The Dragon Slayer's journey stretched on for days that blurred together, each sunrise and sunset heralding another cycle of walking. Tōga marched with single-minded purpose, putting one foot in front of the other as the landscape rolled past. Though the trek was tedious, it was not without adventure - surprise encounters and unexpected misfortunes kept Tōga on his toes. Still, he pressed on, driven by the promise of his ultimate goal. The distant western lands beckoned, tantalizingly close after so many endless days on the road. When at last the terrain began to change and the signs appeared that he was nearing his destination, Tōga quickened his pace, reinvigorated. The long road behind him, the end was finally in sight.
The unfamiliar west remained a mystery to Tōga, who found himself a stranger adrift in this foreign land. Gone were the familiar shores of his homeland Joya and the company of fellow Rune Knights. The traditions, customs, and cuisine that had shaped his childhood were now distant memories of a past life left behind. Though he still wore the mantle of Rune Knight, it concealed his true purpose on this journey - the restless spirit yearning inside that hungered for adventure. For now, content as a wanderer, he roamed the roads of this terra incognita called Stella, drinking in the rich experiences of the traveling life. The west was a blank page awaiting the story of his exploits. He felt the thrill of exploration in this wide open realm so unlike his home. The hearth fires of Joya still called to him someday, but for the present he relished his time as an explorer adrift, discovering the mysteries of these unfamiliar lands. Though he was a stranger for now, the west beckoned him to uncover its secrets and make it his own.
As Tōga journeyed farther west, a hazy silhouette emerged on the horizon. At first it was just a faint shadow, wide and tall, barely distinguishable. But as he walked on for hours, the outline gradually took shape with more definition and depth. The landscape began to change - buildings replacing trees, roads supplanting dirt paths. With each step the scene grew clearer, until Tōga found himself standing before the yawning entrance to the bustling city of Astera. After so long roaming wilderness and rural roads, this urban sprawl was an alien sight. He paused to take in the soaring structures, the maze of streets, the crowd of strangers passing by who paid him little heed. This thrilling unknown called to the adventurous spirit within. With anticipation rising in his chest, Tōga stepped forward into the city, ready to lose himself in its winding alleys and discover its secrets. Astera was a new world awaiting exploration.