"Her fur is so soft! I've never touched anything like this before! Can I hug it?"
Kai exclaimed, eyes sparkling with excitement at the creature summoned by the Spirit Necklace.
After escaping the ruins, we returned to our old house—hoping to salvage whatever items survived the blaze.
I told them about the entity I encountered, and the strange memories that flooded in when I faced it.
At first, Kai was concerned, peppering me with questions about my safety… but soon, he became completely entranced by the creature from the Spirit Necklace.
Ashen, however, remained silent. His gaze was distant and contemplative, as if drifting deep in thought.
Now, looking back on what happened last night… it was absolutely insane.
So much happened—beyond anything we'd ever known. Yet somehow… we survived.
In part, thanks to the creature summoned from the Spirit Necklace.
It pulled us through the chaos and danger, guiding our escape.
And when I look closely at that creature again… I can't deny the truth:
It's truly majestic. Exotic, mysterious—so beautiful it steals your breath away.
Four sturdy paws planted on the ground like pillars anchoring the mortal realm.
Its body was cloaked in soft white fur, pure like the night mist atop ancient peaks, streaked with golden lines like ancient spirit light that has never waned.
Huge wings, like twin ribbons of the divine sky, folded along its body—waiting for the moment to unfold and shake the heavens.
Its head bore the visage of an ancient dragon, carved by time and legend.
Its eyes—glowing amber like embers in stone—scanned the world with the silent wisdom of one who has witnessed untold wars.
Its claws were sharp as celestial steel. Its long tail coiled like a silent whip, awaiting command.
Not a sound escaped it, yet its presence stilled the wind and bowed the very air.
Kai continued hugging its leg, face pressed against that soft fur, looking as joyful as ever.
Just then, Ashen approached. He had been circling the area, scouring for clues about the one who'd destroyed his protective wards.
I asked:
"How goes it, Ashen? Found any leads?"
He shook his head slowly.
"No. I've found nothing. It's like everything was staged."
He looked up, his expression thoughtful.
"That person didn't just break the ward… they deliberately lured the Elderwood Beast here. They must have known this place long ago, and planned the attack carefully."
He paused before adding:
"What I still don't know… is what their true purpose is."
I hesitated, then asked:
"But why are you certain the ward-breaker is human?"
Ashen turned to face me, calm as ever.
"There are three reasons," he said evenly, as if this had been thought through for a long time.
"First: where we are is the edge of the territory—the border. That means encountering humans is far more likely here."
He traced a faint line in the scorched earth, pointing to subtle footprints.
"Second: this area isn't home to many intelligent creatures. Mostly just instinct-driven predators. Elarith is the exception… she's from deeper lands where ancient beings still dwell."
Ashen met my gaze, his tone firm this time.
"And third…" — he paused, voice lowering —
"The reason I'm most confident: the ward always alerts me when foreign creatures approach."
I blinked, a thought surfacing.
"Except… humans."
Ashen nodded, confirming quietly:
"Exactly. Only humans go completely undetected by the ward."
"But there's still something I can't fathom," he continued thoughtfully —
"How could a human move here at night without being killed by any beast?"
Before I could ask more, a chill wind suddenly swept through, sending shivers down my spine—not from cold, but from… unease.
Ashen became alert. He glanced toward the wind, eyes sharpening, then stepped back.
"Move back, Mira. Into the bunker."
I didn't hesitate. I nodded and followed his lead.
Kai sensed the danger too. He stopped smiling and looked around, uneasy.
Even the creature recoiled, growling low as if frightened.
Kai mumbled, "Maybe with the Elderwood Beast gone, this territory's now leaderless—so predators are moving in."
Ashen nodded, eyes fixed on the tense air.
"I thought so too. This was bound to happen."
He turned to both of us.
"Into the bunker. We need to discuss things… before heading to the new base."
Kai paused, glancing back at the majestic creature.
"What about this one? It's huge—how do we take it with us?"
As if understanding the question, the creature began to glow.
Its form shimmered, unravelling into thousands of tiny lights, drifting upward before coalescing around the Spirit Necklace on my neck.
I looked down at the necklace as it pulsed softly with those lights. Then I looked at Kai and Ashen.
This… must be how it chose to travel with us.
No more words were spoken. The three of us made our way into the bunker—the only part of the burned-down house still intact.
Although many items inside were destroyed, this hideout remained a suitable shelter.