The Western Forest deepened around them, the ancient trees standing as silent sentinels. The air, thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, grew heavier, the silence more profound.
After the adrenaline-fueled clash with the Bladefang Wolves, this quiet felt unnerving, like the calm before a storm.
"According to the client's map, the Silverwool Sheep should be grazing near a water source up ahead," Liu Xin murmured, his voice low as he gestured for the team to slow their advance.
Guili grunted in acknowledgement, his shield held at the ready, while Katy melted into the shadows between the trees, her cat-like eyes scanning for any sign of movement.
Pei, for once, was quiet, his hand resting on the hilt of his manifested Bronze Sword.
They moved with practiced stealth, their footfalls nearly silent on the soft forest floor. Soon, the gentle gurgle of a stream reached their ears.
Liu Xin raised a clenched fist, bringing them to an immediate halt. He pointed through a final thicket of ferns.
There, in a sun-dappled clearing beside a meandering river, was the flock. The Silverwool Sheep were even more beautiful in person than the description had suggested.
Their coats were a lustrous, metallic silver, catching the filtered sunlight and shimmering with every graceful movement.
They drank from the clear water, nibbled on tender river grass, and occasionally frolicked with gentle steps without a care in the world.
They're so peaceful, Mei thought, her heart softening at the sight.
Yeah, now that's the dream, eating, sleeping, and no worries, Ai agreed, her tone unusually gentle.
Their light is calm, Luminous observed, fluttering near Mei's shoulder. They are creatures of pure comfort. So they will be spooked easily.
"The mission is to shear them, not slaughter them," Liu Xin whispered, crouching low and pulling the team into a huddle.
"The merchant needs the fur intact. The problem is, they're notoriously skittish. One wrong move, and the entire flock will bolt. We need a plan to isolate a few without causing a panic."
Pei grinned. "I could try a dashing charge, herd a couple towards you guys?"
"Absolutely not," Katy retorted, her voice a soft hiss. "Your 'dashing charge' would send them scattering to the four winds. We need subtlety."
Guili nodded. "A distraction. Something to hold their attention while we work from the edges."
Mei listened, an idea beginning to form. It was risky, but it played to her strengths. She took a slow breath.
"I can do it," she said, her voice firm despite its quiet volume. All eyes turned to her. "I can get their attention. I think I can keep them calm, keep them from running."
Liu Xin studied her face, his gaze calculating. He thought about it, and it wasn't a bad idea. Even if it didn't work, they can still catch a few sheep if they run away.
"Alright," he said after a long moment, his trust in her evident.
"We'll try your plan. You're the centerpiece. The rest of us will fan out and move in from the sides once you have them entranced. Pei, since your martial soul is a sword, you'll be doing the shearing. Be quick and clean."
Pei gave a firm, silent nod, all traces of his usual cockiness replaced by professional focus.
With a shared look of determination, the team took their positions. Mei waited a beat, steadying her nerves. This wasn't a battle, it was a performance for a very particular audience.
She stepped out from the cover of the ferns and into the clearing.
The reaction was immediate. Several sheep closest to her lifted their heads, their large, liquid eyes wide with alarm. A few took a nervous step back.
Mei didn't rush. She moved with the serene grace of a performer taking her stage. She quickly released her martial soul.
The pink domain bloomed around her feet, its soft light spilling over the grass. The star-like motes drifted upwards, harmless and beautiful. Then, she began to sing.
It was a wordless melody, something she had often used as a vocal warm-up, a simple flowing tune that was both uplifting and profoundly calming.
She poured a trickle of her soul power into it for resonance.
The effect was mesmerizing.
The sheep that had been ready to flee paused, their ears twitching. The fear in their eyes melted into curiosity.
One, then another, took a tentative step towards her. The strange, soothing light and the enchanting sound were a siren's call they couldn't resist.
Soon, a small group of them had gathered at the edge of her domain, their heads tilted, completely captivated. Then, they simply sat down, their silvery wool pooling around them like liquid metal, utterly content to listen.
From the tree line, Liu Xin gave the signal.
Like ghosts, the rest of the team emerged. Katy and Guili moved to the flanks, keeping watch on the rest of the flock, while Liu Xin and Pei crept towards the entranced sheep at the rear.
Pei manifested his Bronze Sword, and with painstaking care, he began to shear. The sharp spirit metal slid through the thick wool with astonishing ease, coming away in large, shimmering sheets.
The sheep barely twitched, too lost in Mei's serenade to notice.
One sheep, two... they worked with efficient silence. Mei continued her song, her heart swelling with a unique joy. She saw the team successfully shear a third, then a fourth.
You're a natural, Ai whispered, her voice full of pride.
You harmonize with their gentle spirits, Luminous added, his light pulsing in time with her melody.
As the last notes of her song faded, Pei finished shearing the fifth sheep.
The team began their retreat, melting back into the forest with their valuable prize, leaving the sheared sheep looking slightly bewildered but unharmed and still calm.
Mei let her domain dissipate and took a slow step back, a satisfied smile on her lips. The plan had worked perfectly.
It was then that the shadow fell.
A piercing, furious screech tore through the peaceful clearing, a sound of razor-sharp talons and promised vengeance. It came from above.
The spell was broken instantly. The entire flock of Silverwool Sheep startled, leaping to their feet in a panic of flashing silver before bolting into the deeper woods.
Mei stumbled back, her heart hammering against her ribs as she looked up. Soaring high above the clearing was a large, jewel-feathered hawk. Its eyes, even from this distance, seemed to be locked directly on her.
Well, Ai said, her casual tone a stark contrast to the sudden tension.
It seems our little performance has an unhappy critic. And it's the same hawk from before. How devoted.
Someone seems to be holding a grudge for stealing its previous food.
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