Asper stared up, his heart racing as the man's blade pressed cold against his neck. He gulped, barely finding his voice. "Wh-what... what're you doing?" he stammered, his voice faltering.

The man's smirk deepened, eyes gleaming with a dark amusement. "What am I doing?" he echoed, drawing out the words with a mocking air. "Eliminating a possible threat, I think. That's what it looks like, right, boys?" He glanced over his shoulder, and just as he did, two masked men in dark, close-fitting suits appeared beside him as if summoned from thin air.

Asper's breath hitched at the sight of them, and his body tensed as their hands clamped down on his arms, holding him firmly. "H-hey, let go!" he protested, twisting and struggling against their grip, but their hold was like iron.

Ignoring Asper's resistance, the man sheathed his sword with a deliberate, metallic click. "So, Red-haired fool," he sneered, "which guild are you with? The Magnificent? Knights of Glory? Or maybe just some low-level bounty hunter who thought he'd make a quick coin off the prize?"

"Guild? Bounty?" Asper repeated, his confusion genuine as he struggled to catch his breath. "I don't know what you're talking about! I'm just passing through—just a traveler!"

"Just a traveler?" the man repeated, his laugh harsh and cutting. "You expect me to believe that? A real traveler would've avoided this route entirely. What's the rush? Something important enough to risk your neck?"

Asper's eyes flickered with desperation. "I—I'm in a hurry, alright?" he said, heart pounding faster as he strained against the masked men's relentless grip.

The man raised an eyebrow, a dark glint in his eyes. "In a hurry, huh? Hurried for your death?" He gave a short laugh, then turned to one of his lackeys. "Gash, check his bag."

At the mention of this, Asper's entire body tensed, and he jerked against his captors, fear lacing his voice. "No! Don't touch my bag—it's got... it's got important things in it!"

The man raised his hand, signaling to stop, his smile growing sinister. "Important, you say? All the more reason for us to see what you're hiding." Moving forward despite Asper's struggles, he ripped the bag from Asper's grasp with a swift, practiced motion.

Asper's heart sank as he watched the man pull out a crinkled map and a small, polished orb glinting in the faint light. The man's eyes widened slightly before his lips curved into a triumphant grin. "Well, well," he said, admiring his find. "Looks like laying a trap for bounty hunters pays off. Gash, Slash"—he motioned toward the men—"take the kid and the Suntooth Leopard to the dungeon. I've got an interesting little treasure to show the Boss."

Before Asper could react, the man seemed to melt into the air, vanishing so swiftly that Asper barely registered his absence. Panic crashed over him like a wave as the two masked men, Gash and Slash, seized his arms, forcing him to his knees. They swiftly bound his wrists, the rough ropes biting into his skin.

"Let me go! I said, let me go!" Asper shouted, twisting his shoulders and struggling against their iron grips. His voice was sharp and desperate, but the men ignored him, pulling him toward the rocky ground as he thrashed, his feet scraping against the dirt in a helpless attempt to break free. Feeling his heart pound with growing terror, he turned his head, catching sight of the Suntooth Leopard lying still a few paces away.

"Hey! Hey, Leopard! Wake up! Come on, buddy—help me out here!" Asper's voice was desperate as he called out, hoping the creature might somehow stir. But the Leopard remained motionless, its sleek form sprawled on the ground, unresponsive.

The two men exchanged a dry chuckle as they continued dragging both Asper and the Leopard down the rocky path. "Pitiful thing's not coming to your rescue," Gash sneered, giving Asper a hard yank forward.

"Keep talking, he'll just keep squirming," muttered Slash, his voice low and bored as he tightened the ropes around Asper's wrists. Each twist bit into Asper's skin, the rough fibers digging deep, making every tug all the more painful. With no choice, Asper was forced to stumble forward, the men dragging him by the ropes as they hauled the limp Suntooth Leopard alongside.

Gash shoved him, grumbling as they moved, and Asper cast a glance over his shoulder, desperate for any sign of hope. "Let go!" he yelled, trying to pull his wrists free, but they yanked the ropes hard, almost knocking him to the ground.

Just as his frustration peaked, a faint boom echoed from somewhere behind. Asper froze, his heart leaping at the sound, but Gash and Slash didn't seem to notice right away. Then, in one swift moment, both men crumpled to the ground with heavy thuds, their grip on the ropes vanishing.

Asper spun around, bewildered, only to see a figure emerging from a thin veil of smoke that hung in the air—a boy, probably a couple of years older than Asper, his eyes sharp and focused. He wore a dark green yukata, the traditional Japanese-style robe shifting subtly with each movement. Both of his forearms were wrapped in bandages that hinted at either scars or a toughened style choice. A katana glinted in his hand, his stance calm yet ready.

Before Asper could fully take in the sight, another presence slipped from the smoke to stand beside the swordsman. It was a younger boy with orange hair, shorter and with a mischievous grin stretched across his face. Wisps of smoke coiled lazily from his palms, adding an eerie glow to his already intense energy. His eyes sparkled with a fierce delight, as if the chaos before him was nothing short of thrilling.

Asper looked down at his kidnappers sprawled out cold on the ground, then back at the two boys who'd taken them down. "Uh... am I in even bigger trouble now?" he asked, glancing nervously between them.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Ignoring him, the younger boy turned to the one with the katana. "See, Big bro? All thanks to this red-haired fool, our plan's ruined. We could've had Fallow right here, the right-hand man of Scarhead!"

