A Night Full of Secrets
Several hours after fleeing from the ruins...
In a hidden place, far from the main forest path, six people sat around a small campfire. Orange light danced across their faces, creating shadows that moved like ghosts.
Rudes hugged his knees, his eyes empty as he stared at the fire. The failure to find the Water of Life still felt like a devastating blow to his chest. Ensei and Alice sat beside him, trying to offer support without words.
On the other side of the fire, Tsubasa sat with his back to them, his dagger resting in his lap—ready to be used at any moment. Han and Rina sat side by side, observing this new trio with eyes that were wary yet curious.
Han, with a gaze full of curiosity, broke the suffocating silence. "Why are you here? A place like this isn't for tourists."
Rudes slowly lifted his head, his voice heavy with burden. "We were searching for the Water of Life. My mother..." He swallowed hard. "She's afflicted with a curse of darkness. I have to save her."
Han shook his head slowly, his face showing genuine sympathy. "The Water of Life is just an unfounded story. There has never been such water in this world."
The words were like a hammer striking Rudes's heart. His hands clenched, his eyes welling up. "Forgive me, Mother..." he whispered, barely audible. "I... I don't know what else to do."
The despair in his voice was so real it made Alice and Ensei feel pain in their chests too.
Han observed Rudes for a moment, his expression becoming more serious. "Wait a minute, curse of darkness, you said?" Then he turned toward Rina to confirm.
Rina nodded, her eyes sparkling. "I can help! With water and ice elements, plus my Divine Light blessing, I'm capable of healing curses like that."
Rudes looked at Han and Rina with eyes full of hope, almost unable to believe what he had just heard. "Seriously? You're willing to help?" His voice trembled. "I... I would be so grateful!"
There was a light of hope that appeared in his eyes for the first time since they escaped from the ruins.
Han nodded, then asked in a more serious tone. "Where do you live? The kingdom's city center?"
"No," Rudes answered quickly. "We're from the outskirts, far from the kingdom's center. A small village that's not even on the map."
Han smiled thinly, but there was a strange glint in his eyes. "Interesting." He looked at them one by one, and the silence suddenly felt too heavy to fight.
"Rudes, a swordsman with fire element, Divine Mark user who can last 15 minutes—maximum 20 minutes before total exhaustion." Han spoke in a casual tone, as if reading from a notebook. "Ensei, a skilled archer capable of moving quickly, manipulating wind with his bow, and very adept at using daggers in close combat."
The three adventurers' eyes widened.
"And Alice," Han continued, "a healer with water element, capable of creating water shields and controlling aura well." He tilted his head slightly. "Most interesting, you possess the Divine Eye, don't you?"
A suffocating silence descended like a thick blanket.
Alice held her breath, her body tensing. "What? How... how do you know all that? We just met a few hours ago!"
Rina giggled softly, her eyes sparkling. "Hehe, that's just how it is with my brother. Always has been like that, just one look and he already knows everything. Annoying, but cool."
Tsubasa, who had been silently observing all this time, suddenly stood. His hand moved toward his dagger, his eyes sharpening like blades. He stared at Rudes, Ensei, and Alice with a gaze that could freeze blood.
"Tsubasa," Han said calmly, "they're not dangerous."
"Not necessarily." Tsubasa's voice was cold as ice. "Too many coincidences."
Alice, driven by unbearable curiosity, decided to use her Divine Eye. She looked at the three people before her with full concentration.
The first she observed was Tsubasa. A strong darkness aura flowed from his body like black smoke—no wonder he could defeat Rudes and Ensei earlier. His power level... terrifying.
Then she looked at Rina. A surprising contrast. Bright and warm light radiated from the girl, full of happiness and positive energy, very fitting with her sweet smile. Her power level was also high, though not as high as Tsubasa's.
But when Alice looked at Han, she furrowed her brow. His aura... weak. Far weaker than Tsubasa's or even Rina's. But there was something strange that she couldn't understand.
And the most troubling question: why did Tsubasa, who was clearly far stronger, call Han "Master"?
"Is there something you want to ask?" Han suddenly asked, as if sensing Alice's probing gaze directly.
Alice startled, realizing she had been staring too long. "No... nothing."
"Alright." Han stood, brushing dust from his pants. "We should rest. The journey to your village will take time."
He walked away toward the edge of the building, leaving unanswered questions hanging in the night air.
Rina followed Han with light steps, while Tsubasa returned to sitting with his back to the others—but this time Alice felt he was listening to every word they spoke, though he didn't turn around.
"Something's not right," Ensei whispered to Alice and Rudes when the three were far enough away.
"I feel it too," Alice nodded. "But they offered help for your mother, Rudes. We don't have any other choice."
Rudes stared at the dimming fire. "I'll do anything to save my mother. Whatever the risk."
The night passed restlessly. Everyone slept with vigilance, unspoken questions spinning in their heads.
Who exactly were Han, Rina, and Tsubasa?
And why did Alice feel that they had just entered into a game far bigger than they had imagined?
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TO BE CONTINUED...