Robert chased after Lock. Lock was not good at close combat, so he ran. As they left the crater area, Robert cornered him. Lock waved his staff and cast a spell — a magic circle formed, and a blazing arc of fire shot forward.
Pseudo First Circle Spell: Fireslash.
Robert flinched at the heat but dodged it in time.
"Hahaha! I'll get a promotion for killing an evil sorcerer," Robert laughed. "And I can claim the rest of the treasure from the cave at the next Blue Moon — three years from now! Gust must have already killed that kid and taken the treasure by now."
Since the Blue Moon had ended, the treasure cave's entrance was now closed. They would have to wait three years until the next one appeared.
But soon Robert paused. He heard a sharp creak — the sound of wood cracking. He turned around and saw that the Fireslash hadn't struck him, but had cleaved the thick tree behind him.
"So that's what you were aiming for..." Robert muttered.
Even though Robert was a strong Chief Guard, he was not a knight. And even though Lock was injured, he was still a sorcerer.
The tree collapsed onto Robert, burying him beneath splintered bark and dirt.
When the dust settled, Lock was nowhere to be seen. He didn't even glance at Robert. His thoughts were only on Dusk.
Lock followed the trail where Dusk and Gust had gone. Soon he reached the slope, the dawn light painting the world in pale gold. The slope was not too deep, but the ground was sharp and deadly. There lay Gust, impaled on thorny rocks — dead, still clutching the treasure in his stiff hands.
Lock ignored the treasure and looked around. He sighed in relief when he didn't see Dusk's body.
Then he turned back to the treasure. Taking out his staff, he murmured another spell.
Several strips of paper flew from his hand, curling and stretching until they grabbed the sack and slowly dragged it toward him.
"This spell is difficult to control," Lock muttered.
---
Meanwhile, Dusk was wandering through the forest, still shaken but alive. He saw something strange — an orange thread stretched out before his eyes, glowing faintly in the morning mist. It was the first time he had seen that color.
He was holding a strange fruit in his hand — round, orange, and about the size of a Melon. He had found it after the colony of lorises left.
Curious, Dusk followed the orange thread until he reached a fallen tree. He stopped in surprise — it was Robert, the Chief Guard of Ram City. The tree had pinned him to the ground.
The orange thread connected all three: the fallen tree, Robert, and the fruit in Dusk's hand.
Dusk felt a dull pain in his stomach, remembering the brutal punch Robert had once given him.
"Hey, kid... help me... roll this tree away!" Robert shouted desperately. "That man — he's an evil sorcerer! The church won't spare you if they find out! Help me... I'm the Chief Guard!"
"I can't... I'm not strong enough to move this tree," Dusk said quietly as he walked closer.
He crouched and set the fruit by Robert's arm.
"You can eat this if you get hungry," he said simply. Dusk was too kind — even though he didn't want to help, he couldn't stand the thought of leaving someone to starve.
Robert blinked, speechless.
Dusk turned and walked away, his small figure swallowed by the forest light.
"Damn kid... I'll kill you... I'll definitely kill you... No... wait! Don't go! Get back here. Help me!" Robert shouted, his voice cracking into panic as Dusk turned and ran.
"Huh... He's gone..." Robert's face twisted with despair. He cried out again, "Someone... please save me!" His voice broke. He could no longer feel his legs.
---
Dusk followed the faint red thread that appeared before his eyes. He didn't know what these strange, illusory lines were, but following them had kept him safe so far.
At last, he found Lock, who was searching for him in return.
"Dusk!" Lock shouted, relief washing over his face as he ran to the boy and pulled him into a tight hug.
"Glad that you're safe," he said with a tired smile.
Dusk froze for a moment, then slowly hugged him back. The warmth was unfamiliar yet comforting.
He always hugged his sister, but this was different — it was the warmth of an adult, the warmth of someone who cared.
Tears welled up and rolled down his cheeks. He tried to stop, but he couldn't.
He was just a child — scared, exhausted, and finally safe enough to cry.
Lock said nothing, only let him cry quietly into his shoulder.
---
"Help! Someone... anyone..."
Hours had passed since Dusk and Lock had left. Robert was still trapped beneath the fallen tree. His throat was hoarse, his arms trembling from struggle.
He turned his head and saw the fruit lying where Dusk had left it.
He reached for it with shaking fingers. The rind was warm to the touch. At least he could eat it — maybe regain some strength.
"At least... I won't starve," he rasped.
As soon as he took a bite, sweetness flooded his mouth— so rich, so fragrant that he almost sighed in pleasure.
"What a nice smell..." Robert murmured, his eyelids drooping as the scent wrapped around him.
But then his eyes widened — a shadow shifted ahead.
Dozens of slender lorises stood in front of him, their red eyes gleaming in the dim light.
Their gazes fixed not on him, but on the fruit and the juice dripping from his mouth.
Robert froze, horror creeping up his throat.
He looked at the fruit, then at the lorises. "No... the kid set me up... is this revenge?" he whimpered, tears mixing with sweat.
In truth, Dusk had only pitied him. He hadn't known that the fruit would release such a scent — one that drew wild beasts like moths to fire.
His voice cracked into a sob. "Please... someone—"
But the lorises only hissed, their mouths opening to reveal rows of needle teeth.
Screech!
The lorises shrieked and lunged.
"Nooo!!!"
Robert's last cry echoed once — then swallowed by the whispering forest — and then, silence.