As they moved, he noticed Spunk pulling ahead with surprising speed. Struggling to keep up, he called out, "Hey, slow down! I can’t keep up with you!"

  Spunk glanced back, grinning mischievously. "Come on, Isaac! You don't want to be late, do you?"

  Isaac quickened his pace, determined not to lose sight of his new companion, as they made their way toward the unknown town.

  Barely able to close the distance with Spunk, Isaac thought quickly about how to get the little creature to slow down. He yelled out, "Hey, Spunk! How did you get your name?"

  Spunk glanced back, his pace slowing just a bit. "Oh, you wanna know? It's a good story!" he called out, the excitement in his voice evident.

  Isaac seized the opportunity, jogging closer. "Yeah, tell me! I could use a good story right about now."

  Spunk slowed down to a trot, allowing Isaac to catch up. "Well, it all started when I was just a little hedgehog, not much bigger than a pinecone," Spunk began, puffing out his chest with pride. "I was always full of energy, always getting into trouble.”

  Isaac laughed, grateful for the breather. "So, they just started calling you Spunk?"

  Spunk nodded. "Well, I actually don't remember my original name," he admitted, glancing at Isaac. "It's been like one hundr—uh, a long time since anyone's called me by my original name."

  Isaac raised an eyebrow. "Really? So how did you end up with the name Spunk?"

  Spunk puffed out his chest proudly. "That’s what my friends used to call me, so I can't be sure if that's my actual name or not."

  "Friends?" Isaac, asked.

  Spunk's eyes sparkled with nostalgia. "Yeah! They died like a hundr- um, when they were alive; I mean, they were really nice to me. Except for the one who tried to eat me when he promised he wouldn't… but he went boom!"

  Trying to process everything Spunk had just said, Isaac chose what he believed to be the easiest of the several possible conversations. "How old are you?" Isaac asked.

  "How rude!" Spunk suddenly burst with anger, stopping in their tracks before crossing their arms and turning their head away. "You never ask a lady her age!"

  "... You're a woman?" Isaac questioned, as nothing about Spunk's appearance or voice indicated a specific gender.

  "What's a woman?" Without missing a beat, the creature once again threw Isaac for a loop, as this was by no means the response he expected.

  "What the hell is going on?" Isaac muttered to himself in disbelief.

  A brief silence passed before Isaac finally spoke, his mind going blank as he stared in astonishment at Spunk, who gazed back with a look of unassuming innocence. "Wh-what do you mean? Do you not know what a woman is?"

  Spunk's blank expression told Isaac all he needed to know. Without waiting for a response, he continued, "Hey, Spunk, are there others like you?"

  With a quick and playful flourish, the tiny creature proudly declared, "Nope, Spunk's one of a kind!"

  Isaac took a deep breath, trying to figure out how to proceed. Before he could say anything, Spunk had a sudden epiphany and shouted, "Oooh! You mean the ones that look like you but with the fat on their chests?"

  Isaac stared blankly at Spunk before cracking a smile, amused by the creature's innocent joy and sense of triumph. "Yes, Spunk. So, you do know what I'm talking about?"

  "Yeah, one of my friends was a woman; she was the nicest."

  Nodding, Isaac smiled at Spunk. "Will you tell me about your friends?"

  Spunk's expression turned thoughtful. "I don't remember much; it was a long time ago. I just remember my friends being really nice, except the one that tried to eat me."

  Isaac questioned whether they really did not remember or just did not want to tell him, given it had made a point to try and hide their age.

  Ultimately choosing to change the subject.

  "Alright, Spunk, I don’t want to make us late, we should start heading to the town. You can tell me on the way," Isaac suggested, mindful of the time.

  Spunk nodded eagerly, his tiny frame bouncing with excitement. "Yes, town! Let's go!"

  Isaac smiled down at Spunk, then hesitated. "Would you like me to carry you?" he asked, thinking ahead to avoid Spunk darting off and getting lost.

  Spunk's eyes widened in surprise before rapidly nodding their head and leaping onto Isaac’s shoulder. Once settled, Spunk pointed dramatically toward the distance and yelled, "That way!"

  Isaac chuckled at Spunk's enthusiasm. "Alright, that way it is," he said, adjusting his grip to ensure Spunk was secure. With his tiny passenger perched on his shoulder, Isaac set off toward the town, the path ahead.

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  "You mentioned one of your friends went boom?" Isaac asked.

  Without hesitating, Spunk replied, "He broke his promise, so he went boom."

  A moment of silence passed as Isaac pursed his lips. Nervously, he asked, "Wait. Spunk, what do you mean by boom?"

  Spunk stared at him curiously before awkwardly motioning with its hands and whispering, "Boom."

  Isaac simply nodded, confused by the vague explanation given to him as if he were a child. Despite a wave of concern washing over him, he couldn't help but feel amused and taken aback by the creature's willingness and ability to converse.

  Taking a deep breath, Isaac prepared himself for more of Spunk's ramblings. He realized with a jolt that Spunk's assumption of him was more accurate than he'd care to admit.

  "Okay, Spunk," Isaac said, trying to keep his tone light. "So, what other kinds of friends did you have?"

  Spunk's eyes lit up as it recalled its past companions. "Oh, there was Flicker, who could make fire with his hands! And there was Whirl, who always spun around like a little tornado!"

  Isaac nodded, fascinated but skeptical. "And did Flicker or Whirl ever go boom?"

  Spunk shook its head vigorously. "Nope! They kept their promises. Only the ones who break promises go boom."

