Night settled quietly over the forest, the sky glowing with scattered stars. Their light reflected on the leaves, still trembling from the earlier encounter with the corrupted dryad.
Aegis approached Liyandra, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Miss."
Liyandra looked up. "Why, Sir Aegis?"
"Please… drop the 'sir.' Just call me Aegis."
"Oh—okay, si— I mean, Aegis."
He smiled a little. "Do you have an affinity for magic or aura?"
"I have healing magic," she said softly. "But because the three of you are too strong, I can't really demonstrate it. Not that I want you to be hurt. Also… please just call me Lin."
Before Aegis could respond, Gulbob stepped in sharply.
"Don't ask Lin those kinds of questions. She's a citizen — someone soldiers like us need to protect. Not someone you ask for help in battle."
Aegis bowed his head. "You're right, sir. Sorry."
"No, sir," Lin said quickly, shaking her head. "It's alright. I want to help in any way possible."
Gulbob sighed, softer this time.
"Okay then. But be careful. If you get hurt… it's my responsibility."
Lin caught off guard flushed red. "Y-yes, sir…"
Aegis and Griffin exchanged a glance, both grinning.
Griffin leaned toward Aegis and whispered, "Looks like he got some chance."
Aegis nodded, smirking.
Then the ground trembled.
At first, a faint vibration. Then stronger. And stronger.
Gulbob's eyes widened.
"STOP."
They froze.
The shaking grew heavier, rolling through the soil like thunder. Then Gulbob realized—
"This isn't an earthquake…"
His voice sharpened.
"STAMPEDE! RUN! THERE — THE HILL! GO!"
In a distance monsters, beasts, and animals in one group is running towards them, gulbob He scooped Lin into his arms without hesitation. She gasped, startled.
"My apologies, Lin."
"No, it's—"
She didn't finish. Griffin shouted:
"S-SIR! AEG IS FALLING BEHIND!"
Gulbob spun. "WHAT!? Griffin, TAKE AEGIS' HAMMER!"
"ON IT!"
Griffin grabbed the hammer, but Aegis was still too far behind, legs burning as the stampede thundered closer.
Gulbob, Lin, and Griffin reached the hill…
and watched Aegis stop.
He planted his shield into the ground, feet steady, breath deep.
Aegis shouted, voice steady despite the rumbling doom behind him:
"SIR! IF THIS IS THE END— THANK YOU FOR… everything!"
"NO! AEGIS YOU—" Gulbob roared, stepping forward to jump—
Something shot past him.
A blur of silver-blue light.
Gulbob stopped dead in his tracks.
"A… Lunar Drifter…"
The creature swooped down, grabbed Aegis, and lifted him away just before the stampede swallowed the earth.
The drifter landed beside the group. A woman dropped down from its back, voice urgent:
"Please—hurry and help your friend."
Griffin rushed forward to grab Aegis. "Let go of him!"
Gulbob stepped closer, wary.
"So. What do you want?"
The woman blinked. "Wha— no, I don't want anything!"
Aegis groaned, sitting up. "Sir, please don't talk to my savior like that… My apologies, miss. He's a good guy, but he's a tough diamond to crack."
The woman tilted her head. "A diamond? Not a nut?"
Aegis pointed straight at Griffin. "The only nut here is him."
"HEY—shut it!" Griffin snapped.
The woman giggled.
Aegis straightened. "How rude of me… I didn't ask my savior's name."
She bowed slightly.
"My name is Lunara. You can just call me Luna."
Aegis nodded. "So, Luna, what brought you here before you noticed us?"
Luna's smile faded. "We received news… that a lot of surrounding tribes are being attacked. The Council of Elders sent me to visit the neighboring ones."
Aegis froze. His eyes widened in horror.
"Lu-Luna… ple-please tell me you're joking…"
Luna shook her head slowly. "I'm not."
Aegis' voice trembled.
"SIR—WE NEED TO GET TO THE TRIBE!"
Gulbob grabbed his shoulders. "Aegis, calm down. Tell me what it is."
"T-the tribe…" Aegis swallowed. "It's being attacked."
Gulbob's grip tightened.
"ARE YOU SURE!?"
Lin placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Sir… let's calm down first."
Gulbob exhaled harshly. "Yes… sorry."
He looked Aegis dead in the eyes.
"Aegis… is what you're saying true?"
"I'm afraid so."
Gulbob stood. "Then we don't have time to rest. Miss… uhh?"
"Luna," she said.
"Luna. Please take us in the direction of the tribe."
Griffin raised a hand. "What about our ride? We don't have the carriage anymore!"
"Don't worry," Luna said calmly. "I can tame anything that flies."
She sang a short chant — and three griffins descended from the sky like shadows.
"That should do it."
Gulbob turned to Lin.
"Lin, ride with me."
"Thank you."
Aegis and Griffin looks at each other.
Gulbob sharply said.
"NOW MEN—LET'S DEPART!!"