The still surface of the water broke with a loud splash as Axis plunged in. Bubbles rose to the surface as he struggled in the cold depths, his arms and legs flailing to propel him upward. Moments later, his head burst through the waterline, and he gasped for air, coughing as droplets trickled down his face.

Dragging his soaked body to the shore, Axis collapsed onto the coarse sand, which clung stubbornly to his drenched clothes. He pushed himself up with trembling hands, surveying the chaotic scene around him. Jagged wooden debris was scattered everywhere—remnants of shattered logs and branches from some unseen force.

He coughed again, spitting out water as he brushed his wet hair out of his eyes. "That... wasn’t as graceful as I hoped," he muttered, his voice tinged with irritation.

Lyra fluttered down from above, landing delicately on a nearby rock. Her head tilted as she let out a series of soft chirps, the sound almost resembling laughter.

Axis glared at her, his lips twitching into a faint smirk despite himself. “Just you wait. I’m going to get revenge for this.”

“Kreep…” Lyra responded with an innocent chirp, tilting her head further. [I didn’t push you.]

“You were the only one with me. If not you, then who?” Axis challenged, pointing a finger accusingly at the bird.

BAM!

The ground shook violently as a massive beast plummeted nearby, leaving a deep crater in its wake. Dirt and splinters flew everywhere, and Axis shielded his face from the debris.

Lyra hopped closer to Axis, her glowing feathers flaring slightly. "Krr…" she chirped, nodding toward the crater. [This guy.]

Axis blinked, glancing at the enormous creature lying sprawled in the crater. "With a body that big, I’d have noticed it before it pushed me!" he said, skeptical.

Lyra gave a soft trill, seemingly agreeing. "Kr…" [Yes.]

Axis shot her a glare. "Then that leaves… you pushed me!"

"Rrk…" Lyra chirped, hopping back a step defensively. [No.]

"Yes."

"Rrk." [No.]

"Yes."

"Rrk.." [No.]

Axis smirked. "No?"

"Krr." Lyra puffed up proudly. [Yes.]

"Ha! Knew it!" Axis declared triumphantly, pointing at her.

Lyra flapped her wings, glowing faintly in mock indignation, but her chirping laughter betrayed her amusement. The playful banter between them brought a moment of levity to the otherwise tense and strange situation.

Axis glanced back at the beast lying in the crater. "Well, if this guy didn’t push me, what’s his deal? And why’d he fall out of nowhere?" He cautiously approached the edge of the crater to get a better look at the creature.

The beast stirred slightly, its enormous frame covered in dark fur and streaked with scratches. Its breathing was heavy, and its eyes were closed as if it were unconscious.

“System, insight.”

{ Warning: Target’s rank significantly exceeds host’s capabilities. Minimal information will be displayed. }

Target: Stalker

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Rank: B+

Status: Fatigued

Abilities: Shadow Manipulation, Enhanced Stealth, ???

Note: A high predator that thrives in darkness, skilled at ambushes and highly intelligent. Known to be territorial.

{ Further information is restricted. }

Axis took a cautious step back. "A B+ rank? That’s… way out of my league," he muttered.

Lyra chirped, hopping closer to the edge of the crater. [This guy tried to attack you from behind, it’s weakened. No threat now.]

“ Question is why did it attack me when other beasts just kept their distance “

“ Kree… kr… ee… [Might have thought you were easy prey.]

“ I’ll take your word for it," Axis replied, though his unease didn’t fade. "Still, let’s not stick around longer than we need to. We’ve got a shard to find."

Lyra’s chirps grew louder, almost like a laugh, as she flapped her wings, a faint glow emanating from her feathers. The playful banter between the two was short-lived, though, as Axis’s attention shifted to his surroundings.

The riverbank was quiet except for the gentle gurgle of water. Ahead, an altar stood partially submerged in the shallow end of the river. It was a simple structure made of dark, weathered stone, its edges worn smooth by time and water. Ancient carvings covered its surface, some eroded beyond recognition, but others still clear enough to hint at their meaning.

Axis walked cautiously toward the altar, the water lapping around his ankles as he approached. His gaze lingered on the carvings, trying to decipher their purpose.

"System, insight," he whispered.

{ Activating Insight… }

{ Warning! The target contains ancient, fragmented knowledge. Full analysis unavailable. }

The screen flickered momentarily before revealing limited information:

Object: Trial Altar of the Second Shard

Material: Aegis Stone (Enchanted)

Purpose: Seal and protect the second shard of the Forest Trial.

Current Status: Active—requires activation through specific action.

"So, it’s protecting the shard. How do I activate it?" Axis murmured, running his fingers over the carvings.

Lyra chirped, hopping closer to the altar. She gestured toward one of the carvings with her beak, her movements deliberate.

"Here? What’s this one mean?" Axis studied the specific carving Lyra pointed out. It resembled flowing water encircling a radiant gem.

{ System Suggestion: The carving may indicate the requirement to mimic flowing water or offer mana to the altar. }

"Offer mana? That’s doable," Axis said, stepping back. He extended his hand toward the altar and closed his eyes, focusing on drawing mana from within.

The air around him shifted, faint ripples of energy spreading outward. A soft blue glow enveloped his hand as he directed the mana toward the carvings.

The stone altar responded almost immediately. The carvings began to glow, the symbols lighting up one by one in a cascading pattern. The water around the altar rippled unnaturally, and a low hum filled the air.

"That’s a good sign, right?" Axis said, glancing at Lyra, who chirped in encouragement.

Suddenly, the water surged, forming a spiraling column that rose above the altar. In the center of the column, something metallic gleamed—a shard, glowing faintly like moonlight reflected on water.

"The second shard," Axis whispered, his eyes widening.

The column of water began to descend slowly, placing the shard delicately on the altar. As the water receded, the glow from the carvings dimmed, leaving only the shard and the now-still river.

Axis stepped forward, reaching out cautiously. As his fingers closed around the shard, a familiar energy coursed through him—a blend of warmth and power, almost alive.

{ Ding! }

{ Second shard obtained. }

{ Proceed to the next task for the Forest’s Trial. }

Lyra chirped again, this time louder, fluttering her wings as if to celebrate the success.

"Two down, three to go," Axis said, slipping the shard into the inventory.

“Though this one was kinda easier than the one before it? “

Lyra looked at Axis with a smug look.

“Don't tell me!! The fall was also part of the trial!”

Lyra chirped, laughing as if it was obvious from the start.

"Kinda makes sense since you didn't help, What’s next, System?"

{ Task 2 completed, rewards will be distributed when the quest is completed }

{ Task 3: Enter the Forest’s Shadow. The third shard lies deep within its heart. Follow the path westward to the edge of the grove. }