After seeing the pool's reflection, it was hard for Hunter to get the images out of his head. His mind kept circling back to the version of him in the water - clothed with horse armor, with Noctus sitting on his back.

What was most strange was the fact Noctus saw it, which proved that it wasn't just Hunter's imagination. Hunter was so deep in thought, he almost didn't recognize the sound of movement behind them.

Terrence was keeping a close eye on him, now determined to make sure Hunter didn't wander off again. "Aren't you Lunar's foal?" Terrence asked, deciding to start a conversation to fill the silence.

"No." Hunter lied, not wanting to think about his father right now.

Terrence shrugged. "Oh, that makes sense. I heard his mother forbid him from dungeon diving."

Hunter narrowed his eyes. Hunter heard steps approaching, but when he turned, no one was there. He said, "If I were him, I wouldn't allow my mother to get in my way. Regardless of the risks, I can handle things perfectly."

"Sure, but wasn't he a sickly foal growing up? I'd assume he wouldn't have grown as capable as us." Hunter felt a pang of annoyance and offense at that, but shrugged it off to keep his identity secret from his fellow dungeoner.

"Things change. One might've been sickly as a foal and become healthy as they grew," Hunter replied, feeling Noctus lay down to nap between his shoulder blades. "Besides - lest we forget - this world has plenty of magic capable of helping the sickly, not that he would need it."

"True." As Terrence continued, Hunter's ears turned back, as he could swear he heard something behind him. At first, he tried to ignore it, assuming - much like the pool from before - Terrence wouldn't notice it. But Terrence stopped. "Did you hear that?"

Hunter sighed, glad that he wasn't going mad. "Yes, I did." Hunter turned his head, only to see an odd silhouette in his peripheral vision. Hunter blinked, whirling his head around this way and that, but no matter how quickly he turned, the silhouette remained in his peripheral vision.

"Come out, whatever you are!" Terrence demanded, attempting to face the danger head-on like a storybook hero. "We aren't afraid of you!"

Hunter stopped whirling around as Noctus leapt off his back, screeching before diving behind some nearby boulders. A loud bellowing shriek coming from behind the rocks as the owl attacked something that was there.

Terrence rushed over to see what it was, followed by Hunter, but by the time they got there, Hunter saw the silhouette rush off in his peripheral vision. Drops of crimson trailing behind it as it disappeared into the lower depths of the caves.

Hunter and Terrence blinked in surprise as the owl fluttered back to his spot, holding a monster eye in its claw.

"…Wow," Terrence muttered, and after a moment, he asked, "So… where did you say you found this owl again?"

"I… impressed it during my first treck through the caves." Hunter replied, almost forgetting his original lie as he stared in awe at the bird's genuine bravery.