In the outskirts on an afternoon, the two young girls chatted and giggled as they ambled along on foot.

Unbeknownst to them, three equally youthful figures were stealthily trailing in their wake.

"They're indeed keeping something from us," murmured Pernas in a hushed tone. She was adorned with a wide - brimmed soft hat and clad in a light - colored dress.

Two young lads, Bock and Myer, followed cautiously behind her.

Bock, his face etched with persistent unease, said,"Pernas,it would be advisable for you to return. Lady Anya will surely be incensed."

Anya was Pernas's mother, a female of noble standing.

"Hold your tongue! Bock, if you wish to return, do so on your own. Lila and the others are concealing something significant from us. I must uncover the truth with my own eyes."

Pernas's resolve was unwavering.

Myer was on the verge of offering his counsel, but she seemed to anticipate his words and cut him off preemptively:

"Silence, Myer! You two are nothing but cowards."

The two lads fell silent, yet at the thought of the overbearing and imposing woman, they couldn't help but heave profound sighs.

...

In the Outer Forest of Bayek, Gotaya shed her original garments and donned a loose - fitting work attire. Grasping a crudely crafted bow in her hand, she took aim at a target inscribed on the trunk of a tree.

With a swift"whoosh," the wooden arrow found its mark precisely at the bullseye.

This was the sole activity that came to her mind after tending to the pigs.

She retrieved the wooden arrow and once again raised the bow, taking aim.

However, as one second, two seconds, and three seconds elapsed... she eventually lowered the bow.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd be engaged in such a task. Should my friends chance upon me, they'd surely ridicule me," lamented Gotaya as she cast a glance at her attire and let out a deep sigh.

Her gaze then shifted to NightRoar, which was reclining beneath a tree. The creature, too, seemed listless, its long tail swaying to and fro.

This alien was that fellow's pet. I wonder how he managed to subdue it... As Gotaya pondered， the large canine suddenly perked up its ears and lifted its head.

The elven maiden instinctively followed NightRoar's line of sight and beheld Glen sauntering over with his hands tucked in his pockets.

"You seem to be handling this with remarkable ease."

"Hmph, do you truly think a trivial matter such as this could pose a challenge to me?"

Following this brief exchange, Glen stepped into a warehouse adjacent to the pigsty. This structure had been erected by him as a convenient storage space for tools and sundries during the construction of the logging shed.

Gotaya stood by, observing as the human before her produced a collection of tools and wooden materials. He then hauled in several logs from parts unknown and set about hammering and sawing in the vicinity of the pigsty.

In the midst of his work, Glen suddenly swiveled around and inquired,"Observing me make use of these timbers, you must surmise that I've felled some trees. So, what are your thoughts? Have you nothing to impart?"

Gotaya wore a look of utter bewilderment."What's amiss with cutting trees? We forest elves engage in tree - felling as well, with our mother's blessing."

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Suddenly, a look of realization dawned on her."Oh! I comprehend now. You don't seriously think that we forest elves would take umbrage merely because you've cut down a few trees, do you? That's a rather simplistic assumption! The forest will only be aggrieved if you engage in extensive deforestation without due regard for its well - being."

"Is that indeed the case?" Glen exclaimed, his tone tinged with surprise.

"Assuredly. On occasion, we even utilize wood for constructing dwellings..."

At this juncture, NightRoar abruptly rose to its feet and faced a particular direction. Glen mirrored its action.

"What's transpired?" Gotaya inquired, voicing her confusion at their sudden reaction.

"Why have they arrived?" Glen muttered under his breath. Moments later, he caught a whiff of a familiar scent."How many more are lurking behind?"

Hold on. With such a sizable group, perhaps I can cajole them into lending a hand... This notion flashed through Glen's mind, and he resolved to give it a try shortly.

"Are you intimating that someone is approaching?" Elves possess exceptionally acute hearing, so even Glen's hushed words reached her ears with clarity.

Glen nodded, laid aside the tools in his grasp, and said,"They're a few friends. There's no need for you to be apprehensive. I'll go and investigate."

