Luxcia's P.O.V.
I stopped just before entering the forest and stared at it from a distance...
The trees were lifeless, their branches black, dry, and stripped of leaves. It felt as though the entire forest had died long ago.
There wasn't a single sound. No insects, no rustling leaves. The silence was deafening. And with every step I took closer to it, it felt like something was whispering to me.
Leave now. This place is dangerous.
I tightened my grip on my bow.
Please, Lord... help me.
Suddenly, I froze. My entire body trembled with fear.
I should've brought Steven with me...
My hand instinctively reached for my necklace.
Right... the Lierex.
Cisn... you'll help me, won't you?
I let go of my phone, leaving it hanging freely around my neck by the case strap. Slowly, I turned the center of the clock-shaped charm. I closed my eyes and spoke with hope in my heart.
"I, Luxcia Locrane, the owner of this Lierex, command thee to open thy door. Sas kaló, Cisn. "
A powerful gust of wind suddenly blew around me. I clutched the pendant tightly. When I opened my eyes...
Cisn was standing right in front of me.
She stood atop the pendant, her brows furrowed as she stared directly at me.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, anger clear in her voice.
I frowned in confusion.
"H-Huh? Am I not allowed to summon you at this hour?"
"That's not what I'm asking!" she snapped. "Why are you here? And why are you alone?!"
I lowered my head, feeling like I was about to cry.
Cisn was scolding me...
"Umm... I wanted to find the Circle of Power," I said softly, still looking down. "Someone told me it was hidden somewhere in this forest and I didn't want to bother Elaine and the others. I know they're busy."
Cisn let out a deep sigh. The irritation on her face was impossible to miss.
"Do you even realize how reckless this is?" she said firmly. "This place is dangerous, Luxcia! You could die! You can't just run off on your own like this."
Ugh... this brat can be so mean sometimes.
But honestly... I couldn't blame her. She was right.
"H-Huh? Is this forest really that dangerous?"
She rolled her eyes, clearly losing patience with me.
"Yes! Can't you feel it?" Cisn shouted. "The Exoturu Forest is home to the creatures this kingdom cast away! Beasts that are dangerous, cruel, and merciless! They were exiled here because of the chaos and destruction they caused!"
I swallowed hard.
So I was right... this place really was dangerous.
I let out a quiet breath and forced myself to meet her eyes, even though my knees were already trembling in fear.
"I've already made my decision," I said firmly. "I'm going to find the Circle of Power tonight. I can't waste any more time. Because at any moment... Thanathos could succeed."
Cisn was about to say something when—
Suddenly, thick vines wrapped around my legs.
"AHHHH!!"
Before I could react, I was violently dragged into the darkness of the forest.
Fast. Brutal.
My back slammed against a hard rock, forcing my eyes shut from the pain.
"Urgh!!"
I quickly pushed myself back up despite the ache running through my body. Breathing heavily, I looked around for Cisn.
"CISN?! Cisn!! Where are you?!"
Silence.
No answer.
Not a single sound.
The forest was so dark that even the moonlight seemed rejected by it. The air felt colder now.
Heavier
Suffocating.
It was as if the darkness itself was swallowing me whole.
And what terrified me the most...
I couldn't hear anything.
Not the crickets.
Not the wind.
Not even my own footsteps.
It felt like the silence had devoured me.
I quickly grabbed my phone, hung it around my neck using the case strap, and turned on the flashlight.
I carefully listened to my surroundings. I knew that at any moment, something could suddenly appear.
Damn it... I was really terrified now.
I readied my bow and cautiously scanned the darkness around me.
Then suddenly—
Pairs of glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows.
I gasped and fell back onto the ground in fear.
"S-Show yourselves!" I shouted, my voice trembling.
A chill ran through my entire body the moment they spoke. Their voices were horrifying, high-pitched, distorted, all speaking at once like monsters growling in the dark.
"Ahahahaha! She's the chosen one?!"
"She's so weak!"
"A coward!"
"And her scent... it smells delicious."
"We should split her body between us!"
"I want to eat her!"
I quickly forced myself back to my feet, my knees shaking uncontrollably.
Then they charged at me.
When the flashlight finally illuminated their faces, my fear only grew worse.
They really were monsters.
Their bodies were thin as skeletons, barely flesh and bone. Their eyes were huge and blood-red. Sharp teeth protruded from their mouths, along with long claw-like nails. Their skin was deathly pale, and some of them were hunched over so badly that their bones jutted from their backs. They wore nothing but ragged cloth around their waists, like beasts dragged straight out of hell.
One of them leapt toward me, but I immediately kicked it away.
Another rushed at me and punched me hard.
I was thrown backward and slammed onto the ground.
"Aghhh!!"
Pain shot through my body.
Before I could even stand, something bit into my arm.
"ARGH!!"
Without hesitation, I drove my arrow straight through its neck, sending the creature collapsing to the side.
I didn't stop.
I fired arrow after arrow, hitting several of them but there were too many.
I'm such an idiot!
Why did I come here alone?!
I suddenly felt someone grab my hand and pull me away. Several creatures were sent flying from the sheer force of his arrival.
I immediately turned to see who had saved me.
"Clide?!"
"We'll talk later," he replied coldly before quickly letting go of my hand.
"Master!"
I looked toward the other direction and saw Cisn flying toward us, furious and clearly worried.
"Cisn! Are you okay?!" I asked immediately.
"Yes. What about you?"
"Just a few injuries but why are you here, Cli-"
I never got to finish my sentence.
