Mark walks around the gathered animals, thinking it's just a strange forest phenomenon.
The creatures disperse calmly, vanishing into the trees as suddenly as they appeared.
Mark continues on, his wooden arm still throbbing with pain.
Suddenly, a figure steps out from behind a tree – a familiar face:
Her eyes widen in shock as she takes in Mark's monstrous appearance.
Before she can react further, Mark's injured body betrays him – he collapses unconscious.
Mark's eyes flutter open to find himself in a luxurious bedchamber.
He's lying on a plush, velvet-covered bed inside a grand room with:
* Ornate wooden panels
* A fireplace crackling with warm flames
* His body is covered in clean bandages, and he senses slight healing in his wounds.
Mark's red eye scans the room, taking in the luxurious surroundings.
He tries to piece together how he ended up here, but his memories stop at collapsing in the forest.
As he looks around, a dignified man with a stern expression catches his attention.
He stands tall, dressed impeccably in formal attire, near the doorway.
The man's eyes narrow slightly as he takes in Mark's monstrous appearance.
He raises his hand, and a soft bell ring echoes through the room.
Mark's instincts twitch – he prepares for potential danger.
Moments later, the door swings open, and two females enter:
* A girl with familiar features - he rescued her from bandits in the forest - looks at him with concern.
* A maid, dressed in a crisp uniform, carries a tray with steaming food and medicine, eyeing Mark warily.
The girl rushes towards him, "You're awake! How do you feel?"
Mark's growling voice barely above whisper, "W...where...am I?"
The girl's expression turns gentle, "You're safe now... My name is Lilia. This is our family's estate. You've been injured quite badly."
Mark's eyes narrow slightly, unsure if he should trust Lilia and her family.
Mark's growling voice barely above whisper, "How...did I get here?"
Lilia's expression remains gentle, "I found you injured in the forest and brought you back here.
Our butler, Jenkins," she nods towards the dignified man, "carried you to our carriage.
We then entered the kingdom... fortunately, my family's noble status spared us a thorough inspection at the gate."
Mark's red eye widens slightly – he had no idea he was already inside the kingdom.
He processes this information, his mind racing with implications:
Kai and Ryan are likely still searching for him outside...
Mark's voice low and rough, "Your family...won't report me to the knights?"
Lilia's face sets in a determined expression, "No, I've ensured our staff will remain silent.
Lilia's eyes lock onto Mark's, filled with a mix of curiosity and gentle conviction:
"I don't know what happened to you... but I sense something familiar about you."
Her voice barely above whisper,
"Were you... the one who saved my sister and me from those bandits in the forest?"
Mark remains silent, his red eye fixed on Lilia's face.
Lilia's gaze never wavers, as if willing him to confirm her suspicion.
Despite Mark's silence, Lilia's expression transforms into certain conviction:
"I knew it... Your eyes, though different now, hold the same kindness I saw that day."
She takes a step closer, voice filled with emotion:
"You saved us... and now we'll help save you. We're even Right?"
Mark's resolve cracks, and he barely nods in silent confirmation.
Lilia's face lights up with a warm smile, relieved she was right about his identity.
She turns to the maid, "Elara, could you please retrieve that item we found earlier?"
The maid, Elara, nods and exits the room.
Lilia's gaze returns to Mark, her expression thoughtful:
"I think this might be connected to your... transformation."
Mark's red eye locks onto Lilia's, curious about what she could have found.
Elara returns with a heavy-looking chain, rusty and worn, in her hands.
Lilia's eyes widen slightly as she takes the chain, then her gaze shifts to Mark's left arm...
Her breath catches –
The scars and markings on the chain match perfectly with the scars on Mark's left arm.
Lilia's voice barely above whisper,
"This chain... was it used to hold you captive?"
Mark remains silent, his gaze fixed on Lilia's concerned face.
Lilia nods gently, as if she understands his unspoken pain:
"I see. You need to rest more. We've prepared food and clothing for you."
She gestures to a tray on a nearby table laden with steaming food, and a chair with:
* A simple shirt
* Brown trousers
* A long, dark cloak with a hood – clearly intended to conceal his monstrous appearance
Lilia stands up, her expression soft:
"Continue resting. You're safe here for now."
The maid, Elara, and Jenkins, the dignified man, follow Lilia out of the room, closing the door behind them.
Mark is left alone in the quiet chamber, surrounded by unfamiliar luxury.
The food smells enticing, and the clothing beckons – a chance to temporarily hide his true form.
Mark's red eye gazes out the window, and he's met with the soft glow of moonlight – nighttime has fallen.
His thoughts drift to Hana, a name that sparks a mix of concern and wariness within him.
He pushes the thought aside for now and focuses on his immediate situation.
Mark eats the food quickly, replenishing his strength, then puts on the clothes –
The shirt fits loosely, brown trousers are comfortable, and the dark cloak wraps around him like shadows.
He also wraps the rusty chain loosely around his left arm, concealing the scars slightly – a grim reminder of his past.
Feeling slightly more human beneath the disguise, Mark turns back to the window.
Without hesitation, he opens it wide and slips out into the moonlit night.
He drops down silently onto the manicured lawn, cloak billowing behind him.
The noble house looms behind – Mark knows Lilia's help came with risks; he won't repay her kindness with danger.
Now alone in the night, Mark navigates through shadows towards the kingdom's outskirts...
**Moment Later At Noble House Room**
Lilia returns to Mark's room, gently pushing open the door to check on her mysterious guest.
Her eyes scan the chamber, expecting to see Mark resting or perhaps eating the leftover food.
Instead, she's met with an empty room – Mark is nowhere to be found.
Lilia's brow furrows slightly, concern etched on her face.
She walks further into the room, noticing something peculiar on the bedside table.
Twigs and wooden branches are carefully arranged to spell out two words:
"Thank you"
Lilia's heart melts at the rustic yet heartfelt message – Mark must have gathered the branches from the garden.
Her eyes light up with a warm smile as she gazes at the makeshift gratitude.
She turns towards the window, pulling back the curtain to gaze out into the moonlit night.
Then Lilia closes the curtain, the moonlight still dancing in her mind as she turns away from the window.
She returns to her own chambers, the makeshift "Thank you" message lingering warmly in her heart.