Early morning greeted Soyeon and Ellie with cool air and a light mist that spread across the ground like an invisible veil, hiding the forest beneath it. Carrying baskets for herbs, they headed deeper into the woods.
"Soyeon, why do we always go so early?" Ellie asked, stretching sleepily. "I still want to sleep."
"Because plants absorb the morning dew most at dawn," Soyeon replied with a smile. "And besides, there are fewer people in the forest at this time. Better chances of finding rare herbs."
Ellie huffed but couldn't hide the sparkle in her eyes at the thought of new discoveries.
They ventured deeper into the woods when suddenly a crackling noise came from the dense thicket. Soyeon and Ellie froze, listening carefully. The girl instinctively moved closer to her mentor, her hands trembling slightly. Soyeon placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and spoke gently:
"It'll be fine. I'm here, and I'll protect you."
"Is it a deer?" Ellie whispered.
Soyeon nodded slowly, her heart beating faster.
From behind the bushes emerged a massive deer. Its dark, shiny eyes reflected no light, and on its forehead glowed a strange black stone, shimmering with an ominous light.
"What is that?" Soyeon whispered, clutching her chest. She couldn't take her eyes off the peculiar stone on the deer's forehead. "Is this magic? Or something else? How could such an artifact end up here?"
The creature moved as though controlled by an unseen force, and the air around it seemed to pulse with menace. The deer turned its head and spotted them. Soyeon's heart clenched as she instinctively shielded Ellie with her body. Thoughts raced through her mind: "I must protect her, at any cost."
The deer's eyes flashed crimson, and suddenly, it charged.
"Run!" Soyeon shouted, grabbing Ellie's hand.
They ran, weaving between trees, but the sound of heavy hooves drew closer. Soyeon's heart pounded as she realized the creature was gaining on them.
Just as the deer was mere meters away, a sharp whistle of an arrow cut through the air. The animal froze, trembling, then let out a deafening roar. Another arrow pierced its side, and the deer stumbled with a heavy thud.
"Get to cover!" a loud voice commanded.
Soyeon turned and saw a man with a bow—it was Gromer, the local hunter they had met in the village.
"Gromer!" she exclaimed, pulling Ellie closer. "That animal…"
"I know," he interrupted sharply, not taking his eyes off the deer. "This is no ordinary beast.
The stone on its forehead—it's not just decoration, it's dangerous. Hide behind the trees! I'll handle this."
Soyeon hesitated, but Gromer turned and barked:
"I said, run!"
She nodded, pulling Ellie with her. They hid behind a large tree trunk, watching as the hunter prepared for battle.
Gromer drew his bowstring with swift, precise movements, as if he were one with the bow. The first arrow sliced through the air and struck the deer's side, but instead of slowing down, the creature roared ferociously, its eyes blazing with bloody light.
"See how the stone fuels it?" Gromer muttered to himself, preparing another arrow. "This thing is getting faster… like a wolf that smells blood."
"This isn't just an animal…" Soyeon whispered, her voice trembling with unease. "That stone… it seems to be empowering the creature. But who could have created such magic? And why?" Her thoughts swirled in a storm of worry.
Ellie, peeking out from behind the tree, watched the hunter with a mixture of awe and fear.
"Will he be able to defeat it?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know," Soyeon replied, her voice quivering.
Gromer moved gracefully and confidently, dodging between trees and firing arrows with unerring accuracy. Yet the deer, seemingly impervious to pain, continued advancing, each wound only intensifying the glow of the stone on its forehead. The creature let out a low, guttural roar that seemed to make the entire forest freeze in fear.
***Aura Breakthrough
Early morning greeted Soyeon and Ellie with cool air and a light mist, curling across the ground like an invisible shroud, concealing the forest beneath it. With baskets for herbs in hand, they headed deeper into the woods.
"Soyeon, why do we always go out so early?" Ellie asked, stretching tiredly. "I still want to sleep."
"Because plants absorb dew the most at dawn," Soyeon replied with a smile. "And besides, the forest has fewer people at this time. There's a better chance of finding rare herbs."
Ellie huffed but couldn't hide the sparkle in her eyes at the thought of new discoveries.
They ventured deeper into the woods when suddenly a loud crackling of branches echoed from the dense thicket. Soyeon and Ellie froze, listening carefully. Instinctively, the girl pressed closer to her mentor, her hands trembling slightly.
Soyeon placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and spoke gently, "It'll be okay. I'm here, and I'll protect you."
"Is it a deer?" Ellie whispered.
Soyeon nodded slowly, her heart pounding faster.
From behind the bushes emerged a massive deer. Its dark, gleaming eyes reflected no light, and a strange black stone glowed ominously on its forehead, radiating an eerie light.
"What is that?" Soyeon whispered, clutching her chest. She couldn't take her eyes off the peculiar stone on the deer's forehead. "Is this magic? Or something else? How could such an artifact end up here?"
The deer moved as though controlled by an unseen force, and the air around it seemed to pulse with menace. Suddenly, the deer turned its head and locked its glowing eyes onto Soyeon and Ellie. Soyeon's heart clenched as she instinctively shielded Ellie with her body. "I must protect her, no matter what," raced through her mind.
