Lightning flittered through the untamed expanse of storm clouds as heavy droplets began to batter the ground with rhythmic motion.
The figures of 4 youths were illuminated by arcs of electricity, looking very much out of place among the densely packed trees.
"You guys are not at all worried about him?" The words came with a tinge of youthful purity.
"No," the others replied, their voices overlapping as one.
"Look, boy, the Captain's stronger than you think. He managed to survive all the trouble he gets himself into without dying."
"Not to mention surviving a strike from that accursed chuuni warrior, even the emperor—"
Before the green-haired man could finish, multiple cold gazes locked onto him.
"Blue, remember what happened last time you tempted fate," the youthful voice kindly reminded him.
As if recalling something unpleasant, the green-haired youth squinted and fell into deep thought. His shoulder-length hair was tied in a ponytail, its placid green color matching the deep yellow of his cat-like irises, resting calmly on his sharp features.
He squinted harder, as though that alone might help him piece together his lost memory. But before his antics could continue, a cold male voice brought him out of his stupor.
"We've almost reached the heart of the forest. Everyone, remain on guard. The storm should have washed away our scents, and I doubt any pyromancers would want to fight in such disadvantageous weather, but that's all the more reason to stay alert. Anyone able to find us now is not only skilled enough to track us, but confident enough in his flames to take on four people in the rain. If you get burned to death in a storm, I won't know how to write a gravestone fitting of your stupidity."
"Hey, Jackal, you hypocrite! You're always complaining about the Captain and me joking in tense situations, just to do it yourself," Blue complained.
Jackal, a sturdy youth of about six feet two, with long dreads and a serious air, stared in Blue's direction with an unfriendly gaze. His mismatched red and blue eyes seemed to warn that it was not too late for Blue to be stripped of his clothes and left to enjoy the cold caress of the raindrops on bare skin, tempering his martial spirit among the cumulus clouds and morning dew drops. Blue shivered from the predatory look.
"Aiya, you guys really need to stop treating my body like some kind of item you can just undress whenever you want. I have my purity to keep, I am an upright man of outstanding character!"
The two who had yet to speak watched Blue's antics with helpless expressions. Their party of 4 had been exploring the outer circle of the Golden forest for some time now, and throughout the journey, Blue had never stopped behaving in such a flamboyant manner. If not for their Captain's similarly unser... outstanding personal judgment, they might have thought Blue was just some random drunkard picked up from the closest low-end bar.
Though the truth was undeniable, he was a capable archer, despite his unconventional archery methods.
Hold on. Jackal made a hand signal, causing the other three to pause.
The one named Boy looked at Jackal with an inquisitive gaze.
"Blood, and lots of it, too. Could the Captain be hurt? This is close to the rendezvous point."
"Be battle ready," Jackal said this while holding the hilt of his heavily chained blade.
The other three seemed to get the message. Blue placed an arrow on his ornate, flowing bow, a work of exquisite art.
"The boy shrank behind the last of the four: a towering woman of corded muscle, with scarlet hair and unwavering, velvet eyes."
They advanced in a tight formation with the precise movements of a group of noble heroes.
"Ah, you all took a while to get here. Thought one of you might have kicked the bucket or sum."
"Burned to a crisp ~"
A cheerful voice, sweet as the cries of an oriole, floated out to everyone's ears.
The tone was light and casual, contrasting heavily with the sight displayed in front of the four present: corpses strewed about, impaled on various objects.
The Captain, a figure of impeccable beauty carved with a skinny, almost ephemeral figure, spoke. His gentleness was a tenuous shield, hinting at a deep, hidden sorrow. His hair was a flawless, beautiful white, like freshly fallen snow.
His outfit an overall of brilliant white, one of the top hinges deliberately unclasped so the fabric draped in an asymmetrical, stylish disarray. Beneath it, a pair of flowing, long sleeves—a silky white scattered with sharp, black polka dots—met the collarbone where a single button remained unfastened, a subtle invitation to the eye.
"Captain," the Boy said somewhat carefully.
"Tsk, still as strong as ever." The scarlet-haired woman spoke.
"Scarlie, you missed the fun. They were pretty weak, though. I doubt they'd satisfy you much."
The Captain looked at the four before him and smiled. "Welcome to the remains of my kingdom. This fallen king greets you all and a great adventure awaits."