Yuto reacted instantly, raising his sword as it lunged at him.
He swung, but his blade passed through its semi-formed body as if cutting through mist.
The impact did nothing to slow it down.
"Great," he muttered.
"It's one of those"
Evelynn scrambled back, gripping the dagger at her waist.
"How do we fight something that doesn't have a body?!"
The creature's hollow eyes fixated on her, and it let out another wail before surging forward.
Yuto stepped between them, raising his free hand.
"Flare Burst!"
An explosion of flame erupted from his palm, bathing the area in a bright orange glow.
The creature shrieked as the fire made contact, its form flickering erratically like a dying candle before it recoiled, pulling back toward the well.
Evelynn's eyes widened.
"It's weak to fire?"
"Looks like it," Yuto confirmed, already preparing another spell.
"Stay behind me"
But instead of attacking again, the creature let out a distorted growl before sinking back into the well's abyss.
The whispering that had filled the clearing moments ago faded into silence.
Yuto and Evelynn stood still, waiting for any sign that it would return.
When nothing happened, Evelynn exhaled.
"Did we… win?"
Yuto stared into the well, the faint shimmering in the air still present.
"No. It retreated"
Evelynn hesitated, then crossed her arms.
"So what now? If it comes back, we'll just burn it again?"
He frowned, sheathing his sword.
"It's not that simple. That thing wasn't just attacking us—it was guarding something"
Evelynn followed his gaze to the well and shivered.
"Something inside there…"
He nodded.
"And if the villagers were disappearing, there's a good chance they were dragged down there"
Evelynn paled.
"You're not seriously suggesting—"
He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"We need to go in"
She stared at him like he was insane.
"You want to jump into the creepy, haunted well that just spit out a ghost?"
"You got a better idea?"
Evelynn opened her mouth, then closed it.
After a long pause, she sighed.
"I hate this. I hate this"
Yuto smirked.
"Welcome to my life"
Taking a deep breath, he stepped closer to the well's edge.
"You ready?"
Evelynn groaned.
"No. But let's do it before I change my mind"
With that, the two of them jumped into the darkness below.
The descent was faster than either of them expected.
As they fell, Yuto braced himself, channeling a small burst of mana beneath his feet.
Just before impact, he activated a controlled Air Step, slowing his fall enough to land without injury.
Evelynn, on the other hand, panicked mid-air.
"Aah—!"
Yuto caught her before she could hit the ground, steadying her as she clung to his arms.
She looked up at him, wide-eyed, her breath quick.
"I-I hate this already," she muttered.
Yuto chuckled.
"And we just got started"
She glared at him but didn't let go right away.
Instead, she took a shaky breath before finally standing on her own.
The air down here was thick.
Heavy with moisture and something… unnatural.
A faint, eerie glow pulsed along the walls, casting long, distorted shadows.
The well had opened into a cavern, its ceiling lost to the darkness above.
Water dripped somewhere in the distance, the only sound breaking the silence.
Evelynn hugged herself.
"This place feels wrong"
Yuto nodded, keeping his hand on his sword.
"Stay close"
They moved forward cautiously.
Evelynn was clearly out of her element, her movements hesitant, her steps too loud.
Yuto glanced at her.
"Try to keep your footsteps lighter. You're making it too easy for anything down here to hear us"
She frowned.
"Excuse me for not being a trained assassin"
"Not asking for that. Just… pretend the floor is made of glass"
Evelynn took a few careful steps, and while still awkward, she was quieter.
"Like this?"
"Better"
She exhaled.
"This is ridiculous. I was supposed to be attending a meeting, not sneaking around a cursed cave"
Yuto shrugged.
"Eh, you get used to it"
Suddenly, something shifted in the darkness ahead.
A low, guttural growl echoed through the cavern.
Evelynn froze.
"Tell me that was your stomach," she whispered.
"Unless my stomach growls like a demon, no"
A pair of glowing, hollow eyes flickered to life in the distance.
Then another.
And another.
More shapes emerged, their bodies shifting between solid and mist.
Evelynn grabbed Yuto's arm.
"Oh. We are so dead"
Yuto clicked his tongue, drawing his sword.
"Not if you stick to the plan"
She swallowed hard.
"There's a plan?"
"Yeah. You stay behind me and don't die"
The creatures lunged.
Yuto moved first, stepping in front of Evelynn as his sword flashed.
The first creature lunged, its shadowy form shifting unnaturally, but Yuto's blade cut through it with a burst of mana.
The thing screeched, dissolving into wisps of black mist.
Another one came from the side.
