The next morning, Ark and Al walked to the village entrance. The two of them passed through the village gate, entered the main road for a while, then branched off onto the next trail. Large boots and smaller boots stepped on the dry leaves. The two of them began to venture deeper into the forest.
Ark held a map and a small, exquisite compass in his hand, and on his waist he carried a few small bags and a large backpack on his back. Today, the mission was not only to collect the Lycan flowers that grew deep in the cave at the foot of the mountain, but also to nibble on some other herbs that Ark had collected along the way. Al was behind him, carefully following his footsteps. Walking with Ark made him feel comfortable and somewhat familiar, even a little eager to run forward. However, unlike his heart, the deep forest always contained dangers that could strike at any time.
Contrary to expectations, it was very cool in the forest today. The autumn sunlight filtered through the tall trees, reflecting the misty morning mist. And around them, there would be occasional bird calls and the sounds of other animals, creating a chaotic but also quite pleasant harmony, reminding him of a wild world.
As they walked towards noon, the two of them stopped to rest and had a light meal: sandwiches, some cold cuts and cheese. Looking at the simple food that Ark had always made for him, he calmly spoke, "Yvette said that my cooking talent could bring the dead back to life, move the stars, and disturb the laws of nature."
Ark glanced at him, quietly gnawing on the cake, only later did he softly object: "You just need to say it's bad..."
"Then every time we go out like this, you go find food, I'll cook for you," Al suggested.
"No... There won't be a next time." Ark shook his head.
***
"Ark, are you familiar with the paths in this forest?" Al asked.
"No,... yes? Maybe," Ark replied.
"Then aren't you afraid of the animals here?"
"Direwolves hibernate in the winter." After saying that, Ark suddenly noticed a nearby bush. He stopped, quickly pushed through the bushes and used his hand to pick up the nearby leaves and hold them tightly. From his palms, a liquid with a distinctive scent quickly flowed out, he continued, "But now is their active season. Follow me and apply this on your body."
Al obediently picked similar leaves and crushed them, then applied them on his body. Meanwhile, Ark diligently searched for nearby herbs and collected them, putting them in a small bag next to him.
"So what is this, Ark?" Al asked curiously. He stuck out his tongue when he smelled the strong, pungent smell still stuck on his hands.
"It's a Folmard tree, also known as the Rough Tree, that grows in shady places or near the river." Ark explained, "They have the scent of crocodile urine, the enemy of the wolves. So when you apply it on your body, the wolves will be less likely to come near."
"What about you?" Al asked, "Why don't you apply it?"
"I don't like the smell of crocodile urine."
"... I just said that you're a bad cook, do you need to do that to me?"
"..." Ark looked at him and ignored him without answering.
***
At noon, when they reached a cave at the foot of the mountain, the two stopped. Before the cave entrance, Al felt a sharp cold air flowing through him. He unconsciously lowered his ears. His instincts told him not to go into the cave. He tugged at Ark's cloak nervously.
"You should go back. Nature is dangerous," Ark said.
"No, I won't go back." Al was annoyed.
"And that's why everyone dies. They overestimate their own abilities," Ark continued calmly.
"No!"
"You'll thank me. I always know what's best for you." Ark tried to pull Al's backpack, trying to pull it off. "And we'll go back now! Today's picnic is enough!"
"Let go!" He clawed at him. Clutching his backpack tightly with both hands, he glared at him, angrily shouting, "Didn't everyone go with you back then, why are you the only one giving up now?"
"Because you're weak! There, you're satisfied!" Ark yelled, cutting him off, "And the weak survive. Why, do you want to follow me again and die like Alice, like Sylvie too? Just for that damn adventure?"
"... What?" Al's eyes widened. Impossible. Ark was the one who killed Alice, and he easily revived him. Was Ark trying to set up a play?
"... Everyone in the group is the best individual in the continent. And each of them has their own great masterpieces..." Ark looked at Al with a confused expression, then sighed, "You were wrong to choose to follow me. And you were wrong to think that I could protect someone... I'm not even a hero. Every time I use this power, I don't do anything right... I'm just..."
From the cave entrance, growling sounds gradually approached. They were the fierce wolves that Ark mentioned. They seemed to have heard the noise of the two people just now.
"Al, we have to go back immediately." Ark grabbed the rabbit's shoulder, hurriedly urging, "We shouldn't be here."
Al was motionless. Part of him wanted to trust him, hoping that he was as great as he wanted to think. Part of him needed to know the truth about himself. But standing before the two giant bodies of the fierce wolves that were gradually approaching. His heartbeat became erratic. Al's thoughts were racing through his head: find Lycan, essential oil, run, stop.
The two wolves in front of him growled. They stomped their feet on the ground. Their eyes seemed to glow in the darkness of the cave. And the part that was exposed to the sunlight, fangs as long as his arm were exposed, and from the gums were dripping with phlegm.
Ark urged him, seeing the two wolves preparing to attack, he shouted to Al: "Run!"
But Ark didn't know that Al was panicking. Al was scared. He heard Ark's scream. But thinking about running home and never leaving this place again, he thought of the Lycan flower and immediately ran straight into the cave.
"Al!" Ark shouted. But the wolf saw Al running and immediately jumped towards him.
Al ran for his life. When he noticed, the fierce wolf had already jumped straight towards him. Al watched its body slowly fly towards him, its claws gradually blocking his vision. In the corner of his eyes, Ark's face paled but then became angry.
