"Welcome back, Master Sai."
Sheena's voice floated through the air with a soft reverence as she stood poised at the edge of the forest. The fading sunlight struggled through the thick canopy of leaves, catching the iridescent green of her skin and making it shimmer faintly, as if the very essence of the forest had lovingly brushed her with its hues. Her crimson eyes, bright and unwavering, seemed to hold an expectation that warmed my chest—I could almost feel that she had been waiting for my return.
I let out a sigh, tinged with affection and a hint of frustration. "Didn't I tell you to stay out of sight?" The sharpness in my tone betrayed my concern, underlining the protective instincts I felt toward her.
She lowered her head, an endearing gesture, yet her lips curled into a subtle smile, the kind that could pierce through even the thickest armor. "Yes, Master Sai… but I sensed your presence. I wanted to greet you." Her voice held a melody that soothed my worries, even if I knew she had taken risks by revealing herself.
Her unwavering loyalty was as much a comfort as it was a burden, yet I found myself unable to scold her further. I gave her a barely perceptible nod and turned to step deeper into the embrace of the forest. She followed closely behind, her footsteps careful and almost deferential, an echo of my movements as we approached her new hut.
This structure was not the one that had been reduced to ash by my own hand in a moment of unrestrained fury; that day of flames had been a necessary pain. The new hut stood sturdier, exuding the aroma of fresh-cut timber mingling with the earthy scent of the forest floor. The fire's destruction had erased the past, paving the way for new beginnings, whispering secrets of hope and resilience.
As I stepped inside, the air enveloped me like an old friend—cool and untouched. I set about lighting the fireplace, determined to drive away the swarm of mosquitoes that buzzed hungrily in the damp evening air. With a quick motion, I drew my sword, holding the blade up to the flickering firelight. I admired its edge, feeling the familiar thrill as the reflection of the flames danced across the polished steel. As I began the steady, practiced rhythm of maintenance, time felt like it slowed, the world falling momentarily still around me.
It had been two weeks since I returned from the Adventurers' Guild with a daunting mission entrusted to me by the Headmaster. Two weeks filled with blood, sweat, and relentless effort—hunting monsters, disposing of their corpses under the guise of a false guild card, all while pressing against the invisible wall of experience that loomed before me, ever steeper with each passing moment.
The small hunts, once thrilling, had begun to lose their luster, becoming mere stepping stones in the larger journey. Goblins had grown too easy to slay; their deaths impacted my growth only at the surface, barely adding a ripple to the ocean of experience I desperately needed.
[Status]
Name: Sai
Species: Human
Age: 17
Level: 44 [9,500/81,000]
Mana: [15,000/15,000]
Loyalties:
Sheena: [41]
{Priestess Goblina: 22}
Skills:
Weapon Mastery (**** – Four Star) Passive
→ Increases weapons' durability by 40%
Detection (*** – Three Star)
→ Range: 25 meters
Copy (** – Two Star)
→ Copied Skills:
• Stout Arm Lvl. 4 (Strength passive)
• Sprint Lvl. 2 (Speed boost; 5 MP/min)
Item Box (** – Two Star)
→ Storage capacity: [1 ton]. Timeless space, instant retrieval.
HtH Combat (* – One Star) Passive
→ Boosts strength/speed in hand-to-hand, hardens fists.
Sure Strike (* – One Star) Fixed
→ 10% accuracy boost. Costs 100 MP/use.
(Hidden Skills: Transmigrator, Linguistics, Conceal, Appraise)
Each star marked the weight of my achievements. Each number served as a reminder of how far I still had to climb. Every battle pushed me forward, but the gap between my current level and the abundant possibilities ahead widened with each challenge faced.
With a quiet click, I sheathed my sword and peeled off my gear, leaving only my undershirt and pants as I reached for the basket nearby. I retrieved soap and rags, small luxuries that punctuated our lives of survival.
"Sheena," I called softly, my voice drifting into the evening air. "Let's take a bath."
Without hesitation, she slipped off her priestess gown, revealing the simple yet delicate garments I had chosen for her—purple fabric that lightly clung to her frame, forming a half-cut bra and modest underwear. She accepted these changes without question, but I felt an overwhelming sense of pride; it was a reminder that she was not merely a follower, but a companion carving out her own existence alongside me.
One piece at a time, she undressed, each movement fluid and graceful, before she leapt into the stream with a joyous splash that sent ripples scattering across the moonlit surface. Her laughter—or perhaps just the pure joy in her movements—echoed through the cool night air. As I joined her in the water, its coolness stung at my skin momentarily but soon settled into a soothing embrace.
I couldn't help but observe her as I washed, not with lust but with a sense of curiosity, an admiration that stirred within me.
Evolution had reshaped her in ways I had not expected. Her fangs, once prominent and fearsome, had retreated inside her mouth, a transformation that conveyed her growing integration with the human world. Her skin, now darker, bore two striking crimson markings that trailed elegantly from her chin down her neck, flowing over the gentle curves of her chest and abdomen before stopping just above her hips. Each change softened her monstrous features, transforming her into a being that belonged to both worlds: the fantastical and the familiar.
Perhaps... perhaps it was because she had chosen to walk this path with me.
She sensed my gaze and tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her crimson eyes.
I shook my head quickly, breaking the moment. "It's nothing." I ducked beneath the water, allowing it to wash over my face, cleansing not just the dirt of the day but my thoughts, if only for a moment.
This life—this unpredictable journey—was far from the idyllic dream I once harbored. I had often envisioned a simple existence within a bustling city, just another face fading into the crowd: mundane work, laughter shared with friends, a future filled with love, a family built without the looming dread of monsters lurking in the dark, their shadows haunting from just beyond the light. To be an adventurer only in appearance, not marred by the reality of bloodshed.
But reality is merciless in its teachings. Survival had become my unwavering compass, and Sheena—my unexpected companion—was the anchor that kept me grounded amidst the chaos.
I surfaced, my gaze drawn upward to the night sky framed by the swaying trees, their silhouettes dark against the slowly approaching dusk.
"Hey, Sheena," I ventured quietly, my voice barely rising above the gentle sounds of the stream.
She broke through the water's surface, droplets cascading from her face like miniaturized waterfalls. "Sheena here," she confirmed, a playful lilt to her tone.
"Would you like to go on a journey?" I proposed, my words lingering in the cool air, thick with anticipation and the weight of possibility. "We could seek out stronger monsters, level up faster, and maybe even uncover treasures hidden within labyrinths... and perhaps a be—"
As my thoughts trailed off, the implications of the adventure loomed large, inviting us into a world filled with challenges and new beginnings.