New Moon (New World)

Chapter 1

Evelyn stood in the tunnel for the Hunter Exam, Rose perched on her shoulder, her number latched firmly to her chest. (I should probably tell you guys how she got here...)

. . .

Evelyn had started on the street, her laptop propped on the table of the café, Rose running in little circles around her feet. She squinted at the screen and gasped at the headline:

"Hunter Exam Soon! Better Get Ready, Everyone!"

Rose leapt into her lap, purring happily. Evelyn scratched behind her little dragon's ear and muttered, "Guess it's about time I start taking this seriously..."

. . .

From that moment on, Evelyn dove headfirst into preparation for the Hunter Exam. Every morning, she woke before sunrise, her dark red hair tied into her trademark cat-ear buns, with Rose perched on her shoulder or scampering beside her. The little dragon seemed to sense her determination, letting out cheerful chirps whenever Evelyn started moving.

Push-ups became her ritual. She dropped to the pavement, palms pressed firmly against the cool concrete, counting aloud as Rose pawed at her hands, sometimes nudging her to encourage another set. Sit-ups, squats, and lunges followed, all with Rose clambering over her back or batting at her hair buns playfully. Training wasn't just about building muscle—it was about coordination, balance, and focus. Evelyn found herself sweating and breathing hard, but smiling through it all, enjoying the quiet company of her companion.

By mid-morning, she moved on to more ambitious exercises. The streets of her city became her playground: she ran laps through alleys, leapt over benches, and climbed fences with ease, Rose trailing behind and sometimes riding on her shoulder during sprints. The narrow streets and scattered obstacles served as perfect impromptu drills. She practiced quick turns, dodges, and improvised vaults over trash cans and low walls, imagining the city as a vast Hunter Exam obstacle course. Every so often, passersby gaped at the sight of a 13-year-old girl effortlessly scaling walls with a tiny dragon balanced on her shoulder—but Evelyn paid them no mind. She was too focused on pushing herself further.

Eventually, her ambitions grew bolder. She had heard of Heavens Arena, just ten blocks away—a place where fighters tested their strength and skill in controlled duels. Though she hadn't entered yet, she ran there regularly, mapping the streets in her mind and treating each stairwell, each narrow passage, as a training ground. Rose followed eagerly, sometimes fluttering above her in short bursts of flight, a small fiery shadow that mirrored Evelyn's relentless energy.

Evelyn's training wasn't limited to raw strength. She practiced agility drills: sprinting between obstacles, weaving through lampposts, and balancing along railings, imagining opponents in her path. Her reflexes sharpened with every roll, jump, and careful landing, and her endurance grew to match her intensity. Rose, with tiny bursts of fire and excited chirps, added both challenge and motivation—forcing Evelyn to adjust her movements and maintain control while thinking a step ahead.

By the time dusk fell, Evelyn's muscles ached pleasantly, and Rose curled against her lap as she caught her breath. They had covered miles of city streets, climbed every fence, dashed through every alleyway, and pushed themselves farther than either had before. Alone, they were unstoppable—her raw strength and determination paired with Rose's spirited presence—and Evelyn knew that when the Hunter Exam came, she would be ready.

. . .

(Get it now?)

Evelyn rocked gently back and forth on the airship, the cool wind brushing against her dark red hair tied into her cat-ear buns. She took a careful sip of her juice, keeping an eye on the bustling city below shrinking into a patchwork of rooftops and streets. Beside her, Rose crunched happily on a piece of jerky, tiny claws gripping it as if it were treasure.