Lush and vibrant, a field of flowers swayed in the wind, basking underneath the beating summer sun.

“Why are we out here again? It’s so far away from the city!”

A woman cried out in exhaustion as she stamped through the beautiful flora.

“It’s the only mission we could accept, you know that Rosa.”

A man’s soothing voice caught up from behind her. He clamped a comforting hand over Rosa’s shoulder and carefully kneaded the tension away.

Rosa rolled her neck and let out a satisfied sigh. Flashing a charming smile, she gave the man a peck on the cheek.

“I don’t mind as long as I’m with you, Claude.”

Before Claude could rain flattery and compliments, a deep and husky voice called out from behind.

“Are you two lovebirds done? Let’s get on with the mission. We’re looking for… uh, what is it again?”

Claude smirked and turned around.

“It’s Faded Ziseroot. Be on the lookout for any dark purple vegetation on the ground. Also, don’t touch it with your bare hands. Call me over and I’ll handle it. Wouldn’t want my idiot brother to get poisoned.”

Claude’s brother towered a couple heads taller than the average man. His large stature was complimented by his muscular frame, giving him a rather intimidating look. Despite his appearance, he was anything but scary and was more like a gentle giant.

“Don’t call Talru an idiot. He’s smart in other ways.”

A soft-spoken woman peeked her head out from behind the mammoth sized man. Her black hair barely reached her shoulders, and her eyes hid behind wide circular glasses. She adjusted her visual aid by pushing the bridge closer to the face.

Claude gave her a wry smile and shook his head.

“Maybe you’re right Meysi, but clearly not smart enough.”

Meysi blushed and turned away with a snort. At the same time, Talru simply watched everything in confusion.

“I think I’m smart enough. If I wasn’t smart then we wouldn’t have gotten this mission and we would still be stuck in the city. Isn’t this better than sitting around doing nothing?”

The other three members all sighed. The women didn’t have the heart to tell him, but Claude wasn’t as soft toward his younger brother.

“You dolt. The reason why they pushed the mission on us is because they couldn’t get anyone else to do it. With the arrival of the tomb right around the corner, Kenchi City is more packed than ever before.”

Claude wagged his finger at Talru, who frowned in confusion.

“But why doesn’t anyone want to do this mission? Isn’t this field gorgeous? Oh look, there’s a purple root right there.”

Talru pointed at the floor by Claude’s feet. Sure enough, a collection of dark purple fibers squirmed between a cluster of flowers.

“Oh, good eye!”

Claude jumped back and procured a pair of solid black gloves along with a bag.

“See? Talru is smart… sometimes.”

Meysi initially came out confidently, but her voice grew quiet as she threw in the last word.

Rosa stood by Claude’s side as he knelt down and collected the root. Seeing as Claude was busy, she took it upon herself to answer some of Talru’s questions.

“Talru, there’s two main reasons why people don’t accept this mission. First off, Faded Ziseroot isn’t in demand. So the reward for the mission is very low for the effort. Remember the giant forest we had to cross just to get here?”

Rosa pointed off in the distance, where a thicket of massive trees extended as far as the eye could see.

“Yea, that place was annoying to get through. I remember you fell and got mud all over your face. Heh, it was funny.”

Talru chuckled as Rosa’s face burned in anger.

“I fell because you bumped into me! Ugh…”

Seeing Talru’s blank stare and apparent confusion, Rosa rubbed the sides of her head and collected herself. It was annoying to explain things to this particular man, but she endeavored nonetheless.

“The second reason is because of that place.”

Rosa pointed in the opposite direction of the forest. In the distance, two massive cliffs extended high into the air, forming a dark and sinister crevice between them. The tops of the cliffs were shrouded by dark clouds, while the crevice itself was as black as the ocean’s depths.

Talru scratched his head as he stared at the dark crevice while Rosa continued speaking.

“That is The Valley of Eternal Rest. Some people claim that you can hear screams and howls on the wind if you get close enough, but no one is stupid enough to confirm that rumor.”

“Er, why is that Miss Rosa?”

Talru squinted his eyes, transfixed on the dark crevice. With how concentrated he seemed, one would think he were a great philosopher, pondering the mysteries of the universe.

“Isn’t it obvious? Anyone that goes in will never be seen again.”

Rosa scoffed before casting her attention to Claude’s handiwork. The man had just successfully extracted the Faded Ziseroot and secured it in his bag.

“Oh… what about that guy then?”

Talru pointed at the valley’s entrance, while the other three frowned in confusion.

“Don’t pull pranks like that, Talru. If someone really did-”

Claude’s voice trailed off as he glanced in the direction of the valley. Sure enough, he could barely make out the faint image of a boy staggering out from the depths of the crevice.

Rosa and Meysi stared with wide eyes, watching the distant boy struggle with every step. It was as if he were carrying the weight of the world on his back.

Each person in the group held their breath, mentally adopting the boy’s struggle as their own. With one last trembling step, the boy suddenly stumbled forward as if he had been released from an invisible tether.

“We should help him…”

Talru muttered as the others continued to silently watch in shock.

The boy swayed from side to side. With an exasperated sigh, he stared into the sky and sank to his knees before passing out onto the floor.

