The spirlings around Roos danced and flickered, their glowing forms shifting and melding into one another.

The air around her brightened as the spirlings merged into a single entity, growing larger and more defined with each passing second. What emerged from that aurora of colours was something ancient, something primal—a creature from legend, reborn in light.

“N-no way…” One of the mercenaries unknowingly took a step back with shaking legs. “A demiyus?”

The mythical bird’s wings stretched wide, casting a vast shadow over the jungle, and its body rippled with an ethereal glow, every feather alive with shimmering detail. Dozens of eyeballs adorned the feathers, rolling and vibrating in surveillance.

The air thrummed with its presence, a deep, resonant hum that made the ground beneath them tremble. The demiyus’s two main eyes, different from the eyeballs on its wings, were ablaze with ferocity, like two burning suns piercing through the fog.

The moment the demiyus had begun to take form, Edris had found himself being cushioned by hundreds of spirlings as he was forced onto a nearby trunk.

Given the chance to witness the entirety of the demiyus’s creation, Edris could only be staggered at the fact that, despite the pure realism of the creature, it was an illusion of the spirlings.

The visual delivery was flawless—so much so that, for a moment, it felt like the beast had stepped straight out of the myth and into reality.

Even with the spirlings and his own rationality as a buffer, Edris could still barely breathe.

He wasn’t the only one.

Every person there—mercenaries, hunters, and even the creatures of the jungle—froze where they stood, their minds blank with terror. The sheer size of the demiyus was overwhelming, its wings blocking out what little light the fog hadn’t consumed.

The air around them felt charged, surging with an energy none could understand but could only discern with their entire existence.

The creature gave a low, menacing growl, its sharp talons raking the air as it hovered above them. Its beak, lined with razor-sharp edges, snapped once, the sound reverberating like thunder.

The hunters could barely register what they saw, let alone comprehend that it wasn’t real. To their eyes, the demiyus was as solid and terrifying as any living creature, a nightmare given form.

In that moment, every single person had the same thought racing through their minds:

I am going to die here.

The reekofliers circling and attacking moments before now scattered like leaves in a storm. Their shrill cries filled the air as they fled in every direction, desperate to escape the massive creature that had appeared before them. Their once-coordinated attacks turned into a frantic scramble for survival, disappearing into the dark heart of the jungle.

Reekofliers aside, the mercenaries too, once hardened and battle-ready, found themselves paralysed by fear.

Some dropped their weapons; others stood rooted to the spot, too afraid to move. A few, regaining just enough of their senses, bolted for the trees, vanishing into the underbrush with desperate speed.

None dared to look back, even for a second.

Roos hovered at the centre of it all, levitating proudly above the chaos, a smirk playing on her lips. The spirlings swirled around her like loyal servants, and her eyes glowed a brilliant green. She revelled in the power of the illusion she had created, her voice carrying over the scene like a victorious anthem.

"How’s that!"

The demiyus let out a final screech that seemed to shake the very air before dissolving back into the original lighter hues of the spirlings.

And with that, the once overwhelming presence evaporated, leaving only silence in its wake.

The reekofliers were long gone, and so were the mercenaries, not a single one left behind. The only ones remaining were the floating elementalist and the dark-haired child slumped by the trunk.

Roos grinned down at Edris.

“Well?” she said, tilting her chin slightly, eyes filled with anticipation. “See this? This is how competent your teacher is.”

Still half-crouched from his earlier ducking, Edris slowly rose to his feet, his expression unreadable.

First, he glanced around at the now-empty space surrounding them, the eerie calm that had taken over in the absence of the illusion. Then, he swept his gaze across the clearing, then back at Roos. Although the look on his face remained blank, his lips had pursed into a line.

“You’re very impressive,” he said dryly.

Roos gave him a wide, proud smile.

“But do you remember why we came here?”

Roos’s smile faltered slightly as she gave him a look. “Of course I do! We’re here to collect as many parts of the reekofliers as possible—”

She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening as realisation dawned on her.

Edris’s lips twitched subtly.

“Exactly.”

His gaze drifted back to the now desolate jungle.

The reekofliers were gone—scattered deep into the jungle, far from where they stood. These creatures appearing in front of humans were already rare enough of a situation. Startle them, and you’d be lucky to catch even a glimpse of one again, let alone capture or collect their parts.

“So…” The boy continued, gesturing to the empty air around them. “What exactly are we collecting if you scared all of them away?”

Roos’s face fell as the full weight of the situation hit her. She looked around frantically, hoping that one or two of the reekofliers had somehow lingered behind, but the jungle remained deathly silent.

She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it, realisation sinking in deeper.

At last, she looked towards him with a sheepish smile.

“Oops?”

***

The reekoflier expedition had been the start of something new.

Although the quest had ended in failure, Roos and Edris found themselves returning to Adalan’s capital more often after that, and eventually, their visits evolved into almost a weekly routine.

Edris must admit—the guildhall was quite the useful place. The bulletin board was updated on a daily basis, and they would take on all types of expeditions from there, each one leading them deeper into the kingdom and, occasionally, beyond its borders.