Yuto pivoted, blocking its swipe before driving his foot into its center, sending it skidding back.
Evelynn, however, remained frozen in place.
Her hands trembled as she gripped the edge of her dress, wide-eyed.
"Evelynn, move!" Yuto barked, parrying another strike.
She gasped, snapping out of her daze just as a creature leaped at her.
She flinched, raising her arms in a pathetic attempt to shield herself only for Yuto to shove her aside at the last second.
His sword cleaved through the monster before it could reach her.
She hit the ground, her heart pounding.
"Damn it, don't just stand there!" Yuto growled, stepping back to cover her.
"Do something!"
Evelynn clenched her fists.
'Do something?'
What could she possibly do? She wasn't a fighter, she wasn't like Yuto!
Another creature charged straight at her, cutting off her thoughts.
This time, instead of freezing, she reacted.
She scrambled backward, reaching for the dagger at her hip.
It was more decorative than practical, but it was something.
She gripped it tightly, her knuckles white.
The shadow creature lunged—
And she swung wildly.
The blade barely grazed its form, but it recoiled, hissing.
Evelynn blinked.
'I… hit it?'
"Not bad, but next time, aim where it hurts," Yuto said, cutting down another enemy.
"And stop looking so terrified. They smell fear"
"Of course they do," Evelynn muttered.
Her hands still shook, but she took a deep breath, holding her dagger more firmly.
Yuto did quick work on the remaining creatures, and his movements were fluid and precise.
By the time the last one fell, the cavern was silent again.
Evelynn exhaled sharply, her legs feeling weak.
"I… hate this"
Yuto sheathed his sword.
"Could've fooled me. That dagger swing was impressive"
She shot him a glare.
"You're making fun of me"
"A little"
He smirked, offering her a hand.
She hesitated before taking it, letting him pull her up.
"…I was useless, wasn't I?" she muttered.
Yuto tilted his head.
"You swung a dagger and didn't die. That's better than most nobles"
Evelynn frowned.
"That's a very low bar"
He shrugged.
"Gotta start somewhere"
She sighed, dusting off her dress.
"I don't know how you deal with this all the time"
"You get used to it," Yuto said.
Then, after a pause, he added, "Kinda"
She shook her head, but a small part of her felt… relieved.
She had survived.
She glanced at him.
"So… what now?"
Yuto turned his gaze toward the tunnel ahead, where a faint light shimmered in the distance.
"Now," he said, "we find out why those things were here in the first place"
He took the lead, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as they advanced toward the tunnel's exit.
Evelynn followed closely, gripping her dagger despite knowing it wouldn't do much against whatever else might be lurking ahead.
As they stepped out of the cavern, they found themselves at the edge of a village's small settlement nestled between the mountains.
No, it was so small that it wouldn't even be called a village, maybe it was the few people that tried to stay hidden from the disappearances.
But something was wrong.
The air smelled of smoke and iron.
Houses were damaged, some partially collapsed, others entirely burned down.
The streets were empty, eerily silent except for the occasional gust of wind rustling through the ruins.
Evelynn covered her mouth.
"This… this wasn't supposed to happen"
Yuto narrowed his eyes.
"This wasn't just a monster attack. This was a raid"
He knelt, brushing his fingers over the dirt.
There were footprints, too many, and some were human.
Bandits?
Mercenaries?
Or something worse?
Evelynn clenched her fists.
"This… just who would do something like this? And where are the people?"
"Either gone or dead," Yuto said bluntly.
"We need to be ready for either"
She swallowed hard, nodding.
"Do we look for survivors?"
"Yeah." Yuto stood.
"Stay close to me"
They moved cautiously through the ruins, checking what was left of the homes and shops.
Bloodstains marked the walls, but there were no bodies, just signs of struggle, scattered belongings, and shattered furniture.
It was like whoever did this took everything, including the people.
Then, a noise.
A faint shuffle.
Yuto turned sharply.
"Someone's here"
Evelynn stiffened.
"What if it's—"
Before she could finish, Yuto was already moving.
He rushed toward the sound, Evelynn right behind him.
In the remains of what looked like a storage shed, they found a boy, no older than ten huddled beneath a broken shelf.
His face was streaked with dirt and tears, his clothes torn.
He flinched when he saw Yuto but didn't run.
"Hey," Yuto said, crouching to his level.
"It's okay. We're not here to hurt you"
The boy sniffled.
"…They took everyone"
Evelynn knelt beside him.
"Who? Who took them?"
The boy wiped his eyes, voice shaking.
