Once Hikaru’s group left Bailey, Anne led the way, navigating through the forest as if it were her backyard. Hikaru and Lydia followed along, taking unfamiliar paths even for them, who had lived all their lives in Bailey. Sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor and adding a touch of magic to their surroundings.
As they journeyed through the forest, Lydia initiated a conversation with Anne. “So, are we headed directly to the skinwalker village?”
Anne shook her head. “No, we’re heading to the High Elf settlement first. The village is too far for just one trip.”
Hikaru then chimed in, curiosity evident in his voice. “We’ve been talking about skinwalkers, but I don’t really know what they are. Can you tell me more about them, Anne?”
Anne nodded, her expression serious. “skinwalkers are chimeras that were originally human. They look like normal humans but wear clothing made from the skins of beasts. Typically, they use the head part of the beast as a cap, while the rest of the skin serves as either a shawl or mantle. Upon closer inspection, you’ll see that these beast skins are actually attached to their skulls, becoming part of their heads. These skins act as their skin when they transform into a beast.”
Hikaru listened intently, his eyes wide with fascination. “That sounds incredible. So they’re like shapeshifters?”
“In a way, yes,” Anne replied. “But it’s more than just changing shape. They retain their human mental capacity and also inherit the physical strength of the beast whose skin they wear, making them an enhanced version of a regular human.”
Lydia nodded thoughtfully. “Sounds like we’ll have our work cut out for us.”
Anne gave a wry smile. “Sorry, l knew this mission was a bit of a long shot. We can only hope that since you guys are humans, who are usually seen as weaker than high elves, they’ll underestimate us and use a weaker fighter.”
“If skinwalkers are so strong, I kinda wonder why there aren’t more of them?” Hikaru asked, his curiosity piqued.
Anne nodded, understanding his confusion. “Like other chimera species, skinwalkers can’t produce offspring. That’s the main reason their numbers are limited,” she explained.
Lydia furrowed her brow in thought. “I kinda wonder why they live deep in the forest instead of in a city like Bailey? If they’re enhanced humans, they could be really useful for the Kingdom.”
Anne smiled, ready to elaborate. “Their origin plays a big role in that. Most skinwalkers were originally humans who had a close bond with their pets. When these pets turned into beasts due to spiritual distortion, they maintained their loyalty and didn’t attack their human owners. Once their pets became beasts, these humans left their cities to live in the forest with their transformed companions. But living in the forest is tough. They have to fend off adventurers, monsters, and other beasts. Within three years, most of these beasts either die or become heavily injured. When their companions are injured, their owners can bring them to my master to undergo a chimerization ritual, if the beasts are willing. They will then merge with their companions and become skinwalkers.”
‘So they choose the forest to stay close to their beast companions and to avoid conflicts with city dwellers,’ Lydia mused.
“But why don’t they return to the city once they merge with their beast companions and become skinwalkers?” Hikaru asked.
Anne sighed softly as she spoke. “Well, after their transformation, they prefer to live in the village with others who share the same values and bonds. The skinwalker village isn’t just home to skinwalkers and humans but also to other beasts and Beastmen who shared a bond with them and have chosen to live alongside them.”
Throughout their trip to the High Elf settlement, their conversation flowed easily, filled with new information and shared stories. Anne’s intimate knowledge of the forest kept them safe from wandering beasts and other adventurers, making their journey smoother. However, their serene trip lasted only until dusk.
As dusk settled over the forest, Hikaru, Anne, and Lydia stumbled upon an intense skirmish. Hovering in mid-air, a male suncian with broad, majestic crimson wings was deftly evading energy attacks from three Elvira soldiers below. The soldiers, clad in their dark armor, unleashed powerful flying slashes, each wave of energy slicing through the air with a wide arc.
But the winged warrior was fast. With a swift, practiced motion, he nocked an arrow and drew his bow. The arrow flew true, narrowly missing one soldier as he barely dodged. The winged archer’s movements were efficient, each beat of his wings carrying him out of harm’s way just in time.
“Todd,” Anne muttered almost unconsciously, as they edged closer to the unfolding skirmish. Her voice was barely audible.
Hikaru couldn’t help but silently wonder, ‘Anne recognizes this suncian warrior with activated phoenix wings. He definitely isn’t from the Kaya clan. Could he be from the Ishihara clan?’
The Elvira soldiers regrouped, their movements synchronized. They launched another barrage of flying slashes, their glowing blades cutting through the twilight. But the winged man anticipated their moves. With a sudden burst of speed, he soared higher, the energy attacks passing harmlessly beneath him.
In a fluid motion, he drew three arrows at once and released them in rapid succession. The first arrow struck an Elvira soldier in the leg, causing him to drop to one knee with a cry of pain. The second arrow whizzed through the air, narrowly missing its target and embedding itself in a tree. The third arrow grazed the last soldier’s cheek, leaving a red line and causing him to stagger back in surprise.
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The winged man smirked as he hovered above the fray. “My arrows are laced with potent snake venom. Your comrades are as good as dead! Do you really want to join them?”
The soldier with the grazed cheek began to sweat profusely, his face pale, before he dropped to his knees. Panic surged through the third soldier as he watched his comrades fall. Without a second thought, he turned to flee. But the winged man was faster. In one swift motion, he nocked another arrow and let it fly. The arrow struck the fleeing soldier in a vital spot, killing him instantly.
The winged man landed gracefully with a soft thud and deactivated his phoenix wings. Unsheathing the sword at his waist, he approached the weakened soldiers. With swift swings, he ended their suffering by beheading them.
