In the oppressive embrace of the night, a woman sprinted through the thickets as she clutched a newborn baby tightly to her bosom.

Behind her, a group of figures cloaked in ominous black trailed after her life. With each passing moment, the unseen threat drew closer, its looming presence palpable in the air.

Refusing to succumb to despair, the woman forged ahead, drawing strength from the depths of her desperation. Her legs burned with exertion as she entered the forest. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she plunged deeper into the gloomy embrace of the woods.

The tangled branches reached out like grasping fingers, and the air seemed to grow heavy with an unspoken menace. This was the cursed forest, whispered of in hushed tones, where even the bravest souls feared to tread.

Legends spoke of its insatiable hunger, swallowing up all who dared to enter. Powerful men had ventured in, seeking its secrets, only to vanish without a trace, leaving behind whispers of dread and despair.

As the woman disappeared into the dark, the leader of the pursuers halted, his eyes narrowing at the foreboding landscape. He knew the tales well, aware of the countless lives claimed by the forest's darkness. With a heavy heart, he signaled his companions to stop, watching in silence as she vanished into the cursed woods.

As the woman pressed through the dense undergrowth of the cursed forest, the little boy in her arms was still in a haze of confusion, and scattered memories began to resurface, like shards of glass piercing through the fog of oblivion.

"Why? Why is this happening to me?"

The boy's thoughts raced, his mind struggling to make sense of the chaos surrounding him. It felt like only yesterday when he had faced his own demise, a cruel twist of fate that had snuffed out his life before its time.

In his former life, he had been known as Kai—a mere E-rank hunter, scraping by at the bottom rung of society's ladder. Days blurred into nights as he toiled ceaselessly to repay the insurmountable debts left behind by his deceased parents. Then, like a beacon in the darkness, came the guild's offer—a chance to join a party brimming with S and A-rank hunters. Blind to the machinations at play, he eagerly accepted, oblivious to the sacrificial role he was destined to fulfill.

The memory of betrayal still burned fresh in his mind—the searing pain as a cold blade pierced his heart. Manipulated and deceived, he became nothing more than a pawn in their twisted game of power and greed. And in that final moment of death, he was ripped from his wretched existence, awakening in the arms of the woman now fighting against time itself.

"Was this a cruel twist of fate, where fortune and misfortune entwined in a tangled web of destiny, or merely the consequence of choices made in the unforgiving landscape of our world?"

The little Kai pondered, his thoughts swirling amidst the chaos.

As the moon cast its eerie glow over the tangled branches, the woman, realizing no one was following her, collapsed under a nearby tree. She leaned against its sturdy trunk, her breaths ragged and her gaze vacant, lost in the depths of exhaustion and despair. Kai, nestled in her arms, looked up at her lifeless eyes, a chilling realization dawning upon him. The woman who had given him life had met her end in this dark forest.

Before Kai could fully process the gravity of the situation, a menacing presence loomed in the shadows—a creature far larger and more formidable than any he had witnessed before.

"I just died a few hours ago... Am I going to die again?"

Kai's thoughts spiraled into despair as he closed his eyes, bracing himself for the inevitable onslaught of the beast.

As the ferocious creature prepared to strike, a sudden gust of wind tore through the forest, sending the beast tumbling aside with a thunderous crash.

Startled by the unforeseen intervention, Kai's eyes snapped open, his heart racing as he surveyed the surroundings, searching for the source of this miraculous reprieve.

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"What, what is it?

Kai's mind raced as he laid eyes upon a majestic creature emerging from the shadows. It bore the resemblance of a white tiger yet was adorned with ethereal wings and eyes of intricate gold that shimmered like royalty.

In the presence of such otherworldly beauty, Kai felt his fear dissolve, replaced by an overwhelming sense of wonder and awe. His hand moved instinctively towards the creature, drawn to its mesmerizing presence.

"Strange," the beast mused, its tone tinged with curiosity as it observed Kai's unwavering gaze. Yet Kai, lost in the moment, continued to meet the beast's gaze with a mixture of wonder and innocence.

As the beast observed the lifeless form of the woman beside Kai, their silent exchange was abruptly interrupted by the grumble of Kai's stomach.

"Ah, I am hungry."

Kai exclaimed, and instantly his focus shifted to survival instincts, reminding him that even in the face of death, hunger persisted.

