Ahrie dragged the rabbit's corpse across the dirt.
Daiki hauled the other.
Henry lingered, eyes stuck on the wrecked burrow.
The kits were sprawled in the open—tiny bodies, breathing faint, knocked out cold.
"...You're just gonna leave them?" he asked quietly.
Ahrie didn't even glance back.
"We don't hunt babies. We're not that heartless." His voice was flat, almost bored.
Henry let out a shaky breath.
A smile tugged at his mouth—though it felt wrong here.
He stepped away from the ruins, trailing after the others.
The three of them walked back toward camp.
The unconscious kits left behind, the ground torn open, the air still carrying the stench of blood.
The three dragged themselves back into camp.
Luar stood, arms crossed, waiting by the fire.
"Welcome back. How's the hunt?" he asked.
Ahrie dropped his kill with a dull thud.
"Great."
Daiki flopped down beside it, voice flat.
"...Ok."
Neither had the energy to say more.
Luar glanced at the carcass, then at Henry.
"Did they hunt them by themselves?"
"Yes," Henry said.
"So they're strong… shall we recruit the—"
Henry cut him off, arms crossed tight…
"No. No, no, Fuck no… they're insane"
Luar and his Link members worked over the fire, rabbit meat sizzling on skewers.
Ahrie, Daiki, and Henry slumped nearby, worn out.
"Hey… Henry," Daiki muttered, eyes half-shut. "Why are you here? You didn't even help us hunt…"
Henry leaned back with a groan. "Ahh, well… I'm exhausted too. Mentally."
Ahrie lay still, but his gaze never settled.
Across the camp, Amariel sat in silence, hood shadowing her face.
He kept watching. Always watching.
The rabbit was cooked.
Olivia chewed, tilting her head. "Weird… the meat's softer than before."
Luar frowned. "Soft? Mine's the same as last time—tough as hell."
Aisyah slid her plate toward him. "Try this."
He bit down. Eyes widened. "...You're right. It's way more tender. Like it got—"
"Tenderized," Daiki and Henry muttered together, their faces paling.
Both of them remembered.
The fists. The kicks. Ahrie pounding the poor rabbit into the dirt.
Olivia set down a plate stacked with meat in front of Amariel.
"I don't eat meat," Amariel said flatly, pushing it aside.
Daiki's eyes flicked to the plate, then to Ahrie.
"Oi—hurry up, before someone else takes it. "He shoved the dish toward him.
Ahrie didn't argue. He pulled it close and started eating.
Morning break ended. They packed their things and moved out.
Daiki bumped his fist against Ahrie's shoulder.
"I'mma sit in front," he muttered.
He climbed up beside Luar, who held the reins, while the others piled into the carriage. The wheels creaked as they rolled south.
The carriage rolled on. First through the woods, then across a river, then down the cliff road.
After a few hours, they made it.
A wide grassland stretched out ahead of them. Behind stood the thick forest, looming like a wall.
"Prepare your equipment. We'll start the hunt," Luar said.
Everyone got ready.
They scanned the grassland and the edge of the forest. Then they saw them—a herd.
Huge Wild Boars. The size of bears. Long tusks, sharp and mean.
Daiki snapped, "Why the hell are creatures in this place so fucking big—"
Henry slapped a hand over his mouth, whispering hard. "Shh! Shut up! You'll get us killed."
Ahrie frowned. "But how do we separate them? We only need five."
Olivia smirked. "Don't worry about that."
"Do it," Luar ordered.
Olivia inhaled. Deep. Held her breath tight.
Her hands slammed down—
[Wall Go Up!]
The ground shook.
A wall of dirt surged from the ground, cutting one boar off from the herd.
Ahrie thought to himself, Who the hell names these skills… pathetic.
"Great jo—" Daiki stopped mid-praise. His eyes flicked to Luar, then back at Olivia.
"What?" Luar asked.
Daiki squinted. "She's not moving…" Daiki leaned closer, his face twisted. "She's not breathing!"
Henry muttered, calm as stone. "As long as she doesn't move and breathe… her skill stays."
Ahrie's jaw clenched. What the fuck is wrong with these skills…
Luar clapped his hands once. "Now, now… let's start the hunt."
Henry rushed in.
The boar spotted him—charged.
Both of them sprinted straight at each other. No hesitation.
Henry raised his shield.
Ahrie and Daiki froze.
Henry roared his skill:
[Dizzy Duo]
The shield shook.
Boar's skull met steel—
No impact happened…. Nothing.
"Huh?" Ahrie tilted his head.
Even the boar stopped, confused.
A number popped up on Henry's shield.
479.
Henry's face lit up. He waved his shield. "Cap! Cap! New record!"
