Aril's breath caught in his throat as the masked girl's crimson eyes fixed on him. Her blade gleamed faintly under the moonlight, still dripping with the beast's blood.
She moved with such precision that Aril could barely follow her steps. Whoever she was—she was dangerous.
"Answer me," she said coldly, her voice low but commanding. "Why are you here?"
Aril swallowed hard. She's… she's terrifying. If I say the wrong thing, I might end up like that wolf.
"I-I don't know," he stammered. "I just… I was walking home, and then suddenly I was here. I don't even know what this place is."
Her eyes narrowed. "A liar." She raised her blade slightly. "This is Magiria. Outsiders don't just appear here."
Before Aril could defend himself, the System's chime echoed in his head:
[Side Quest Triggered]
Earn the trust of Lira, the Crimson Blade.
Failure: Loss of potential Bond.
Reward: Bond Awakening.
Aril flinched. What? A bond? With her? He forced himself to stay calm, meeting her piercing gaze.
"I'm not lying," Aril said, his voice steadier this time. "I don't know how I got here. I don't know what this 'Magiria' is. But I swear, I'm not your enemy."
She studied him in silence, her crimson eyes unblinking. The forest wind rustled the leaves, the only sound between them.
Finally, she sheathed her blade with a sharp motion. "If you're lying, you'll regret it."
Relief washed over Aril, though he dared not show it.
Lira turned and began walking deeper into the forest. "Follow me."
"H-huh?" Aril blinked.
She didn't look back. "That beast was only a scout. Its pack will be here soon. If you stay here, you'll die."
Aril's heart sank. More of those things? He hurried after her.
As they moved, he noticed how she seemed to melt into the shadows, her steps silent, controlled. Compared to her, his stumbling footsteps felt like thunder.
"You're too loud," she said flatly.
"Sorry," Aril muttered.
"Pathetic," she added, though not unkindly—more like stating a fact.
Aril bit his tongue. He couldn't afford to argue.
The system chimed again:
[Trust Meter: Lira]
0% → 5%
Aril almost laughed in disbelief. So she trusts me… just a little? That's progress, right?
The silence stretched as they continued through the woods. Finally, Aril asked, "So… what's your name?"
She glanced at him briefly. "…Lira."
Aril nodded. "I'm Aril."
"I didn't ask," she said.
He sighed. This is going to be harder than I thought…
But despite her cold demeanor, for the first time since arriving in Magiria, Aril felt a spark of hope.
He wasn't alone anymore.
And if the System was right, Lira might just be the key to surviving this world.