The massive coyote bellowed in pain as it collided with Ren. Ed realized it had injured itself in its head-on collision, too. It was a simple beast overrun by the influence of an ancient god. Just like his skeletons, it couldn’t protect itself from the sheer force of its power.

Ed switched his focus to the shielded coyote. It was also struggling; its shield visibly crackled, causing bizarre fluctuations of the light around it. And it was centered around the exact spot Ren had hit with her scythe.

Ren was hurt and needed his help. He had to wrap this fight up now while the beasts were dazed. Before they had a chance to recover and turn on him.

Ed lunged forward towards the shielded one. He gripped his staff tightly, pulling it backward so the bottom tip pointed forward.

The monster saw Ed coming and started to back away.

Shit, Ed though. I’m not going to be able to reach it before it recovers.

He thought about how the coyotes were distracted, just for a second, when Ren had screamed before.

I hope this works…

Ed commanded his skeletons to make noise. To scream, shriek, or yell, whatever loud and distracting noise they could make.

An ear-piercing, inhuman screech assaulted Ed’s ears. It was so unnerving he almost tripped and ruined his plan.

But it worked. The shielded coyote hunkered down, the shrill sound piercing its ears and causing it to recoil.

Ed wasted no time. He rammed the end of his staff into the shield, the same spot Ren had viciously attacked before.

Ed expected to fly backward, as Ren had, the force of the recoil tearing through his muscles.

But it never happened. The shield gave way like water, succumbing to Ed’s attack. It offered almost no resistance, and Ed’s strike followed through. The butt of his staff smashed into the coyote’s face.

It cried out, staring back at Ed with its horrible purple eyes. They haunted him, bringing Ed back to the dinner he wished to forget. But he wouldn’t lose his focus. The last thing he would do is yield to some twisted form of Somnia’s magic.

Was she even here? Did she possess these animals just to thwart Ed and Ren? It made no sense. Why not just attack them directly?

Right now, none of that mattered. Ed willed his dagger-wielding thrall to charge at the coyote from behind and slice its throat.

The beast howled out in surprise and pain at the dagger struck true. It lay before Ed, bleeding out on the ground.

Ed sensed a monstrous presence behind him, almost like the ground was quaking. He dove out of the way instinctually, just in time to see his thrall explode into shards of broken bones.

The big coyote had charged them, probably in a rage, trying to avenge its fallen mate.

Ed backed off, bringing his last remaining skeleton to his side.

The monster turned to face them, face twisted in agony and rage. Ed could hardly meet its eyes. He felt his skin prickle with goosebumps in the presence of this unnatural fiend.

Ed braced himself, waiting to see what the coyote would do. It snarled wildly, kicking dirt and sand up with its hind feet.

If its charge knocked Ren out, it would probably kill me.

Dazed from the battle so far, still suffering the effects of the sanity cost, confused by Juna’s betrayal, and concerned for Ren, all merged into a fog in his mind. He needed to be quicker. He needed to act before the monster did.

But every move, every gambit, every option seemed futile. If he made the wrong choice, and the beast landed his crushing attack on Ed… that could be it. A few wild animals could waste this incredible power bestowed upon them.

“No, I won’t succumb at the first sight of Somnia,” Ed resolved.

But then, a tiny blue light appeared over the coyote’s shoulder. Tentacled arms reached out, wrapping themselves repeatedly around the coyote’s ears. The beast jumped back in surprise, whipping its head wildly to shake off the nuisance.

The lumie?!

Ed felt a mix of concern and appreciation for the tiny being. Once again, it had stepped in at the most pivotal time to help Ed.

He wouldn’t waste the opportunity his tiny blue companion had granted them.

Ed ran to the left side of the coyote and started jumping up and down. He made as much noise as possible, whatever he could do to draw the monster’s attention.

“AHHHH! Look over here, you bastard!” he shouted, waving his arms above his head.