“Wait here! I’m going to help him!”

Talru shot off like a rocket toward the ominous valley entrance.

“Talru! Come back!”

“Don’t go near there!”

The other three recovered from their initial surprise and raced after Talru. They shuddered as the valley entrance loomed high into the sky; they could only bury their fear deep within.

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“Don’t worry guys! I’ll be just a second!”

Talru swiftly closed the distance despite the worried cries from those around him. The moment he stepped foot into the valley’s entrance, he felt a horrifying sensation as if someone were staring right into his soul.

“He’s just right there though…”

He gulped and carefully walked forward toward the unconscious boy. Somehow each step became increasingly difficult to take than the last.

“Talru, get back here!”

Claude shouted a distance away. He grit his teeth, battling against his own fear.

“Talru!”

Meysi cried out and rushed in after him. Her sudden dash seem to spark a fire in the both Claude and Rosa as they followed suit.

Just as Talru scooped the boy into his arms, a series of horrifying wails echoed on the wind. It was like listening to stones scraping against a collection of hollow pipes, grinding harshly into their ears.

Talru firmly grasped onto the boy as if his life depended on it. A quiet pause followed, which prompted the entire group to rush out of the crevice with terrified expressions.

“It was true! It was all true! Run! Don’t look back! Just run!”

Rosa screamed at the top of her lungs as they fled. It seemed she didn’t believe the rumors despite being the one who shared them, but after hearing the sounds firsthand...

The group stampeded through the field of flowers, refusing to stop even for a moment. It was only until they reached the distant forest did they feel secure enough to catch their breath.

“W-What was that?”

Claude shivered as he sank to the floor. The two women in the group followed suit, both with glazed over eyes.

“No harm done! Don’t worry guys, I saved our new friend here!”

Talru gallantly lifted the boy’s body into the air like a sacrifice to the gods. Unfortunately, his good deed was met with piercing stares.

“Don’t you ever run off like that again!”

Claude berated his younger brother, who stared back in blank confusion.

“Why are you so angry? I did a good thing… didn’t I?”

Talru muttered before he noticed Meysi walking toward him.

“Meysi, I did good right?”

He pleaded with her, but he was doomed to be disappointed. Meysi bit her lip and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. Shaking her head, she then beat up his shoulder with her tiny fists.

“Y-you idiot!”

She had just defended him earlier, but she couldn’t help it this time. Talru simply acted too willful.

“I was so scared! Before helping a stranger, think about me next time! Think about your brother!”

Meysi broke down into tears right before the large man. It was only then that Talru realized how wrong he may have been.

“I’m sorry, Meysi…”

Claude came to his rescue.

“Gah!”

The leader slapped his own cheeks simultaneously with both hands.

“Alright. Sharpen up people, let’s all just take a moment and recollect ourselves. We’ll camp here tonight since we have an extra charge now. We’ll take turns watching him until he wakes up, then we can ask him some questions.”

With Claude dispelling some of the tension, the group silently got to work setting up camp.

----------------------------------------

The scent of moss and pine hung in the air, while a collection of low murmurs blended with the natural ambiance of the forest.

Where am I?

Sans subconsciously stretched his limbs as freely as he could, gaining a new appreciation for the fresh air that he had always taken for granted.

Any place is better than that valley with its crushing gravity.

“Pst, hey! He’s awake!”

A girl whispered some distance away, but Sans wasn’t worried about this unknown group of travelers. If they had wanted to hurt him, they probably would have done so already. Sans glanced over while loosening up his shoulders with a series of small rotations.

“Hello young man. The name is Claude.”

Sans eyed the man up and down. Brown hair and brown eyes, he had a sharp jawline and a toothy grin. He gave off an impression of experience and cleverness.

“This over here is my fiancé, Rosa. That massive fellow is my younger brother, Talru. Finally, this is our good friend Meysi. Together, we’re a D rank adventure group that has been friends since childhood. What’s your name?”

Sans darted his eyes across the campground. It was formed in a small clearing, and at its center was a smoldering fire beneath a cooking pot.

Where is Elsie?

He thought to himself as the adventure group curiously approached him from all directions.

“Sans.”

He spoke in a cold and dismissive tone. The last thing he wanted to do was make new friends. In all of his life, a cursed haze of misfortune had always plagued both him and those around him.

“Sans is it? T-Tell me more about yourself.”

To everyone’s surprise, Meysi stepped forward and knelt before the young boy. Her demure and soft-spoken aura seemed to melt away as she eyed Sans with intrigue.

“Hold on now, Meysi.”

Claude pulled her back and assumed her former spot.

“I’ll do the talking for now. First, let’s get some basic details out of the way. What adventurer rank are you? What’s your total stat value? No offense, but I need to know whether you’re a threat to our group.”

Sans stared into Claude’s eyes. They were firm, but clear of any malice. Not that Sans was any good at judging another’s character.

“I don’t have those answers. I’m sorry.”

The group shifted uncomfortably. Perhaps they would have felt more secure if he provided answers, but now it seemed like he was being secretive and withholding information.