Some quests were relatively simple—like being test subjects for the factions' herbal medicine trial experiments. Others were more hasslesome, such as participating in arranged marriage meetings set up by nobles looking for suitors for their children (Roos was always most excited for these, though she’d often come back empty-handed after making the other side cry).

Edris took his fair share of attempts as lab rabbits, but intentionally skipped out on the marriage appointments.

He still wasn’t sure which was worse, the discomfort of having experimental potions dumped on his head or the awkwardness of being paraded in front of marriage candidates he had zero interest (not to mention—as an eight-year-old child).

Indeed, this became their new lifestyle for the next six months.

And with it, Edris had reached the irrefutable conclusion that he’d never meet anyone else as outlandish as Roos.

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For Edris, she had become both a source of constant frustration and unrelenting amusement—a force of nature that he found no choice to endure and adapt to.

The woman seemed to operate on sheer impulse, her actions dictated by spontaneity and whim. But what made it all the more maddening was the undeniable competence that backed up her reckless confidence.

Roos was the living embodiment of chaos, yet somehow, it worked for her like a charm.

One day, just as dawn broke, Edris was jerked out of sleep by Roos, whose grip was firm with enthusiasm as she dragged him from his bed at the inn.

Still groggy and trying to shake off his half-asleep mind, Edris stumbled along, following her toward the familiar guildhall.

“I planned to take a bath this morning,” he muttered.

“So high-maintenance for a child.” Roos rolled her eyes. “Your bath can wait!”

It wasn’t long before he saw the reason behind her excitement.

The guildhall was packed with adventurers, all lined up and buzzing with anticipation. A special excursion had been announced, and by the looks of the crowd, it was no ordinary quest.

The doors to the guildhall creaked open as the first rays of sunlight spilt over the cobbled streets. Immediately, the adventurers rushed in, pushing and shoving to grab the limited number of signup posters. The surge of people made it impossible for anyone to get through quickly, and Edris could feel the pressure of the crowd closing in around him.

“Go Edris, go!” Roos cheered him on from behind. “Use your child advantage!”

“What advantage?” Edris said through gritted teeth, almost buried within the advancing bodies.

Just as he was about to give up and turn back, he felt a lightness to his body.

The next thing he knew, his feet had lifted off the ground.

Roos surrounded herself in a swirl of mana, and the spirlings, ever at her command, hoisted Edris into the air, propelling him across the guildhall. He shot over the crowd, landing right in front of the quest board, where he was barely given time to adjust and could only aimlessly reach out, snatching up the first coveted poster in sight.

As he floated there, clutching the paper, he blinked in confusion.

She could’ve just used the spirlings to grab the poster, couldn’t she?

As the spirlings steered him back to the entrance, Edris dismissed the question with a shake of his head. With Roos, it was better not to ask.

The quest was sponsored by Adalan's Resource Faction, which explained why it had drawn so much attention. All the groups that had secured a spot gathered in the town square an hour later, their packs full and spirits high.

One group immediately stood out among them—a luxurious setup that practically screamed wealth. Their equipment gleamed in the morning sun, and their camels were draped in ornate, embroidered cloth.

Even the fruit crate behind them bore the label of the Wendimore Kingdom, known for its imported ice, chilled perfectly to keep the fruit fresh in the desert heat.

Edris and Roos rode on a single camel, watching the extravagant group ahead. Roos tilted her head, eyeing the elaborate sedan chair carried by knights. It swayed gently as they travelled, and behind it, a neatly organised assortment of supplies would put most adventurers to shame.

"Who in their right mind would go on an expedition like this?" Roos wondered aloud, her voice dripping with bemusement.

One of the knights turned back at her words, his face impassive. Roos flashed him a shameless grin in return, to which the knight merely turned away without response.

The sun hung high in the sky, its scorching rays beating down on them as they trekked across the barren landscape. There was no other way to reach the hot springs except by camel. The terrain was too rough and unforgiving for any other mode of travel.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally arrived at the natural spring site.

The air was thick with the scent of sulfur, and steam rose in delicate curls from the geysers that dotted the area. As the group dismounted, the sedan was carefully lowered, and the knights helped its occupant step out.

Edris had barely noticed him at first, but as the person emerged from the sedan, his presence became impossible to ignore.

A boy around his age. Perhaps a bit older.

Though he was veiled and wore mana-enhanced clothes that altered his appearance slightly, there was an air of grace about him, a fluidity to his movements rarely seen in adventurers.

His blonde hair, though hidden under a cloth, shimmered in the light. Stretching his arms, the boy pulled out a notebook from his pack with the ease of someone well-versed in documentation.

"Finally," he said, his voice smooth and melodic. "I’ve been wanting to visit this place for quite some time. Took a while to secure a spot through the guild."

Edris raised an eyebrow, exchanging a look with Roos. The boy’s demeanour, his effortless elegance—it was clear he didn’t experience your average upbringing.

There were four groups in total, each given a diffusion orb designed to capture the beauty of the mirsuns—rare sirens that thrived in the hot springs.

The luxury group set up their camp with ease, their knights standing by the sedan as the man in the veil adjusted his notebook. Roos and Edris found a spot near the edge of the spring, waiting for the sirens to appear.

