Flames flickered wildly in Valroth's eyes.
A moment ago, he had been asleep on the grass. Next, he was hovering in midair. His sword hummed at his side, ready to be drawn at any moment.
Valroth raised his right hand instinctively, reaching for his chest, but his movements halted abruptly. His face was filled with confusion as he surveyed his surroundings, then looked down at Aeris, who was rubbing her eyes as she woke.
"...What's wrong?"
Aeris stood up, holding Ember in one arm while gripping her spear in the other. She watched as Valroth slowly descended, scanning the area cautiously before turning back to him, her gaze lingering on the fire still flickering in his eyes.
Valroth's expression was dark, as if he were on the verge of killing someone.
But gradually, he calmed the storm within him. His voice was steady when he finally spoke.
"Nothing. Let's go back."
He wanted to resume their training.
Even though he knew deep down that no matter how much Aeris trained, she, as an ordinary human, would never stand a chance against those born with superior abilities.
But that wasn't the point.
What Valroth truly wanted to train was her heart.He would shatter it into pieces, mix in his own thoughts, and reshape it into something that belonged to him alone.
"I want to spend the night with the birds."
Aeris grasped his sleeve, hesitating before finally making up her mind. She looked at Valroth and spoke with resolve.
"What?" Valroth asked instinctively, unable to believe his ears. "Are you sure?"
Aeris nodded firmly.
Valroth's wings instinctively wrapped around her, and he smiled inwardly. What was supposed to take a year of training had nearly been achieved in a single month. As expected, something already broken was easier to reshape.
Valroth tore through the forest recklessly, filling the wooden cabin with a storm of feathers in an instant. Watching the vibrant plumes drift to the ground, Valroth was satisfied with his speed. Turning back to Aeris, he smirked.
"Are you sure?"
A loud bang rang out as the wooden door was flung open. The birds tried to escape, but a crimson force kept them trapped inside. Their hateful, fearful eyes glowed in the dim cabin, fixed on Aeris.
Aeris averted her gaze, only to see the floor covered in colorful feathers. Her body tensed, cold sweat running down her back.
Valroth wasn't surprised.
Believing she could do it and truly doing it, there was only one way to make her understand the difference.
Valroth rarely showed affection, but this time, he cradled Ember in his arms, stroking its sleek, snow-white fur with a gentle touch. He was in no hurry. Leaning against the massive trunk of an ancient tree, he simply watched Aeris, who stood trembling in place, gripping her spear with white-knuckled hands.
A sudden gust of wind howled through the trees. In the blink of an eye, a golden light flared around Aeris, then she was gone. A loud bang echoed through the air as the wooden door slammed shut behind her.
The cabin erupted into chaos. The frantic beating of wings, the shrill cries of birds, and then, Aeris's piercing scream.
Valroth was already at the door. His body tensed, ready to move at any moment.
Ember clawed at the wooden surface, its pristine white paws leaving deep scratches as it frantically tried to force its way inside. At the sound of Aeris's wretched cries, mixed with uncontrollable sobs, Ember let out a heart-wrenching screech of its own. It threw its entire body against the door, red light flickering faintly around it.
A shadow of concern flickered in Valroth's usually unreadable eyes.
And then, silence.
Only the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze remained.
The first rays of dawn slowly crept over the eastern horizon, filtering through the dense foliage and casting a golden glow upon the small wooden house.
Valroth extended his palm, and the crimson aura encasing the cabin flowed back into his hand like a receding tide. The moment it vanished, a thick, metallic scent flooded the air.
Blood.
Ember, who had collapsed in exhaustion moments ago, sprang to its feet, fur bristling as it let out a warning growl.
Valroth pushed open the door.
Aeris sat slumped against the corner of the room, her back pressed to the wall. Her eyes were closed, long lashes trembling ever so slightly. Blood streaked her pale face. It was everywhere—on her skin, her clothes, her spear, which lay beside her, stained a deep brown.
And all around her—within a meter's radius—the ground was littered with feathers and lifeless birds, their bodies torn and broken.
"Aeris."
Valroth said her name softly, but she didn't react.
He stepped closer, his voice firm this time. "Aeris."
No response.
Crouching in front of her, he examined her for injuries. Ember leapt onto her lap, nuzzling desperately against her chest, but still, she remained motionless.
Valroth hesitated for only a moment before carefully lifting her into his arms.
With a quick signal, Ember followed him as he carried Aeris out of the bloodstained cabin.
The icy riverwater washed away the crimson streaks clinging to her skin. And yet, there was not a single wound on her body.
That shouldn't have been possible.
The creatures inside that cabin—those birds were no mere prey. Their wings were as sharp as blades, some coated in venom. Their fangs could crush a human skull in an instant, devouring flesh in a single bite.
For a normal person, it meant certain death.
But Aeris was untouched.
Valroth's training couldn't have been responsible for this.
Something else was at play.
Placing his palm against her forehead, he summoned fire. Unlike his usual crimson flames, this time, they burned a cold, eerie blue.
The moment the fire seeped into her skin, her entire face turned an unnatural shade of blue. She looked terrifying.
Valroth closed his eyes, focusing, searching—
But there was nothing.
No trace of magic. No hidden power.
And then—
A presence.
Something deep within Aeris stirred.
Before Valroth could grasp what it was, golden light exploded from her body, enveloping them both.
The brilliance was blinding, even in daylight.
Warmth spread through Valroth's body, wrapping around him like a comforting embrace. He shut his eyes instinctively.
And in the darkness—
He saw the sea.
The scent of salt and sugar filled the air. Waves crashed against the shore, and he felt himself being pulled backward, dragged into a memory he had long buried.
A boy—his own shadow, younger, smaller.
And then—
Two-horned figures, wreathed in fire, emerging from the flames.
A diamond-shaped pendant, transparent as glass, thrown into the ocean by trembling hands.
Pain. A sword piercing through his chest.
Blood.
As he lay dying, he saw a familiar figure standing over him.
Am I dead?
The thought barely formed before a voice shattered the silence.
"Valroth."
Cold. As cold as the river.
It made him shudder.
His eyes snapped open.
His wings unfurled, sword in hand.
And then—he saw her.
Aeris's black hair, cascading like a waterfall, faded to silver from root to tip in an instant.
Her once-dark eyes burned a ghostly red.
Valroth's grip on his sword tightened. His voice was like ice.
"Who are you?"
If not for the crescent-shaped white mark behind her left ear, his blade would have already struck.
The girl—no, the presence within her—smiled.
"Nyssara."
She tilted her head, amused.
"The guardian and guide of Aeris."