Everyone was alert, their eyes fixed on the beast and hands gripping their swords. Kai and Louis stood in front, ready to strike. The creature merely glared at them, taking a slow step closer.
"You know what?" William spoke from behind Louis.
"Don't open your mouth in situations like this, Will," Henry snapped.
It was a famous saying among the knights that whatever came out of William's mouth somehow turned into reality. There had been many incidents where it actually happened. Henry never believed in such things, even though he couldn't deny the facts—so he treated them as coincidences, coincidences that had crossed fifty in number.
Right now, however, he wasn't willing to take any risk.
The others snickered at William's pouty, offended expression. Kai hid his smile behind a cough and refocused on the situation ahead. The beast took another slow step forward. Before they could register it, the creature opened its mouth and hurled acid in their direction.
Henry reacted instantly, conjuring a shield in front of them with his magic—a special ability that existed only within his family. The golden shield neutralized the attack and then surged forward, slamming into the beast and forcing it to stumble back. That moment was all Kai needed.
Using his aura sword, Kai struck once. The beast was cut cleanly in half.
Remus, the older knight who was the same age as Louis, stepped forward to inspect the body. "It's dead," he confirmed.
"Fortunately."
"It was a little cute. It's sad," William sighed, as if mourning a tragic loss.
Henry smacked the back of his head while Kai continued examining the creature. He had never seen anything like it, especially not in this forest.
When Kai was younger, the Duke had brought him here for hunting—but of course, that had just been an excuse. In truth, the Duke had wanted to help Kai manifest his magic, just as he had helped him manifest his own.
Most people awakened their magic at the age of twenty-one. For the Draconis and the royal family, however, it was different. Their magical attributes showed themselves early in life, though heavily restricted—only five percent of their true power. Once they turned twenty-one, the blockage disappeared, and their magic surged fully through their bodies like everyone else's.
"Why is its tongue like that?" Remus asked, pointing at the beast.
It looked rotten, and a sudden foul smell filled the air. Everyone covered their noses as dizziness crept in.
"The acid," Henry suggested. "Maybe the acid inside its body did this."
"Yes. That's possible," Kai agreed, stepping back.
With a hissing sound, the beast's body began to burn from within like a sizzling snow. The smell worsened, becoming almost unbearable. It was something rotten.
"Not cute at all," William commented with disgust.
Jerry stood near Louis, mimicking his movements—covering his nose and waving his hand to clear the air.
It was cute. Really cute, actually.
Jerry, with his baby face and shy, introverted personality, felt like a child to the older knights. On the other hand, there was William—same age, completely different personality. A troublesome child who seemed to attract danger everywhere he went. Only Henry could scold him—and only Henry could make him listen.
"It's better if we walk a little farther and get away from here," Remus suggested. Everyone agreed with nods and tired grunts.
"D-Does anyone want s-something to eat?" Jerry stammered.
His small hands held a few strawberries as his eyes darted around, hoping someone would take them. He was shy even while offering. His puffy cheeks and red nose melted everyone's heart—even Kai's. Though he didn't like strawberries, Kai ate two… then took two more when Jerry asked again.
After walking a bit farther, they came across a cave.
"We can spend the night inside," Tris, the new knight, suggested.
"What if it's home to some creature or wild animal?" Remus said, studying the cave.
"Well, I hope it's a cave of cute rabbits," William replied.
"Will. Rabbits live in bushes."
"Since when?"
"Since forever."
"Oh."
Jerry, who had been listening nearby, stammered, "Th-They live in burrows."
His voice was small but loud enough to catch attention. Both of them turned to stare at him, making him shrink further in embarrassment.
"Since when?" they asked simultaneously.
"Since forever. Now both of you, check around for anything suspicious," Kai ordered. "And William—don't get into trouble again."
Jerry glanced at William's offended expression and chuckled, stopping instantly when he noticed Kai looking at him. Embarrassed and scared of being scolded, Jerry froze—but Kai only smiled.
"They're idiots, aren't they?" Kai laughed.
Jerry felt relieved.
"Did you find anything, Chief?"
"No, my lord. There are no footprints. That means the cave has been abandoned. We can spend the night here."
"To be safe, I'll cast a shield around the area," Henry suggested.
"Yes, that would be best. Chief and I will stand guard. You and Will should rest," Kai said, walking toward Remus before Henry could protest.