Lina was watering the flowers when Evan arrived.
The morning had already settled into its usual rhythm. Sunlight filtered gently over the yard as Lina moved along the flowerbed, pouring water carefully at the roots. Everything felt calm—ordinary.
Evan stopped near the gate and glanced toward the house.
"Is Jack here?" he asked. "I came to check if he plans to take part in the stages."
Lina looked up, surprised. "Oh. Jack left yesterday."
Evan blinked. "Yesterday?"
"Yes," she said. "Early yesterday morning."
He frowned slightly, taking a moment to process it. "So he already left."
Lina nodded. "Looks like it."
Evan stood there, staring at the house as if Jack might still step out at any moment. When that didn't happen, he let out a slow breath.
"He didn't say anything," Evan muttered.
"That's just Jack," Lina replied.
Evan clicked his tongue, frustration flashing across his face. "Why does he always move first?" he said quietly. "Always one step ahead."
Then his expression softened.
A small smile appeared—not playful, not angry. Determined.
"So that's how it is," he said. "Fine."
He turned away, already setting his mind forward.
"I'll see you in the finals, Jack."
Without another word, Evan walked off, his pace quicker than when he had arrived.
Lina watched him go for a moment, then returned to watering the flowers. The calm of the morning slowly settled back into place.
Far away, beneath the dense canopy of the Dino Forest, Jack woke to the soft sound of leaves shifting overhead.
He sat up and stretched, shoulders stiff from sleeping on uneven ground. The remains of last night's fire lay cold beside him, reduced to ash. The forest was quiet—but never truly silent.
Jack scanned the clearing.
Nothing seemed disturbed.
Turt stirred nearby, lifting its head sleepily.
"Morning," Jack said softly.
He packed up without wasting time, moving through his routine with practiced ease. When he reached for his water bottle, he paused.
He lifted it slightly.
Too light.
"…Figures," he murmured.
That meant water. And that meant the lake.
Jack adjusted his bag and moved cautiously through the forest. Morning was when most monsters were active, especially around water sources. He kept his pace steady, eyes alert.
When the lake came into view, he stopped at a distance and observed.
A few small monsters lingered near the edge. Nothing aggressive. No large movements beneath the surface. No signs of territorial behavior.
Safe enough.
Jack approached carefully, filled his bottle, and stepped back without lingering. Water sources weren't places to stay.
Once he had put enough distance between himself and the lake, he paused and studied the forest ahead.
North.
He chose his direction and moved on.
As Jack pushed deeper into the forest, his steps began to slow.
It wasn't exhaustion.
It was hunger.
The food he had brought with him had run out the night before. At the time, it hadn't seemed urgent. Now, with the morning stretching on, his stomach made its opinion clear.
"…I need food," Jack muttered.
His eyes drifted toward the undergrowth. Berries grew in several clusters—bright colors standing out against the green.
"That's the problem," he murmured. "I don't know which ones are safe."
Guessing here would be careless.
"I need something edible," he said under his breath.
That was when he heard it.
"Aah—!"
Jack froze.
The sound was sharp. Sudden. Human.
His head snapped toward it.
"…Someone's here?"
He was already moving.
Jack broke into a run, pushing past branches and tall grass. His thoughts raced. I didn't think anyone else was this deep inside.
He reached a clearing and stopped short.
Four large monsters stood there—Wildboires. Thick-bodied, tusks lowered, hooves tearing at the ground. Their massive forms blocked his view of what they had surrounded.
Jack didn't waste time trying to see.
"Turt," he said quickly, voice steady. "Rolling Surge. Ground."
Turt lowered its body as water gathered around its shell, flowing tight and fast. With a burst of force, it rolled forward, spiraling water coating its shell as it struck the earth.
The impact sent a dull tremor through the clearing.
The ground shuddered beneath the Wildboires' feet. They snorted loudly, stumbling as their footing broke. That was enough.
With angry cries, the Wildboires scattered, crashing through the trees and disappearing into the forest.
The water around Turt's shell faded as it came to a stop, breathing heavier than before.
Jack exhaled slowly.
"That was close."
As the dust settled, he finally saw who they had been attacking.
A girl lay on the ground, unmoving.
Beside her hovered a strange monster—one Jack had never seen before. It floated slightly above the earth, its form light and fluid, eyes fixed on her face as it made soft, anxious sounds.