"Where do you perceive that I'm exhibiting signs of nervousness?"

Gotaya retorted, a hint of indignation lacing her voice.

Undeterred, Glen hastened back along the path.

From within the forest, he could already discern the silhouettes of two young maidens strolling along the road, engaged in hushed conversation.

Glen called out from a distance,"Miss Lila! Miss Bonnie! I'm over here!"

The two young girls were startled. Turning their heads, they caught sight of Glen's indistinct form amidst the trees. Lila queried tentatively,"Is that you, Mr. Glen?"

As the figure gradually materialized, Glen advanced a few steps and said,"I had assumed that you would never again muster the courage to venture here."

Upon confirming that it was indeed him, the two young girls were both reassured and delighted. Bonnie chimed in,"Initially, we were too fearful to come, but I was so eager to catch a glimpse of that enormous dog. I confided my desire to Lila, and she, too, was keen to see it."

I knew it... Glen mused inwardly, a faint smile playing on his lips. Nevertheless, he replied,"I've previously cautioned that it possesses a rather fearsome appearance. Are you certain you wish to encounter it?"

"Did you indeed mention that?" Bonnie furrowed her brow, attempting to recollect.

"Did I not?" Glen responded with a smile, spreading his hands.

"Regardless! We're determined to see it!" Bonnie declared resolutely, shaking her head in anticipation.

Lila, too, wore an expression of eager anticipation.

"Very well."

Glen sighed inwardly. Since he was the one who had initially piqued their curiosity, he had no choice but to escort them for a visit, if only to placate the two young girls.

"Oh, and what about those lurking behind the bushes? Do they wish to join as well?"

Just as the two young girls were experiencing a mix of excitement and trepidation, Glen suddenly called out loudly in the direction of their rear.

The two girls spun around and, to their surprise, witnessed the bushes not far behind them rustling. Startled, they retreated behind Glen.

"Pernas,we've been discovered."

"Silence! He might be attempting to deceive us. If you emerge, we'll truly be exposed."

Behind the bushes, a young maiden and two young lads whispered among themselves.

"Are we truly not discovered?"

At that moment, Glen's voice resounded from above their heads.

The three of them let out simultaneous shrieks and tumbled out from the bushes.

Lila and Bonnie stared in bewilderment. They had been unable to discern how Glen had managed to appear there in the blink of an eye. They were also taken aback by the sudden appearance of the three individuals from the bushes.

"Mr. Glen, how did you... And Pernas？Bock? Myer? What are you..."

The complex situation left the two young girls stammering incoherently.

Pernas wheeled around and, upon seeing Glen suppressing a laugh as he regarded her, rose to her feet in a fit of indignation and pointed at him, exclaiming,"You... How dare you startle me?!"

"Is it not rather that you're overly timid?" Glen feigned innocence, further infuriating the blonde noble maiden to the point of gnashing her teeth.

At this moment, Lila and Bonnie stepped forward and positioned themselves between Glen and Pernas.

"Enough, enough. Cease this squabbling, Pernas. You still haven't provided an answer. Why are you here? Were you tailing me?"

Lila demanded, her tone accusatory.

Pernas dusted herself off and retorted matter - of - factly,"As a friend, you were the one who initially kept me in the dark. That's precisely why I followed you here."

"I did it for your own benefit. Aren't you apprehensive about Lady Anya flying into a rage? As you can observe, this place is far from safe."

"I'm not the least bit afraid! As for my mother, as long as you remain silent, I remain silent, and they remain silent, she'll be none the wiser."

As the two continued their argument, Bonnie tugged at Glen's garment and whispered conspiratorially,"Mr. Glen, Pernas is of noble birth. Nobles are often unscrupulous. I advise you not to befriend her."

This lass truly has a childlike temperament... Glen lowered his head, covered his mouth with his hand, and whispered in Bonnie's ear,"Indeed, I concur."

Myer and Bock, feeling somewhat neglected, stood by, at a loss as to how to proceed in this awkward situation.