“I understand if you don’t want to reveal personal information, but I’ll have you know that my brother Talru is the one that saved you from the valley. It seems a little ungrateful… if you ask me.”

Claude folded his arms with a frown as he stared down at Sans.

Saved me from the valley? But I had already left the valley.

Sans let out an internal sigh. He could feel a misunderstanding forming but didn’t have the heart or patience to address it. How could he explain to these adventurers that he was only taking a short nap after a relentless march that exhausted every fiber of his being?

“Thank you for your concern, but I-“

“Aahhh!”

Before Sans could properly reply, a sharp scream cut through the air.

“It came from deeper in the forest!”

Talru was the first to leap to action while the others were still processing the new development. Without a word, he bolted off into the trees.

“Talru! Get back here! Damnit, not again.”

Claude cursed as he chased after his brother. The two women followed as well after some slight hesitation, leaving Sans alone.

“Hahh. Well, let’s go check it out then.”

Sans picked himself up off the ground and followed the group as well. It didn’t take long for him to catch up, where a surprising scene awaited.

“Help!”

A woman cried out, her back pinned against a massive tree. Before her, a bear snarled and shook its head with a roar. The woman wore a grey patchworked cloak, obscuring her features from the impatient eye.

Sans, however, was able to identify her instantly.

Elsie?

Sans lingered behind the group in utter confusion while Claude and Talru rushed to the rescue.

“Don’t worry ma’am! We’ll save you!”

Talru charged at the bear with an unbridled roar. Like a bull with red in his eyes, he crashed into the bear’s side with his full weight, causing the animal to tumble across the forest floor. The bear lifted its head with a whimper before hobbling off into the distance.

“Thank you brave travelers. Whatever will I have done without you.”

Elsie’s voice came out in the most tone-deaf manner possible. It was as if she wasn’t even trying to continue the act and was simply reading from a script.

It’s so obvious how fake all of this is. There’s no way they would fall for that.

“Don’t fret! You’re safe now! It’s nothing much, just our honest duty!”

Claude and Talru shifted in place with rosy cheeks. Standing tall with broad shoulders, they patted their chests as if they were the definition of dependable.

T-They fell for it?!

Sans gave them an incredulous stare from behind. Elsie didn’t pay the two men any attention and walked past them with a light smile. For some reason, even the two girls blushed as she floated by.

“I thought I had lost you! I waited for three agonizing days! With each passing night, I grew more worried that you would never return to me!”

Elsie stood directly before Sans with a pained expression. The onlookers suddenly adopted sorrow as if they shared her agony. It was almost as if they were performing a play just for Sans.

Wait, was she really worried about me? But I thought…

Sans shrunk back as a hint of embarrassment graced his face. With the way she had callously left him in the valley, he assumed that he was being subjected to some sort of arduous punishment. However, with the way she was acting now...

“After hearing a stray rumor of the most beautiful flower, only found in the depths of the valley, you ran in there and staked everything for me! How could you have just left me all alone! What about our life together? The future you promised me?”

Elsie came close and clasped Sans into a deep hug. He could hear her exaggerated sniffles and shivers as if she were suppressing her emotions deep within.

“He’s so romantic.”

Meysi wiped a tear away from her eye. Rosa wasn’t fairing much better as she leaned on Claude’s shoulder, gazing at Sans with a sad expression.

I take back everything I said. She’s an absolute demoness.

Sans grimaced as he let Elsie clutch onto him freely.

“You’re a man amongst men, I’m sorry to have ever doubted your capabilities.”

Claude and Talru nodded with serious expressions while Sans helplessly stared back at the group. At the same time, Elsie brought her face close to Sans ear.

“If you don’t play along, I’ll throw you back in the valley.”

Her words were incredibly soft and ladened with sweet toxicity. Sans shivered before hugging her back.

“I… I wasn’t able to find the flower… that we heard about. In that one rumor.”

His words sounded incredibly forced. In response, Elsie stepped on his foot and pinched his side—it seemed his act wasn’t good enough. Sans cleared his throat and continued.

“But even though I couldn’t find that rumored flower, I found something much more precious.”

Sans grabbed her shoulders and moved back, allowing him to stare directly into her eyes with a deadpan face.

“I found a flower more beautiful than the legends, more pure than the air I breath, and more graceful than the moon in the sky. That’s you, my eternal flower.”

Elsie stared back with wide eyes. After a small delay, she adopted a mushy expression. Fortunately for her, the hood on her cloak was able to hide away her true emotions.

Sans smirked as he saw her dip away.

Hah. Take that you vixen!

“Well said! Bravo!”

Claude came forward and patted Sans on the shoulder. His former vigilance was nowhere to be seen, and if anything, he appeared more like a comrade in arms. The others crowded around, both enamored and fooled by Elsie’s antics.

“We made camp just a little way from here, you two are welcome to join us. Safety in numbers after all!”

Talru’s voice hung in the air as the adventure group waited for a response. Naturally, Elsie wasn’t one to disappoint.

“We’d be delighted to join such brave heroes!”

The group cheered, bashfully leading the way. It was jarring to see how quickly their tune changed the moment Elsie was involved.

What cursed magic did she work upon them?

Sans frowned as he followed the group back to camp.