Heroes of Moga II - Anger of the Dire Miralis

Fifteen Years Later

The climate in Loc Lac city was always sweltering during the day, but Phisto Docks found it pleasantly warm that afternoon as he went down to the main tavern to meet with his friends. The city was all a-bustle, with merchants, farmers, and of course hunters going about their daily business in an even more excited state than usual.

Phisto knew it was because of the Tundra King's visit to Loc Lac that was getting them excited. The Tundra King had a stronghold way up north, only a few miles south of that blistering landscape known as the Tundra. And he always visited at this time of year to meet with the Guildmaster of the local Hunter's Guild, staying for a week or two in order to negotiate peace treaties and stuff like that. The Tundra King was rumored to be slightly on the cruel side, but he was extremely wealthy and commanded a large territory, so he demanded a lot of respect.

Of course, the only reason Phisto enjoyed his annual visits was because Morgana often came along. She was a hunter about his age, and he always had a good time when she was around. His best friend was an excellent distraction from the drudgery of daily life in Loc Lac - and in particular, the way the locals treated him.

Phisto was an orphan who had never known his parents. He had been brought up by the Bones family and then turned out as soon as he became of hunting age. Phisto could take care of himself, and he at least had his own house, but it was a lonely lifestyle.

The tavern came into sight, and as usual it was bursting with hunters grabbing quests from the Guild. The monster-human war was as fierce as it ever was, and neither side ever seemed to gain the upper hand. Phisto himself, as well as Morgana and Catry, were hunters as well - only Low-Rank, but hunters nevertheless.

Phisto found his two friends already chatting at their usual table over their mugs of Popo milk and Aptonoth steaks. Quickly grabbing his own meal from the bar close by, he sat down next to Morgana with a grin on his face. "Long time no see," he greeted her. "Phisto!" she squealed, hugging him. "You look good! Are you still using your Dual Blades?" Phisto just grinned and held up a pair of swords.

Phisto and Morgana loved using Gigginox weapons, just because their abilities were so useful. Phisto himself had once carried two Gigginox Dual Blades, but lost one on a hunt. Morgana had given him a Baleful Gigginox sword to replace it, and from there on out, Phisto had used them on every single hunt. The blades each had names - Bloodwing and Deathbolt. Or for short, Bloodbolt.

Morgana liked using her Gigginox Lance, which she called Luinox. Not only that, she wore a full set of Gigginox armor. Phisto himself had a lightweight set of Great Jaggi armor, mostly because he didn't have the physical strength to handle the heavy-duty stuff most other hunters wore.

Catry Bones looked on awkwardly at the two reunited friends. He himself wore Duramboros armor and carried a Nibelsnarf Hunting Horn called the Soldier's Snarfonica. And he wondered why Phisto and Morgana burst out laughing whenever he mentioned it.

"So how's life in the Tundra?" he asked Morgana. "Cold and boring," she said. "I much prefer spending time with you guys in Loc Lac." She eyed the clear skies and murmured, "No Jhen Mohran approaching this time?" Phisto nodded - normally there would be a vicious sandstorm blasting across the Great Desert due to the approach of the Elder Dragon.

"Oh, that reminds me!" Morgana suddenly exclaimed. "I've got something here for both of you." She pulled out two items from her bag - a small book for Phisto and a carved Barioth for Catry. Phisto immediately opened the book and flipped through it, viewing monsters he had never even heard of before. Morgana explained, "The King's researchers came back a while ago from their expedition to the Nameless Region south of Moga. That's across the Great Desert! And they brought this back!"

Phisto paused at the sight of a ferocious-looking serpentine monster. "Garara Ajara," he read out loud. "Naga truncatis. Lives in the Nameless, prefers ambush attacks, using the plates on its neck and tail to attack with vibrations..." Catry ripped the book out of his hands to take a look at the drawing. "Enough mumbo-jumbo," he said dismissively. "How would you kill it?"

Morgana rolled her eyes amusedly at her two friends - Phisto Docks the scholar and Catry Bones the warrior.

Just then there was a loud murmur from the crowd, and the hunters parted to form a clear path. Phisto ended up right on the edge of said path, and thus was able to clearly see the Tundra King as he passed arrogantly through the tavern. The King had snow-white hair and a beard to match, covered in magnificent fur-lined robes and a bit of jewelry here and there.

His two children followed. There was Aeren, twelve years old and an enthusiastic learner in the sport of hunting. He was always eager to see hunters in action, particularly when they got mauled by their adversaries. And then there was Jadira, the fair raven-haired maiden, only a year older than Phisto and his friends.

Everything went back to normal as the royal family passed through. "There's a rumor flying around the kingdom that the King plans on marrying Jadira off to some noble in Minegarde," Morgana said quietly. "I've also heard that she didn't take it well. Apparently she killed the messenger that brought the news." Phisto whistled and glanced back at Jadira's retreating figure.

"So anyway," Catry piped up. "What hunt are we going to take today? Morgana's only staying a week or two, so we have to make each hunt count!" Phisto and Morgana both nodded. "Another Gigginox?" she suggested, and Catry rolled his eyes. "We've had enough of those to last a lifetime." Morgana protested indignantly, "But it's my favorite monster!"

Phisto raised a hand. "How about a Volvidon?" he suggested. "I just got the approval from the Guildmaster to hunt my first one, so I think it'll be an exciting monster." Catry yawned, "You have to aim bigger than that! Your dad was the greatest hunter ever! Legend has it he even took down a Taltaira!"

Phisto snorted. "The God of the Skies doesn't exist," he said. "And I thought we agreed to never talk about my parents." His voice broke on the last word, and Morgana put her arm around him comfortingly. Catry, embarrassed, drummed his fingers on the table.

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