"Excuse me!" Asper burst out, feeling a surge of annoyance. "Who're you calling 'fool,' you little... uh... pipsqueak?"

The kid's grin widened, clearly enjoying himself. "Yeah, you, Mr. Red Hair. You went and tripped right into the middle of our setup! He thought we were falling for his trap, and then you blundered in and—"

"Trap?" Asper spluttered. "So, you mean this whole disaster's because of you guys? Hunters... traps... I almost got kidnapped because you two were just messing around?!"

Rio snickered, crossing his arms. "No, no, no, Red Hair. You got yourself caught because of your own idiocy. Who trips over a tail and gets snatched by a bad guy, seriously?"

Asper glared, fists clenched, stomping toward the kid. "Hey! I am not an idiot! And stop calling me Red Hair!"

Rio smirked, taking a step closer, undeterred. "And I'll keep calling you that, Red Hair. Got a problem?"

They both leaned in, faces inches apart, each daring the other to make the first move. It was like two pups growling in a standoff.

Zenji, the swordsman, let out an exasperated sigh and stepped between them. "Rio, that's enough," he said, shooting the younger boy a look. Then he turned to Asper, his tone calm but firm. "Forget what he said. He's just... blunt. It's nothing personal."

Asper blinked, still fuming but a bit thrown by Zenji's calm tone. "Oh... uh... right," he muttered, scratching his head as the anger quickly faded. "Guess you're not all bad."

Rio rolled his eyes but smirked. "Yeah, not so tough now, huh, Mr. Red Hair?"

"Oh, that's it!" Asper lunged toward him, fists clenched, only to stop mid-lunge and crack a grin. Laughter erupted between them, the tension dissolving as quickly as it had flared up.

Zenji shook his head. "Enough, Rio. Apologize."

Rio gave an exaggerated sigh and extended his hand to Asper. "Fine. Sorry, Red—Asper." His tone wasn't insincere, but it was clear he wasn't thrilled about the apology

Asper, still amused, took his hand. "It's fine. I'm Asper. Asper J. Bancroft."

Rio's eyes lit up as he shook Asper's hand. "Nice to meet you, Asper! I'm Rio Beringer," he said with an exaggerated flourish, "and this here is big bro, Zenji Kamigai!"

Zenji gave a slight nod, keeping his calm demeanor. "Pleasure."

"So," Rio asked, glancing around, "where's the famous Asper heading next?"

"Cornwall village," Asper said, his eyes brightening. "I've got something important I need to get back."

"Looks like we're all headed that way," Zenji said thoughtfully, exchanging a knowing glance with Rio.

"Guess we're road buddies now!" Rio clapped Asper on the shoulder with a playful grin. "Just keep up with us this time! Wouldn't want to have to save you again, Red-Haired Asper."

Asper laughed, rubbing the back of his neck, but before he could respond, he noticed Rio crouching down and rummaging through the unconscious, masked men's belongings.

Asper tilted his head, watching in confusion. "Uh... what exactly are you doing?"

"Borrowing their outfits," Rio replied, tugging off one of the men's suits. "These'll come in handy for a little... infiltration."

"Infiltration?" Asper asked, intrigued. "What exactly do you guys do?"

Rio grinned, draping the suit over his shoulder. "We're bounty hunters. We catch bad guys and cash in on the prize money, gifts, you name it." He gave a dramatic pause. "But this is just a side gig. We've got bigger plans."

Asper's curiosity sparked. "Bounty hunters, huh? I'm more of an explorer myself! My dream is to become the greatest explorer in history!"

Rio let out a chuckle. "Greatest explorer, huh?" He raised an eyebrow. "So, where's your crew, Asper?"

Asper blinked, caught off guard. "Crew? Uh... well, I was kind of thinking I'd go solo, you know..."

Rio looked at him with a mix of amusement and pity. "Solo? You think you're just gonna wander around alone and be the world's greatest explorer?"

"Why not?" Asper replied, feeling a little defensive. "I can handle myself! I mean, usually..."

Rio laughed, a full, hearty laugh. "You can't survive a single day alone! Trust me, you need friends, people who've got your back. Who else are you gonna share your adventures with? Exploration isn't worth much if you're doing it alone."

Asper scratched his head, feeling oddly struck by Rio's words. He hadn't considered the idea of having a crew—companions who'd share the journey with him.

"I... never thought about it that way," he admitted slowly.

Rio clapped him on the back with a grin. "Well, think about it, Asper. Friends make the adventure worth living."

Asper managed a sheepish grin, the idea beginning to grow on him. "Alright, alright. You've made your point."

Rio turned his attention to the Suntooth Leopard, still lying unconscious nearby. With a quick motion, he pulled out his knife and cut through the ropes binding it.

Asper's eyes widened. "Why are you freeing it? That thing nearly shredded us!"

Rio shook his head, chuckling. "Man, you stepped on its tail. That's why it attacked. Suntooth Leopards are usually friendly and harmless to humans."

"Oh..." glancing at the leopard with a newfound guilt. "Guess I owe it an apology."

Zenji, who had been observing with an amused expression, stepped forward, a hint of a smile in his usually stoic gaze. "Then let's get going to Cornwall Village."

Just then, the leopard let out a soft groan as it stirred, then darted off into the woods, seemingly unbothered. The three watched it disappear into the trees before Rio gave Asper another nudge.

"C'mon, Red-Haired Explorer. Let's get moving before you run into any more 'harmless' creatures."

"Yeah!" said Asper with a soft chuckle.