Ark gritted his teeth, his face was full of blood, he reached out and said harshly, "Don't touch Al!"
And the space became dry. In an instant, a sharp wind cut through a few strands of his hair. And the fierce wolf was slashed by an unknown object. The wolf was smashed straight into the cave wall
Thud!
There were several cracks on the wall. And the green sword that pierced the fierce wolf's body was pierced.
The remaining wolf immediately looked at Ark and growled. In Ark's hand, the water crystals gathered, stretched, and contracted into the shape of a sword. With a flick of his wrist, the sword instantly hardened. His face was covered with blood vessels. "Your opponent is me."
***
The wolf growled and charged forward. Ark's hand tightened its grip on the sword. Before its sharp teeth could reach Ark, he swung his hand in time to slash a sweet sword slash across the monster's neck, blood gushing all over his body. The wolf howled in pain, flailed around, and Ark saw this and quickly raised his sword to block.
The force of the blow made him take a few steps back. The wolf continued to charge forward, and Ark crouched down. Before it could bite the upper half of his body, he jumped up and pointed his sword down. The tip of the sword immediately pierced through the wolf's head.
Al, don't just stare at me. Then, right behind him, the wolf from earlier started to stir. But the air lost its moisture again. And right after that, the summoned sword flew through the air. It pierced through its head before it could even groan.
Ark stood on the now sprawled wolf, he brushed his hands and the swords turned back into water. Seeing Al, he quickly ran over but his steps seemed to be quite unsteady, tightly entangled.
Arriving in front of Al, he patted both of his shoulders, checking his injuries.
"Are you okay?" Ark worried.
"... No," Al replied.
"We need to go home," Ark sighed.
"No." Al shook his head in annoyance. "I can protect you. This is the last time you'll be out. Why do you keep wanting me to go home?"
"The forest is dangerous, Al," Ark tried to persuade.
"The reason I stayed with you is because I trusted you to protect me. But why do you keep locking me up like this?" Al felt wronged. He had not been able to go anywhere and had only been wandering around this cramped village. Every day, he always looked over the nearby mountains, or listened to Yvette's stories of adventures she heard from Sylvie's letters. And every time Ark wasn't home, he would look out the window and wait, wait for a day that was different from the days he was here.
Hot tears ran down his cheeks, he sniffled, "Why are you the only one who is told not to go on adventures, but what about me. So you forbid me?"
"Al..." Ark cried out.
"You're so selfish!" he growled.
"..." Ark froze, trying to explain to him, "Not only these forests, but the whole world, the corners of the world, are filled with hidden dangers, natural forces or curses, people with evil intentions. You wouldn't understand." Ark paused, his lips moving slightly. "...But if you don't go, you won't understand anything. However, I think, if—No, I should have guided you to the best of my ability all this time, instead of forcing you to do what I want. I understand, because if it was Sylvie, she would have felt the same way as you..."
"Hey, Al," Ark spoke up, "If the forest is dangerous, and no matter how dangerous it is... would you still want to trust me?"
"Of course." Al sobbed, "Didn't you say you trust me? I'm so strong!"
"So you still want to go pick Purple Orchids?" Ark tried to encourage the rabbit.
"Yes!"
Seeing the rabbit quickly stop crying, Ark breathed a sigh of relief, unable to restrain himself from smiling, "Anyway, if you see danger, you should know to run home. Don't run deep into the cave. Come here, hold my hand."
Al tightly held Ark's hand; The two of them walked into the deep cave together. Ark then took out a torch from his backpack and gave it to Al while he looked at him expectantly.
The fire flickered faintly in the cave. In contrast to the chaos just now, there was no sound in the cave except for the two people's slow footsteps.
"You don't need to worry about anything," Ark said.
"What?" Al asked.
"Although it's the season for wolves to be active, this cave doesn't have much activity from them," Ark explained, "Moreover, the direwolves only start hunting after dusk - that is, a few hours from now."
After walking a short distance, they saw the scattered skeletons of other animals lying around and a human skull with many scratches on it.
"Did you just say this cave is abandoned?" Al raised an eyebrow at him.
"...You must know that the direwolves have been expanding their territory lately, right?" Ark tried to avoid the suspicious gaze of the rabbit next to him. "... When he went to the Aleph Adventurer's Guild (Orwen), the supporter slipped him and the others this commission. He never thought he would be able to complete this quest." Ark smiled wryly.
"When did you go to the city?" Al asked.
"I've been picking herbs these past few days to do Miss Orm's commission," Ark reported.
"The city...?" Al muttered.
The two of them then approached the fork in the road.
"Just one more..." Ark hesitantly asked Al, "Which direction do you think we should go?"
"I can help," Al said. Al shook his ears slightly, and carefully listened to the sounds of each turn. On the right, he heard the normal sound of wind, on the other side, there were footsteps stomping. "There's nothing on the right, but there are two on the left."
"It can't be helped. We all live for money." Ark shook his head in disappointment. Grabbing Al's hand, he asked again, "You really won't be scared, right?"
"I won't."
"Then let's go together," Ark said.
Deeper into the cave, the two of them heard the footsteps of other animals and low growls. When they heard the footsteps gradually coming towards them, Al, like before, ran behind him to find a suitable retreat route. Ark's cloak and Wisdom hat were pulled into the air, leaving him with a simple black outfit. Ark took a defensive stance, summoning water around his arms.
Both wolves looked at Ark. One growled and charged. Ark followed suit, raising his sword.