Hikaru, Lydia, and Anne watched from their concealed position, astonished by the winged man’s merciless attitude and decisiveness. After a moment, Anne stepped out from their hiding spot and approached the male suncian. Both Hikaru and Lydia decided to follow closely behind.
When Anne was about five meters away, she called out softly, “Todd, it’s me, Anne.”
The winged man turned sharply at the sound of his name, his fierce expression softening slightly as he recognized her. “Anne? What are you doing here?” he asked, sheathing his sword.
“We’re heading to the settlement,” Anne replied warmly. “Why don’t you join us? I could save you the trouble of waiting for the guide.”
“Sure. By the way, who are they?” Todd asked, nodding towards Hikaru and Lydia.
“They’re my hired bodyguards,” Anne explained with a wry smile, “Their mission is to help me retrieve the stolen Cloak of Shadow from the skinwalker village.”
Todd raised an eyebrow. “Stolen again?”
Anne chuckled softly. “Unfortunately, yes. If I had known you were here, I would’ve hired you instead!”
Todd shook his head. “Don’t joke around. I’d stand no chance against a skinwalker in one-on-one unarmed combat.”
After a brief exchange of introductions, Todd packed up his belongings from his nearby campsite. They waited for him, then set off with Anne leading the way toward the settlement. Anne and Todd chatted the whole way there, while Hikaru and Lydia listened in silence.
“Why did you kill those Elvira soldiers unnecessarily, Todd? They’ll seek revenge against you now,” Lydia stated, her voice edged with concern.
“I didn’t have a choice,” Todd replied, his tone firm. “They wanted to capture me, and I was camping here while waiting for the guides. I had to kill them so they wouldn’t report my location or take my belongings.”
“But those wings! Did Gramps give you that skill?” Anne asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“Yes,” Todd said, a hint of pride in his voice. “Master gave me this skill and implanted the necessary bloodline.”
‘So he’s not from the Ishihara clan, but he uses bloodline implantation to access the skill,’ Hikaru thought, his mind racing with possibilities.
Lydia’s eyes narrowed as she connected the dots. ‘If I’m not wrong, this Gramps is likely Kaito, who’s over a century and a half years old! I need to report this to Clay immediately. Following Todd might lead us to Kaito. Recipients of bloodline implantation need to regularly replace the blood inside their implants. There aren’t many who can perform this procedure, and one of them is Kaito,’ she silently mused, a determined look crossing her face.
As Anne and Todd continued their conversation, they remained oblivious to the silent thoughts swirling around them. They walked briskly, eager to reach the settlement before it got too dark. As they arrived, the guards recognized Anne and waved them through without further inspection.
Once they arrived, Anne led them to the familiar hotel they had stayed in during their previous trip with Hideo’s group, while Todd headed to another location away from them. Anne quickly arranged a room for them and booked a table at the restaurant in the hotel lobby. She waited there while they settled their belongings.
Soon, both Hikaru and Lydia joined Anne at the restaurant, eager for their second meal of the day. As they began eating, Lydia subtly broached the topic of Todd.
“So, Anne,” Lydia started, her tone casual, “who exactly is Todd? He seems quite skilled with those wings of his.”
Anne smiled knowingly. “Todd is... well, let’s just say he’s a frequent visitor to our settlement. He’s sort of a merchant, buying and selling goods here.”
“And who’s this ‘gramps’ you mentioned?” Lydia asked, studying Anne's expression.
Anne hesitated for a moment, her smile faltering. “I can’t divulge more than that. Let’s stay focused on our mission for now.”
“We’ll need to know where you’ll be staying tonight, Anne, so we can find you tomorrow,” Hikaru interjected.
Anne nodded, her expression turning serious. “I’ll be staying in the restricted area of the settlement,” she explained. “You won’t be able to reach me until morning. If you have any questions about our mission, now’s the time to ask before I leave. We’ll meet here in the morning for breakfast before heading to the skinwalker village.”
Hikaru and Lydia exchanged nods of understanding.
Shortly after, Lydia set down her fork, excusing herself with a hand to her stomach. “Sorry, suddenly not feeling well,” she murmured, slipping away from the table.
Anne and Hikaru exchanged a concerned look as Lydia hurried off.
“I hope she feels better soon,” Anne said, glancing towards where Lydia had gone.
“Yeah, me too,” Hikaru replied, a touch of worry in his voice.
They continued chatting for a while longer, discussing their plans for the next day. As the conversation wound down, Anne felt a bit tired and stood up, stretching.
Anne nodded, then turned to Hikaru. “Well, shall we head back? It’s already late. See you at breakfast tomorrow, Hikaru.”
Hikaru nodded in agreement, bidding Anne goodnight before heading to his own room, his mind racing with thoughts about the mission ahead.
Meanwhile, inside the hotel room, Lydia transmitted information about Todd and “Gramps” — the person she suspected to be Kaito — using the Telelink Messenger she had brought along. She informed Clay that she believed this settlement served as Kaito’s trading post, where he sold illicit goods and acquired necessary supplies. Lydia also suggested the possibility of following Todd to locate Kaito.
After Lydia finished transmitting the information, she heard a knock on the door. Quickly opening it, she welcomed Hikaru inside. He mentioned he was tired and planned to take a bath before bed. As Hikaru finished bathing and prepared to sleep, Lydia reminded him to be cautious in the skinwalker village the next day, noting that many residents there might prioritize beasts over humans. She warned him that some villagers there could even be members of the Feralholt syndicate.
Lydia’s words hung in the air as Hikaru processed the implications of their upcoming mission. With a nod of understanding, he bid Lydia goodnight and settled into one of the twin beds. In the quiet of the room, with Lydia nearby, he reflected on the dangers ahead, his mind already strategizing for the challenges awaiting them in the skinwalker village.