"Men in dark armor… They came last night. Said they needed 'workers'… took my sister… took everyone"
Yuto's expression darkened.
He felt his fist clench, his anger boil but he needed to stay in control.
Evelynn's stomach turned.
She had heard stories, ugly, horrible stories but she had never seen the aftermath with her own eyes.
Yuto stood, his gaze cold.
"Which way did they go?"
The boy hesitated, then pointed toward a narrow path leading into the mountains.
Yuto exhaled.
"Then that's where we're going"
Evelynn stared at him.
"Wait—just like that? Shouldn't we—"
"There's no time," Yuto interrupted.
"The longer we wait, the farther they get"
Evelynn hesitated.
Every part of her screamed that this was dangerous, reckless.
But then she looked at the boy, his tear-streaked face, his trembling hands and knew there was no choice.
She straightened her posture.
"Then let's go"
Yuto smirked.
"You sure? Might have to use that dagger again"
Evelynn sighed as she looked back at the boy.
"Follow the path down the rocky roads, you should find the entrance to a safer village"
"I swear on my name, that we shall get your sister back, as well as everyone that was taken"
He gave them a small nod and with that, they turned toward the mountains.
The mountain path was rough, uneven, and steep in some places.
The air grew colder as they ascended, but Yuto barely noticed.
His focus was entirely on the trail, the footprints and wagon tracks leading toward their targets.
Evelynn followed closely behind, her breaths slightly labored.
She wasn't used to this kind of travel, and it showed, but she didn't complain.
She was determined to keep up, even if her legs protested.
"How much farther do you think they are?" she asked.
Yuto scanned the tracks again.
"A few hours, maybe less if they set up camp"
Evelynn bit her lip.
"And when will we find them?"
"We take them out"
She swallowed.
"Just like that?"
Yuto glanced at her.
"You have a problem with that?"
She hesitated.
"…No. I just—"
She exhaled sharply.
"I've never been in a real fight before, Yuto. Not like this"
"These aren't just monsters. They're people"
Yuto stopped walking.
He turned to face her fully, his eyes studying her expression.
"Evelynn"
His voice was calm, but firm.
"If you freeze up when it matters, people die. You don't have to kill, but you might have to fight"
She clenched her fists.
"I know. I just… I don't want to mess up"
He sighed.
"You're not alone in this"
She looked up at him.
"…Right."
Yuto smirked.
"Besides, if you get in trouble, I'll save your ass"
Evelynn scoffed.
"How reassuring"
They continued forward, pushing deeper into the mountains.
As they rounded a bend, Yuto spotted something in the distance, a thin plume of smoke rising against the twilight sky.
A campfire.
He gestured for Evelynn to stay low, then crept forward, keeping to the shadows.
She followed, careful with her steps.
As they got closer, they could make out a small clearing.
A group of men sat around a fire, their armor dark and battered.
A few wagons were parked nearby, covered with tarps, and Yuto could hear muffled voices, whispers, and maybe sobs coming from inside.
The captives.
Evelynn tensed beside him, her grip on her dagger tightening.
Yuto studied them.
There were six, maybe seven of them, armed with swords and crossbows.
Not too many.
He could handle them.
He turned to Evelynn, voice low.
"We're taking them out"
She nodded.
"What's the plan?"
Yuto smirked.
"I go in loud. You take advantage of the chaos"
Evelynn blinked.
"That's… not a plan"
"Worked before"
"Unbelievable"
Before she could argue, Yuto was already moving.
He stepped out of the shadows, drawing his sword.
The nearest one barely had time to react before Yuto slammed the hilt into his face, knocking him out cold.
The others shot to their feet.
"The hell—?!"
Yuto grinned.
"Hey there"
And then, all hell broke loose.
They scrambled for their weapons, but Yuto was already moving again.
His sword flashed under the firelight as he closed the distance between them.
One of them lunged at him with a dagger, but Yuto sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing the man's wrist and twisting.
Crack!
Before slamming his elbow into the man's jaw.
They crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Another swung a sword at him from behind.
Yuto ducked, kicking the man's knee out from under him before driving the pommel of his sword into his temple.
Two down.
The others hesitated for a split second, their confidence shaken.
Yuto smirked.
"Come on, don't tell me you're scared already?"
One of them growled, raising a crossbow.
"Shoot him!"
Before he could pull the trigger, Evelynn made her move.
She darted from the shadows, grabbing a handful of dirt and throwing it straight into the man's eyes.
He cursed, stumbling backward and blindly firing the bolt into the trees.
Evelynn winced.
