One in front of him, two hidden by the trees on both sides, two more atop the trees behind the wolf, and another coming from further inside the forest. In a split second, Jenyx confirmed the number and positions of those who could potentially be a threat in the immediate vicinity.

“It’s no use hiding! I know you’re still here!”

Beyond the tree, Jenyx could hear the man’s heavy footsteps approaching. Hiding was but a temporary solution. He had to come up with a plan and fast.

“What now…?”

Jenyx whispered as if he was asking himself. Soon, a different voice responded.

“Think you can handle them?”

“I wouldn’t have hidden myself if I could.”

Though they belonged to the same species, Jenyx refused to believe for a second that it meant they would be much easier to fight compared to the white wolf. Despite the fact that he distracted the wolf, it was clear that they were experienced and skillful enough to easily restrain a monster as dangerous as the white wolf. Not only that, but Jenyx couldn’t even sense their presence before they emerged from the shadows to ambush it.

“Hm, at the very least, it’s good to know that you’re not hopelessly stupid.”

“Really, you’re testing me now, of all times? Fine, I’ll deal with it myself.”

Though he sounded resolute, the simple show of bravado he mustered was all he could do to stop his fear and anxiety from surfacing. Fighting was out of the question. Try as he might, with their numbers and abilities, they would make quick work of him. Running away was possible, but highly unlikely. Given how fast they moved to capitalize on the white wolf’s momentary lapse, not to mention their methods for detaining, he would not only be caught easily but would sustain severe burns in the process. There was only one realistic option for the situation.

“Please don’t hurt me. I was just lost in the forest!”

Jenyx jumped out into the open, placing his hands up in the air with a frightened expression. Upon seeing him, the bald man came to a halt just a few feet away from him. Just enough space for his spear to pierce Jenyx should he make any suspicious movements.

“I-I came here with 3 other people, but… we got separated when a pack of wolves attacked us…”

As he kept spouting nonsense straight from his mind, Jenyx couldn’t help but wonder if it had an effect on the bald man, seeing as he didn’t respond in the slightest. He just kept staring at him, not blinking even once. Before long, one of the man’s companions approached him.

“Let him go… the boss told us not to cause any trouble, remember?”

Though they spoke softly, Jenyx could still hear their voices clearly.

“He saw us. Besides, we’re deep inside the forest… who cares if one measly brat disappears?”

Jenyx felt all his hair stand on end upon hearing the bald man’s reply. However, he had to keep his expressions in mind to prevent them from catching on.

“We don’t have time for this. If we come any later, the boss will punish us. But if you’re fine with losing a hand or an arm, then by all means. We’ll be returning.”

Without waiting for a reply, the hooded person abruptly left to assist the others. For a while, the man continued his unceasing glare at Jenyx. Soon, however, wrinkles formed on the man’s forehead as he clicked his tongue and loosened his grip on the spear.

“Get out of here.”

“Yes!”

Jenyx answered a little too loudly before backing away. Slowly but surely, he was inching away from the man's range. never breaking eye contact in the process. Once he was a considerable distance away, Jenyx instantly fled the scene. Watching him scurry into the trees, the man snorted disinterestedly as he went back to his companions, resting the spear on his shoulder.

**

Jenyx darted through the forest as fast he could without care for his declining stamina. Getting as far away from them as quickly as possible was his absolute priority. Worrying about catching his breath can come later, once his safety is assured. From time to time, Jenyx’s eyes flitted back and forth as he ran—an especially dangerous act while running in unkempt areas with countless obstructions. In spite of his dangerous stunt, however, Jenyx continued traversing the forest at full speed, neither stumbling nor slowing down as he did. Eventually, Jenyx settled on another hiding spot and practically slammed his back on the tree as he checked his surroundings for any more danger.

(“I nearly died…”)

Perhaps it was due to his adrenaline fading, or maybe it was the realization that he had just narrowly escaped death, but as soon as Jenyx stopped, his knees suddenly buckled as he slid down to the ground. His body trembled, his feet ached, sweat ran down his face, and the only sound he could hear was his worn-out breathing.

“Seems your luck hasn’t run out yet, hm?”

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“I was falling apart back there…”

“You did well in escaping that quandary. But don’t get too relaxed yet. Stay vigilant.”

“Yeah… I know.”

Jenyx earnestly strung his words together despite his breathlessness.

As he struggled to recover his breath, Jenyx strained his ears to pick up on any unusual sounds. Though he managed to escape, he was still far from being out of danger as the hunters weren’t the only living creatures roaming about the forest. There was no mistake, however, that they were the most dangerous. Confronting the white wolf was nothing compared to standing before the bald hunter. The wolf only bared its fangs towards him as a precaution, like every other animal that believed it was being threatened. However, when Jenyx stood face to face with the hunter, it was a feeling unlike anything he ever felt before. It was never about guarding their prey from him, nor was it about protecting themselves. When he returned the hunter’s gaze, what he felt could only be described as an intense desire to kill. Every sound, every word that came out of Jenyx's mouth made him feel as if death was advancing closer and closer to him. Be that as it may, he couldn't stop. Deception was the only way out. In the end, it all came down to luck. Had one of the hunter’s companions not interfered, his life could have very well ended at that moment. It made his blood run cold.