  Isaac pondered this for a moment, the peculiar logic both intriguing and unsettling. "What kind of promises did you make with them, Spunk?"

  Spunk giggled, a sound that reminded Isaac of tinkling bells. "Promises to play nice, share food, not to eat each other... simple things!"

  As they continued their walk, Isaac noticed the town's outskirts coming into view. The familiar sight of buildings and bustling streets brought a sense of relief. "We're almost there," he said, more to himself than to Spunk.

  Spunk, perched happily on Isaac's shoulder, pointed towards the town with a tiny finger. "That way!" it exclaimed again, its excitement palpable.

  Isaac smiled, feeling a strange sense of companionship with the odd creature. "Yeah, we're heading that way."

  As they approached the town, Isaac couldn't shake the mix of amusement and concern Spunk had stirred in him. He had to admit, part of him thought Spunk was making some of this up. Flicker and Whirl sounded like characters from a children's story, not real people.

  But then again, Spunk itself seemed like something out of a fairy tale.

  Isaac had never encountered a talking creature like Spunk before, but then again, there were many things in the world—both obvious and hidden—that he hadn't been privy to.

  **********

  [Now Entering Location: Wildwood Outpost]

  **********

  The city before them was a breathtaking blend of technology and nature. Floating platforms hovered above verdant landscapes, with trees and plants integrated into the futuristic architecture.

  The sky was dotted with floating orbs, adding to the magical atmosphere. Isaac had to admit, part of him thought this place was as whimsical as Spunk's tales. He’d never been anywhere that’d come close to what was laid before him.

  He had never seen anything remotely close to this, and it made him question his understanding of the word "town."

  Turning to Spunk, who was perched on his shoulder, Isaac asked with genuine curiosity, "Spunk, what exactly do you call a town? Because this place is massive. It feels more like a small kingdom than just a town."

  Spunk’s eyes twinkled with amusement as they looked out over the vast expanse of the market. "Oh, this? It’s just a tiny town," Spunk replied with a playful bounce. "It’s one of the smallest places in this part of Aetheria"

  Isaac blinked in disbelief, glancing around at the sprawling market, the towering structures, and the floating orbs that illuminated the scene.

  "Right…" he replied, struggling to reconcile Spunk’s description with the grandeur before him. "If this is tiny, I can't even imagine what the larger places must be like. I was missing out on a lot more than I thought."

  Spunk giggled at Isaac’s reaction. "Oh, you’d be amazed! Some places are so big they have their own weather systems and miniature ecosystems. But don’t worry, you'll get used to it."

  As Isaac continued into this harmonious urban ecosystem, he realized that though this city was nothing like he'd ever seen, the people were all too familiar: hunters. They moved with purpose through the bustling streets, their attire a mesmerizing blend of sleek exoskeletons, rugged leather armor embedded with glowing runes, and intricate machines humming softly at their sides.

  Some carried devices that emitted faint pulses of energy, while others had metallic wings folded neatly against their backs, ready to deploy at a moment's notice.

  Isaac watched in awe as these hunters navigated effortlessly through the urban labyrinth, their movements a testament to both skill and the symbiotic relationship between humanity and technology.

  Some, even conversed with ethereal beings that hovered alongside them, their forms shimmering with arcane energies that contrasted sharply with the city's modern aesthetics.

  Isaac exchanged cautious nods with a few hunters who seemed to recognize Spunk, acknowledging the small creature with a blend of respect and wariness. He couldn't help but wonder what tales they had heard of Spunk, and whether they viewed him as friend or potential trouble.

  "Alright then, Spunk, we're here. Where exactly are we going?" Isaac asked, his curiosity piqued as they navigated through the winding streets toward the bustling town square.

  Spunk, with its lively demeanor, quickly chirped back, guiding Isaac with unwavering certainty.

  As they approached what Isaac assumed to be the town square, his eyes widened in wonder.

  The square was a mosaic of cultures and technologies, a hub where the city's diverse inhabitants converged but it was the gleaming holographic displays showcased upcoming events and news from across the realms that caught his attention.

  The holographic displays flickered to life, projecting a solemn-faced announcer declaring news that sent ripples of anticipation through the gathered throng.

  "The Kraken Guild," the announcer proclaimed in a resonant voice, "prepares for a daring Dungeon raid, seeking brave souls to join their ranks. Volunteers are called upon to prove their mettle and earn a chance to stand among the legendary members of the guild."

  Isaac's curiosity peaked at the mention of the Kraken Guild. His eyes narrowed though he still listened intently on what the announcer had to say.

  Soon, the holographic displays abruptly shifted, showcasing a series of wanted posters. His heart skipped a beat as he recognized faces he didn't expect to see.

  There were criminals, mercenaries, and then his own visage staring back at him. However, shockingly, he saw several of the faces of the people he’d worked with to photograph Lysandra Rain.

  "I never expected to see them on wanted posters," Isaac murmured, before shrugging his shoulders. “Eh, they'll find a way to lay low."

  As the holographic display shifted once more, projecting the scene of hunters, and others being led to execution.

  "That's him!" Spunk exclaimed, pointing eagerly at the holographic image of a familiar face among the condemned.

  Isaac's gaze fixated on the holographic screen, where amidst the condemned, he spotted a man roughly his age. The individual had a shock of wool-like hair atop his head, and his eyes were a shade of bright pink. He was being led in a line with others, all moving with solemn resignation.

  "That's Artist," Spunk declared, its voice tinged with urgency as it pointed at the screen. "That's Artist Vinichi!"