'Not exactly graceful, but it worked'
Another turned toward her, raising his sword.
"You little—"
Yuto was there in an instant.
He stepped in, knocking the man's blade aside before driving his knee into his gut.
They doubled over, and Yuto finished him with a swift punch to the face.
The last few men backed away, realizing they were outmatched.
One of them turned to run.
Yuto clicked his tongue.
"Coward"
Before the man could escape, Evelynn, still gripping her dagger tightly, stepped in front of him.
She froze for a moment as he lunged at her, but then— 'Remember what Yuto said'
She swung the dagger, not wildly like before, but with intent.
The blade grazed the man's arm, drawing blood.
He hissed in pain, but before he could retaliate, Yuto grabbed him from behind, slamming him into the ground.
Evelynn blinked.
"I… I hit him"
She exhaled, trying to steady her breathing.
The last remaining one held his hands up, his face pale.
"W-Wait! Don't kill me!"
Yuto stepped forward, pointing his sword at the man's throat.
"Where are the villagers?"
They gulped, nodding toward the covered wagons.
"In there! Please, I was just following orders!"
Yuto glanced at Evelynn.
"Check the wagons"
She nodded, rushing over.
She threw back the tarp, revealing a group of frightened villagers, men, women, and children, all bound and gagged.
Their eyes widened in fear at first, but then relief washed over their faces when they saw Evelynn.
"It's okay," she said, quickly cutting the nearest villager's bindings.
"You're safe now"
As Evelynn worked on freeing them, Yuto turned his attention back to the man.
His crimson eyes glowed faintly.
"You were just following orders, huh?" Yuto muttered.
"Then tell me who gave those orders"
They hesitated.
Yuto pressed the tip of his sword against his throat.
"Talk"
The man swallowed hard.
"T-The Black Talon! We were supposed to take them to a buyer near the border!"
Yuto's eyes darkened.
The Black Talon, a notorious syndicate.
This wasn't just a small-time operation.
He considered killing the man right then and there, but instead, he knocked him out cold with a swift strike to the neck.
By the time he turned back, Evelynn had freed the last of the captives.
Some of the villagers were crying, others whispering prayers of gratitude.
Evelynn walked over, wiping sweat from her brow.
"They're all safe"
Yuto nodded, glancing at the unconscious men.
"We should take them back to the village. Make sure they don't try anything again"
Evelynn sighed.
"You don't make anything easy, do you?"
Yuto smirked.
"Where's the fun in that?"
She rolled her eyes but smiled.
The rescued villagers, still shaken, hesitated before stepping forward to offer thanks.
"Thank you," an older man said, bowing deeply.
"We thought we were done for…"
Evelynn, still holding her dagger tightly, nodded.
"You don't need to thank me. Yuto did most of the work"
Yuto shot her a glance.
"You helped"
Evelynn's grip tightened on the dagger.
'Did I?'
She thought back to the fight, how she had thrown dirt into a man's eyes, how she had landed a hit with her dagger.
It wasn't much, but it was something.
The group made their way back, using the wagons.
Yuto sat at the front, reins in hand, while Evelynn sat beside him, occasionally glancing his way.
"You've done this before," she finally said.
He raised an eyebrow.
"What, saving people?"
She nodded.
"Yeah. You knew exactly what to do. No hesitation"
He sighed, looking ahead.
"I've been in a lot of fights. But saving people? That's just part of the job"
Evelynn frowned.
"That's not how most people would see it"
Yuto didn't respond right away.
The clatter of the wagon wheels filled the silence between them.
Finally, he glanced at her.
"And what about you? How do you see it?"
Evelynn looked down at her lap.
"I… I don't know"
Yuto smirked.
"Well, you better figure it out. Because next time, I might not be around to bail you out"
She scoffed.
"You wish I needed bailing out"
He chuckled.
"Sure"
The village soon came into view.
As they approached, people rushed out to meet them.
Cries of joy echoed as families reunited, hugging their loved ones tightly.
Even the little boy from before ran and hugged his sister, his tears dropping like rain as he cried his heart out.
The village elder stepped forward, eyes brimming with gratitude.
"You brought them back… You saved them"
Yuto hopped off the wagon, stretching.
"Yeah, yeah. No big deal"
The elder turned to Evelynn, bowing respectfully.
"And Lady Evelynn… You have our thanks. Without your bravery, who knows what might have happened?"
Evelynn stiffened.
"I… I didn't…"
But the villagers didn't see it that way.
To them, she was a hero.
Yuto watched as Evelynn struggled to accept their praise.
