"You stole her heart?!" Aestus asked incredulously. "I thought it was just a legend that Rogues could do that."

"My perfect hair and blue eyes help a lot, but I won't deny that I had to use some of my Rogue talent."

Aestus was genuinely impressed with his friend and how much he had evolved overnight. Once again, it wasn't the right thing to do from his point of view, but it had helped them greatly. Now that they were so deeply involved in the hunt, giving up was no longer an option. Aestus congratulated his friend on his skill and quick thinking but asked them to focus. A tough battle was ahead. They walked through Mrs. Dessine's expansive grain plantation, feeling the vegetation caress their faces and bodies. The sun was rising rapidly, gently warming the day. A sudden gust of wind brought a subtle smell of burning underbrush, indicating that the Creature was close by.

The two Hunters reached the edge of the plantation, surveying the area. They could see some plants eaten, as well as a large portion of them burned. The damage caused by the flaming deer was significant, explaining Mrs. Dessine's urgency. One area still had smoke rising from it. Near that spot, Aestus spotted and pointed out a path of scorched grass leading into the forest, indicating the likely path taken by the deer. The two friends followed the tracks of the Creature slowly, entering the dense forest.

The temperature difference was noticeable. The shade of the trees created a more humid and cool atmosphere. Following the traces left by the deer was more challenging now, as there was no distinct grassy trail; the ground was primarily covered in moss and leaves. Orkan sharpened his senses, acting almost instinctively. After a few minutes, the Rogue signaled with his hand for Aestus to stop, placing a finger on his lips, requesting silence. The Knight approached his friend, looking in the direction of his gaze. Their target was a few meters away. The flaming deer was a beautiful animal, with a copper-colored fur, the tips of its hair resembling small flames. Its small antlers glowed like embers, as if its insides were made purely of heat. It was feeding on some small plants, its ears flickering, emitting small sparks.

The two friends had never seen a flaming deer before, and it was truly a fantastic sight. Aestus tried to get closer for a better look at the Creature but stepped on a twig, causing a dry snap. The deer immediately raised its head, looking in their direction with a pair of bright yellow eyes. As it did, a large flame rose and disappeared as quickly as it appeared. The Creature swiftly ran in the opposite direction, disappearing among the trees. A flock of birds took flight at the same time, startled by the sudden movement. Aestus apologized, but Orkan simply waved his hand, showing that he wasn't upset.

The boys followed the traces left by the deer once again, being twice as careful. However, even so, as they approached the location where the Creature was, the deer already noticed their presence and ran off again. They would never catch it this way. Perhaps the most challenging part of this hunt, Aestus thought, would be to engage in battle with the deer. They took a break, sitting on a fallen log. Orkan took two apples out of his waist pouch and offered one to Aestus, thinking aloud:

"Alright, we need a plan to at least get close to this darn thing. I didn't expect it to be so fast."

The two boys sat, eating their apples and brainstorming ideas. The place was very beautiful, with tall, leafy trees that still allowed sunlight to pass through. Birds could be heard chirping and flying occasionally, along with the sound of a distant stream. Orkan talked a lot, giving suggestions that weren't very well thought out, while Aestus remained mostly silent, mentally devising tactics. Perhaps that's why their friendship worked so well. The combination of their contrasting personalities created a balance. And physically, they were also quite distinct. Aestus had unblemished dark skin, a robust and strong body, with a serious expression and a friendlier smile. Orkan, on the other hand, had freckles on his fair skin, a more slender physique, and always wore a sarcastic grin (except when he was ranting about nothing).

After finishing their apples, the boys continued talking for a few more minutes and finally decided on a strategy. They checked their equipment and the potions they had bought, tested their materializers, and set off toward the deer, following the scorched vegetation. They walked a longer stretch this time until they spotted their target in the distance. They then separated. Aestus went in one direction, trying to be as quiet as possible, while Orkan circled around from the opposite side, keeping his eyes on the deer. He was naturally more stealthy than Aestus, given his Class predisposition. The Rogue was hoping for this plan to work and to show everyone, especially Aestus, that he was capable. After reaching the predetermined point, Orkan crouched down and waited.