Jack approached carefully and knelt beside her.
"Hey," he said quietly. "Can you hear me?"
He reached out—but the floating monster released a sharp warning call and drifted between them.
Jack stopped immediately and raised his hands.
"Alright," he said calmly. "I'm not here to hurt her. I'm just trying to help."
The creature remained tense.
Turt stepped forward then and let out a low, reassuring sound, communicating softly with the floating monster.
Jack watched, surprised. What kind of monster is that? I've never seen one before.
After a moment, the floating creature drifted slightly aside, though it stayed close, eyes never leaving the girl.
Jack let out a small breath. "Thanks," he said, glancing at Turt.
Turt immediately looked away, clearly uncomfortable with the praise.
Jack checked the girl's pulse—steady. Her breathing was shallow but regular.
"She's fainted," he murmured.
His eyes moved to her leg. There was a visible injury, swollen and torn.
Carefully, Jack lifted her and moved her to the base of a nearby tree. The floating monster followed closely, worry evident in its movements.
Jack cleaned the wound and wrapped it as best he could with what he had left. When he finished, he took out his water bottle and sprinkled a small amount onto her face.
"Hey," he said softly. "You're safe now."
The girl stirred.
Her head felt heavy, her thoughts slow. When she opened her eyes, everything was blurred at first. Then her vision sharpened—and she immediately tensed.
Jack noticed and raised his hands slightly. "Easy," he said. "You were unconscious. Nothing serious happened. And I didn't do anything to you."
His tone was straightforward.
The girl blinked, then took a slow breath. "I know," she said. "You didn't."
Jack let out a quiet sigh of relief. "That's good to hear."
The floating monster drifted closer and pressed against her side. She hugged it gently.
"You're here," she whispered. "Thank you."
Jack waited until she looked more stable. "Who are you?" he asked. "And what were you doing this deep in the forest?"
She sat up carefully. "Sorry. I should've introduced myself first."
She looked at him properly. "My name is Sera. And this is my monster—Cloudy."
Jack nodded. "I'm Jack. And that's Turt."
Cloudy… interesting name, he thought.
Sera's eyes lit up when she noticed Turt. She leaned forward and hugged him without warning.
Turt froze—then instantly pulled into its shell.
Jack winced. "Uh—can you stop that? You're making him shy. He's not used to it."
Sera pulled back immediately. "Oh—sorry! I didn't mean to scare him."
She tested her footing and stood carefully. "Thank you. For saving me."
"It's not a problem," Jack said.
He hesitated, then asked, "Why were those Wildboires after you?"
Sera rubbed the back of her head. "I was taking pictures of monsters. I wasn't paying attention and stepped on one of their tails. One got angry, then the whole group did."
She glanced at her leg. "I twisted my ankle while running. When they started closing in… I fainted."
"If you hadn't shown up," she added quietly, "who knows what would've happened. So… thank you."
Jack smiled faintly. "Don't mention it."
She studied him. "What about you? What are you doing here alone?"
"I'm traveling to Dinha Town," Jack replied. "But I got lost."
Sera's expression brightened. "Then you're lucky. I'm from Dinha Town. It's not far past this forest—and I know the route."
"That helps a lot," Jack said. "Thanks."
"You helped me," she replied. "I help you. We're even."
She glanced at the light filtering through the trees. "But we're pretty deep. It'll probably take until tomorrow to get out."
Jack nodded. "You're probably right."
Since Sera still couldn't walk properly, Jack spoke again.
"We should camp here tonight. You need rest."
Sera hesitated, then nodded. "Sorry for relying on you so much."
"It's fine," Jack said. "Sit and rest. I'll gather firewood."
He took a step—
Grrrrrr.
Jack stopped. "…Right. I haven't eaten anything all day."
Sera smiled weakly. "…I'm hungry too."
"I ran out of food yesterday," Jack said.
"That explains it," she replied. "There are blue berry trees nearby. The blue ones are safe to eat. Don't touch the others."
"That's a relief," Jack said. "Having someone who knows the forest helps."
He returned soon with berries and firewood. The fire crackled softly as night settled in.
They ate quietly.
Jack nodded once. "It's nice."
Sera smiled. "See? I told you."
The fire burned steadily as the forest grew quiet again.