DYLAN'S POINT OF VIEW
The sun was already high, yet nothing thrilling had happened to them so far. Just like yesterday, I trailed them by hopping from branch to branch.
"Hey, Dylan, why are we so far from them?"
I shot my partner a sharp glare. "You just noticed? Your senses are way too slow."
"Not really. I was just too busy enjoying those berries earlier."
"Okay." I shifted my gaze back toward Rhein's direction. I couldn't be wrong—she knew. "I have this feeling she already knows someone's following her."
"You're smiling again," my companion pointed out.
"I know."
She fascinates me. How can I stop myself from smiling?
The longer I watched, the more my boredom deepened. It seemed Princess Rona hadn't set up any trials for today.
I yawned, stretched, then leapt onto a tree much closer to where Rhein was walking.
My pracien lightly smacked me on the cheek with one wing—his usual nervous habit. "Hey, what are you planning to do?" he asked in a panic.
"Relax." I grinned and winked. "It's time to show off."
RHEIN'S POINT OF VIEW
After walking for hours without at least a sip of water, my throat was painfully dry. So when I spotted a river in the distance, I sprinted straight for it.
I pulled out my water container and dipped it in. Thankfully, the water was clear and refreshingly cold. I drank greedily.
"R-Rhein?" I turned to Forelody, who was weakly crawling out of my hoodie pocket. She looked dizzy from my sudden sprint.
I giggled to myself. "Sorry. I just got too excited. I was really thirsty."
She smiled and fluttered onto my right shoulder. "It's fine. I just got startled. I thought you were running from something."
"Here, have some water."
We sat on a large rock by the riverbank to rest. While sipping slowly, my eyes wandered, scanning the surroundings.
Then I froze.
The falling leaves had stopped midair. The river's flow had gone still. Even the tiny fishes had ceased their swimming. Forelody, perched on a small stone, looked like a statue.
Time itself had stopped.
My senses sharpened as a man approached, laughing softly. He wore a black jacket, pants, and rubber shoes, his face hidden beneath a black mask and cap. Perched on his shoulder was his pracien—slightly bigger than Forelody, with deep indigo feathers.
I knew it. Someone had been following us. I had felt his presence yesterday, but dismissed it as my imagination—until I saw the odd firewood this morning, and that silhouette.
"Why are you following us? What are you up to, meithi mnarillaza?" My heart was pounding, but I didn't let it show. "Did the deore mnarillaza send you to kill me?"
"Chill. One question at a time, okay?" He stopped several meters away. "You're sharp. I thought you only realized someone was tailing you this morning. I didn't know you also figured out my mnarillaza type."
His voice… it is familiar. But that's impossible—I'd never been to this world before.
"You made it obvious, Mister. If you hadn't stopped time, I wouldn't have known."
"My bad." He let out a laugh. What's so funny?
"I'll ask again. Why are you following us?"
"Because I was ordered to," he said simply.
"By who? The deore mnarillaza?" I subtly shifted my right hand behind my back, letting my mnarill emerge. "Tell me the truth."
"And why would I tell you?"
The vines I controlled shot toward him, now thicker, their white thorns gleaming. But he dodged easily.
"Whoa! Trying to kill me?" he teased.
"That should be my line. Were you ordered to kill me?" I sent another set of vines toward him from behind, but he leapt onto a tree branch.
"No. I was only told to watch you. But, you know, just watching you was getting boring—so I thought I'd give you some thrill."
"And by 'thrill,' you mean… annoying me? If you don't tell me who sent you—" My vines lashed toward him in rapid succession.
I can feel he means no harm, but I still need to be sure. Maybe, this is an ofrismnarillaza ability, something Grandpa Lembo never told me about.
My thoughts snapped when my vines suddenly stopped mid-motion. I summoned new ones, but he halted them too.
Sitting casually on a branch, he stroked his pracien's head. I stopped attacking—no use wasting energy.
"You're new, but you can already wield multiple mnarill without getting exhausted. You didn't fail to impress me, Rhein."
"Why do you know my name?" My fists clenched in irritation. "Who are you?" Is that why his voice sounds familiar? Do I know who he is?
He just stared at me. For a moment, I thought I saw something like pity in his eyes.
He sighed. "How I wish I could tell you everything, Rhein. But not yet—"
In an instant, I lunged toward him, yanking off his mask and cap. His eyes went wide, caught completely off guard.
But I was even more shocked by what he did next.
One arm snaked around my waist, pulling me close... face leaning closer... and kissed my neck.
I suddenly remembered what woke me up earlier. I thought I was just dreaming—the light touch I felt on the side of my neck and the figure I saw—it was his lips that brushed against my skin!
Shock rooted me in place. Before I realized it, I was locked in a gaze with his eyes. He had already put his mask and cap back on, the ones I had been holding just moments ago. I hadn't even gotten a proper look at his whole face.
"Don't get too excited. I'll introduce myself next time," he said with a chuckle before vanishing from sight along with his pracien. I was certain he had even stopped my time before leaving.
Time flowed normally again, but I was still standing on the branch, my cheeks burning from what he'd done.
"Rhein, how did you get here? You're moving faster now," Forelody said cheerfully, landing on my right shoulder. "Whoa, why are you blushing?"
Instead of looking at her, I yelled in frustration. "Pervert! You're in trouble the next time you show your face!"