Morning sunlight filtered through the forest canopy, warming the moss where Rei slept. He stretched, joints cracking lightly, the stiffness of yesterday slowly fading. It was a new day quiet, cool, and full of unknowns.
Aster was already standing guard, silver hair catching the soft light.
"The surroundings remained stable through the night, my lord," he reported. "We should replenish food and water."
"Yeah," Rei said, rubbing his eyes. "Let's head upstream. Might find better resources."
They moved through the underbrush. Dew clung to leaves, and distant birds scattered at their approach. Rei stopped when he spotted a cluster of mushrooms growing at the base of a fallen log.
He crouched.
A faint green shimmer flickered at the edge of his vision.
[Forager's Intuition Activated]
• Safe to eat
• No toxicity detected
• Mild flavor
"Hah… this skill really is useful," Rei muttered.
Aster inspected a nearby purple-tinged berry. His own vision glowed faintly.
[Forager's Intuition Activated]
• Mildly toxic
• Avoid consumption
He drew his hand back. "This reduces risk significantly. Identifying hazards becomes trivial."
Rei nodded, gathering the safe mushrooms and roots they found along the way. With their shared skill, the forest felt less threatening.
A low growl rolled across the air.
Rei froze. Aster shifted immediately, standing between him and the sound.
From behind the bushes, a creature emerged. Its body was lean and stretched, limbs too long, skin shifting like smoke trapped inside flesh. Crimson eyes flickered with an unearthly glow.
Rei whispered, "What even is that…?"
The creature lunged.
Aster jerked Rei out of the way as claws slashed the air. Rei stumbled back, grabbing the nearest fallen branch.
The creature circled, muscles coiling like twisted ropes. Aster stepped forward, calm and calculating despite the danger.
It pounced.
Aster deflected its strike with his forearm, countering with a precise blow to its ribs. The creature screeched, twisting unnaturally, aiming for Rei.
Rei swung the branch
Crack!
The impact staggered it, but not enough. Its glowing eyes focused on him with hostile intelligence.
It lunged again.
Aster intercepted, their movements growing sharper, more instinctive. Something inside Rei clicked a rush of clarity, heightened awareness.
Light flashed:
[Aster has acquired a new skill: Survival Instinct]
Description: Heightened awareness of immediate threats. Improves reaction speed and decision-making.
[Shared Growth Triggered]
Rei has gained: Survival Instinct
Rei breathed out. His heartbeat slowed, but his senses sharpened. He could feel where the next attack would come from.
He stepped aside before the creature even moved.
"Aster! Its balance shifts when it lunges left!"
Aster adjusted instantly. "Acknowledged!"
They moved together Rei distracting, Aster striking. The creature's movements became more frantic, its smoky skin rippling with agitation.
Another flash:
[Aster has acquired: Combat Reflexes]
Description: Enhances response speed, coordination, and accuracy in battle.
[Shared Growth Triggered]
Rei has gained: Combat Reflexes
Their rhythm sharpened. Rei feinted right, drawing its attention
Aster swept in from the side, slamming his heel into the creature's leg.
Rei brought his branch down with full force.
The beast screeched, crumpling. It staggered upright, trembling, then retreating.
Rei stood still for several breaths. "That… wasn't anything like normal wildlife."
By the time the creature finally retreated into the dense foliage, Rei's arms trembled from adrenaline. He wiped sweat from his forehead and glanced at Aster.
Aster remained alert until all traces of the creature vanished. Only then did he lower his guard.
"You adapted mid-combat," he said. "Your instincts sharpened rapidly."
Rei let out a slow exhale. "Shared growth… we really do learn together."
"…Let's get back," Rei said quietly.
Aster nodded once. "Staying out here after that would be unwise."
They retraced their steps through the undergrowth, past familiar trees and the shallow rise that marked their temporary base. Their simple lean-to came into view—rough but intact, still hidden beneath layered branches and leaves. The moment Rei saw it, a subtle tension eased from his shoulders.
They settled beside the small fire pit Rei had built yesterday. The faint embers were quickly revived; Aster added dry twigs while Rei stacked the safe mushrooms and roots they had gathered earlier.
Soon, a modest fire crackled to life. Its warmth pushed back the forest chill.
Rei sat down, letting the weight of the day settle. "That thing… whatever it was, we actually drove it off."
Aster glanced at him across the firelight, silver eyes steady.
"It attacked. We responded. Next time, we will respond even better."
Rei huffed a tired laugh and leaned back against a log. Not triumphant, just grounded. Capable.
"…Yeah. One step at a time."
The fire flickered softly, sending sparks drifting into the dusk as the forest slowly quieted around them.