David hungrily bit into the crimson-red fruit. A wave of satisfaction washed over him, and for a brief moment he felt as though nothing in the world could stand in his way.
After they finished their meal, Lucy drifted off to sleep, while David and Emma stepped out of the hollow tree. No matter where David looked, there was nothing but endless stretches of water.
A gentle breeze brushed across his face, and once he finally cleared his head, David turned to Emma as they walked.
"Hey… could you teach me how to use a sword?"
Emma blinked in surprise at the sudden question, then answered simply, "I can."
A faint smile tugged at David's lips. "When can we start training?"
Emma didn't hesitate. "Right now. Draw your sword."
Her response caught him off guard, but he quickly recovered and unsheathed his blade.
"Show me your stance," Emma instructed.
David shifted into a clumsy position, gripping the weapon awkwardly. Emma stepped closer, pointing to his posture.
"Your stance is wrong. Your legs are too far apart, and your grip is completely off."
David adjusted himself, correcting the flaws she pointed out.
"Better. Now swing your sword—five hundred times."
The regret hit him instantly, his face betraying his thoughts: Why did I even ask her to teach me? Still, he started swinging.
An hour passed. Exhaustion weighed heavy on his body, but finally, he reached the last stroke. Emma sat nearby, quietly watching with satisfaction. Just as David opened his mouth to speak, a low, guttural growl cut through the air.
It was the sound of a demon. Quiet, clawed, and terrifyingly confident.
David quickly crouched beside Emma, and together they hid. The very same demon Emma had seen before passed by, its heavy steps echoing against the ground.
It stopped near the spot where David had trained, sniffing the air as if searching. With a menacing growl, it turned its gaze into the distance and began walking that way.
Holding their breath, David and Emma stayed motionless until the beast finally vanished from sight. Only then did they exhale in relief.
"What was that thing?" David whispered.
"I don't know," Emma admitted. "But it passed by us the very first day as well."
A chill ran down David's spine. The thought that they could've been killed on their first day here made his blood run cold.
They hurried back to the tree where Lucy slept, waiting in silence until the demon was far gone.
Days turned into a week. Each day, David trained under Emma's strict guidance, while the two of them carefully avoided the demon's path.
Lucy, on the other hand, spent most of the time in a strange slumber—waking only to ea
t another fruit before drifting back into sleep.