Derimiel rode atop his wolf, the beast's silver-gray fur rippling with each stride.
Daiki moved to climb up too—only for the wolf to bare its teeth and refuse.
"Tch…" Daiki muttered.
Instead, the wolf clamped its jaws around the back of his clothes and hoisted him like baggage.
"Hey—!"
Ahrie pointed at himself, grinning. "How about me?"
Fwoosh!
The wolf's tail whipped past him.
Without thinking, Ahrie grabbed on.
The beast immediately lunged forward, sprinting.
"Hoooooold onnnn just a seeeeeec—!" Ahrie's voice trailed behind them as the wolf tore across the land.
An hour later—
They crested a ridge. Below, mist clung to twisting waterways and glowing marshlight.
Glimmerfen.
A lone guard stood watch at the gates.
"Halt!" Derimiel commanded.
The wolf skidded to a stop, flinging dirt and grass.
Derimiel dismounted. The wolf released Daiki, who landed with a grunt.
"Help…" Ahrie croaked, still dangling from the tail, face pale like his soul had escaped.
Daiki doubled over laughing as he helped pry Ahrie free.
Derimiel stroked his wolf's head and whispered an order. The beast padded off to wait in the shadows.
They presented themselves to the guards, passed the checks, and entered the town.
The elder's estate towered near the center of Glimmerfen, lanterns casting faint green light across polished wood. They knocked at the door, and a butler answered.
"Oh my…" the butler said, eyes widening at Derimiel's presence.
Derimiel glanced at Ahrie and Daiki. "Why don't you two look around? See if you can pick up any leads. I'll seek information here."
They both nodded.
The butler ushered Derimiel inside, leading him toward the elder's chambers.
The elder's face brightened the moment Derimiel stepped into the room. His weathered hand lifted in greeting.
"Would you look at that… how are you, kid?"
Derimiel clasped his hand firmly. "Great to see you in good health, sir."
The elder chuckled, patting his shoulder. "And the rescue operation? How did it go?"
Derimiel's expression sobered. "Somewhat successful…"
"I see…" The elder sighed, his smile fading. "I'm sorry I couldn't lend more aid."
"Thank you for doing what you can, sir." Derimiel bowed his head slightly.
The elder barked out a laugh. "You're as polite as ever. Are you sure you're truly related to that hot-headed brat?"
A small smile tugged at Derimiel's lips.
"So," the elder leaned back, studying him with curious eyes, "where is that hot-headed father of yours these days?"
Derimiel hesitated. "I don't know much…"
He lifted his gaze, voice steady but carrying weight. "I came here looking for my siblings. There's a chance they were bought by a noble passing through."
The elder's brows furrowed. He moved toward a shelf, pulling free a stack of records. "I see… let's check the reports. Any carriages or nobles coming from that direction should've been logged."
He spread the parchments across the desk, scanning through the inked notes, muttering under his breath.
Meanwhile, Ahrie and Daiki wandered through the town's busy streets. Vendors shouted over each other, kids darted between legs, and Seekers bargained for supplies.
Daiki nudged Ahrie with his elbow. "Look at that dude… shiny as ever."
Ahrie squinted. Sure enough, the same guy from before strutted into view—armor gleaming like he polished it every five steps, chin raised high.
Far off in the plaza, a voice rang out.
"Oh, gods, not again…"
The man planted himself proudly in front of a newly formed Link.
"C'mon, bud! I'm the best tank around!"
A man in light armor argued with the link, trying to force his way and join them.
They kept pushing him out.
The crowd just watched, half laughing, half annoyed.
Ahrie leaned on Daiki's shoulder, laughing. "Pffft—he's still trying?"
Daiki shook his head, half-amused, half-exasperated. "A chaotic normal life, huh…"
…
Amariel and the others staggered into the floriae village.
Fire everywhere. Houses burning. Corpses littered the path.
The elder lay on the ground, breathing ragged. One arm gone, stump wrapped in blood.
He hissed with every breath.
A man sat right in front of him—clean, smug, filthy grin.
His voice was calm, almost bored.
"So… you're the 'main force' this old man bragged about?"
"ELDEEER!" a dozen voices screamed.
A handful of guards charged in desperation—
SHUNK.
Their heads rolled before they could even reach him.
"Tch." The man wiped his axe against his sleeve.
"This was it? You scammed me, old man. I was hoping for something… better."
"RUN!" Amariel screamed.
The rescued villagers bolted into the forest, while a few guards stayed, forming a shaky shield line around her.
The boss stood, cracking his neck, eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.
"What a waste of my time."
Then, without hesitation, he brought his axe down.
The elder's skull shattered under the swing.
"You monster!" one of the Floriae guards shouted, charging at him.
In Glimmerfen—
Ahrie and Daiki lounged in a corner, chewing on cheap food like they had all the time in the world.
By the time Derimiel found them, crumbs littered their clothes.
They'd spent the day checking nobles, merchants, anyone who matched the dates and routes tied to the black market.
Polite questions didn't work—Derimiel's steady tone only got him ignored.
Daiki's friendly approach? Brushed off.
So they fell back to Ahrie's method.
A full-blown thug routine.
They boxed in a trembling noble from three sides.
"Where were you last night, huh?" Daiki muttered, lowering his tone.
"I—I was at my inn, sir. Please…"
The three leaned closer.
"Is it you who took my siblings? Haaaah?" Derimiel pressed, awkwardly mimicking Daiki's growl.
"N-no! I wouldn't dare. I don't even know who your siblings are!" the man stammered, sweating bullets.
Ahrie squinted, then growled:
"Hand over the money."
Derimiel and Daiki froze.
They turned their heads slowly toward him.
"…We're looking for my siblings," Derimiel said flatly.
"…Yea, yea. My bad, my bad," Ahrie muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets.
By the time they'd finished intimidating half the town, they had nothing.
No signs of Derimiel's siblings.
Only a trail of scared nobles left behind them.
In the Floriae village—
Amariel and a handful of guards threw themselves at the boss.
Joint attacks, feints, single strikes—they tried everything.
Nothing landed.
Every clash left another guard dead.
If this keeps up… we'll all die.
Amariel's chest tightened. Scatter. At least buy them time to escape.
She charged, threads whipping into a monstrous shape behind her.
[Florivora!]
The living strings writhed, snapping toward the boss.
"Oh?" He tilted his head. "An interesting trick."
"HAH!"
Her barrage swallowed him, smoke and dust exploding on impact.
Amariel froze, eyes locked on the haze.
Her heart sank as it cleared—
He stood there, skin barely scratched.
"Too slow."
His fist crashed into her gut before she could retreat.
Air ripped from her lungs. She collapsed to her knees.
The boss loomed over her.
"Now that I look closely… your beauty's not bad."
He smirked. "Serve me. I'll let your people live."
Amariel lifted her head, teeth bared in a grin.
"Fuck. Off."
For a heartbeat, her thoughts wandered—flashes of two idiots who dragged chaos everywhere they went.
Daiki's dumb grin. Ahrie's unhinged laughter. Somehow… She was starting to talk like them.
Her gaze dropped, shoulders slack.
"…What a shame."
The boss raised his axe.
SLASH.