With only days before departure Sombra planned on getting the basics drilled into Sol so that they could do real training while traveling. Sombras concern for his missing companions? non-existent, confident that they would pull through and that everyone would meet at the randevou point. Him and Sol had been going over it all morning and she seemed to get the first stage down. Now was the crucial part, she had to keep her breathing state constant even under pressure. The breathing technique expanded the lungs capacity and strengthen'd them similar to strengthening an arm muscle. Getting the body use to taking in more oxygen and pumping blood faster. The result along with rigorous full body training would be the ability to go beyond normal limitations. Normally the outcome of this alone is powerful but by adding in Ki and infusing it into the body one can take it even further.

As they trained Sombra told Sol stories of his past and of the world he came from, she in turn told him more of the lands he now traveled. When presenting her with the knowledge of the book they had come across. Her response was interesting.

"Well their are rumors of a hunter like that. Mostly stories, the plaque on top of the Dire Miralis is one of them." Was how she started pausing her training. She dropped down from the tree she had been using to do crunches. Wiping the sweat from her brow and taking a drink from her water pouch she continued. "It was said he was the 'Hunter the guild held in highest esteem' or so they say. He even got the right to claim the highest rank, his secrecy and habit of traveling off the grid means that the announcement ceremony was never held and since the only other hunters to receive the rank are long forgotten no one even knows what the damn things called."

The former king sat silent the new information answering many of his unasked questions, all except for one. "So in this book there was a line. 'The start to your fun lies across the furthest ocean' and it said to reach there you must 'Ride the lightning'? What could that possibly mean?"

She was silent for awhile a look of fear in her eyes that he had never scene. The air felt chilled as she spoke only two words, "Thunder Eternal..."

Traveling East, as far as the land will take you. There lies the lands of the gods. Go past their territory and if you make it out alive you will reach the sea. Do not go North for the cold will crush you, do not go South for the sea will break you, and for the sake of your will do not fly above. Past this is the islands of the eternal four fearsome Elders that have commanded respect even among their kin. At the furthest Island you will find Thunder, wisest of the four. If you can earn the blessing of lightning the world will be beneath your feet.

"That was a story my village elder had told us. Those lands are not to be taken lightly by any hunter, Trust me Sombra. Outside of going off grid you cannot get more dangerous." She took a shaky breath. "The strongest hunters go their seeking glory. There are only a total of eight or so quests put out near that place each year. Most are always failed several times until a hunter of the highest four ranks shows up and even then there have been cases of them either not returning at all or never hunting again. The few that do not hold those ranks that succeed are highly rewarded by the guild with new status and honor. The whole region to even reach the place is nothing but defense fortresses and towns made up of hunters and smithies."

She let out a sad sigh and rested her head on his shoulder. "That's where my father went, I haven't heard from him since." The small girl wanted to cry but she would not let herself. She was a hunter! and for her to show such weakness in front of Sombra would be very embarrassing... at that thought she jumped from her new found pillow blushing furiously. "S-sorry!"

Sombra for his part only placed a hand upon her shoulder. She was slightly taken aback but the look on his face calmed her. He held some odd feeling of power and strength that reminded her of an Elder Dragon. It put her at ease. "Your father was brave and if he has you to return to I would like to believe he will." His words were but kindness but with it her sadness melted.

The training continued on grueling as it were, Sombra had altered the regimen to fit her smaller size. Sure by the end of it she would never be able to wield as much strength as he did but that was not the goal. Her light and agile frame would work perfectly and her already flashy and random fighting style could be hammered and tempered with her growing ability. Things were looking up for sure but time would be the one to tell if it would be enough.

With a day of practice they turned in for the night to rest.

Days had passed the two working together to hone their skills and prepare for the journey. Thanks to the help of his new companion, Sombra was able to make out where he had to go. About halfway between here and Tempered bay they would have to get off of the Dire Miralis and head East for another three days. That would lead them right to Titan Lake and hopefully to his friends. The sun was about to rise and the moon had reached its full beauty that previous night. The creature would supposedly stir not long after day break. The mystery behind its travel was unknown and from what he had learned about it from Sol, Sombra was even more confused. The creature was an Elder Dragon but not just any. Dire Miralis was a black dragon. Supposedly only three known species of them exist. They themselves are beyond powerful and many a hunter would not dare confront them. This one in-particular is known for destroying ecosystems and islands just by being near them. From what Sol said the one they were stood atop of at this very moment was completely docile and never attacked anyone. No one knows why but what they do know is at some point the one and only Drunken Hunter had taken it for a ride and the thing didn't mind. Now any passerby that isn't to afraid and wants a free trip does the same.

As the first light of day hit the monsters back, the ground shook.

"Far away the heroes must travel.
To a land of past and a history unraveled.
Seeking the elder unhindered by time
The knowledge they seek lay at the end of the climb.

Thought only lore, a myth truly feared.
Those that pay the price permanently adhere.
Others like it will never be the same.
For both hunters and elders run from his name."

Author's Note

Sorry for the very late addition and sorry its short. Haven't had a lot of time to write. Between leveling in MH Iceborne on PS4 and introducing my friend to MHW on PC for the first time. I also have been playing League of Legends current event, but that's about to end and Iceborne can be set aside for a bit until the next monster drops. So I should be able to write more.

Not saying I haven't been writing at all. I have two stories I have yet to post that I have been working on. One of them is a collab with a friend of mine that I hope turns out as great as we're trying to make it. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!