Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Rain couldn\'t deny the disquiet that gnawed at him, stemming from his growing bond with Jori and the rest of his companions. The sense of camaraderie he felt made him view them as true friends, which intensified the sting of feeling as though they were concealing something from him. It was a sentiment that teetered on the edge of betrayal.

Still, he recognized the importance of not dwelling too heavily on it.

Understanding that friendships had their boundaries, Rain grappled with the idea that there were aspects his friends chose to keep private. He reasoned that they were under no obligation to divulge every detail, and he respected that autonomy. This perspective served as a reminder that even among friends, certain matters could remain shrouded in secrecy.

Furthermore, Rain entertained the thought that perhaps his involvement in their missions had become customary – an arrangement designed to avoid being overshadowed by his extraordinary abilities. This contemplation reflected the delicate balance that friendships often navigated, where the dynamics could be shaped by both shared purpose and individual aspirations.

"Well, I am going then," Rain said. "Try not to make any weird choices again."

Rain turned around and then began to run toward the North. While he needed a break and rest a bit, time was of the essence.

"... Don\'t you think that we should have been more honest with him?" Terra asked. "He isn\'t dumb, and he realized that we are hiding something else."

"... it can\'t be helped; orders are orders," Jori said after a long sigh, and then he began to scratch his head.

— —

Around midnight, Rain returned to the camp. Since the rain got worse, he decided to take a break since using Impulse while it was raining was like landing on a pool after jumping from a ten-meter trampoline… and always landing with his chest.

As the evening progressed, Rain noticed that no one in the camp had approached him for conversation or clarification as to where he had been. Deciding to rest, he retreated to his tent, allowing himself to unwind and recover before the new day.

Lying there, Rain\'s thoughts wandered to werewolves. He wondered how the ones he encountered might differ from the ones he had read about or seen in his own world. This line of thinking led him to ponder their potential variations in behavior, strengths, and weaknesses.

Morning arrived, and Rain woke up, ready to pack up and continue his journey. However, a surprise awaited him as the captain requested his presence. This unexpected twist temporarily halted his plans, introducing an element of intrigue and uncertainty to the next events.

"Did you find any signs of them?" The Captain asked.

"No sir," Rain replied.

"I see… You will have to stop the search in the south since a village up north was attacked, most likely by werewolves," the captain said. "A merchant found signs of smoke in the distance yesterday, but no one investigated things further yet. You are fast, so I want you to investigate it and bring me the information that you find."

Rain hesitated momentarily, tempted to assert his independence and disregard the captain\'s request. However, he recognized that his ongoing mission to investigate the monsters aligned with the captain\'s call. Without conflicting motives, Rain accepted the summons and complied.

As he mulled over the situation, Rain found himself intrigued by the unexpected turn of events. He hadn\'t initially considered the possibility of monsters launching an attack on the central border area. The choice seemed unusual, prompting him to wonder about its significance and implications.

Despite contemplating the matter, Rain couldn\'t piece together a logical explanation. The puzzle remained unsolved, leaving him to grapple with the potential reasons behind this unconventional move. He considered the idea that the woman who had manipulated his father might be orchestrating chaos to draw him into a confrontation.

However, the notion that she knew he was in the vicinity seemed implausible.

"Understood, I will depart immediately," Rain said.

"Here is a map of the area and the location of the village," The captain said.

Rain received the map and confirmed that it was fifty kilometers away. It should be a quick trip. Still, it was only forty kilometers away from Retia, the city that they recovered last month.

The weather had taken a turn for the better, easing Rain\'s movements considerably. As he prepared to depart, he was met with improved conditions that promised a smoother journey ahead.

However, as he started to leave the camp, an unanticipated hesitation overcame Rain. He came to an abrupt stop at the camp\'s exit, a thought seizing his attention. Could the change in weather, particularly the rain that had hindered visibility, have been orchestrated deliberately?

He wondered about the possibility that the enemies might have manipulated the weather using their magic, casting a rain spell to obscure their movements and make tracking and detection more difficult.

The notion lingered briefly, only to dissipate as Rain mulled it over. He reasoned that even if such an ability existed, controlling rain clouds from kilometers away seemed a stretch. The practicality of such a feat appeared limited.

"The wind came from their direction, and while they won\'t be able to control it, they can tell for how long the rain clouds will last… still, how much people would need to cast so many rain clouds over the area of the border?" Rain thought. "Not a small amount, that is for sure."