I woke to the sound of two voices nearby, their words muffled but full of urgency. My head felt heavy, the world around me spinning as I tried to make sense of where I was. The air was warm, the campfire's flickering glow dancing against the cool night air. I could hear the crackle of the fire, and then, faintly, the conversation between two strangers.

“Couldn’t we have just teleported her away? If I were in her shoes, I wouldn’t trust being saved by strangers…” The man’s voice was calm, but there was a hesitation there.

“But Master! You can’t seriously say that we should’ve left her to fend for herself! She’s just lost everything. We need to help her! Not everyone has your trust issues!” The girl’s voice was softer, but there was a firmness beneath it, as though she wouldn’t be easily swayed.

The man sighed, a long, almost tired sound. “Ah, well… I didn’t notice.”

The girl’s voice softened. “No more excuses! Just… be gentler, okay?”

I shifted slightly, trying to gather the strength to sit up, and slowly, my eyes fluttered open. My body ached, but the dim glow of the campfire caught my attention. It illuminated a forest clearing, the sky above darkening with streaks of orange from the setting sun. How had I ended up here?

As I focused on the voices, I saw them both. The girl first—she was younger, maybe in her teens like me. Her hair was long and golden, and her bright blue eyes sparkled with a kindness that made me feel strangely safe. Her dress was simple, white and blue, and despite the circumstances, she radiated warmth.

But it was the man who caught my attention. He was older—probably around my age, though he looked older than his years. His dark skin stood out even more in the faint light of the fire, and the all-black attire he wore—robes, a cape—blended with the shadows around us. He wore dark sunglasses, making it impossible to see his eyes, but something about him felt imposing, like a weight that hung in the air. A few golden accessories glinted in the firelight: rings on his fingers, a necklace hanging low around his neck, and a golden bracelet on his right wrist. His presence made me feel small, but not in a threatening way. It was like he commanded respect just by being there.

He stood tall and calm, his posture relaxed, as if he had seen countless situations like this. But his silence spoke volumes.

When I moved to sit up, both of them glanced at me. The man didn’t look at me directly, but I could feel his attention as if his presence was all-encompassing. The girl, though, smiled warmly.

“You’re awake!” she said, her voice gentle. “We were worried. I’m Sora, and this is my companion, Arden. He… saved you.”

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I turned my gaze to Arden. His face didn’t seem particularly rugged or anything, but there was a certain maturity to his appearance that made him seem older than his actual age. He looked like he could be in his early twenties, even though I knew he was only seventeen. His stubble, while not thick, added to the illusion, and I could tell that if he shaved, he’d probably look younger.

I swallowed, trying to steady myself. The overwhelming loss hit me again, making my chest tight. “Thank you,” I whispered, not knowing what else to say.

Arden didn’t respond, but his posture shifted slightly, as if acknowledging my thanks. He turned away, focusing on something unseen in the distance.

Sora gave me an understanding smile. “I know it’s hard,” she said softly. “We’ll take care of you. Just… try to rest for now.”

But my mind raced, everything still feeling like a blur. “What happened to my village?” I asked, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to steady it.

Sora’s expression grew somber, and she hesitated. “I’m sorry. It didn’t survive. Everyone…” She trailed off, the words too painful to finish.

I closed my eyes, swallowing the lump in my throat. How had everything changed so suddenly? One moment, I was with my family, and the next, I was here—alone, with strangers.

Arden’s calm voice broke the silence. “Drink this,” he said, tossing a small vial into my hands. It was a potion, the liquid inside shimmering in the firelight. “It’ll help you regain some strength.”

I stared at the vial for a moment, uncertain. But there was something about his voice, the way he spoke, that made me trust him—at least for the moment. I uncorked it and drank.

The liquid was warm, sliding down my throat, and almost immediately, I felt a bit lighter. It wasn’t enough to make me feel whole again, but it was a start.

“Thank you,” I whispered again, the words coming a little easier this time.

Arden gave a small, dismissive wave of his hand. “It’s nothing. We were looking for a high-level dungeon nearby when we stumbled upon your village. I’m sorry we couldn’t get there sooner.”

I couldn’t even process the thought of a dungeon right now. My mind was still reeling from everything that had happened. Still, there was something in Arden’s tone—he didn’t seem to be lying, and he didn’t seem to take any joy in my suffering.

Before I could respond, the air around us shifted. A sound rustled in the distance, breaking the calm night. Arden was immediately on alert, his stance changing to one of readiness.

“We’re surrounded,” he said, his voice steady.

My heart skipped a beat. I turned to look around, but I couldn’t see anything in the darkness.

What do we do?” I asked, panic creeping into my chest.

Arden’s expression remained unreadable behind his dark sunglasses. His voice was calm, but firm. “Enemies. Just stay close, and don’t make a sound.”

He didn’t give any further details, but I could feel the weight of his focus, like he was preparing for something—something big.

Sora, who had been standing nearby, looked at him with a mix of concern and trust. Without a word, she moved closer to me, her expression softening as she gave me a reassuring glance. “Don’t worry. Arden’s got this.”

I wanted to believe her. But as the rustling in the woods grew louder, I wasn’t sure what to expect. My heart raced, but I kept my eyes on Arden. He hadn’t moved a muscle, his posture steady.

The air felt thick, charged. I couldn’t help but feel like something was about to happen, something big. Before I could ask anything more, Arden’s voice broke through the tension, calm and controlled.

“Get ready.”

Then, everything went still.