The guy let out a deep sigh, rubbing his temples as he tried to collect his thoughts. Just as he was about to retreat into his own frustration, he bumped into someone—her.

A sultry chuckle drifted through the air. "Oh? You want me so bad, I guess," she teased, exhaling a slow stream of smoke from her cigarette.

"Ugh, I'm not in the mood, Layla," he muttered, his voice laced with irritation.

She giggled, unfazed by his cold demeanor. Taking another drag of her cigarette, she smirked. "Well… that's the consequence of adopting a pet that was never yours to begin with," she mused, pouring him a glass of wine without waiting for permission.

He groaned, running a hand through his red hair. "I don’t feel like drinking right now… my head already hurts." His voice grew softer, more resigned. "I just… I just want him to be independent, you know? He doesn’t need me. I just worry."

Layla leaned in, her black-gloved fingers gently cupping his face. Her long, polished nails traced his jawline as she whispered, "I know very well… Enzo." Her lips brushed dangerously close to the corner of his mouth before leaving a lingering kiss on his cheek.

His jaw tensed, and he pulled away. "Cut it out, Layla. I'm leaving," he said, pushing the untouched glass of wine back onto the table before heading toward the exit.

She sighed dramatically, tapping her cigarette against the crystal ashtray. "Oh, come on, Enzo. That’s no fun… You know you don’t have time to play babysitter, so why not have some fun with me instead?" she taunted, her voice dripping with mockery.

Enzo didn’t stop. "See you again, Layla," he said flatly, shutting the door behind him.

Layla stared at the closed door for a moment before scoffing, swirling the wine in her glass. "Tsk. That guy is way too attached to that pet of his… I’m afraid it might hurt him at the end."

As Ailee dashed forward, his heart pounded in sync with his hurried footsteps. He had never been to this part of the forest before. Unlike the lush, dreamy landscapes of Turqoland, this place felt… off. The towering trees bore an unnatural reddish hue, their bark twisted as if touched by something unearthly. A dark aura clung to the air, thick with smoke that slithered between the trunks, obscuring the depths of the forest. The distant cries of crows echoed ominously, their caws piercing the heavy silence.

Ailee clutched Shosho tightly against his chest, feeling the tiny rabbit tremble in his grasp. He kept walking, unease creeping up his spine. Then—crack.

His foot caught on a thick tree root, sending him tumbling to the damp earth. A sharp sting shot up his ankle. Wincing, he tried to stand, but his body refused to obey—the pain was too sharp, too sudden.

Then, a sound.

A deep, haunting howl rang through the forest.

Ailee froze. His body trembled instinctively, like a frightened little rabbit cornered by a predator. The rustling of leaves followed—the sound of something, or someone, moving fast through the undergrowth. His pulse quickened. His breath came in short, shallow gasps.

And then—

A boy appeared.