The deer's eyes flared crimson, and suddenly, it charged.
"Run!" Soyeon shouted, grabbing Ellie's hand.
They ran, weaving between trees, but the sound of heavy hooves drew closer. Soyeon's heart pounded as she realized the creature was gaining on them.
Just as the deer was mere meters away, a sharp whistle of an arrow sliced through the air. The animal froze, trembling, then let out a deafening roar. Another arrow struck its side, and the deer staggered with a heavy thud.
"Get behind cover!" a loud voice commanded.
Soyeon turned and saw a man with a bow—it was Gromer, the local hunter she had met in the village.
"Gromer!" she exclaimed, pulling Ellie closer. "That creature…"
"I know," he interrupted sharply, not taking his eyes off the deer. "This is no ordinary beast. The stone on its forehead—it's dangerous. Hide behind the trees! I'll handle this."
Soyeon hesitated, but Gromer turned and barked:
"I said, run!"
She nodded, pulling Ellie with her. They hid behind a large tree trunk, watching as the hunter prepared for battle.
Gromer drew his bowstring with swift, precise movements, as if he were one with the bow. His arrow pierced the deer's side, but instead of faltering, the creature roared furiously, its eyes blazing with crimson light.
"See how the stone feeds it?" Gromer muttered to himself, preparing another arrow. "This thing is getting faster… like a predator that smells blood."
"This isn't just an animal…" Soyeon whispered, her voice trembling. "That stone… it seems to be empowering the creature. But who could have created such magic? And why?" Her thoughts swirled in a storm of worry.
Ellie, peeking out from behind the tree, watched the hunter with a mixture of awe and fear.
"Will he be able to defeat it?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know," Soyeon replied, her voice quivering.
Gromer moved with practiced precision, dodging between trees and firing arrows with unerring accuracy. Yet the deer, seemingly impervious to pain, pressed on, each wound only intensifying the glow of the stone on its forehead. The creature let out a guttural roar, shaking the forest with its menacing presence.
Gromer's breath came heavy as he ducked behind a tree to draw his final arrow. His hands trembled, and his shirt clung to his sweat-soaked back. Despite its many injuries, the deer remained strong. Strangely, its wounds began to heal slowly, while the black stone on its forehead glowed menacingly, as if feeding the beast.
"Damn it…" the hunter muttered, eyeing the creature that only seemed to grow stronger.
"This isn't a normal beast. How many more arrows does it take to bring it down?!"
He released an arrow, but the deer dodged, its movements eerily quick, almost predatory. As if sensing its opponent's exhaustion, the creature froze for a moment, then turned toward Soyeon and Ellie.
"No…" the hunter whispered, seeing the beast shift its focus. His fingers faltered, almost dropping the bow, but he quickly steeled himself. "Over my dead body, you monster!" he growled, drawing the bowstring with shaking hands, his exhaustion evident.
Soyeon saw the deer lock onto them and instinctively pulled Ellie close, shielding her with her body. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, drowning out the sounds of the forest.
"Ellie, hold on!" she yelled, clutching the girl tightly.
The deer drew closer, its crimson eyes glowing with murderous intent, and its hooves thudded heavily against the forest floor. Soyeon gritted her teeth, knowing she couldn't outrun it. All she could do was shield the girl with her own body.
Ellie, pressed against Soyeon's chest, suddenly froze. Her gaze met the beast's fiery eyes, and something inside her stirred—a call she couldn't ignore.
The deer was mere steps away when the air around Ellie seemed to tremble. The girl, unaware of her actions, continued to meet the creature's gaze. Her body began to emit a faint golden glow, a strange force awakening within her—a blend of fierce aura and gentle, warm holy energy.
The deer abruptly halted. Its crimson eyes froze, its powerful stride arrested mid-motion. It seemed unable to move, as if held in place by the girl's stare.
"Ellie, what are you…" Soyeon whispered, oblivious to everything else around her.
The stone on the beast's forehead began to crack. Fine lines spread across its black surface, releasing faint beams of light. Moments later, the stone shattered with a resounding crack, disintegrating into shards. The deer let out a roar, but instead of rage, its voice carried pain and… relief.
The creature collapsed onto its front legs before crashing to the ground entirely. Its crimson eyes dimmed, returning to their natural state. Now it appeared as a normal forest deer, breathing heavily after a long struggle.
"What…?" Gromer, panting heavily, approached cautiously. "Is it over? Looks like it's not getting back up."
Soyeon was stunned. She looked at Ellie, who appeared calm, as if nothing had happened.
"It seems the stone… just broke," Soyeon murmured, struggling to explain what she had witnessed.
"Maybe we were just… lucky."
Gromer wiped his brow and slung his bow over his shoulder.
"Lucky or not, that thing wasn't just dangerous. I've never seen a monster like that—not even in my nightmares. What matters is that it's no longer a threat," he said, exhaling deeply.
