The Forest of Death was quiet.
Too quiet.
The same place that had been filled with the screams of monsters and the sounds of destruction only hours ago now sat beneath a peaceful morning sky. Sunlight slipped through the broken branches above, painting the ruined forest floor with golden rays.
The damage from the battle was impossible to ignore.
Trees had been torn apart. The ground was covered in deep cracks. Burn marks from powerful flames covered the earth, and the remains of the massive Wraith's attack still scarred the area.
But for once...
There was no fighting.
No running.
No fear.
A small shelter rested between the trees, created from branches, leaves, and carefully shaped earth. Outside it, the remains of a campfire slowly faded, smoke drifting lazily into the sky.
Ashley sat nearby, leaning against a tree. Her injuries were wrapped with pieces of cloth, but she still looked exhausted from the night before.
Across from her sat Connor.
The boy who had appeared out of nowhere.
The boy who had risked his life to save them.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
The silence was almost comfortable.
Almost.
Footsteps came from behind them.
Ashley turned.
Ash stepped out of the shelter, his movements slower than usual. His body was still recovering, but his eyes were sharp.
The moment he saw Connor, his expression changed.
His tiredness disappeared.
His guard went up.
Connor noticed immediately.
Ashley sighed.
"Oh, Ash. You're awake."
Ash ignored her greeting.
His eyes stayed locked on Connor.
"Who is this person?"
Connor blinked.
The suspicion was obvious.
"My name is Connor Malvar—"
"Shut up. No one's talking to you."
Connor stopped mid-sentence.
A strange silence filled the air.
Ashley slowly turned toward her brother.
The look she gave him was enough to make even Ash hesitate.
"This is the guy who saved us from that Wraith," she said. "Now apologise and say thank you."
Ash crossed his arms.
"Why should I?"
Ashley stared at him.
"Ashton."
The moment she used his full name, Ash's confidence weakened slightly.
"Apologise."
Connor raised his hands awkwardly.
"Oh, there's really no need for tha—"
Ashley immediately looked at him.
"Shut up, Connor. No one's talking to you."
Connor quickly looked away.
For the first time, Ash and Connor had something in common.
Neither wanted to argue with her.
Ash sighed.
"Fine."
He looked at Connor.
"Thank you."
The words were empty.
Connor could tell.
Ashley could tell.
The entire forest probably could tell.
"Now apologise properly," Ashley said.
Ash looked back at her.
"No."
A dangerous silence followed.
Then—
SMACK.
The sound echoed through the trees.
Birds suddenly burst from the branches above, flying away from the unexpected noise.
Ash stood frozen, a bright red mark appearing on his cheek.
His eyes widened.
"Sorry! I'm sorry! Please forgive me!"
Connor stared.
He wasn't sure what shocked him more.
The fact that Ashley slapped him...
Or the fact that Ash immediately surrendered.
Connor rubbed the back of his head.
"I forgive you... and sorry about the slap."
Ash shrugged.
"Don't mention it."
Ashley stood up.
"I cooked. Wanna eat?"
Ash's entire face changed.
The confidence disappeared.
His eyes widened.
His body stiffened.
"Oh no."
Ashley tilted her head.
"What?"
Ash slowly pointed at the shelter.
"Ashley cooked."
Connor looked between them.
"Is that bad?"
Ash didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
His expression did it for him.
A few moments later, they sat around the dying campfire.
Ashley returned carrying two bowls.
The moment she placed them down, Connor stared.
The meal looked...
Unusual.
The colour was strange.
The texture looked like it belonged to something found deep inside a cave.
A mysterious smell rose from it.
Ash leaned closer.
He carefully examined the food.
Then slowly backed away.
"Wait..."
Ashley looked at him.
"What?"
Ash poked it.
"I swear something moved."
Connor forced a smile.
"Wow... this looks delicious."
His voice betrayed him.
Ashley smiled proudly.
"I cooked this for both of you."
Connor stared at the bowl.
Then at Ashley.
Then back at the bowl.
His injuries suddenly seemed a lot worse.
"You know... my injuries are acting up," Connor said slowly. "I don't think I have much of an appetite."
Ashley frowned.
"Oh, come on."
Connor barely had time to react.
The next moment, Ashley had already brought the food toward him.
"Wait—"
Too late.
The food reached his mouth.
Silence.
Connor froze.
His eyes widened.
The taste was impossible to describe.
It was spicy.
Sweet.
Salty.
And somehow...
Still terrible.
His face slowly turned green.
His ears became red.
His body went completely still.
Then he collapsed.
Ash stared at him.
Ashley looked down.
"Guess he was right. He didn't have an appetite."
She shrugged.
"I'll let him sleep. He can finish it later."
Ash slowly turned toward her.
"Later?"
Ashley smiled.
"Brother, how's the food?"
Ash looked at the bowl.
Then at his sister.
A nervous smile appeared.
"It's very good."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
While Ashley was distracted, Ash quietly moved his hand.
The earth beneath him shifted.
A tiny hole opened.
The food disappeared underground.
The ground closed again like nothing happened.
Ash lifted the empty bowl.
"Wow, sister. So good. I wish I could have more."
He smiled proudly.
Ashley's face brightened.
"Really?"
Ash froze.
"There's plenty more where that came from."
Slowly, he looked over.
Near the shelter was a large pot.
Full.
Completely full.
Ash's smile vanished.
His eyes widened.
A few seconds later...
He fell backward.
Unconscious.
High above the forest, a figure watched everything.
Silver hair moved gently with the wind.
Ishimo stood on a tree branch, a small smile on his face.
On his shoulder rested a tiny chrome dragon, peacefully watching the scene below.
Cuppy let out a small sound.
"Prrr."
Ishimo looked at her.
"Well, this is interesting."
His eyes moved toward Connor, Ash, and Ashley.
"Connor with those two... looks like I was a bit late."
Cuppy stared at him.
"Prrr."
Ishimo sighed.
"I know my time management is bad. Jeez, no need to judge me."
The little dragon looked away.
Ishimo smiled.
Below them, three people who had no reason to trust each other were now sitting together.
An unlikely group.
A strange alliance.
And something told Ishimo...
This was only the beginning.
END OF CHAPTER