Morning light filtered softly through the forest canopy as the small group continued their journey along the dirt path.
The previous day's rest by the river had restored some of their strength, but the road ahead was still long.
Leaves rustled gently under their steps.
Nyx walked slightly ahead, her long staff resting across her shoulder as she hummed quietly to herself. The purple strands of her hair swayed as she moved, her posture relaxed for once.
Lyra walked beside Kael.
Every now and then she glanced at him, as if making sure he was truly there beside her.
Kael noticed it.
And smiled.
"You keep looking at me," he said casually.
Lyra instantly looked away.
"I—I do not!"
Her cheeks turned slightly red as she fixed her gaze forward.
Nyx turned her head slightly, clearly listening.
"Oh? Our gentle priestess is getting shy already?" she teased.
Lyra puffed her cheeks in embarrassment.
"I am not shy!"
Nyx laughed.
Kael scratched the back of his head.
This kind of peaceful conversation… it felt strange to him.
Not long ago, he had been a nobody in his old world. Someone drifting through life without direction.
But now…
Two girls walked beside him.
A magical wolf followed his shadow.
And a strange destiny waited ahead.
Suddenly, something soft brushed against Kael's leg.
Fufuin.
The small wolf had returned to his smaller form and was walking quietly beside him, his four eyes calmly scanning the surroundings.
"You really take that guard duty seriously," Kael said.
Fufuin snorted proudly.
"A disaster wolf does not neglect his master's safety."
Nyx chuckled.
"That title still sounds ridiculous every time I hear it."
Fufuin glared at her.
"Mock me again and I shall return to my true form inside your tent tonight."
Nyx froze.
"…You wouldn't."
The wolf simply smiled.
Lyra covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Their journey continued like that for some time.
But suddenly—
Nyx stopped walking.
Her ears twitched slightly.
"Someone is coming."
Kael instantly grew alert.
Fufuin's fur bristled.
From the road ahead, four figures slowly appeared between the trees.
They wore light training armor, their clothes marked with the royal insignia.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"Soldiers?"
Nyx shook her head slowly.
"…No."
As the figures approached, their appearances became clearer.
A tall young man stretched his shoulders arrogantly.
Another adjusted his glasses calmly.
A beautiful woman with long silver hair tried to pull down the hem of her uniform, clearly uncomfortable with how tight it was.
And beside them walked a confident blonde woman with a playful smile.
Nyx whispered.
"…The heroes."
Kael blinked.
Those were the people the king had summoned.
The four from another world.
The group stopped a few meters away.
For a moment, both sides simply stared at each other.
Then the athletic young man stepped forward.
Dylan Carter.
He crossed his arms and looked Kael up and down.
"So you're travelers too?"
Before Kael could answer, the blonde woman stepped forward.
Vanessa Vale.
Her confident eyes immediately analyzed the situation.
Two girls.
One strange wolf.
One quiet young man.
And a magical aura surrounding him.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
She smiled.
"Well now… what an interesting group we found in the middle of nowhere."
Her eyes lingered on Kael.
"Especially you."
Arthur Caldwell adjusted his glasses.
"We should not cause trouble," he said calmly.
Elena Whitmore stood quietly behind them, still trying to pull her oversized uniform down.
"…Why are these clothes so tight…" she muttered in embarrassment.
Nyx crossed her arms.
"So the king's little puppets finally left the castle."
Dylan frowned.
"Watch your mouth, witch."
Fufuin growled quietly.
But before the tension could rise further—
Vanessa suddenly stepped between everyone.
She raised both hands.
"Now now, let's relax."
She smiled sweetly.
"We're all strangers in this world, aren't we?"
Her eyes moved toward Kael again.
And this time…
Her smile became slightly more curious.
"Especially you."
For some reason…
She felt something strange when looking at him.
Something familiar.
Something different from the others.
Kael simply stared back at her.
Unsure why—
But for the first time since arriving in this world…
He had the strange feeling that their paths were not meant to cross just once.
And far away…
Inside the royal capital…
A woman with long crimson hair mounted her armored horse.
Scarlet armor gleamed under the sun.
Seraphine Drakmor smiled.
"The hunt begins."
Her horse began to move.
And behind her—
An entire battalion followed.
The world was beginning to move.
And Kael did not yet realize…
That every step he took
was pulling fate tighter around him.