"I found this on top of the barrels," Orano said, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and disbelief. "I couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw it."

Caitrin approached him eagerly, her curiosity piqued. "What is it?"

She looked at the newspaper and her expression mirrored Orano's shock. "An attack after the ceremony? How could this happen? How could someone do such a thing?"

"I can't give you a definitive answer," Lydia replied, her gaze fixed on the news. "But the most likely culprit is Nuzuki Serumu."

"Who's that?" Caitrin asked, her confusion growing.

"He's an Orwell," Lydia explained. "Orwells are creatures with wings and human bodies. Despite their human appearance, they are ten times more dangerous and agile than humans. They are considered one of the most powerful beings on Earth. They reside in the Third Kingdom and have remained dormant for years. Now, they're suddenly attacking."

"Before he left, he reportedly threatened to target other creature hunters," Lydia continued. "I can't imagine a worse scenario."

The mention of Orwells triggered a memory in Caitrin. "It's just like what I saw in Aetas!" she exclaimed. "I told you there was someone following us. That woman over there had wings too! She could be one of them!"

Lydia nodded. "She probably followed you and discovered about the ceremony. Then, she likely informed others and planned the attack."

"But what are we going to do?" Caitrin asked, her voice filled with anxiety. "We're already dealing with Rifts and being followed. If they come after us, we can't just fight them."

Orano looked at them both. "For now, we'll focus on finding the next Rift and traveling to the next location. If they cross our path, we'll have no choice but to fight. Be prepared."

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

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

After planning their next steps, they decided to rest for the night. The moon, full and luminous, cast a silvery glow over the cool, damp air. Orano lay on the ground, his body weary but his mind alert. Lydia stood guard, scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger.

Caitrin gazed up at the moon, lost in thought. "We fought creatures, helped people, were treated with suspicion during the ceremony, and now we're being hunted," she muttered to herself, her voice laced with frustration. "Why does it feel like our situation is getting worse by the day?"

After a while, Caitrin's thoughts turned to Lydia. Curiosity piqued, she decided to check on her. Leaving her sword behind, she stepped out of the storage room. The cold night air and damp ground greeted her as she ventured into the darkness.

Despite the unfamiliar surroundings, she continued her search. After a few minutes, she stopped and looked around, her eyes scanning the area. She couldn't find Lydia anywhere.

Just as she was about to give up, she heard a noise coming from one of the storage rooms. Initially, she thought it might be an animal, but then she heard voices. Curiosity compelled her to investigate.

Creeping closer, she peered through a window, her heart pounding. Inside, she saw the same boy they had encountered earlier. He was sitting beside someone lying in the corner of the room, holding a few potions, one of which was empty.

At first, Caitrin couldn't discern what they were, but then she realized they were medical potions. "Medical potions? What is he going to do with them?" she wondered aloud.

A sudden chill ran down her spine as she felt two breaths behind her. Turning around with a start, she saw Orano and Lydia watching her, their expressions a mix of amusement and surprise. "Hey!" she whispered angrily. "What do you two think you're doing? I almost had a heart attack!"

Orano crossed his arms, his expression unyielding. "You're the one who snuck out without telling anyone," he said. "This isn't the time to blame others."

"I was looking for Lydia!" Caitrin protested. "And when did you two find each other?"

Lydia smiled. "I found Mr. Tatsumi wandering around, looking for you. We decided to join forces and search for you."

Caitrin's expression softened. "That makes sense."

Orano peered through the window. "So he came here after all that happened," he said.

Caitrin and Lydia followed his gaze. "This is the criminal Runo was chasing," Lydia observed. "I wonder what he's doing in there."

"I found him a few minutes ago," Caitrin replied. "He seemed to be helping someone. But now he's standing in front of that person, and I can't see what's happening."

As they watched, Orano suddenly pushed open the door and entered the room. Both Caitrin and Lydia, along with the boy inside, were startled by his unexpected intrusion.

The boy, sensing the intrusion, grabbed his sword from the ground and pointed it at them, his face contorted with anger. "Who are you?" he demanded.