The walk was silent—except for the sound of her heart
thudding in her ears.
Lyra followed several paces behind him, stumbling through
roots and ferns as the silver forest shimmered in the dusk light. Lykos didn't
speak, didn't glance back, but his ears twitched every time her breath hitched.
He moved like a ghost—barefoot and graceful, each step
careful yet powerful. She tried not to stare at the runes etched down his
spine, pale like starlight on frost. His body was strong, but lean, sculpted by
instinct, not vanity.
He was terrifying. And mesmerizing.
And Lyra had no idea if she would survive the night.
Her stomach twisted.
> Don't panic, she told herself. Don't fall apart.
But her legs were shaking.
After what felt like an hour of winding paths and soft moonlit shadows, the terrain shifted. The trees grew thicker, roots knotting into uneven stairs, and ahead, the land rose into a steep cliffside veined with white quartz.
At the base, half-hidden by vines and overgrowth, was a
jagged opening.
A den.
Lykos stepped inside without a word. Lyra hesitated at the
mouth. Cold air wafted out, tinged with damp earth and musk. She swallowed, gripped the edge of her sleeve, and followed.
The cavern was deeper than it looked—twisting tunnels that eventually opened into a large chamber lit by glowing moss and hanging lanterns made of bone and crystal. A central stone firepit smoldered with bluish coals. On the far side, a large pile of soft pelts formed a nest-like bed.
Lyra stopped near the entrance, eyes wide.
This wasn't just a shelter. It was a home.
And it belonged to a beast.
Lykos crouched near the fire, tossing in a few dried twigs.
"You'll stay here tonight."
She blinked. "Here? With you?"
He gave her a pointed look. "Would you prefer to sleep alone in a forest full of things that don't like the smell of foreign blood?"
"…No," she admitted.
He motioned to a flat pelt-covered stone. "Sit. You're still
trembling."
She hesitated, then slowly lowered herself onto it. The warmth of the fire touched her skin, chasing away the chill in her fingers. Her boots were still damp from the forest.
Lykos remained crouched, arms resting on his knees, watching the flames.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then, softly: "What's your name?"
She startled. "Lyra."
"…Lyra," he repeated. "Unusual."
She looked down. "So is everything here."
His eyes flicked to her. "You really are lost."
She nodded slowly.
Another pause.
"You lied to me," he said bluntly. "About where you're
from."
Her heart stopped.
> ⚠️ [Eden Core Warning: Truth
detection high. Lie with emotional layering recommended.]
"I lied to protect myself," she said carefully. "I didn't think you'd help if I told you the truth."
"…And what is the truth?" he asked, gaze sharp.
"I don't know where I am," she whispered. "I woke up in your world. Alone. Hungry. Scared. That's all I can say."
He studied her in silence. His eyes weren't just beastly—they were intelligent, analytical. Every twitch of his brow or shift in breath felt like a test.
Finally, he stood.
"You don't smell like a liar," he muttered. "Just… wrong."
He walked toward a side alcove. "Rest. There's food if you
want it. Dried root cakes. Bitter, but filling."
Lyra waited until he disappeared into the tunnel.
Then she collapsed into herself, curling forward, hands gripping her knees.
And broke down.
Silent tears slipped down her cheeks. Her shoulders trembled. The shock of everything—being transported to another world, facing death, lying just to survive—crashed over her like a wave.
She missed her plants. Her books. Her quiet window. Her
grandmother's old humming.
> I don't belong here, she thought. I'm going to die in a
world that doesn't even know what I am.
A soft chime answered her grief.
> 💡 [Eden Core Response:
Emotional distress detected]
Initiating Sanctuary Space Access…
The firelight dimmed around her.
Suddenly, the world rippled.
And Lyra felt herself fall inward.
---
🌱 Inner Space – Sanctuary
Grove: Tier 0
Lyra landed softly on a grassy path. Her breath hitched.
All around her was a glowing garden—modest and enclosed by soft golden fog. A tiny wooden cottage sat in the corner, surrounded by a few leafy plots and scattered wildflowers. Chickens clucked lazily in a pen near a wooden barrel of rainwater.
And in the center…
A celestial pond, glowing with faint blue light, cradled in
stone and moss. Soft sparkles danced across its surface.
Lyra stared in disbelief.
"It's real…" she whispered. "I have a space."
Her Eden Core pulsed.
> 💧 Celestial Pond: Mild healing aura. Soothes emotional imbalance. Encourages obedience in tamed animals.
🐣 Chickens x2: Affection
Level - Curious
🌾 Plots Available: 3
🍎 Storage Room: Time Flow Stopped
Tears fell again—but this time, they were softer.
Here, she felt safe. No beasts. No lies. No fear. Just… her.
She crouched and ran her fingers over the grass. It felt
cool and gentle, like memory. She didn't dare stay long—Lykos might suspect.
But in the short time she had, she did three things:
1. Fed the chickens, who clucked sweetly and followed her
like ducklings.
2. Stored her foraged mushrooms and leaves into the pantry.
3. Washed her face in the celestial water, feeling her heart
calm like moonlight on still water.
Then, whispering thanks to the system, she thought, Take me back.
----
Back in the Den
The fire had burned lower, but still glowed. Lyra blinked as
the transition finished, wiping the final tears from her eyes.
Lykos was already watching her from the tunnel.
"You smell different," he murmured.
Her breath caught.
"…Clean," he added. "Like… river light."
She fumbled. "I—I washed my face."
He didn't answer, but something in his expression shifted.
Then, with a sigh, he walked past her and tossed her a rolled pelt.
"Sleep. You'll need your strength. The forest doesn't forgive the weak."
He moved toward the far wall, lying down not far, his back
to her.
But before she closed her eyes, she heard him speak again—quietly, so low it barely registered.
> "If you run, I'll catch you. But if you stay…I'll protect you."
---
🌙 End of Chapter Two