Ahead of her, her sister was running too—one hand tightly holding Evandria’s smaller hand, refusing to let go.

“S-Sis—” Evandria cried in a frightened voice.

“Don’t worry,” her sister said firmly, without slowing down.

“Sister will protect you, Ria.”

“It’s my fault,” Evandria said, her voice shaking.

“If I hadn’t insisted on coming here, 

then—”

“It’s okay,” her sister interrupted gently.

“It’s not your fault.”

She glanced back and smiled reassuringly.

“We’ll be home soon,” she said.

“And then we’ll eat your favorite sweet, okay?”

They had entered the forest because Evandria wanted to come here. Unable to refuse her stubborn request, her sister had gone deeper inside with her.

That was when they encountered it.

A demonic monster.

Now, they were running from it.

The monster wasn’t very powerful—only a low-level demon. Under normal circumstances, Evandria’s sister could have defeated it easily.

But Evandria was with her.

She couldn’t engage in a proper fight while protecting her.

Evandria’s sister was talented—exceptionally so. She had already mastered swordsmanship at a young age and was considered the most gifted among the Gravewood family.

“Just a little more,” she muttered, pulling Evandria along.

But then—

The monster appeared right in front of them.

Evandria froze in fear.

"Grrrr......,"the monster roared. 

“Ria,” her sister said quickly, turning to her.

“Go. Get away from here.”

“But, Sis—” Evandria said anxiously.

Her sister smiled and gently patted her head, her touch warm and reassuring.

“Don’t worry,” she said calmly.

“I’ll defeat this monster and come to you.”

“Go and wait for me.”

Reluctantly, Evandria ran.

Now, only her sister and the demonic monster stood facing each other.

She pulled out her dagger and fixed her gaze on the creature.

Horns had sprouted from its temples.

Its eyes—large and lidless—glistened grotesquely against its crimson skin.

At the center of its forehead pulsed a dark core.

The monster roared.

The sound echoed through the forest, shaking the branches and reverberating in the still air.

Leaves fell.

The ground trembled.

It lunged forward—

Evandria’s sister moved instantly.

She dodged its claws, slashed its side, and struck again, her movements sharp and precise. The monster howled, swinging wildly, but she stayed calm, searching for an opening.

The demon snarled and swung again.

Its tail struck a tree, splitting the bark apart.

She leapt back, boots skidding against the dirt.

The monster charged.

She ducked low, rolled beneath its arm, and slashed upward.

The demon howled in pain.

It attacked again.

She slipped past it.

And then—

She drove her dagger straight into the core on its forehead.

The demon let out a final, shrill scream before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

It was over.

But as she lowered her weapon, blood dripped down her arm.

She had defeated the monster.

But her hand was injured.