One of the creatures suddenly lunged at me, but before it could reach me, a powerful kick sent it crashing to the ground.
I turned in shock, almost unable to believe my eyes.
"Lulu! Why are you always so reckless?!"
"Steven?! H-How did you-?"
"I followed you," he answered between heavy breaths. "I ran into Clide, so we came together. I knew something felt suspicious!"
My eyes shifted behind him.
Another creature was quietly sneaking up on Steven from the shadows.
Without hesitation, I fired an arrow straight into its head. The monster staggered backward.
"Sorry..." I whispered, my heart pounding wildly.
"Let's get out of this forest first! We can talk later!!" Clide shouted.
We immediately ran, forcing our way through the forest while the creatures relentlessly attacked from every side. Their sharp claws slashed through the air while their jagged teeth snapped at us. I was completely out of breath as I ran. I kicked away some of the monsters and fired arrows at others while we desperately tried to escape.
This is all my fault...
I never knew obtaining the Circle of Power would be this difficult...
We still hadn't fully escaped the forest when someone suddenly appeared in front of us.
All of us stopped at once.
My eyes widened in shock.
The woman...
The same woman who spoke to me earlier.
She stood in the middle of the path with a deep, twisted grin stretched across her face, as if she had been eagerly waiting for this moment.
"Y-You!"
"You know her, Mortal?" Clide asked coldly as he slowly stepped forward.
I nodded.
The atmosphere suddenly felt unbearably heavy, as though the very air had hardened around us.
She wasn't an ally.
She was an enemy.
A monster.
"Step back, Lulu," Steven whispered as his hand slowly moved toward the blade at his waist. "I'll handle this."
"N-No! Steven, don't-"
Too late.
In a single instant, the woman vanished from her spot and in the blink of an eye, she was already standing in front of Steven.
Before he could react, she grabbed him by the throat.
"URGHH!"
"STEVEN!"
Steven winced in pain but continued fighting back, driving the dagger in his hand straight into the woman's arm.
Blood splattered onto the ground but the woman didn't even flinch.
She loosened her grip for a brief second. At that moment, Clide rushed from behind, fast as lightning. His claws suddenly lengthened and sharpened as he slashed through the air.
"Stay away from them!" he shouted.
His attack struck her side, but instead of backing away, she only grinned wider.
With one swift movement, she struck Clide with a palm infused with powerful energy.
"CLI-!"
Clide was violently thrown across the ground, crashing down like a tree struck by a storm.
Before I could even move, the woman seized Steven again. He was already struggling to breathe, barely managing to push himself up before she slammed him brutally back onto the ground.
"UGHH!"
Then...
Silence.
Both of them lay motionless.
Unconscious.
My entire body went cold as I stared at them lying there before me.
Behind me, the creatures that had been chasing us earlier screeched wildly like starving beasts craving violence.
"NO!!!"
Tears streamed down my face as my knees hit the ground.
This is all my fault...
If I hadn't been so reckless...
I looked toward Cisn again. She was still hovering in the air, gathering energy in her hands.
The woman was about to move toward her...
"Don't touch her!"
Then I shouted.
"ATIO!"
In an instant, Cisn vanished.
At least she would be safe...
The woman slowly turned her gaze toward me.
And smiled.
I glared back at her, fury burning deep inside my chest.
"You tricked me!!!"
I immediately fired an arrow.
The shot struck directly through her forehead.
She staggered backward and collapsed.
I slowly stepped back, breathing heavily.
Did I win...?
Was it really that easy?
But then...
She began to rise again.
Slowly.
Watching her stand felt like stepping into a nightmare. A violent chill crawled through my body.
A horrifying grin spread across her face as she casually pulled the arrow from her forehead as if it were nothing more than a splinter, tossing it aside without care.
"Ahahahaha... It's not my fault you're so gullible, Luxcia! Chosen one? You?! Are you trying to amuse me? Ahahahahaha!"
The air grew even colder.
I could feel the terror sinking into my bones as she slowly approached me.
"Lord Thanathos will succeed... My beloved will succeed!" Her face twisted with obsession. "And you? You are worthless. Nothing but a USELESS MORTAL!"
Suddenly, she grabbed my throat.
I was lifted into the air.
I could feel her sharp claws slowly digging into my skin.
It hurt.
It burned.
I couldn't breathe.
"How pitiful, little chosen one... Ahahahahaha!"
My eyes drifted toward Clide and Steven lying unconscious on the ground.
This is my fault.
If only I hadn't acted recklessly...
If only I were stronger...
If only I could protect you...
But I can't.
I CAN'T.
My eyes slowly shut as dizziness consumed me. My body was growing weaker and weaker, as if my consciousness was beginning to fade.
"Hahhh... I love the look on your face. So beautiful... completely hopeless. Pfff!AHAHAHAHA! Maybe I'll pity you if you beg. Show me how a mortal begs for mercy! BEG! BEG! BEG!!!"
I weakly grabbed onto her hand, desperately trying to loosen her grip around my throat.
My body trembled violently.
My vision was turning dark.
All I could feel was rage
Sorrow...
And defeat.
But despite how weak my body had become...
Something inside me began to roar.
A voice.
A whisper.
"I'm begging you... Circle of Power... Help me... not for myself but for them... I'm begging you... Please... give me strength..."
I looked once more at Clide and Steven lying unconscious on the ground.
And I screamed from the unbearable pain surging through my body.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
"PLEASE... GIVE ME POWER!!!"