Luar and Aisyah clapped like proud parents.
Then—BOOM.
Both Henry and the boar flew back at the same time, the real impact hitting.
The boar smashed into Olivia's dirt wall.
Henry face-planted, sliding across the ground like a ragdoll.
He groaned, raised a shaky hand… gave a thumbs up.
Daiki and Ahrie just stared. What in the fuck did we just watch…
Luar tapped his shoulders. "Let's finish it."
But when they looked back—
The boar's head was already gone. Cleanly cut.
Luar exhaled. "Thanks, Amariel."
Ahrie's eyes narrowed. Suspicious as hell…
Aisyah rushed to Henry, pressing her hands together.
[Healz-A-Breeze]
A soft wind swept around him—closing his wounds… and yeeting him backward.
Henry smacked the ground, face-first, again.
Olivia staggered. Her wall cracked apart, collapsing into dirt. She dropped to one knee, coughing hard, chest heaving as she sucked in air.
Henry groaned, pushing himself up, stretching his neck until it popped.
"Damn… I flew hard this time. Thanks Aisyah."
Aisyah just nodded, calm like nothing happened.
Olivia inhaled deep—held it— wall up again.
Henry charged the next boar, same result: slam, flop, face-first.
Aisyah's wind patched him up, then Luar, Daiki, or Ahrie finished them off.
Boar two down. Then three. Four. Five.
Hours later, the hunt finally ended.
"Great job today, guys," Luar said.
Olivia wheezed, bent over, still catching her breath.
Aisyah sipped a mana potion—one Daiki had handed over without thinking twice.
Ahrie's voice cut sharp. "The hell, that's ours."
Daiki shrugged, not even hiding his grin. "Relax, man. She needed it."
They bickered back and forth, the same as always.
Henry just lay on the dirt, spread out like a corpse.
Luar unpacked supplies.
And Amariel… she just stood there, staring at the forest.
"Let's prepare the boar," Henry said, pushing himself up.
Luar glanced at the three. "Ahrie, Daiki, Amariel—cut the heads off and load them in the carriage."
Daiki frowned. "Why the heads?"
"Proof we hunted them," Luar replied. "Tusks sell well. Rest is junk."
"Damn… if this was a game, I'd already be complaining," Daiki muttered.
The three got to work, blades sawing through thick necks. Blood soaked the dirt.
Daiki's eyes wandered. He noticed Amariel's hands—pale, delicate… too beautiful for this mess.
When the work was done, Daiki stepped close, chest puffed. "My lady, allow me. You'll hurt those precious hands."
Amariel didn't even flinch. "No thanks." She lifted the boar's head herself, hauling it to the carriage like it weighed nothing.
"Pff—" Ahrie snorted, shouldering another head.
Daiki grabbed his own, but not without shooting Ahrie a glare. Ahrie smirked right back.
They traded mocking looks the whole walk back, until the smell of roasting meat finally cut through the air.
The fire crackled. Plates emptied fast.
Daiki, Ahrie and Henry leaned over their food—shoveling it in. A fast eating contest without words.
Olivia walked by and handed them water. "Here—before one of you dies."
Daiki took a gulp too quickly—choked hard. He pounded his chest, face red.
Luar laughed loudly, cheering like hell.
Aisyah clapped softly, smiling at the sight.
From the shadows, Amariel just watched—silent, hood low, eyes unreadable.
After eating and a short rest, they packed up and moved on.
By the time the sun dipped low, painting the river gold, Luar pulled the reins.
"We'll camp here tonight."
They set their tents a little way off the water, far enough to stay safe.
Luar glanced at the Three. "Ahrie, Daiki, Amariel—can you take the first watch?"
"Not a problem," Ahrie replied.
"Good. We'll switch at midnight."
Luar's Link settled into sleep while the three took their posts.
Ahrie stayed close at camp.
Daiki and Amariel split off, patrolling the dark edges on their own.
Daiki sat alone by the lake, knees drawn up, eyes on the dark water.
His thoughts scattered everywhere.
"Are my parents looking for me right now?"
"Are they okay?"
He pictured it—his photo taped to a pole, police passing by, neighbors whispering.
"Arrggh… fuck!" he whispered, gripping his hair.
A crack. A branch snapping.
His body tensed. He shifted low, hand on his weapon.
Then—splash.
Water rippling.
He followed the sound.
And there she was.
Amariel.
Kneeling at the edge of the river, washing her face.
Moonlight brushed her pale skin, making it glow.
Her hood gone—sharp pointed ears, hair falling free.
And from her head… a flower. Delicate, blooming.
Daiki froze.
He couldn't move.
She looked less like a mage, more like something untouchable.
Beautiful.