After dawn, the forest path was still veiled in mist. Dew on the grass shimmered like countless tiny eyes.
Luna walked at the front, her steps light. Each crunch of her little boots on the fallen leaves sounded crisp, like she was keeping rhythm for their escort journey.
"Hmm, I bet we'll run into something new today." She spoke like a prediction, though her tone carried the playfulness of a child.
Behind her, Jorin staggered under what was left of his herb sack. Though lighter than when they had left the city, his eyes still flicked nervously toward the woods on either side.
"D-do you really think… we'll get through without trouble?" he muttered.
"Trouble-free?" Sera scoffed from the rear, her fists clenched as though waiting for a fight. "We've stepped on traps, fought wolves, and smashed a pack of idiots already. If that's called peaceful, the city should be holding funerals every day."
Jorin's mouth twitched, and he swallowed hard.
Luna only smiled, glancing back to wink at Sera.
"Well, doesn't more chaos make it feel more like an adventure?"
Sera shook her head, though the corner of her lips curved upward despite herself.
---
The birdsong faded bit by bit, as if someone had pressed mute.
Luna stopped abruptly, her eyes sharpening, the tips of her ears twitching.
"The wind changed."
Sera instantly grew serious, stepping forward to shield Jorin.
"That smell… not wolves. Burning."
The next moment, shadows burst from the forest. Not beasts—bandits clad in black shawls embroidered with wing emblems. Their weapons weren't mere blades but bottles glowing red with burning oil.
"Heh, perfect timing," one licked his lips, raising the bottle. "Grab the brat! A kid this pretty will sell for a fortune at the auction!"
Another laughed coarsely. "Yeah, enough to let us drink fine wine and sleep on feather beds for months!"
"Hah! Even her hair's worth money—blue like a jewel!"
Jorin's face turned chalk-white.
Sera snorted, fists tightening as she stepped forward. "Courting death."
But Luna raised a hand, stopping her.
"Wait," she said softly.
Sera frowned. "Don't tell me you want to negotiate."
"Negotiate?" Luna chuckled, frost glimmering at her fingertips, refracting rainbow colors in the light. "No. I just want to hear what sound fire makes when it collides with ice."
---
The leader roared and hurled his bottle!
Boom!
Flames erupted, painting the path red, the very air twisting with heat.
But before the fire could engulf them, Luna flicked her fingers.
"Ice Wall!"
A transparent barrier surged upward. The flames smashed against it, sizzling furiously. Red and blue light clashed, steam hissing as the blaze raged like a trapped beast.
"Tch! Stop showing off!" one bandit snarled, rushing with a fire-streaked blade. "Little brat, I'll cut that smile off your face!"
Luna twirled lightly, frost spiraling in her wake. His sword froze solid mid-swing, and he yelped, hand stiffening.
"Damn it—kill her already!" another screamed, panic lacing his voice.
Sera finally leapt forward. Her fist crashed into a thug's chest, hurling him back through a sapling with a satisfying crack.
"Don't just stand there!" the leader roared. The rest threw their bottles at once.
Luna spun gracefully, skirts flaring, frost blooming under her feet. Her hands wove quick sigils, her voice laced with laughter:
"Bloom, Ice Flowers!"
Pop! Pop! Pop!
One after another, crystalline blossoms exploded in midair, freezing every bottle. Inside, the trapped flames writhed like tiny imprisoned suns.
"Huah…" Luna blew gently, and with a push, dozens of "suns" drifted back into the enemy ranks.
BOOM! BOOM!
Red firestorms engulfed the bandits. Screams erupted as they scattered in terror.
"Damn it—she's not a brat, she's a monster!"
"Run? No one runs!" the leader barked, though his trembling betrayed him.
Sera laughed wildly amidst the firelight. "Now this is fun!" She plowed through another thug, her figure blazing like a beast in the smoke.
Luna, meanwhile, landed softly and brushed frost from her skirt, as if she'd merely played a little game.
---
The leader stumbled from the smoke, face blackened, eyes bloodshot.
"What… what kind of monster are you?!"
Luna tilted her head, smiling innocently, her tone teasing.
"I'm an adventurer. Can't you tell?"
"Adventurer…? You're only nine!"
"Exactly. That's why it's fun." She winked.
"Heh, stop pretending, brat!" another bandit shouted. "Grab her! Selling her will make us rich forever!"
"Yeah!" a third joined in. "If some noble buys her, we're set for life!"
"Bullshit—touch her and I'll smash your skulls!" Sera roared, her fist slamming one man straight into the ground.
The leader trembled with rage, pulling his rune-lit blade. It blazed red as he swung for Luna's shoulder.
Luna didn't even dodge. Frost flashed from her finger.
"Snow Break."
Clink!
The blade froze mid-swing. She tapped forward lightly.
Thud!
The man flew back, crashing to the ground, his weapon clattering free.
Sera strode over, stomping on his chest, her fist pressed to his jaw.
"Want to keep your teeth or not?"
The man's eyes filled with terror. Around them, the rest of the bandits dropped their weapons and fled in panic.
Luna stretched lazily.
"Hey, don't crush him yet. I still want to ask questions."
---
Amid his whimpers, Luna crouched and yanked open his tunic. As expected, a black wing emblem was sewn inside.
"Black Wing," Luna murmured, eyes glinting.
The leader flinched violently at the name, clamping his mouth shut in fear.
Sera smirked. "That reaction proves you're right."
Luna didn't press. She simply patted his cheek with a playful smile.
"Don't worry. We'll meet again."
Frost crawled from her fingers, binding his arms and legs tight before she tossed him aside like a discarded sack.
---
At the village gate, the last sack of herbs was finally delivered. Sweat drenched Jorin, but relief spread across his face as villagers gathered, shaking his hands with gratitude.
"At last… safely delivered." His shoulders sagged as if a thousand pounds had lifted away.
Sera glanced at the bustling scene, then turned to Luna.
"So, that's mission complete?" Half statement, half question.
Luna blinked, tapping her adventurer's card against her chest, a mischievous spark in her eyes.
"Well, the goods are delivered, sure."
Sera arched a brow. "What now, you planning to cheat?"
"No, no." Luna grinned. "But an escort doesn't end until we report back at the guild. If we don't file it, all this fighting's just a free performance."
Sera chuckled, shaking her head. "You brat… you're stingier than the bandits."
"Hey, adventurers need to follow rules." Luna spread her hands innocently. "Which means—this mission is only just ending now."
A breeze swept down the road, scattering the village smoke. Sera paused, then broke into laughter, striding to catch up.
Jorin stood there, stunned, watching their backs.
(This girl… she really isn't like any other adventurer. Even her banter leaves the enemy speechless.)
---