"Ah, I think my grumble woke up his hunger too. So, this is how my second life is going to end, within a beast's stomach."

Kai's thoughts raced wildly as he saw the beast approaching him.

But the beast's actions took an unexpected turn. Instead of devouring Kai, the beast touched Kai's forehead with its own, locking eyes with him in a moment, and declared.

"I, Aelius, the king of this realm, pledge to be your guardian until you come of age and bestow upon you the name Eldric."

Shock rippled through Eldric as he absorbed Aelius's words. Not only had the beast spared him, but it had also bestowed upon him a name and pledged to protect him. Before he could gather his thoughts, Aelius gently lifted Eldric in his mouth, his wings unfurling majestically as he soared into the sky.

The sudden ascent prompted Kai to close his eyes in fear, but as the gentle wind caressed his body, he couldn't resist peeking through his eyelids. The sight that greeted him stole his breath away—the forest, with its lush canopy and winding rivers, sprawled beneath him like a vast, verdant tapestry.

Perhaps it was the soothing assurance of Aelius's words, or maybe his weariness finally caught up with him, but as they soared through the sky, Kai felt a sense of calm wash over him. His eyelids grew heavy, and despite the exhilarating flight, sleep overcame him, wrapping him in its comforting embrace.

After some time soaring through the sky, Aelius gracefully descended onto a mountain peak, causing a commotion in the presence of young wolves. Their eyes widened at the appearance of the majestic beast.

Despite their collective unease, none dared to challenge Aelius, whose powerful roar echoed through the crisp mountain air, leaving the wolves trembling and whimpering on the ground. Aelius's roar caused the entire pack of wolves to gather on the mountain peak around him.

Among the pack, a black wolf approaches Aelius, its bright crystal blue eyes gleaming with intensity and a shining half-moon mark emblazoned on its forehead.

"Why are you causing a ruckus in my territory?"

"Stella, it's time you repay me the favor."

"What do you want?"

Stella asked, her eyes scanning the scene, until she noticed the sleeping Eldric behind Aelius. Her calm demeanor shifted to fury as she immediately lunged towards Eldric, only to be intercepted by Aelius. In the blink of an eye, Stella found herself pinned beneath the massive paw of Aelius, her growls of anger muffled by his strength.

"How dare you bring a sinner into my territory?"

Stella's reverberating voice, filled with rage, jolted Eldric awake, sending a shiver down his spine, but her next words struck him like a thunderbolt.

"He is the descendant of the sinners who bound us with that curse, a curse that even your unborn child is suffering from."

"That has nothing to do with this child."

Aelius replied, his gaze softening as he looked toward Kai, now known as Eldric.

"I gave him the name Eldric. And you will feed him for a year."

"There is no way I will feed that sinner."

Stella's voice was dripping with disdain as she glared at Eldric with undisguised hostility.

Upon hearing Stella, Aelius removed his paw from her, freeing her, and spoke with a grin.

"You will; otherwise, your pack will perish from the poison of that mad serpent."

Aelius's commanding declaration left Stella trembling with fear. With a resigned acceptance, she begrudgingly acquiesced to Aelius's demand, her eyes flickering from hatred to fear as she realized the consequences of defying him.

"Get lost with the child after one year."

Stella declared with a tone of resignation, turning away and retreating towards her cave. Aelius, satisfied with Stella's reluctant agreement, gently lifted Eldric into his mouth and followed after the defeated wolf.

As Eldric was carried deeper into the cave by Aelius, his mind was consumed by thoughts of the curse and the unborn child that Stella had mentioned. He couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at him, wondering about the dark history that bound the creatures of the forest.

Despite his gratitude for Aelius's protection, Eldric couldn't help but ponder the perplexing question that loomed in his mind.

"If humans were considered enemies by creatures like Aelius and Stella, why had Aelius chosen to become his guardian and defy his own kind just to ensure his survival?"

"Was there more to Aelius's motives than met the eye? Did he have some hidden agenda?"

Lost in contemplation, Theo couldn't help but feel a mixture of gratitude and apprehension towards Aelius. While he was grateful for Aelius's protection, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that there was something more at play, something that would reveal itself in due time.

With each step deeper into the cave, Theo braced himself for the revelations and challenges that lay ahead, knowing that the answers to his questions would only come with time.