The sun blazed overhead, reflecting off the steamy waters. Edris could see the other adventurers scanning the horizon, some with their orbs ready, while others were already gathering ingredients from the surrounding area.

The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, but not all were focused on capturing the beauty of the sirens. Aside from the wealthy-looking group and their own, it appeared that the remaining had other priorities.

Ignoring the intended purpose of the expedition, they had pulled out large tanks from their spatial pouches and were busily scooping the spring water, their faces flushing with excitement.

Edris watched them with a raised eyebrow, his expression of mild disdain. Their sweaty faces gleamed in the harsh sunlight, and it was clear they were more interested in collecting as much of the prized spring water as possible—valuable for its enhancement properties—than capturing moments of the mirsuns.

Roos stood beside him, her arms crossed as she gagged at the sight.

"So unsightly," she muttered, shaking her head.

Edris exhaled in agreement, though he wasn’t surprised. Adventurers were always chasing after whatever could make them a quick profit. If they could dive into the geysers themselves and come out with their arms full of treasure, they would.

A few feet away, the young noble sat on a velvet cushion, his veiled face calm and composed. He held a notebook in his lap, meticulously recording the scene before him with a graceful flick of his feathered pen.

One of his servants approached with a plate of chilled fruits, what Edris recognized to be limberries, but he waved them away with a subtle shake of his head. His golden eyes gleamed beneath his veil as he observed the mercenaries filling their pots with water, the corners of his lips twitching upward in amusement.

"How unruly," he said, twirling his pen absently.

The guards at his side, well-dressed and accustomed to his command, made a move toward the group, but the boy raised a hand to stop them. He twirled the pen once more, lifting it to his lips with a meaningful smile.

"No matter," he said softly. "The real sight is about to begin."

He steered his gaze back towards the group by the springs. Just then, one of the adventurers—still busily scooping water—paused mid-movement.

Eyes squinting, she leaned closer to the water’s surface, her face mere inches from the glassy reflection. A shadow moved below the surface, shifting beneath the ripples vaguely.

“Hm?” The woman blinked, momentarily confused. She leaned in further, wondering if it was just her imagination.

The next moment, her entire neck snapped with a sickening crack.

The shadow surged upwards, revealing a slender, elegant figure with flowing hair that seemed to move on its own.

A mirsun.

Her shimmering locks had tangled around the woman’s body, dragging her down into the water with swift brutality. As the woman’s lifeless body fell into the spring, the once-clear water bloomed with crimson, the ripples turning to waves of blood.

The woman’s teammates shouted in alarm, their cries piercing the once peaceful air.

But it was already too late.

Two more mirsuns emerged from the depths, their bodies lithe and graceful, their sculpture-like faces contorted into a mocking smile.

The adventurers scrambled to retreat, but the mirsuns were far too fast. Their hair, their most dangerous weapon, extended like whips, slicing through the air with terrifying speed.

Edris watched as one of the mirsuns wrapped her hair around a man's leg, yanking him off his feet and dragging him toward the water with effortless strength.

His mind flashed back to one of the books Roos had made him read.

Mirsuns always came in pairs. Although known for their beauty, these creatures weren’t to be underestimated. Their beautiful, flowing hair could extend not only their locks but also their brows and even their eyelashes to ensnare their enemies.

The mirsuns glided through the waters, their movements elegant, almost hypnotic, like dancers performing a macabre ballet.

Despite the danger, Edris found himself mesmerised by their ostentatious display. The mirsuns seemed to revel in the attention, twirling and spinning as they drowned the adventurers with an almost theatrical grace. It was as though they were performing for an invisible audience, each kill more extravagant than the last.

Beside him, the blonde boy raised his diffusion orb, capturing the spectacle with cool detachment. Edris did the same, both of them snapping pictures simultaneously. The similarity in their movements made their eyes meet for the first time since the expedition had begun.

But the calm didn’t last.

One of the mirsuns had turned towards their direction. Her eyes, gleaming with curiosity, locked onto Edris, and before he could react, her hair shot forward, wrapping around his ankle like a serpent.

Edris’s eyes widened in shock as he felt himself being yanked into the air, his body lifted effortlessly by the siren’s hair, and his stomach feeling bare from airborne.

The ground disappeared beneath him, and he was flying. The world spun in a dizzying blur as he was flung toward the centre of the spring.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the blond boy still snapping pictures, his face as composed as ever—amused, even—as Edris flew through the air.

The absurdity of the moment struck him, and before he knew it, his flailing hand managed to tug onto something on the way of his trajectory—a part of someone’s robe.

“Wha—! Let go of me!”

The next thing Edris knew, a second person had been pulled into the chaos, his calm demeanour crumbling as Edris dragged him down.

"Unhand me!" The boy snapped, his smooth, educated voice laced with sudden frustration. His hand flew to steady his veil as he tried to regain his footing.

The two of them tumbled into the water in a splash of chaos, their diffusion orbs spinning out of their hands. The cold water hit Edris’s face, and he gasped for air as the weight of the siren’s hair pulled him deeper.

Well, Edris thought. Here’s my bath.