon after, the Griffin playfully began to nibble at the boar carcass using its sharp beak. Its movements were quiet, almost as if it were stealing a snack in secret.
Igaris, half-asleep, noticed the sneaky behavior and smiled faintly before closing his eyes completely.
At the charred remains of Igaris's former home, a few figures gathered once more.
"Damn it, where did Mystic disappear to?" grumbled a bearded man, his eyes scanning the rubble.
"He's dead," announced a sharp-eyed woman standing atop a Fire Crow.
"What?! Are you sure?" the man asked, stunned.
"Yes. My beast can sense the presence of blood and aura. Both vanished here," she affirmed with complete certainty.
"Shit! Who the hell could kill him in a place ?" the man cursed under his breath.
"We don't know. But let's investigate who used to live here. There might be a connection to Mystic's death."
The man clenched his fist in frustration. "Bastard... whoever did this, I won't spare them," he growled, spitting on the ground.
Time passed, and the starry sky quickly shifted into shades of soft blue and orange as dawn arrived.
The Griffin stretched its large body and let out a screech, waking Igaris with a big yawn.
He rubbed his eyes and stood up steadily.
His gaze locked onto the horizon beyond the red canyon, where the sun was slowly rising in the east. The golden rays painted the sky in soft hues of orange and pink, casting a warm glow over the jagged rocks and arid landscape.
The scene was beautiful and unexpectedly peaceful for a land known as the Forsaken.
The morning breeze was gentle, and for a moment, even the cold air felt friendly.
Igaris took a deep breath, letting it settle into his chest.
"Alright... it's time to start the day," he muttered to himself.
The Griffin let out a low rumble, stretching again as if responding to his words.
The journey to the Sun God's Shrine would begin now.