Meanwhile, Aestus arrived at the planned location near the forest's edge and quickly started carrying out his part. He tied together an improvised rope made of vines, branches, and leaves to a medium-sized tree trunk. He positioned himself near another tree at a reasonable distance, where the deer would pass by. He mentally calculated the time it took, feeling satisfied that it was enough. Now, all that was left was to wait for the sounds that indicated the approaching Creature and his friend. His thoughts raced, trying to anticipate what the battle would be like, what moves he could use, what abilities would be useful. As much of a perfectionist as Aestus could be, enjoying having everything planned and rehearsed, he knew how to handle moments of improvisation. His personality wasn't that remarkable, but it also made him easy to get along with.

Before he could lose himself in his thoughts, Aestus heard the sound of trampled foliage, growing at an incredible speed. He glanced towards the source of the noise, behind the tree where he was hiding, without revealing his position. He caught a glimpse of the deer fleeing swiftly through the vegetation. Close behind was Orkan, running faster than Aestus had ever seen him. The Rogue threw his daggers towards the deer whenever it changed direction, guiding the Creature towards the gap between the trees where Aestus stood. The Knight positioned himself, holding one end of the makeshift rope in his hands. At the right moment, he pulled the rope with all his strength, holding it firmly, creating an obstacle at chest height for the deer.

With great force, the Creature hit the improvised rope, breaking it. As a result, the Creature was thrown to the ground, rolling several times across the grassy area, which had fewer trees than the forest interior. Seizing the moment when the deer rose to its feet, Orkan threw both daggers, hitting one of its hind legs. The Creature emitted a loud and terrifying sound, a mix of a grunt and a scream, unlike any noise a normal animal could produce. Simultaneously, the Creature burned with stronger flames, appearing entirely made of fire, becoming a much more menacing figure than before. A scent of burnt leaves permeated the area, although the vegetation remained unaffected. The deer glared at the two Hunters, its eyes gleaming. The hatred in its gaze felt like arrows ready to be unleashed.

Aestus remained by the tree, holding part of the broken rope, while Orkan crouched down, materializing his daggers once again. The real fight was about to begin, and the Knight was no longer sure if it had been a good idea. He swiftly materialized his sword, gripping it with both hands in front of his body, its blade positioned sideways like an improvised shield. Sweat trickled down his forehead and torso, caused by both nervousness and the heat radiating from the Creature. He glanced out of the corner of his eye at his friend, who was preparing to charge towards the deer. Before Aestus could stop him, Orkan dashed towards the opponent.

The deer stood on its hind legs, preparing for an attack. Orkan confronted the Creature face-to-face, attempting to evade its swinging front hooves. The Creature's movements caused small flames to be launched in the Rogue's direction, prompting him to step back. Sidestepping, he aimed for the deer's belly. Despite its injuries, the deer was still incredibly agile, managing to evade every attempt to strike it. Orkan was struck on the back by a hoof, feeling a slight but sharp pain, and immediately retreated.

Meanwhile, Aestus charged towards the battle, letting out a war cry, bolstering his own strength and that of his companion. He struck downward, aiming for the deer's head. The Creature defended itself using its antlers, flinging Aestus aside as if he were a branch that had snagged onto it. Taking advantage of the moment, Orkan attacked the deer from behind, but the Creature swung its tail in an arc, creating a large blaze. The Rogue leaped backward, narrowly avoiding a burn to his face. The enemy was incredibly agile, predicting and countering any attack on any part of its body.

The two friends stood at a distance from the Creature, weapons ready, unsure of how to attack exactly. They exchanged glances, trying not to lose sight of the deer, afraid that it might flee or charge at one of them. At least they would be safe if they maintained some distance, Aestus thought. A few seconds passed, which felt like weeks, as the boys tried to devise a strategy to at least approach the deer. Orkan signaled to Aestus, indicating that they should advance together, attacking from different angles. This way, one of them might land a blow since the Creature couldn't defend against both simultaneously. Aestus held his sword with only his right hand, placing his left arm in front of his body. Orkan turned the blades of his daggers downward, ready to strike swiftly. The silence in the clearing was agonizing, broken only by the faint crackling coming from the deer's flaming fur.

