Darius stared her down like a demon. The battle against the monsters had ended a few minutes ago, an eternity for someone alone in the forest. The missing girl could be anywhere, and the leftover wolves who had escaped the fight could have already picked her scent.

“Are you certain?” he asked slowly, emphasising every word.

“Yes… Yes! She was tall and had platinum hair. The kind of girl who is a cheerleader or does modelling, impossible to forget.”

“Yes, I also remember her!”

A few others confirmed the statements, putting an end to any doubt. Darius looked to the side and drew a long breath. The cold air drenched the anger within him, restoring his Olympian calm. It was not the time to blame someone else for this catastrophe. Action needed to be taken and fast.

He turned to Eïrin, who understood without him even speaking a word.

The archer surveyed the land around them. Among the many footprints left by her comrades, it was impossible to see any trail. Her eyes moved to the outskirts, away from where the chimeric wolves had appeared.

There, Eïrin started to witness clues of her passage. Small pieces of cloth intertwined in the branches, drops of blood on thorns and trampled herbs. Every detail caught her eye.

Her face lit up, and she jerked toward Darius.

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“I might be able to track her down. Follow me!”

Eïrin didn’t hesitate a second. Holding her bow firmly, she rushed toward the wood. Darius ordered Hideaki and Nikolai to keep the group together before rushing after the archer. Faith, her belly knotted by shame, followed right behind.

Adventuring again in the deep wood, Eïrin’s sense became even sharper. She could perceive even the smallest insects and point to every leaf and root on her path. The crystalline chant she had heard during her trance echoed again in her mind. She knew the path to take. So was the gift given by the crystal.

She turned around a large tree, and her feet stopped. She lowered her bow, then her head and whispered a silent prayer.

They found her under a gasp in the canopy. She was resting against a stump, surrounded by long green grass. Her face was relaxed, and with her closed eyes, one could have believed she was sleeping. Around her, carmine liquid petals stained the soil, betraying the truth.

Something had found her before them. She had managed to evade her aggressor, but her wounds were too deep.

She had crawled into the dead tree’s arms to find refuge. In her hand, she was holding a necklace. The souvenir had kept her company in her last moment while the grip of death closed around her.

Darius’ face darkened. Hands clenched on his sword’s hilt, the young leader contemplated his failure.

“We are too late.”

He walked to her, casting his shadow upon her chalky skin. He couldn’t pray for her as her name was forever lost, so he asked for forgiveness.

With gentle care, Darius knelt beside her and took the vestigial jewellery. He swore upon the lost pendant that never again would he make such a mistake.

The darkness faded from his face, and his steel gaze returned as he faced the two girls with him.

“Let’s go. Whatever got to her could still be nearby. I don’t want to risk the life of anyone else.”