The dense canopy of leaves began to filter the midday sun, replacing the heat with a cool, shaded glow. The air within the forest east of Argam City felt significantly cleaner, carrying the distinct scents of damp soil, moss, and foliage. The noisy clatter of horse carriages and the hustle and bustle of humans were now entirely replaced by the chirping of birds and the rustle of the wind sweeping through the trees.
For Calian and Wolvin, this change in atmosphere brought a welcome sense of relief. However, for Elara, the forest was more than just a quiet place. Even as her footsteps maintained a relaxed rhythm like an ordinary guard, her ears caught an anomaly.
There was the sound of snapping twigs, too rhythmic to be a wild animal. There were hushed breaths and muffled, shuffling footsteps coming from behind the thickets following them.
One... three... five people. Elara counted calmly in her mind without turning her head in the slightest. Why are these five following us?
Elara's blue eyes narrowed slightly. Her mind worked quickly to analyze the situation. If they are just locals or amateur adventurers curious about Wolvin's presence, I won't make a fuss. But... if they dare to harbor ill intent and draw their weapons, I will not hesitate to do what I must to protect my family!
For now, Elara decided to play it safe. She maintained her flat expression, letting the stalkers feel as though they had the upper hand and remained undetected.
It didn't take long for the three of them to find the moist patch of earth where the herbal plants listed on their mission parchment grew abundantly. The silver-leaved plants grew in clusters near the roots of massive trees.
"This is the place." Elara said, lowering the woven basket from her shoulder. "Let us begin gathering the required amount."
Without much talk, Calian and Wolvin immediately knelt and began to work. Their fingertips carefully plucked the herbal leaves and stems to ensure the roots remained undamaged.
Amidst the peaceful silence of the forest, Wolvin felt a heavy weight lift from his chest. This morning had been truly emotionally draining. He had been shaken and made to feel small by the disgusted glares and mockery of the city humans toward beastfolk like himself.
But now, in the middle of this quiet forest, carrying out his first mission as an official adventurer, his heart was filled with a warm spark of joy.
Wolvin paused his movements for a moment. His golden eyes glanced to the side. He watched Calian, who was focused on plucking the herbs, his purple hair occasionally swaying in the gentle breeze. The sight made Wolvin's chest flutter. His black tail, which had been stiff and curled downward all morning, began to wag slowly with a cheerful rhythm.
Calian really is the best husband! Wolvin praised in his heart, a faint smile spreading across his lips.
His gaze then shifted toward Elara, who was standing guard nearby while occasionally plucking leaves herself. The image of the woman's arrogant and dominant attitude when she silenced the racists in the city replayed in his mind.
But, my mother-in-law is the best too! Wolvin continued in his thoughts, his eyes growing slightly misty with emotion. She gave me a kind of protection I've never received from anyone before. She makes me feel so safe, so accepted, and comfortable being near them.
Wolvin looked back down, focusing on his task, but the happy smile never left his face. I am so lucky to be a part of this family. I don't regret making Calian my husband!
Nearly an hour passed, and their basket was filled to the brim with high-quality herbs. Their work was finished sooner than expected.
"That is enough. This is more than what the guild requested." Elara instructed while brushing dirt from her hands. "Come, let us head back to Argam before evening."
Calian and Wolvin nodded in agreement.
Calian took over the basket, and the three of them turned to head back along the same path.
However, that peace was short-lived.
They had only walked a few dozen meters from the gathering site when a coarse rustling sound erupted from ahead. The tall bushes were suddenly shoved aside with brute force. Their footsteps came to a sudden halt.
Five grown men with fierce expressions stepped out from their hiding spot, blocking the only path back to the city. Each of them clutched hunting knives and thick wooden clubs.
The leader of the small group stepped forward, his face flushed with boiling rage.
"Do you still feel no guilt after what you've done, hah?!" the man barked, pointing his club at them. "Because you defended that pet beastfolk of yours, I lost my precious job!"
Elara let out a long, heavy sigh. Instead of being surprised, her expression radiated utter annoyance. Her eyes looked down on the man with total disdain.
"So it's you... that racist waiter." Elara grumbled irritably, not at all intimidated by the weapons in their hands. "What do you want, exactly? Has being unemployed made you so bored that you went through the trouble of chasing us all the way into this forest?"
The man snarled, feeling his pride trampled once again by Elara's casual tone. "What do I want?!" he retorted, his voice echoing loudly through the trees. "Vengeance, of course! Revenge on you for getting me fired and humiliated in public!"
Hearing such a shallow reason, Calian massaged the bridge of his nose. The purple-haired youth shook his head with an expression of disbelief.
"Good grief..." Calian lamented suddenly, his voice calm but disappointed. "Instead of reflecting on your own mistakes, you chose to do something this ridiculous?"
The former waiter's face turned even redder, the veins in his neck bulging. His ego couldn't handle the insult from a youth who looked much younger than him.
"Shut up, you dim-witted rich brat!" the man snapped frantically, spitting on the ground. His eyes glared at Calian with murderous intent before turning to Wolvin with pure hatred. "I'll mince you up after I'm done with that damn beastfolk! You filthy, disgusting, lowly—"
The insults were never finished.
For Calian, patience had its limits, and this man had just stepped on his deepest landmine.
"Stasis!"
That single word slipped from Calian's lips with a tone as cold as eternal ice. In a split second, the air around the five thugs rippled violently, emitting an invisible wave of magical energy.
Time around their bodies seemed to freeze instantly. Their poses suddenly turned as rigid as stone statues. Hands swinging weapons stopped mid-air. Their feet were locked firmly to the ground.
Calian's Stasis magic worked with terrifying accuracy. It locked all motor functions from the neck down, but he intentionally left their heads free so that the five men remained conscious and could witness their own downfall.
Feeling his body suddenly go numb and fail to respond to his brain's commands, the former waiter's eyes widened in horror. Extreme panic immediately took hold of him.
"W-What... what did you do to me?!" the man screamed, his voice trembling violently. Cold sweat began to pour down his temples. He tried to struggle, but his muscles felt as though they had turned into solid iron. "Why can't I move?! What kind of devilish magic is this?!"
Calian did not answer immediately. He handed the herb basket to Elara, then stepped forward with a slow but threatening rhythm. The calm noble aura from before was gone, replaced by a crushing killing intent that made the five thugs' breath hitch in their throats.
His steps stopped just inches away from the helpless former waiter. Calian's purple eyes stared straight into the man's eyes, sharp and merciless.
"I don't mind if you want to curse or insult me as much as you like." Calian replied in a very low, intimidating voice, as if every word were a blade grazing the man's throat. "But..."
Calian glanced briefly at Wolvin, his eyes softening for a fleeting moment before returning to a sharp glare at the man in front of him.
"...I will never let someone like you insult my beloved spouse any further!"