Their footsteps pressed into the damp forest floor. Dry twigs snapped under Arzael's boots with each step.
The morning air in the forest was cool, yet there was a faint sensation that made the hairs on his neck stand, as if something was watching them from afar.
It had been an hour since they left Eterna's gates. Behind them, the kingdom was now nothing more than a faint silhouette in the morning mist.
The shadows of its towers and walls faded like memories left too long to blur.
Arzael opened his mental map, estimating the distance.
"Estimated travel time to the Valiant Alliance… seven days if we go on foot," he said flatly. His voice wasn't loud.
His eyes remained fixed ahead, but his ears stayed alert, catching every bird call, every whisper of wind through the branches, even the faint rustle of leaves brushed by small creatures.
"Are you alright, Seraphina?" he glanced briefly at the girl beside him.
Seraphina, as always, wore a calm expression. But her tone was firm.
"I'm fine."
Arzael gave a slight nod, saying nothing more. He knew Seraphina never complained, even when her body might be tired.
The silence lingered for several minutes… until a faint sound broke it. Not the wind, nor the crack of twigs under an animal's step.
This… was different. There was a panicked vibration to it, like a scream suppressed.
Arzael immediately signaled with his hand. The motion was quick, his finger pointing toward the source.
Seraphina needed only one glance to understand. Without a word, she followed his lead.
They moved swiftly, weaving through massive roots sprawling across the surface like sleeping serpents.
Sunlight pierced through the canopy, casting shifting shadows across their faces. As they pushed past a dense thicket, the scene revealed itself.
A small white rabbit was cornered beneath a fallen tree trunk. Its fur was dirt-stained, and its tiny body trembled violently.
In front of it, a magical beast in the form of a wolf with scaled skin growled low, its eyes glowing red like embers. Its jaws gaped, revealing rows of sharp teeth slick with saliva.
A scaled forest wolf… low class, but still deadly if left unchecked.
Arzael didn't waste a second. His body shot forward.
[Skill Activated: Shadow Step]
his shadow seeming to lag behind where he had been standing.
[Skill Activated: Shadow Pierce Lv.1]
His hand pierced the creature's skull, shattering bone and severing all movement in a single strike.
Dark blood dripped from his fingertips, but his expression remained cold.
+20 EXP
Lv: 18
EXP: 180/500
The wolf's body staggered before collapsing with a heavy thud, leaving the metallic scent of blood in the air.
"That was close!" a small voice suddenly chirped cheerfully. "Thanks a lot!"
Arzael turned slowly. Not human… definitely not. A tiny white rabbit with large, round, shimmering pink eyes now stood before him.
Its fur gleamed under the sunlight, its ears perked upright, and, most strangely, its mouth moved to speak.
It smiled… the rabbit actually smiled.
Arzael stared coldly. A magical creature. Talking. Not natural.
Without warning, his hand rose again,clearly intending to end the rabbit's life just as he had the beast's.
But before he could strike, Seraphina stepped forward quickly, placing herself between them.
"Don't."
Arzael froze mid-motion, but his gaze still burned into the rabbit.
"Why?" His voice was flat, almost emotionless.
Seraphina looked at the rabbit. "It's… different."
The rabbit hopped a little closer, showing no trace of fear.
"I promise I'm not some evil monster!" its voice was light, like a child trying to convince a parent. "If I wanted to hurt you, I wouldn't look this cute, right?"
Arzael blinked once, scanning it from head to toe. "A foolish argument," he muttered.
The rabbit puffed its cheeks, clearly offended. "Hmph! My name's Puff, and I… uh… actually, I don't remember exactly who I am."
"Memory loss?" Seraphina repeated, her tone flat, though her eyes glimmered faintly.
"Yeah!" Puff nodded quickly, her ears bobbing along. "I just remember one thing: I woke up in this forest a few days ago, and… I could talk. Why can I talk? I don't know. Why am I here? No clue. But I know one thing, I don't want to be alone anymore."
Arzael crossed his arms. "And...let me guess, you want to follow us?"
"Exactly!" Puff grinned wide, showing her tiny teeth. "You two seem cool. One's a cold-blooded guy, and the other's a quiet but strong girl. Perfect for being… my new family!"
"Family?" Arzael echoed the word like it was poison.
Puff nodded enthusiastically. "Or… a team? Partners? Protectors? Whatever! I just want to come along!"
Arzael stared at her for a long moment, his eyes sharp as if piercing through the rabbit's fur. Talking. Claiming amnesia. Wanting to follow. Too many coincidences.
"What if she betrays us halfway?" he thought. Even small, its magic might not be trivial. And those who talk too much often hide something.
Seraphina lowered her gaze slightly, speaking to Puff. "If you come… you follow Arzael's orders."
"Huh? Orders?" Puff wrinkled her nose, but then smiled again. "Alright! As long as I get food and a place to sleep, I'll obey."
Arzael's eyes narrowed. "One wrong move that makes me suspicious… and I'll make sure you regret it."
Puff straightened, both ears snapping upright like antennae. "Yes, boss! Uh—I mean… Arzael."
Seraphina looked between them before turning away. "Let's go. We still have a long journey."
Puff hopped along beside them, her tail swaying like a tuft of cotton in the wind. Her mouth never stopped moving.
"So, where are we going? Why did you leave that city? Hey, are you two dating? Or siblings? Or—"
"Quiet." Arzael cut the stream of questions like slashing a branch.
But Puff only grinned. "Yeah, yeah… but I'll find out eventually."
Arzael kept his eyes ahead, his pace steady.
Yet in his mind, he was still weighing… whether letting this creature join them was a foolish mistake, or a dangerous investment that might one day become a secret weapon.