The morning sun broke through the canopy of the cursed forest, its soft light filtering down in golden rays. The camp was already bustling—or rather, I was bustling—making sure we were packed and ready. Nyxis was excitedly fluttering about, helping in her own way, though mostly just scattering supplies I’d already organized. I was still cloaked, keeping my appearance hidden, as always.

From behind me, I heard a faint voice. “Umm…”

I turned to see Lucy stirring, sitting up from the makeshift bed she’d been given. Her eyes were groggy, but she seemed alert enough. “Oh, you’re awake,” I said casually.

She blinked, looking between me and Nyxis as her gaze settled on the supplies. “What… what are you doing?” she asked, her voice laced with confusion.

“We’re getting ready,” I said, keeping my tone even. “Didn’t you say you needed help? Well, congratulations. We’re going to help.”

Her face lit up, disbelief and joy warring for control. “R-Really? But… why?” Tears welled in her eyes, and her voice broke. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“Don’t thank me,” I said, gesturing toward Nyxis. “Thank her. She’s the one who changed my mind.”

Lucy turned to Nyxis, who stood proudly by my side, and immediately fell to her knees. Tears streaming down her face, she bowed her head. “Thank you… thank you so much, Nyxis. I don’t know how I could ever repay you.”

Nyxis flapped her wings softly, a warm glow in her eyes. She stepped forward, her voice clear and full of affection. “Sister Lucy, don’t worry. We’ll help you. We’ll protect you. No one’s going to hurt you anymore.”

I sighed, adjusting my cloak as I watched the heartfelt scene. “Alright, alright. Enough of the waterworks,” I muttered, though I couldn’t help but crack a small smile under the hood.

“If we’re doing this, we’re doing it my way. So get ready. We’ve got a long day ahead.”

Lucy, still kneeling, looked up with an expression of disbelief mixed with gratitude. “I… I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

As Lucy stood, wiping her tears, Nyxis snuggled against her briefly before bounding back to me. I reached down and gave her a quick pat on the head. This was going to be a pain in the ass, but if Nyxis was happy, I couldn’t complain too much.

“Let’s move out,” I said, my voice firm as I led the way.

We had just left the safety of the nest, heading toward the outskirts of the cursed forest. The thick trees began to thin out, though the eerie atmosphere lingered. As we trudged along the rugged path, I turned to Lucy.

"Hey, Lucy, how far is your village from here?" I asked, adjusting the strap of my satchel.

She glanced back at me, her expression still a mix of exhaustion and gratitude. "It's about six hours away on foot," she said.

I frowned. "Six hours, huh? That’s not exactly close. Walking all the way there is risky, especially with Nyxis out in the open. She’s a magnet for trouble."

Nyxis, who had been happily trotting beside us, paused mid-step and tilted her head at me. "Papa, what do you mean?"

I smirked. "Nyxis, time to hide. Get in my shadow."

She chirped in understanding, spreading her wings briefly before vanishing into the dark pool at my feet. It was seamless—one moment she was there, the next she was gone, as if the shadows themselves had swallowed her. I felt the familiar weight of her presence in the back of my mind.

"Comfortable in there?" I asked.

Nyxis’s voice echoed softly in my head. "Yes, Papa!"

“Papa’s shadow is cozy,” her voice echoed faintly in my mind.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Lucy, on the other hand, looked like she’d just witnessed a miracle. Her jaw practically hit the floor. “W-What… How did you…?”

I raised an eyebrow at her reaction. “What, this?” I shrugged casually. “It’s just one of the perks of Dark Magic. Nothing to get all worked up about.”

I raised an eyebrow under my hood. Rare, huh? That was news to me. In the game, magic was more of a stat boost for the protagonist; it was secondary to the whole "hero with a sword" thing. As for me? I’d been winging it with whatever this body had to offer.

“Interesting,” I said finally, my tone nonchalant. “That explains why you’re so surprised. What about Chaos Magic, then? You ever hear of humans using that?”

Lucy froze for a moment, her brows furrowing in thought. “Chaos Magic? No… I’ve never heard of anyone—human or otherwise—wielding it. It’s said to be something ancient, a forbidden power tied to the old world. If anyone knows anything, it might be the elders in my village. But I doubt it’s something common.”

“Hmm,” I hummed, letting her words sink in. Ancient and forbidden, huh? Figures. Chaos Magic is probably going to be a headache to figure out.

Still, it intrigued me. The idea that this world was more than just a carbon copy of the game I once knew made everything feel more unpredictable—and way more dangerous.

“Well, if the village folk know anything, I guess I’ll find out soon enough,” I said with a shrug. “For now, let’s focus on getting there in one piece.”

Lucy nodded hesitantly, glancing back at my shadow as though Nyxis might suddenly reappear. “Alright. Thank you again, Alex. For… for helping us. Even if it’s dangerous.”

I didn’t respond right away, my eyes scanning the path ahead. “Don’t thank me yet, Lucy. This isn’t about being noble or heroic. I’m just doing this because Nyxis asked me to—and because, frankly, I’m curious about this ‘demon problem’ of yours.”

Her expression shifted, confusion giving way to determination. “Even so, it means the world to me. I’ll prove to you that my village is worth saving.”

“Good,” I said simply. “Because if you’re wrong, you’re paying me back for all this trouble.”

Her nervous laughter was answer enough.

And just like that, our strange little trio pressed onward, with six long hours of walking and who knows what kind of chaos waiting ahead.

I raised an eyebrow, adjusting the weight of my cloak as we walked. “Alright, Lucy. Let’s skip the mushy gratitude speech. If we’re gonna save your village, I need details. Start talking.”

