The air in the clearing was thick and stifling. The metallic scent of blood evaporating under the sun mingled with the chilling aura of Lysara's overflowing killing intent. However, everything froze the moment that serrated blade pressed against Eins's throat.
Eins could feel his heart hammering against his throat as his Adam's apple bobbed up and down. His eyes darted toward Lysara, who stood rigid a few meters ahead. For the first time, he saw fear in her gray eyes—not fear for her own life, but the fear of losing the only person who looked at her and saw a human being.
But Eins was a researcher. His brain did not cease its functions even in the face of death. Amidst the tension, he noticed a young Elf girl still huddling behind the thug's legs. She was trembling, but her eyes held a spark of lingering courage.
Slowly, without moving his shoulders, Eins shifted his right hand toward his belt. Hanging there were several vials of his experimental potions. He touched a small crystal orb containing a thick yellow liquid—a Stun-Smoke concoction that had been deemed a failure because its explosion was far too violent.
Eins signaled the Elf girl with a sharp, meaningful glance, then pointed to the vial at his waist with a subtle twitch of his finger. The Elf girl hesitated for a split second, but her race was intuitive. She understood.
With movements as light as a feather, the Elf girl crawled forward. The thug was too focused on screaming at Lysara to notice the threat beneath his feet. Her small hand snatched the potion bottle from Eins's belt.
"DIE, YOU FILTH!" the Elf girl screamed as she lunged upward, smashing the glass vial with all her might against the thug's skull.
SHATTER!
The liquid exploded in a small but blinding flash. The thug howled in pain as the stinging fluid seared his eyes, and his grip on Eins's neck loosened.
"Now, Lysara!" Eins shouted, throwing himself to the ground.
The world seemed to move in slow motion. The moment Eins was free, Lysara exploded with incomprehensible speed. She didn't move like an animal; she moved like a lightning storm. Before the thug could even scream, Lysara's black claws slashed through the air.
Srak! Srak! Srak!
In one brutal second, the thug's body was rent into six large pieces. There was no cry, only the sound of parting flesh and the rain of blood hitting the dirt. Lysara stood in the center of the crimson pool, her breath heavy, her eyes a burning red.
Eins panted, scrambling to his feet and immediately rushing to the Elf girl. "Thank you... you were very brave," he whispered, stroking her head as she remained in shock.
Eins quickly shifted into action. He pulled out his lockpicks again, moving from one captive to the next. With the precision of an expert, he undid the neck shackles of the slaves one by one.
"Run toward the river in the east; there is a small settlement there. Go, before another group arrives," Eins instructed firmly yet gently. The now-free captives bowed in respect, some weeping with joy before disappearing into the thick forest.
Once everyone had gone, silence returned. Eins was about to turn around when a large, powerful body suddenly collided with him from the front.
Thud.
Lysara embraced him. Hard.
Eins froze. He could feel Lysara's body—usually as steady as a mountain—trembling violently. Her face was buried in the crook of his neck. Though her expression remained flat when she looked up slightly, Eins could feel the immense anxiety radiating from her hold.
"Don't... don't ever let yourself be in that position again," Lysara's voice was hoarse, barely a whisper in his ear.
"I'm sorry, Lysara. I wasn't careful enough," Eins returned the embrace gently, patting her back to soothe her. He then noticed something wet on the back of his hand. "Your hand... you're hurt."
It turned out that while blocking the axe earlier, Lysara's tough skin had been slightly grazed, added to the fresh abrasions from the magic chains that hadn't fully healed. Eins gently pulled away, seating Lysara on a fallen log.
He reached into his bag, pulling out crushed herbal leaves and a roll of clean bandages. With meticulous care, he applied the medicine to Lysara's left hand.
"This might sting a bit," Eins said, blowing softly on the wound to cool it.
Lysara watched his every move. The sincerity of this youth—the way he tended to the wounds of a 'monster' who had just carved men into pieces—made something in her chest quiver. A feeling that had been dead for a thousand years began to pulse again.
Unconsciously, the corner of Lysara's lips lifted slightly. It was faint, nearly invisible, but it was a smile.
"Thank you, Eins," she murmured.
Eins looked up and saw that smile. His face instantly flushed deep red, all the way to his ears. "I-it's my duty as a partner!" he stammered, hurriedly tidying his bandages.
Eins then looked toward the remains of the bandits. A flash of horror crossed his heart at the brutal sight, but he quickly pushed it aside. He knew that if Lysara hadn't acted, hundreds of innocent lives would have ended up exactly like that.
"This world does need cleaning, but they should still be returned to the earth," Eins muttered. He took an old shovel left behind in a carriage and began digging a hole to bury the remains. He didn't want this beautiful forest defiled by the scent of death.
While Eins was busy digging, Lysara walked toward the bandits' logistics carriage. She searched for something to wear, as her ancient tattered rags were no longer functional.
A few minutes later, she returned to Eins with a new look. She wore a slate-gray leather top that fit her athletic frame, flexible black shorts, and a white hooded cloak that partially covered her pale gray hair. On her left shoulder, she had fastened a small piece of pauldron armor for extra protection.
"Well?" Lysara asked curtly.
Eins stopped shoveling, staring at her in a daze. "You... you look like a true Guardian knight. It suits you perfectly."
Once the burial was finished, Eins untethered the strongest horse from the carriages. He patted its neck to calm it, then climbed into the saddle.
"Come, get on. We can't stay here long," Eins held out his hand.
Lysara looked at his hand, then at the horse, which looked small compared to her. With the help of Eins's pull, she leaped up behind the saddle. Because the horse was a tight fit for two, their positions were very close.
Eins took the reins while Lysara sat behind him. Slowly, the horse began to trot, leaving the blood-soaked area behind.
In the midst of the quiet journey, Lysara slowly leaned her body forward. She rested her face against Eins's shoulder, inhaling his scent—the smell of old paper, ink, and a hint of herbs. It was a scent entirely foreign to her predatory nose, yet for some reason, it provided a sense of peace she had never felt in her entire life.
Eins felt his shoulder grow heavy. He could feel Lysara's warm breath on his neck. His face heated up again, and his heart beat twice as fast. He tried to focus on the road ahead, though his mind was a chaotic mess of embarrassment.
"Eins..." Lysara whispered softly.
"Y-yes?"
"Don't leave me."
Eins faltered. He tightened his grip on the reins. "I won't. We have a lot of research to finish, don't we?"
Lysara didn't answer; she simply pressed her face closer to his back, closing her eyes and enjoying the rhythmic swaying of the horse.
After about thirty minutes of riding, the forest began to thin. In the distance, the horizon revealed a magnificent architectural structure. A giant stone wall stood firm, stretching wide to protect the settlement within. Watchtowers with fluttering kingdom flags looked grand under the glow of the afternoon light.
Eins took a breath of relief. He pointed toward the massive gate guarded by knights in gleaming armor.
"Look, Lysara. We've arrived."
Lysara opened her eyes, staring at the massive, foreign city with a mixture of wonder and wariness.
"Welcome to Ark Town," Eins said with a hint of pride. "The center of the world for adventurers, the place where merchants from all corners gather, and the home of the knights. This is where our true journey begins."
Their horse continued to step toward the city gates, carrying a young researcher and an ancient legend into a new chapter of their lives.
To be continued...