Rody and Gill were teleported above a small stream. Although they were soaking wet, Rody felt fortunate that the teleportation point wasn’t on a cliff or ravine, or they wouldn't have survived. Gill stood up in the water, her head lowered, silent. Rody noticed the water rolling off her body without wetting her clothes and was amazed at her water-repelling ability.
“Have you been evaluated too?” Rody led the way with Gill following. After a while of silence, he finally asked.
“What evaluation?” Gill’s response made it clear she knew nothing about it.
“Like the evaluation that Instructor Margaret does for each student,” Rody quickly changed the subject. “Let's find higher ground to look for others.”
Gill silently followed Rody to the top of a small hill. After a while, she softly said, “There’s no one within five kilometers.”
“It’s okay, we can make it on our own. Once we reach Soul Break Ridge, we’re sure to find them,” Rody comforted her. “If you notice anything unusual while we walk through the wilderness, let me know right away. If you need anything, feel free to ask me.”
“I have a feeling of palpitations coming from the west. Maybe, Rody, we shouldn’t go that way,” Gill suddenly said after walking a bit.
“Really?” Rody sweat profusely, admiring Gill’s strong intuition, though she seemed too introverted and shy.
No sooner had they walked two kilometers away from the west than a roar erupted from the wilderness, followed by more furious growls. Trees were falling in the distance, signaling a giant beast’s presence. Rody, recalling his past encounter with a black dragon and a nine-headed monster, didn’t feel lucky this time.
They might not be as powerful as a black dragon or a nine-headed monster, but the beast causing such destruction was certainly no ordinary creature. Rody grabbed Gill’s hand and hurriedly fled.
After running several kilometers, they could still hear faint roars. Rody wiped the sweat from his forehead, realizing that although his intuition was good, it paled in comparison to Gill’s.
“Gill, did you sense anything in the corridor during Instructor Sean’s test day?” Rody asked.
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“I felt like someone was sneakily following us, but Sani told us not to worry,” Gill replied, making Rody realize that not only he had detected the presence of the Shadow Thief but also Gill and Sani. Rody wondered how Gill had such strong and accurate intuition. Was it related to her potential or a natural gift?
“Whoo-hoo…”
As they walked, Rody was about to find a place to rest when a monstrous creature with a wolf’s head and bat’s body, and a tail covered in spikes, emerged from the woods. Rody was preparing to cast an undead spell stealthily when Gill already hit it with an ice ball. It froze the creature for a few seconds before it crashed to the ground, unable to fly again. It crawled back into the bushes, whining continuously.
Rody was secretly alarmed. Gill could cast an ice ball without chanting or a wand, proving her extraordinary talent in ice magic.
Gill, however, looked like a child who had done something wrong, her head lowered, following quietly behind Rody.
As they crossed a small stream, Rody walked on moss-covered stones when suddenly a long stone came to life, opening a gaping mouth to attack. Rody dodged in alarm, but his clothes were caught by the stone-like swamp crocodile, pulling him into the stream. Gill then hit the crocodile's eye with a fireball, causing it pain and making it release its grip. The creature thrashed in the water, turned over, and swam away into the depths of the stream.
Rody climbed out of the stream and saw Gill looking down as if she had done something wrong, making him chuckle.
“What are you laughing at?” Gill, curious, stole a glance at Rody and asked.
“I should thank you; you saved my life again,” Rody laughed.
“No, actually, I... I just panicked. Aunt Paji said you would protect me, so I shouldn’t have acted. I’m sorry,” Gill stumbled over her words, her face turning red and fidgeting with the hem of her clothes.
“I don’t have the same foolish pride as others. We are partners, and you can act anytime,” Rody said, shaking his head with laughter.
“Actually, Rody, I... I’m someone plagued by misfortune, bringing disaster to others. Being with me is dangerous. The danger just now was my fault, I’m sorry!” Gill deeply apologized, bowing her head, unable to meet his gaze.
“What a coincidence!” Rody clapped his hands. “I’m also frequently visited by the goddess of misfortune. We should shake hands!”
“You’re just trying to comfort me... But, I’m happy, thank you,” Gill whispered, her clean face blushing like a red apple, extremely cute.
“Alright, let two unlucky people travel together!” Rody laughed heartily, but before he could finish, Gill pointed to a massive lion with fiery mane drinking water on the opposite bank. Rody’s hair stood on end, and his laughter abruptly stopped. Taking a deep breath, he whispered to Gill, “Don’t be afraid, we’ll slowly back away. It’s full and just drinking water, we’re safe!”
Originally, Rody didn’t believe Gill was a girl of misfortune, but after encountering danger more than ten times in a day, he started to believe it. Of course, he also suspected his own misfortune played a part, as he wasn’t exactly a lucky person either.
The two, both beloved by the goddess of misfortune, seemed to bring the utmost misfortune together. As they found shelter under a tree from the sudden downpour, a beehive was knocked down, causing a swarm of bees to fly chaotically. But worse was yet to come. On the other side, a bruised Earth Bear, stung by the bees yet still intent on eating honey, saw Rody and Gill and roared menacingly.
In desperation, Rody quickly picked up Gill and fled into the rain at the fastest speed he had ever managed.
Finally finding a cave to rest for the night, they saw several goblins feasting on human flesh at the entrance. Gill screamed in horror at the sight of a decapitated head, nearly fainting. Rody had to carry her again, fleeing from the goblins' spears and blow darts. He was now fully convinced that both he and Gill were the goddess of misfortune’s favorite humans, with no one unluckier than them.
“I’m sorry,” Gill apologized in a small voice, her face flushed.
“It seems we really are in the same boat...” Rody couldn’t help but burst into laughter, but Gill quickly covered his mouth. A huge shadow flew overhead, brushing the treetops. Rody pulled Gill to the ground, and both noticed the moving shadow had three heads, scaring them to the point where their hearts almost leaped out.