With a nod from Aestus, the two advanced simultaneously, running towards the Creature. The deer seemed uncertain about which opponent to face, alternating its gaze between them. When Aestus had reached the halfway point, the Creature threw its head back and, as it brought it forward again, hurled a fireball towards the Knight, emitting a muffled growl. Aestus had only enough time to bring his sword in front of him, using the blade's side as a shield. The impact was stronger than expected, dragging him backward and leaving him dazed. Orkan was astonished by this unexpected ability of the deer but didn't stop his advance, managing to land a thrust in the Creature's mid-back. Instinctively, it writhed, hitting Orkan with its antlers, causing him to fall backward. He felt his potion vials shattering inside his pouch.

Now focused on the Rogue, the deer threw another fireball in his direction. Orkan acted quickly, rolling backward to avoid being hit. Before he could regain his composure, the Creature began launching a barrage of smaller fireballs. Orkan ran, trying to circle around the deer and exit its line of sight. However, he wasn't fast enough, being hit on the arm and side of his torso, collapsing onto the grass. Orkan felt his skin burning, experiencing a pain unlike anything he had felt before. It was searing and incapacitating. He lacked the strength to get up and continue fighting, and without the potions he had brought, he wouldn't be able to assist his friend anymore.

Aestus had just recovered from the attack he had blocked when he saw his friend running from the onslaught. He was already running towards the deer when he heard Orkan scream in pain upon being hit. He paused for a moment to see what had happened and immediately redirected his attention to the deer. The Creature was preparing a larger fireball to execute Orkan, who was lying on the ground. Aestus covered the short distance that separated him from the opponent in split seconds. He realized that landing a sword strike wouldn't be fast enough, given the weight of his weapon, so he awkwardly kicked the Creature's neck. The deer still launched the fireball, but it hit the ground inches away from where Orkan was lying.

Now closer to the Creature and aware of its potential attacks, Aestus felt that the only strategy would be to engage in close combat. But he had no idea how to do that. His brain worked swiftly, but his thinking was hindered by concern for his friend. He couldn't look back, but he knew Orkan was alive from the sounds of his pained moans. Defeating the Creature was the only option to provide aid to Orkan. There was no retreating and trying again another time. Perhaps Barthos was right. They were not prepared for a challenge of this magnitude.

The deer advanced toward Aestus, forcing him to snap out of his thoughts. He took a step back, defending the onslaught with his sword. The Creature seemed to sense his opponent's fear, adopting a more aggressive stance. Aestus was now purely on the defensive, evading and defending against the attacks, occasionally getting grazed. His resilient skin and armor were adequately protecting him, at least for now. He tried to find an opening to counter-attack, but the Creature was relentless, attacking with its horns, hooves, and flames.

Aestus was growing tired and beginning to despair, yet he never considered fleeing or abandoning his friend. Suddenly, the deer pulled back. Without much thought, the Knight charged toward it, ready to strike at its left flank. The Creature lunged forward again, being lightly struck by the sword but dealing a direct hit to Aestus, who couldn't defend himself due to his own attack. He fell backward, his back hitting the ground, expelling the air from his lungs completely. Before he could rise, the deer was upon him, standing on its hind legs, poised to strike his head with its forelegs.

Aestus covered his face with his left arm, closing his eyes and attacking the deer with his sword as best he could. Through his half-closed and shielded eyes, he registered a brief but intense blue glow as his strike connected with the deer's belly. The Creature let out a sharp cry of pain, falling backward. Aestus rolled away, crouching down. He could see that the deer's flames had extinguished, as if it had been submerged in a tank of water. Without trying to comprehend what had happened, he seized the opportunity to attack the enemy.