The night is deadly silent except for the constant exchange of dialogue between Faye and Parallax. The unwelcome and unsettling scent of danger and fear sent shivers down Ethan's spine.

If anyone could describe the eve before death arrives at one's doorsteps, then this would be it. Ethan can't help but think to himself. He is having a hard time calming his heartbeat that seemingly racing out of his chest.

Faye raised her staff, her face a mixture of defiance and dread. "You've meddled with forces beyond your understanding, Parallax. The Author may have been on a hiatus, but that doesn't mean he's not coming back."

Parallax laughed, the sound a mocking echo that filled the clearing. "Do you think I fear you, elf? This forest and its creatures are mine now. This Author you so foolishly defend has abandoned you— we live in an authorless world now."

Faye's eyes narrowed, as if observing the direction where Parallax's irises are pointed, and with a sudden burst of magic, she extended her staff, sending an arc of light toward Ashley, who grabbed the shimmering thread instinctively. The light enveloped her, and, with a tug, she was pulled to the other side, joining Ethan, who, became momentarily paralyzed with indecision, unable to move an inch, as if he was in some sort of a fearful trance. Faye's eyes met theirs, her gaze filled with urgency. "Run!" she commanded, her voice sharp with authority.

Without hesitation, Ethan and Ashley took off, racing through the forest as Parallax's enraged roar filled the air behind them. His eye stalks flared, sending beams of searing light that shattered branches and burned the ground mere inches from their feet.

Ethan is no stranger to dying. He may have never died before, but he had imagined death multiple times. Researched about it, and the various circumstances that may cause it; and yet here he was, unprepared for something he's supposed to know so much about. Running away like a headless fly.

This is so uncool.

Faye darted behind them, her voice a steadying presence as she led them through hidden paths, deftly sidestepping traps and pits the goblins had laid. The forest grew darker as they ran, the twisted shapes of trees closing in as Parallax's wrath crashed closer, sending tremors through the ground.

Finally, they burst through a thick patch of brambles, stumbling out into a moonlit glade. Faye stopped, gesturing for them to catch their breath. She turned back toward the forest, raising her staff to create a shimmering barrier behind them.

"Ischyró frágma, no one can hurt me without my permission."

The faint sounds of Parallax's screams echoed from beyond the barrier, but it held firm.

Ethan, panting heavily, turned to Faye. "Thank you… we wouldn't have made it out of there without you. That line you just used was that… Ghandi?"

"Who's Ghandi?" asked the elf.

"The Indian Spiritual leader, he's like a very important political figure."

"Never heard of him"

"Oh, right. This is an isekai"

Faye's gaze softened, though her expression remained solemn. "You are indeed otherworlders aren't you? Walk with me as we talk" the elf gestured towards the direction of the town from whence they came.

Both of them followed the elf. Monsters and animals seem to instinctively avoid them while seemingly not to notice their presence. Invisibility? Some kind of barrier? Ethan, a typical cynic felt ease and curiosity that he subconsciously trusted a stranger for the first time. However before he was able to muster his courage to speak, Ashley interrupts their conversation, "IF you're so strong. You could've placed that barrier earlier."

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"A beholder's gaze deconstructs magical script. To cast magical spells one must encode it first, transmit it towards a receiver, then the world decodes it to manifest its effects. That's why we needed to run first" the Elf replied. The tension between the two felt palpable in the air. "Besides, THIS isn't a proper way to thank your savior."

Defeated, Ashley looks to the side and replies in what sounded like a whisper, "Thanks… I guess."

"Good. I'll have to go ahead and report my findings about the Beholder to the King. Parallax's awareness makes him dangerous in ways you can't yet understand. He won't stop until he's taken control of everything he can corrupt."

Ashley's face was pale, but her resolve had solidified. She mustered up the courage to apologize, "Sorry about earlier"

"That much is expected of a kid. I'm a mother myself so I understand", Faye smiles kindly.

"Not a kid"

"You're in your early twenties, right? That's just a blink in the standards of elven years. Yup, still a kid. That does it! Both of you are my students now and you can't do anything about it."

Ethan replies nonchalantly "Nah, I'd have to pass, I didn't proceed to my grad school because being a student is such a hassle. Besides, I-"

"Or I could tell everyone about your otherworldly status. From my calculations, THAT is a bigger hassle", the elf grins mischievously.

"Fine. I guess."

Faye placed a hand on each of their shoulders, her eyes filled with a mixture of pride and worry. "You'll need more than just determination. Recuperate and prepare yourselves. Parallax's freedom means he'll be relentless. You'll need to grow a bit more."

"Y'know back in our world, mentors would give their mentees some spending money as an act of goodwill."

Faye raises an eyebrow, "Interesting, I'll give you 20 silver pieces each then."

"Gee thanks!" Ashley immediately pockets the coins, while Ethan gracefully accepts his share.

"What about the Beholder? Won't he attack again?" Ethan asks his face bearing a cautious expression.

"The city guards will be on high alert once I warn the king. With all the spells he casted even a Beholder would need to replenish his depleted reservoir. Plus, my existence would deter him from making rash decisions," there is a noticeable worry on Faye's expression after her last sentence. A shadow of doubt loomed over her eyes. "I'll see you a few days from now. You'll have to accept guild tasks to improve your adventurer rankings, there's a lot to unpack, you don't even know how to summon your status screens yet."

They continued to talk a bit more, mainly discussing adventurer perks and whatnot. What stood out to Ethan's attention was the existence of a status screen and spatial inventory, both can be summoned using the issued adventurer rings. The bronze one's they acquired earlier on have similar functions, but more spatial capacity as well as other perks are only available to rings of higher tiers. Ashley took a mental note of these crucial information knowing full well that Ethan will probably forget it later.

"So what are we supposed to do, exactly?" Ethan honestly inquired, worried that he might make another fatal error that would actually cost them their lives.

"Accept minor guild quests, get some experience while you hone your abilities, the guild receptionists will guide you. I'll be away for several days, the capital is quite the journey from here, and securing audience with the king may take some time."

The stars had begun to pierce the twilight as they finally made their way back to the guild. Faye went on separate ways to depart for the capital.

"So... Nobody dies in the tutorial stage?" Ashley sarcastically remarked.

"We didn't die though, thanks to the timely intervention of Faye. The author, whoever he is may have favored us," Ethan reasoned.

"Doesn't change the fact that we almost did."

"That's... (sighs) I'm sorry. I –"

"You don't have to apologize. I was complacent too. I'm actually relieved that you're alive," Ashley gives a light punch at Ethan's shoulder. The professor forced a smile but can't help but groan with internal pain.

They made their way to the guild and each rented a decent room and some health potions. Albeit not as luxurious as the one they had before, neither of them complained. All they wanted was to get a good rest. They didn't even opted for dinner, none of them had the appetite after all that has transpired.

As they lie down in their individual beds, Ethan and Ashley shuddered in horror as the short-lived lunacy of the Beholder encounter crept back. Their journey had become far more perilous, they felt as powerless as a writer who's at a lost for words.

Ethan was more bothered though, he was supposed to be the responsible adult in between him and Ashley; and yet he was the one who put both of them in grave danger. Sure, anyone might chalk it up to unfavorable circumstance– a bad roll on a 20-sided dice. But Ethan wasn't one to blame the environment, he'd blame himself—a fatal flaw he never learned to outgrow, and perhaps he never will.

Perhaps, the opportunity to be a student again will enable them to reevaluate their capabilities and the skills that may have laid dormant over the years.