The deer lay motionless on the ground, its breathing fading into the forest's eerie silence. Soyeon sighed with relief, gently stroking Ellie's head.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yes," Ellie nodded. Her voice was calm, but there was a pensive look in her eyes. Ellie felt something had changed within her but chose not to mention it.
Gromer knelt by the deer, picking up one of the shards of the shattered stone.
"This stone…" he muttered, inspecting it closely. "It was definitely magical. Someone or something cursed this animal."
Soyeon frowned, staring at the glistening fragments of the stone. "Who could have created such a thing? This artifact was far too dangerous to be accidental. But why was it on this creature?" The question gnawed at her as she led Ellie away.
As they returned to the trail, Gromer walked in silence, clearly deep in thought. Ellie clung to Soyeon's hand, her eyes still filled with unease.
"Thank you for saving us," Soyeon finally said, breaking the silence.
Gromer nodded, though his expression remained grim.
"That wasn't just any beast. If creatures like that are appearing in the forest, it means something in this world is changing. Be careful."
"We will," Soyeon replied.
***Home
After the battle with the unusual deer, Gromer decided to escort Soyeon and Ellie back to their home. He wasn't sure if the danger had been completely eliminated, but he didn't want to leave them alone in the forest after everything that had happened.
"Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?" he asked, walking slightly ahead and glancing cautiously around.
"We'll manage, thank you," Soyeon replied, though her voice betrayed her exhaustion. "We're only here thanks to you."
Ellie, who had been silent the entire way, finally spoke up:
"Gromer, what was that stone? Why did it make the deer attack us?"
The hunter sighed, slowing his steps for a moment:
"I'm not entirely sure," Gromer admitted, his voice hoarse and tense. "That stone was definitely magical. Things like that don't just appear out of nowhere. It could have been a curse, maybe part of a ritual… Someone clearly wanted to control the animal. And it's definitely not child's play."
Soyeon frowned, remembering how the stone had cracked and shattered. It had all happened so strangely and so quickly that she still couldn't make sense of it.
When they reached the small house, Gromer paused at the porch. He looked over their home: a wooden cabin surrounded by herbs and flowers that Soyeon cultivated for her medicines.
"It's quiet here," he remarked, lowering his bow from his shoulder. "But it's not safe, especially now, with cursed beasts like that popping up anywhere."
"How long can we survive without real protection?" Soyeon wondered, casting a quick glance at Ellie.
"We're used to staying alert," Soyeon said, opening the door. "But you're right—after today, I can't be certain we're entirely safe."
"That's why I want to offer my help," Gromer said firmly, looking her straight in the eye. "If anything happens, call for me. I've seen how creatures like that can come back. And as long as I'm nearby, I won't let anyone harm you."
Soyeon froze for a moment. She was used to relying only on herself, especially in this world, where every day was a struggle to survive. "He's genuinely offering to help… but can I trust him? Our lives are already filled with dangers, and if beasts with curses like that start appearing more often, we'll be even more vulnerable." The sincerity in the hunter's voice, however, made her nod:
"Thank you, Gromer. It means a lot to us."
Ellie, standing nearby, suddenly raised her head and asked:
"You're tired, aren't you? Come inside! We have tea with honey, and it'll definitely warm you up!"
Gromer looked surprised but smiled:
"Tea? That's an unexpected offer from a child who just survived an attack."
"You helped us so much!" Ellie exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "This is our way of saying thank you!"
"Ellie," Soyeon gently called, "that's sweet, but Gromer might need to get home."
The hunter, seeing the girl's genuine eagerness, waved his hand:
"All right, you win. But only for a few minutes."
Soyeon lit a candle and set it on the table while Ellie brought out cups. The air smelled of dried herbs, and the warm light filled the home with a sense of peace.
"It's cozy here," Gromer noted as he sat down. "And safer than the forest."
"We do our best," Soyeon replied with a smile, handing him a cup of hot tea. "I hope you don't mind a little honey."
He shook his head.
"No, thank you."
As they sat at the table, the conversation gradually returned to the strange deer. Gromer shared that he had heard of similar incidents in the north, where animals behaved unnaturally.
"I've been seeing more and more tracks of creatures that didn't belong here before," Gromer said, frowning. "Their behavior isn't normal. If beasts like that deer start showing up more often, it might just be the beginning. The forest is changing—and not in our favor. It feels like someone, or something, is intentionally disturbing the wildlife."
When the tea was finished, Gromer stood up.
"Thank you for the warm welcome. But I should be going. The forest is dangerous at night."
Soyeon walked him to the door, her thoughts filled with worries: "If this incident was just the start, how many more creatures like this will we face?"
Ellie, as cheerful as ever, waved at him:
"Thank you for saving us, Gromer! Promise you'll visit us again! We'll treat you to something even better next time!"
"I'll stop by if I'm passing through," he promised before disappearing into the night.
When his figure vanished into the darkness, Soyeon closed the door and looked at Ellie.
"You're very brave, Ellie. Thank you for inviting him in for tea."
"He deserved it," the girl said simply, gazing out the window. "I just want everyone to be safe."
Soyeon smiled, but in her heart, the feeling lingered that today's events hinted at something much larger.