Illenwood felt warm at first glance—lantern light, wood-smoke, laughter, the glow of evening markets.
But the warmth didn't reach the air.
The moment Volow, Marga, and Suki stepped into the main path, conversations died.
Eyes flicked toward them—quick, cautious, almost afraid.
Volow looked around slowly.
"…Okay," he whispered. "Either I look dangerous… or you forgot to take a bath."
Suki glared up at him, offended.
Marga leaned closer. "People are watching the shadows, not us."
She was right.
Every villager kept glancing toward the edges of the town—alleys, rooftops, the tree roots that twisted into dark corners.
Something was wrong here.
Volow stopped when they reached a huge wooden board nailed into the tree trunk.
Dozens of parchment sheets fluttered on it.
Missing persons.
Children.
Adults.
Entire families.
The dates were recent. Too recent.
Volow felt a cold press in his chest.
Marga's jaw tightened slightly.
Before they could read further—
"HEY! WATCH OUT!"
A shout cut through the crowd.
Volow turned just in time to see a small boy—maybe eight—running through the street, chasing a wooden beetle toy rolling down the slope.
He didn't see the cloaked figure behind him.
The figure moved unnaturally fast—not like a thief. More like something trained.
Or something hunting.
Its hand reached forward—
Volow didn't think.
He sprinted—
Grabbed the boy—
Spun—
And kicked the attacker square in the ribs.
The cloaked figure slid back, cloak peeling away for half a second—
Revealing a mask.
Black. Featureless.
Shinimoon style.
Marga stiffened. "That is no trader…"
The masked scout darted into the alleys and vanished like smoke.
The crowd erupted into panicked whispers.
"Again—!"
"They're taking people!"
"Not in broad daylight—"
Volow lifted the trembling kid.
"You okay?" he asked gently.
The kid stared up at him like he'd just watched a star fall.
"You—YOU'RE AMAZING! That kick was like—WHOOSH—and you were like—BAM—and then—"
Volow tapped his forehead lightly. "Easy, champ. Breathe."
The boy inhaled sharply and nodded.
"Can I… can I show you my house?! I mean—not, like, forever—but just for a bit!? My mom always says we should thank heroes! You're a hero, right? You look like one! Except your hair's messy—is that on purpose? IT LOOKS COOL!"
Volow blinked.
"Uh… sure?"
Marga smirked at the overwhelmed look on his face.
The boy's name was Taro, and he practically dragged Volow and Marga toward a small doorway carved directly into the giant tree root.
Inside, warm lamplight glowed off moss-lined walls.
"Taro?!" a woman called from deeper inside. "Where were you—?"
She froze when she saw Volow and Marga.
"My son… you brought… outsiders?"
"Mama! This guy saved me! A mask-man tried to—grab me—and he kicked him like—HIYAAAH!"
"Taro, inside voice!"
She ran forward, hugging the boy tight.
Then she faced Volow and bowed slightly.
"You saved my child. Please… sit. Let me cook something for you."
Volow raised both hands. "Oh—no need to—"
Marga nudged him.
"Sit."
"…Okay then."
Steam rose from the pots.
The smell alone made Suki sit perfectly still.
Volow took a bite—
And froze.
"Are you okay?" Taro's mother asked.
Volow swallowed dramatically.
"…Pine destroyed my taste buds."
Marga blinked. "What?"
"He tried to make soup once. I think that soup tried to kill me."
Everyone bursted out laughing hard.
Even Marga couldn't hold back a small laugh.
She tasted the food next—and stopped.
Her expression softened in a way Volow had never seen.
"This is… warm," she murmured. "And sweet. I've never…"
She hesitated.
"…never tasted something like this."
The mother gently touched her arm. "Eat as much as you wish."
After dinner, Volow and Taro played outside with Suki—throwing wooden beetles, dodging roots, and laughing.
For the first time in what felt like years, Volow felt… normal.
Marga watched from the porch.
She didn't look away from Volow.
The father of taro nodded. "Your friend. He reminds me of my legend."
Marga stared at him.
"…He reminds me of something too," she whispered. "Something I never thought I'd see."
The evening breeze carried the smell of bark and distant lakewater. Fireflies blinked lazily between the roots.
Volow tossed another wooden beetle for Suki.
Taro jumped after her, laughing like he had already adopted Volow as his personal superhero.
Marga stayed on the porch, arms folded—but her eyes softened whenever Volow laughed.
Taro's father leaned against the railing beside her.
"He's got a gentle heart," he said quietly. "This town could use someone like that."
"VOOOLOW! LOOK WHAT I MADE!"
Taro ran back inside, dragging a huge roll of paper almost as tall as him.
He slapped it onto the porch floor and unrolled it with pride.
It was… chaotic. Mountains were jagged triangles. Rivers twisted like snakes. Trees were huge green blobs. Little stick figures ran all over it.
