The morning sun had barely risen when Lyric pushed open the heavy doors of the Adventurer’s Guild.

Ashen followed closely behind, his crimson eyes wandering across the enormous hall.

The building buzzed with life.

Groups of adventurers gathered around wooden tables, laughing over drinks before setting out on their next requests. Some wore gleaming armor scarred by countless battles, while others carried staffs, bows, or massive weapons Ashen couldn’t imagine anyone lifting.

The scent of roasted meat and polished steel lingered in the air.

Against one wall stood a massive request board.

Dozens of parchment notices covered it.

Some had already been crossed out.

Others had only just been pinned.

Ashen slowly looked around in amazement.

“So… these are all jobs?”

Lyric nodded.

“Every request comes from someone who needs help.”

She walked toward the board, scanning each parchment with practiced eyes.

After a moment, her gaze settled on one.

She removed it.

Ashen stepped beside her.

Request: Eliminate the mana beasts causing chaos near the village of Briar Hollow.

Threat Level: Low to Mid Tier.

Reward: 18 Silver.

Ashen frowned.

“…Only eighteen?”

A faint smile crossed Lyric’s face.

“For one person, that’s enough to live on for quite a while.”

She folded the parchment and handed it to the receptionist.

“We’ll take this one.”

The receptionist accepted it with a polite smile.

“Safe travels.”

⸻

About an hour later…

The town gates disappeared behind them.

A winding dirt road stretched through open fields before vanishing into another forest.

Ashen adjusted the small pack resting on his shoulders.

“…How far?”

“About half a day’s walk.”

“And the beasts?”

“They’ve been attacking travelers.”

Ashen instinctively rested a hand on the dagger hanging at his waist.

His stomach tightened.

This wasn’t practice anymore.

These creatures killed people.

⸻

The forest swallowed the road once again.

Birdsong echoed high above.

The scent of damp earth lingered after last night’s rain.

Suddenly—

Lyric raised a hand.

“Stop.”

Ashen froze instantly.

The forest had changed.

No birds.

No insects.

Only…

Breathing.

Slow.

Heavy.

Somewhere ahead.

Lyric crouched beside a broken tree branch.

Fresh claw marks carved deep into the bark.

She brushed her fingers across them.

“Recent.”

Ashen swallowed.

“…Can it smell us?”

Without looking away, Lyric answered,

“It already has.”

A deep growl rolled through the trees.

Grrrrrr…

The bushes exploded outward.

CRASH!

A wolf-like mana beast burst into the clearing.

It was larger than the one Ashen had seen before.

Dark gray fur covered its muscular frame.

Its emerald eyes glowed with unnatural light.

Thin streams of mana drifted from its claws like green mist.

It snarled, exposing rows of razor-sharp fangs.

Ashen instinctively stepped behind Lyric.

She didn’t move.

Instead…

She glanced back at him.

“Your turn.”

Ashen blinked.

“…What?”

“You heard me.”

His eyes widened.

“I-I’m only five!”

“It doesn’t care.”

The beast slowly circled them.

Watching.

Waiting.

Ashen’s breathing grew uneven.

“What if I die?”

Lyric’s voice remained calm.

“Then you’ll never save your sister.”

The words struck deeper than fear.

Ashen slowly stepped forward.

His trembling hand wrapped around the dagger’s hilt.

Shing…

The blade caught the morning light.

The beast lowered its body.

Ready to spring.

“What do I do?” Ashen whispered.

Lyric folded her arms.

“What do you think will keep you alive?”

The question echoed inside his mind.

He tightened his grip.

Then forced himself to relax.

Think…

The books…

Animals…

Distance…

Movement…

What can I do…?

Then—

His thoughts drifted back to the waterfall.

To the flower field.

To that strange feeling…

The one he’d experienced when flowers bloomed for Virelia.

The world suddenly became…

Quiet.

The wind brushed gently across his face.

He could feel it.

Every current.

Every shift in the air.

Without realizing it…

Mana awakened inside him.

A pale stream of wind slowly began circling around his body.

Lyric’s golden eyes narrowed.

Inside her soul—

Her Serpent Spirit stirred violently.

One word echoed through her mind.

”…Ancient.”

The uneasiness in its voice sent a chill through her.

Ancient…?

What are you sensing…?

The beast lunged.

Ashen reacted without thinking.

He thrust his free hand forward.

The mana around him erupted.

WHOOOOOM!!

A violent torrent of wind exploded from his palm.

Leaves ripped from the trees.

Branches bent violently.

The beast’s eyes widened—

Too late.

BOOOOM!!

The blast struck it square in the chest.

Its massive body flew backward, crashing through a fallen log before tumbling across the forest floor.

Silence.

Ashen stared at his own hand.

“…I…”

His crimson eyes widened.

“…Did I do that?”

The beast struggled to stand.

Then collapsed.

Motionless.

Ashen slowly turned toward Lyric.

She wasn’t smiling.

She was watching him.

Very carefully.

Before either of them could speak—

Another growl echoed through the forest.

Much closer.

Much heavier.

Ashen’s body stiffened.

A second mana beast emerged from the shadows.

Larger.

Faster.

Its amber eyes burned with hunger.

Ashen instinctively raised his dagger.

Lyric took one step forward—

Then stopped.

“No magic.”

Ashen looked back.

“…What?”

“This time…”

She rested one hand on the hilt of her sword.

“Trust your body.”

Ashen nodded.

The beast charged.

His heart pounded against his ribs.

He focused everything into his legs.

Then—

He pushed off instinctively.

CRACK!!

The ground shattered beneath his feet.

Wind screamed past his ears.

His body shot forward faster than his own eyes could follow.

I’m… fast…?

For one impossible moment—

He thought he could win.

He raised the dagger.

The beast twisted at the last possible instant.

Its claws flashed.

SLASH!!

Pain exploded across the left side of Ashen’s face.

Crimson scattered through the air.

His vision spun.

The world tilted violently.

His small body was thrown backward like a rag doll.

He never hit the ground.

Strong arms caught him first.

Lyric.

She landed lightly, holding him against her shoulder.

Without setting him down—

Her sword flashed once.

SHIIING!!

The second beast froze.

One heartbeat later…

Its body split cleanly in two.

The forest fell silent once more.

Lyric calmly wiped the blade clean before returning it to its sheath.

Click.

She looked down at Ashen.

He clutched the left side of his bleeding face.

A thin crimson line stretched beneath his eye.

It would leave a scar.

She gently rested a hand on his head.

“…Not bad.”

Ashen looked up at her.

His breathing was ragged.

His face was streaked with blood, dirt, and tears.

Yet…

For the first time since the village burned—

He smiled.

It was small.

Weak.

Exhausted.

But real.

Lyric returned the smile.

Only for a moment.

“…Come on.”

Ashen nodded.

Together, they continued deeper into the forest…

Toward Briar Hollow.