Lucy perked up, her expression softening as she spoke. “Oh, Duskenfern? It’s… It’s a beautiful village. A haven, really. It’s tucked away near a series of hot springs that have natural healing properties. The air there is crisp, clean—perfect for relaxing and recuperating. That’s why it’s mostly home to retired scholars. They come to Duskenfern to live out their days in peace, surrounded by nature.”

“Hot springs and old scholars, huh?” I mused. “Sounds like a paradise. But I’m guessing paradise doesn’t hold up so well against demon invasions.”

She nodded, her face darkening. “You’re right. When the demons began their attacks, we were defenseless at first. But the retired scholars… they didn’t give up. They pooled their knowledge and magic to build a powerful wall around the village. It was enough to hold off the monsters for a while, but… resources are running out, and the constant attacks have weakened us.”.”

“So you got sent out to beg for help,” I said, cutting to the point. “And the capital? What’d they say?”

Her fists clenched at her sides, her voice trembling with frustration. “The king… he said Duskenfern wasn’t worth saving. That they only needed young, able-bodied people for the fight against the demons. He said old people would just die anyway, so why waste resources on them?”

I let out a low whistle, my teeth clenching behind a thin smirk. “Cold. Real fucking cold.”

“I wanted to scream at him,” she said, her voice cracking. “To tell him how wrong he was. But I… I couldn’t. All I could do was leave, furious and helpless.”

Her eyes turned to me, filled with a quiet fire. “Duskenfern isn’t just a village to me. It’s where I grew up. The old scholars there—those ‘worthless’ people—they’re the ones who taught me everything. They helped me walk, grow, understand the world. They’re my family, Alex.”

For a moment, I stayed silent, staring straight ahead. Her words hung heavy in the air, and I could feel the weight of her emotions. Family, huh?

Finally, I spoke, my tone even but firm. “Alright. If that’s how much it means to you, then you better be ready to fight for it. Because I’ll tell you this much, Lucy—this isn’t going to be easy. You want Duskenfern to survive? You’re gonna have to bleed for it.”

She straightened, her hands still trembling but her voice resolute. “I will. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Good,” I replied, smirking under the shadow of my hood. “Because this isn’t a charity gig. I’m not here to hold your hand or save the day for free. You’re part of this fight now, so don’t think you can just sit back and watch.”

“I won’t,” she promised, her eyes narrowing with determination.

“Then get ready,” I said, cracking my knuckles. “Duskenfern’s survival isn’t just your responsibility anymore. It’s ours. Let’s see if your village is as tough as you say it is.”

Lucy nodded, her determination burning brighter than before, and for the first time, I thought—just maybe—this might not be a complete waste of time.On their way they were attacked by monsters and few demons, however they evaded and moved forward.

After six grueling hours of trekking through uneven paths and dense foliage, we finally arrived at Duskenfern. But any relief I felt at reaching our destination evaporated when I saw the scene before us.

The village’s protective wall was on its last legs, battered and cracked as a swarm of demons and monsters clawed and smashed against it. The defenders on the wall—elderly scholars and a few younger villagers—were firing arrows and launching spells with shaky hands, doing their best to hold back the tide.

I turned to Lucy. “Stay right here. Got it?” I ordered, my voice sharp enough to cut stone.

She nodded, though I could see the worry in her eyes. “Be careful.”

“Nyxis, time to stretch your wings,” I called, and she emerged from my shadow like a storm incarnate. Her massive form loomed over me, her silver scales gleaming with an otherworldly aura.

Nyxis didn’t wait for orders; she charged straight at the demon horde, her roar shaking the ground. The sight of a Skyrend alone was enough to send some of the lesser monsters scrambling.

I grinned under my hood. “Let’s make this quick,” I muttered, summoning my magic. My hands crackled with dark energy as I unleashed a volley of spells. Shadow tendrils lashed out, binding the faster monsters, while bolts of lightning carved through the ranks.

Nyxis was a force of nature. With every swing of her tail and swipe of her claws, demons were flung aside like ragdolls. Her silver flames incinerated anything unlucky enough to stand in her path.

Despite our strength, the demons weren’t pushovers. They were relentless, waves of them pouring toward the wall. My stamina was draining fast, every spell taking a little more out of me.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the demon forces started to retreat, scattering into the forest. The air was thick with the smell of burnt flesh and blood. I let out a long breath, collapsing to the ground.

“Phew... that was a workout,” I said, wiping sweat from my brow. My entire body felt like jelly.

Lucy rushed over, her face pale. “Alex! Are you okay?”

I waved her off. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just haven’t gone all out in a while.” My voice was light, but damn, I was spent.

Nyxis trotted over, her head tilting in concern before she gently nudged me with her beak. Then, without warning, she grabbed me with her claws and hoisted me onto her back like I was a sack of potatoes.

“Nyxis, you little—! Hey, okay, okay, I get it. Thanks, girl,” I said, laughing weakly as I patted her neck.

One of the guards from the wall approached, his face a mix of relief and confusion. “Hey! It’s Lucy! She brought help!” he shouted back to the others.

Lucy beamed, her confidence returning. “Yes, it’s me! Let us in quickly!”

The gate creaked open, and the villagers peeked out cautiously. Their eyes widened at the sight of Nyxis and me.

“Don’t just stand there gawking,” I grumbled as Nyxis carried me forward. “We just saved your asses.”

Lucy led us inside, her steps lighter now that she was home. As the gates closed behind us, I scanned the village, taking in the worn buildings and tired faces.

This is what we fought for, huh? I thought, stifling a sigh. “Let’s hope this was worth it.”