"Look! This is Illenwood! And there! That's the River Hailen! And over there—Mount Cragspine!" he exclaimed, pointing frantically.
Volow squatted beside him. "Uh… what in the… world am i… looking at. What could've made a paper look this terrible"
Taro's eyes went wide. "It's MY MAP! I made it myself! See? I can see all the places my papa tells me about!"
Marga peeked over, trying not to laugh. "It… works?"
Volow tilted his head. "Kind of… if you squint… and tilt your head… and ignore geography entirely."
Taro frowned. "But I'm gonna be an explorer someday! I have to know the way!"
Volow smiled softly at the enthusiasm. "Alright, champ. You're gonna be a great explorer… in time."
Then Taro's father stepped forward, a warm, serious expression on his face.
"Hold on, Taro," he said gently, kneeling beside the messy map.
"You did a good job, but it's not exact. Let me show you something better."
He unrolled a larger, more detailed map of the surrounding lands. Mountains, rivers, forests, and towns were drawn carefully. The borders of territories were clear, and small notes marked known dangers or safe routes.
Taro's finger hovered over a spot on the detailed map.
"Papa… why is there a big X on this place?" he asked, pointing to a small town labeled Cardbill.
His father's face grew serious. "That… that town was destroyed months ago. Burned to the ground. If anyone survived, they fled. Very few, if any, remain."
Taro frowned. "Destroyed? Why? That's… that's so sad."
Volow's chest tightened. Cardbill. His home. His family. Memories flashed—smoke, screams, the night he ran. He swallowed hard, forcing his face to remain calm, betraying nothing.
Suki, sensing his tension, leapt onto his lap and began licking his hand frantically, as if saying: Don't worry. I'm here.
Marga's eyes softened. She noticed Volow's forced calm, the way his jaw tightened ever so slightly, and her own lips pressed together in a quiet, sympathetic sadness.
Volow gave a faint smile, stroking Suki's head. "Yeah… it's… unfortunate." His voice was steady, but inside, the memory of Cardbill hit him like a weight he couldn't show.
Taro looked between them, puzzled by the silence that followed. "Will people ever go back there?"
His father shook his head. "Not for now. It's too dangerous, and the land… it remembers."
Volow nodded slowly, letting the moment pass, focusing instead on the boy and the map. Cardbill's loss was heavy, but now wasn't the time to unravel—he had to keep moving, keep learning, keep protecting.
Taro pointed to the tree-drawn symbol in the center. "And here's Illenwood! That's where we live!"
"Exactly," his father said, smiling faintly. "You're right in the middle of safe routes, forests, and river paths. Know this: travelers rarely go this way. That's why we survive, for now."
Volow looked at the map, absorbing the layout of the lands for the first time: the rivers winding through deep forests, the mountains blocking paths, the scattered villages, and the remnants of towns like Cardbill. He finally understood the scale of the world—and how small, yet important, Illenwood was.
He glanced at Taro. "Your map… it was a good start, Taro. But your papa's shows the real picture. Thanks for letting me see it."
Taro beamed. "I'm gonna mark it! I'll make it better!"
Volow ruffled his hair. "Keep it yours, alright? That's your treasure."
Marga leaned closer, whispering softly:
"Looks… bigger than I thought."
Volow nodded. "Yeah. And it's only getting bigger. The world doesn't wait for anyone."
As stars appeared, the father stepped closer to Volow.
"Listen," he said quietly, glancing at the dark corners of the town.
"Whatever chased my boy today… it's not the first time something like that happened."
Volow stiffened.
"You think they're after children?"
"I don't know," the man whispered. "But they're fast. And silent. And they only strike the weak."
Marga's eyes flashed.
"They're not after the weak," she whispered. "They're after anyone unguarded."
Volow and the man exchanged a sharp look.
"And you two?" the man asked. "Did you anger the wrong people?"
Volow gave a small crooked smile.
"…Maybe."
Marga muttered, "Definitely."
The man rubbed his forehead.
"Just… be careful. Illenwood is peaceful, but peace doesn't mean safe."
Later, Taro's mother insisted they stay the night.
Volow thanked her, bowing slightly.
"You gave us warmth and food. That's a lot."
Marga hesitated—not used to being welcomed anywhere.
But she nodded quietly.
And they left their house.
Illenwood looked peaceful.
But something moved beyond the tree line.
A flicker.
A shadow.
Gone as quickly as it came.
Marga stepped beside him.
"Still think we're safe?"
Volow didn't answer immediately.
"I don't know," he said softly. "But if anything comes… I'm not letting anyone disappear tonight."
Suki leapt into his lap, tail curled protectively.
Marga gave a rare, small smile.
"Then we watch together."
Volow nodded.
Outside, the night deepened.
Far from Illenwood, on a lonely cliff, Pine stood before a dark cave.
Wind tugged at his cape as he looked inside—silent, steady.
Then he stepped forward
and disappeared into the darkness.