At first, Jenyx had trouble discerning whether there were any irregular sounds around him due to his pounding heartbeat. Thankfully, the forest’s calm atmosphere gave him some degree of peace. Save for a few birds flying overhead, a deer, and a sleuth of bears with their cubs passing by, there was nothing out of the ordinary. After some time, Jenyx noticed that his breathing had returned to normal and his fatigue from earlier had all but vanished. Ever so slightly, the corners of his mouth curved upwards. Discovering the small changes that took place in his body somewhat lifted his mood.

“Umph!”

Jenyx rose up with a start. It was no time to be feeling down. For all he knew, the hunters might have changed their mind and were currently in pursuit of him. He had to keep moving. The idea of relapsing back to his former self was unacceptable. On that day, he had already made his choice—and he had no intention of backing out.

“Took you long enough.”

“...I was tired.”

“You think you can lie to me?”

“Heh, right. Forgot about that.”

“Feeling fearful is normal, but never let it paralyze you.”

“Don’t worry. It won’t happen again.”

He found it a little annoying that he could never hide his true feelings from Frenzy. Still, for better or for worse, he had to accept it as part of his life now.

**

Jenyx slammed the parchment containing the apothecary’s request for herbs and placed the pouch of Azuremane lilies just beside it. The surprised receptionist placed his freshly-brewed coffee and newspaper below while giving him the stink eye. The receptionist sighed as he scanned the items Jenyx placed on the table. Upon realizing what they were, his eyes widened before placing his hand inside the pouch, retrieving one of the flowers.

“M-my word! How did you get these!?”

“I went to the forest.”

“I-I see… your father must be quite something, seeing as they were capable enough to collect these flowers despite how deep in the forest it resides...”

“I guess so.”

Jenyx replied offhandedly as his gaze wandered all over the apothecary’s interior. He could faintly remember entering it when he was younger, along with his parents, but everything seemed unfamiliar to him, except for the strong smell of herbs that stuck to the walls.

“How many monsters did your father fight? Dragging a child so deep in the forest… it’s a good thing you don’t seem to be hurt.”

The receptionist spoke as he examined the flowers. To Jenyx, he seemed to be the type of person who was well-acquainted and experienced in socializing, given how casually he initiated small-talk.

“No, we didn’t fight any. We just harvested the flowers and went on our way.”

“Is that even possible? Your father must be an expert ranger or hunter if he was able to avoid the beasts and locate these flowers, no?”

“Yes.”

Unfortunately, he chose the wrong person to talk to. Jenyx answered with a simple yes before shutting his mouth. Perhaps the receptionist had caught on to his reluctance to speak, since afterwards he went quiet as well, choosing to silently appraise the flowers instead.

“Well, it seems these are genuine Azuremane lilies indeed. How would you like to be rewarded?”

“Coins.”

“Very well, please wait a moment.”

The receptionist placed the flowers into the pouch once more before delivering it to the room behind him. Not long after, he returned with another pouch which seemed full to the point of swelling. With every step he took, the clinking sound of metal bounced around the apothecary.

“Here is the reward. Thank you for your service.”

Jenyx wordlessly took the swelling leather pouch before leaving. Once outside, he took a big breath of the fresh air before expelling it through his mouth. He didn’t exactly enjoy the smell inside the apothecary, especially now that his senses were heightened. He preferred the rawness of the air in an open space as it relaxed him. Jenyx raised the leather pouch as he checked its contents. A load of silver and copper tinted coins clinked inside as he shook the pouch.

“You think this is enough?”

“How am I supposed to know? You’re the one living in this era.”

“Right, guess I should ask around later.”

“Why postpone it when you can ask now?”

“Don’t be in such a hurry; it’s not like they’ll run out. Besides, I’ve been away for some time now, and I’m hungry.”

Frenzy made a sound similar to when a person clicks their tongue before going all silent as Jenyx walked down the road. Although he wasn’t as enthusiastic as Frenzy, Jenyx was also eager to buy gear for himself to aid in his training. Once he acquires the appropriate items, it would probably mean that he could take the next step. Still, it didn’t mean that he was ready to neglect his own needs and his family’s concern over it. Physically, he may have recovered already. But mentally? He was still tired, and all he wanted for the moment was to rest in his own bed, away from harm.

“Oh, there ya are!”

On his way back, Jenyx spotted a familiar figure standing in front of their home. Seeing the dreadful figure run as soon as it noticed him made Jenyx sigh deeply. Any plans he had of resting went down the drain as he prepared to greet the person approaching him.

“Hey, hey! Why do ya look so tired already? It’s still morning, ain’t it? By the way, are ya free right now?”

“Hello to you too, Trey.”

Jenyx listlessly replied to the spirited and ever-smiling Trey.