He leaned over and whispered, "Just take the compliment"
She shot him a glare but sighed.
"…I'm just glad you're all safe"
Cheers erupted.
As the villagers celebrated, Yuto felt a tug on his sleeve, he looked to see Evelynn with a smile.
"…Thank you," she murmured.
Yuto smirked.
"For what?"
She hesitated.
"For… helping me see things differently"
His smirk softened.
"It was my pleasure"
As the celebration continued, Evelynn found herself sitting at the edge of the gathering, watching the villagers rejoice.
Laughter, music, and the crackling of a bonfire filled the air, but she couldn't shake the weight in her chest.
She had fought.
She had tried.
But compared to Yuto, she felt painfully inadequate.
"Is something on your mind?"
She glanced up to see Yuto standing over her, a plate of food in hand.
Without waiting for an answer, he plopped down beside her, setting the plate between them.
"You didn't eat much earlier," he said, nudging the plate toward her.
Evelynn hesitated before picking at a piece of roasted meat.
"…You don't stop, do you?"
Yuto raised an eyebrow.
"Stop what?"
"Helping," she muttered.
"Even now, after everything, you're still looking out for me"
He shrugged.
"I told you—I help when I can"
She stared at the fire, its warm glow flickering in her eyes.
"I didn't do much today. Not really"
Yuto chewed thoughtfully before responding.
"You fought when it mattered. You didn't freeze. That's more than a lot of people can say"
"And believe me when I say, you did better than even hunters with experience"
She sighed.
"But I was reckless. If you hadn't been there, I—"
"Would've figured something out," Yuto interrupted.
"Maybe not perfectly, maybe not cleanly, but you would've"
She turned to face him, searching his expression for any hint of sarcasm.
But he was completely serious.
"…You believe that?" she asked quietly.
He smirked.
"I wouldn't say it if I didn't"
A warmth bloomed in Evelynn's chest, unfamiliar yet… comforting.
The same feeling as to the one she felt earlier.
She looked down at the food he'd brought her, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"…Thanks, Yuto"
"Don't mention it"
They sat there in silence for a while, listening to the sounds of the village celebrating.
For once, Evelynn didn't mind the loud noise.
But as the night wore on, she knew one thing for sure, this mission had changed something in her.
And maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as weak as she once believed.
Eventually, the villagers began to retreat to their homes.
The fire dimmed to embers, and the once-lively atmosphere settled into a peaceful quiet.
Yuto stood and stretched, rolling his shoulders.
"We should probably get some rest. We're heading back at dawn"
Evelynn nodded, though a part of her hesitated.
She wasn't ready for this night to end just yet.
There was still so much she wanted to ask about Yuto, about herself, about what came next.
Instead, she stood up beside him, brushing dust from her dress.
"Where are we staying?"
"The village elder offered us a place," Yuto said, jerking his thumb toward a modest hut near the outskirts.
"It's nothing fancy, but it's got a roof"
Evelynn sighed dramatically.
"Oh no, how will I survive without luxury?"
He smirked.
"If you start crying, I'll lend you my shoulder again"
She huffed but didn't argue, following him toward their temporary shelter.
Inside, the hut was small but cozy: two simple bedrolls laid out on woven mats, a wooden table with a dimly lit lantern, and the faint scent of herbs in the air.
Evelynn frowned at the bedrolls.
"So… the floor, huh?"
"Unless you want to sleep outside"
Yuto kicked off his boots and sat down on his bedroll, leaning back against the wall.
"I hear the ground's nice this time of year"
She rolled her eyes but sat on her bedroll, smoothing the fabric.
"I suppose I'll endure"
As the lantern flickered, casting soft shadows across the walls, she glanced at Yuto.
He sat with his arms crossed, eyes closed, looking completely at ease.
"…Yuto?"
"Hm?"
He opened one eye.
She hesitated.
"Be honest with me, why do you do it?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Do what?"
"Help people. Even when you don't have to. Even when it'd be easier not to"
Yuto was silent for a moment as if choosing his words carefully.
Then, he exhaled through his nose.
"Because someone once did the same for me"
Evelynn blinked, surprised by the weight in his voice.
Before she could press further, Yuto stretched out with a yawn.
"Anyway, get some sleep. Long ride back tomorrow"
Evelynn frowned but let it go for now.
"Fine, fine"
She lay down, pulling the blanket over herself.
"…Good night, Yuto"
He smirked.
"Night"
She groaned, turning away, but as she closed her eyes, she couldn't stop the small smile that lingered on her lips.