Reiji sprinted through the forest, his handmade leather shoes leaving deep trails on the ground. Leaves rustled and twigs snapped underfoot as he chased a shadowy creature. Just as he was about to grab hold, the animal would turn abruptly, leaving him in the dust.
He stopped to catch his breath, muttering, "This thing's too fast…"
"Reiji-eni!"
He turned upward toward the source of the voice.
"I've already put a Bullard to sleep; Bobbin's getting it."
Reiji exhaled deeply and said, "Good, we have our meal."
It had been a few days since Reiji, Tatiana, and Bobbin had been together. They had practiced combat, hunted for food, and even crafted their own clothing.
She descended, pointing toward a nearby clearing. Reiji followed without question.
"Why do you always insist on hunting Bullard with my Oppress spell still active?" asked Tatiana, who was now wearing a tunic strapped with a leather belt and topped with a cloak made from Bobbin's fur.
"Lesson six: always aim for development, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually."
She stared at him, eyeing his matching outfit, waiting for more context.
"Let's just say, I want to develop my physical strength while I still can."
"Okay, big brother."
"Why aren't you flying?"
"Using flight is exhausting, and I like using these boots you've made me."
Reiji patted her head as they continued toward where Bobbin waited, then headed home together.
"Reiji Grilled Special No. 4!" Reiji announced.
Tatiana and Bobbin's eyes glimmered with excitement. And right after they dug in, there was a pleasant, pure happiness on their faces. After their meal, they went on with their daily routine of training, crafting, and relaxation before retiring to their huts to end the day.
"Tatiana's emotional intelligence is growing day by day," Reiji thought, staring up at the sky. "Will she be convinced to look for a village?"
Then the next day came and the next, and the next, going on their routine, having casual conversations along the way.
"Reiji-nii, do you know your hair is almost as white as mine?"
"Yes, I kinda get the hint that's the reason why you came up to me and brought me here in the first place."
"It's true, but Bobbin panicked when you erratically punched yourself in the face."
"Can't blame her."
Both chuckled and laughed as they traveled to their hunting ground.
These peaceful days went on for weeks, even months. Then Reiji finally had the courage to ask Tatiana to try to look for a village. He said, "Tati, these ruins. You've lived here for years. Do you know what happened to it?"
She stopped on her tracks, mouth open, staring blankly ahead. Reiji, who hadn't noticed Tatiana's reaction, continued talking, "It's being reclaimed by nature now, do you think it's time to move on?"
He turned and saw a frozen Tatiana muttering, "I... I was..."
"Hey, I'm sorry, you don't need to–"
A sudden, thunderous rumble tore through the air, snapping both of them to attention. "What was that?" Reiji inquired. Tatiana, who looked like she was back to reality, replied, "I don't – I don't know."
Reiji quickly ordered, "Come close, Tati. That sound was too close. We have to check what that was."
Another loud rumbling echoed.
"Let's go!"
"Right behind you, Reiji-eni."
A few moments later they got close, there was shouting and panic: "Lyra, take Lyrien and run!" one man shouted.
"I refuse, Lyra!"
"Lyrien, we have to go!"
As soon as they left, the group they left behind was annihilated by a menacing red-eyed, black stone-like goblin.
Reiji, Tatiana, and Bobbin watched the horror from afar.
"Reiji-eni, we can't help them."
"You're right, let's follow those two on the horse being chased down. Come on!"
"Reiji-eni, I don't want to…"
"What? Why?"
"Those are nobles..."
"How do you know–" Reiji looked at Bobbin and sensed there's something more to it. So he decided, "Bobbin, I'll leave you to her. Stay away and run towards the direction of our home. I'll find you once I help these people."
"You mustn't, Reiji-eni."
He patted her head and said, "Hey, it's gonna be alright, Tati. I'm here now. I just can't let these people die without trying to help them. They were brought here for a reason."
Tatiana's eyes teared up as if asking Reiji not to go. Reiji's expression softened as he gazed at her.
"Hey, kid. That's the first time I see you show some real negative emotion. And I'm happy you did. I promise I'll find you right after I help them, okay?"
Tatiana turned away without saying a word. Reiji looked at her, nodded to Bobbin, and said, "Stay safe. Don't hurt anyone unless you have to." With that, he departed.
"I'll find you no matter what," Reiji thought to himself.
His focus snapped back to the task at hand as he sprinted through the forest, thinking over where the two riders would likely go. At the forest's edge, he pushed through dense underbrush.
"Their horses can't get through here... They must've taken the trails I made as traps for the Bullards. I know exactly where they'll be."
Reiji turned and took off, following a path only he knew. A moment later, he found himself trailing the monsters that were chasing the strangers.
"Got you," he muttered.
Ahead, a knight and a robed woman on horseback came into view. But the trail was narrowing—and the monsters were closing in.
Reiji launched himself by stepping off the trunk of a tree, nearly splintering it with the force.
Mid-air, he threw a punch with his right fist straight into the lead monster's face.The impact knocked the creature into another, driving both into the thick underbrush and halting their pursuit.
Reiji, however, slammed into the ground with a sickening grunt. His right arm shattered on impact. Blood splattered on the ground and his bone gleamed white through torn skin all the way to his forearm.
His breath hitched as he coughed blood and started to chant through gritted teeth,
"Corpo... si... illumina—"
But before he delivered the blow, the robed woman had already turned back, and began her own chant, "Aqua, voluntati tuae. Recovery!"
Water appeared, and flew toward Reiji's broken arm, wrapping around it like silk.
He gasped as warmth spread through his limb. His wounded arm rapidly closed the wounds before his eyes.
At the same moment, the knight wheeled her horse back around. Seeing the opening Reiji had made, "Lyrien, come," she charged forward and, without slowing, grabbed him by the back of his cloak and hoisted him onto the back of her horse.
"Are you out of your mind?! That was a silver-grade golem! Punching it with your bare hands?! she yelled, her voice half shock, half fury, facing sideways as they rode.