It's been so long since I last started a new game that I forgot how dangerous Cauldros can be when you're travelling on foot. The earliest I've ever done was on my third playthrough, while my party was only lv.19. This time my avatar's at lv.27, Irina and Lao are both at 19*, and H.B. just reached lv.24. *Note: Which is why Elma and Lin are absent, so Irina can catch up.