The distracted and frustrated monster looked at Ed, whipping its head around wildly. It snarled and growled with such intensity Ed thought it might pass out from the effort. Its veiny muscles bulged to the point of looking like they may burst.

And then a loud CRUNCH sound filled the air, and all other sounds ceased.

Ed’s thrall stepped backward, its club embedded into the coyote’s skull. The skeleton slowly fell apart, bones dropping to the ground as the last bit of its life withered away.

Stolen novel; please report.

The coyote fell to the ground and stayed there.

Ed quickly hurried over to gather the lumie and ensure it was okay. It pounced from the corpse of the massive animal, nuzzling itself under Ed’s chin.

“You did great, buddy,” Ed told it reassuringly. “Twice now, I owe you my life.”

Ed glanced down at the beast, repulsed by the sight of blood and gore leaking from its shattered skull.

The purple maelstroms had left its eyes, leaving the earthy browns of a regular coyote behind.

Ed had suppressed the previous System message but allowed them both to come through now.

[You have defeated an enemy!]

[Name: Dream-touched Shielding Coyote

Experienced gained: 40

Loot: Shield Rune]

[You have defeated an enemy!]

[Name: Dream-touched Impact Coyote

Experienced gained: 40

Loot: Contact Rune, Impact Glyph]

[You have leveled up!]

Ed dismissed the messages. He would sort through all of it later. He needed to make sure Ren was okay.

“Ren? Ren! Are you alright?” Ed shouted, kneeling beside her.

She didn’t respond.

Ed felt a sense of dread and panic as he placed his fingers on her neck.

Her skin was warm, and he felt the steady beat of her pulse. She was alive, at least. She took a direct shot to the chest from the giant wolf. The monster had dropped an Impact Glyph. That probably explained how it launched such devastating attacks on Ren and Ed’s thrall.

The lumie scurried over along with Ed, placing its tiny tentacle-like arms on Ren. It was visibly concerned, squeaking with worry as it inspected its friend.

“Don’t worry, buddy, she’s alive. We just need to get her some help,” Ed said, trying to reassure the creature.

The lumie looked at Ed, beady eyes trying to convey a message. It fluttered about, waving its arms and making unintelligible sounds.

“What is it?” Ed asked.

The lumie calmed itself as its bioluminescent light started to flicker. Tiny tendrils of blue light emanated from the creature, swirling around Ren’s face and chest.

Suddenly, Ren wheezed. Her eyes popped open, confused and in agony.

The lumie collapsed, turning to a dull, colorless grey. There was almost no blue discernable in its round, blubbery body now.

“What the --- HNNG!” Ren strained, grasping at her chest as she tried to speak.

“Don’t worry, we’re safe for now,” Ed reassured her.

He checked on the lumie, unsure what had happened or if it was okay.

The tiny, magnificent creature was snoring. It was sleeping.

“This little guy is incredible. The third time it has saved us now,” Ed remarked.

Ren scanned the area, her gaze as intense as when she entered the dinner hall—Ed’s first impression of her.

“The coyotes are all dead,” Ed said.

Ren sighed with relief, wincing as another bout of pain ripped through her chest.

“Where’s the girl?” Ren asked quietly.

“Gone. She shoved you and ran off,” Ed said. “If I had chased after her, you’d probably be dead.”

“I don’t understand… what did I do wrong?”

“Nothing. She cursed us and called us death-bringers before she fled.” Ed rose, furrowing his brow. “We’re in a new part of the world, Ren. And we’re different. We need to keep our powers hidden around people for now.”

Ren nodded in agreement.

“And the coyotes… that was Somnia?” Ren asked, a single stutter betraying the fear she tried to hide.

“I think so. The System message I got when I killed them said Dream-touched coyote. It also said there was an anomaly, whatever that means.

Ren swallowed hard as she slowly climbed to her feet. Ed offered her a hand, but she smacked it away.

“I’m fine,” she snapped.

Ed backed off.

“How the hell did you kill all four of them? I can’t believe we’re not dead,” Ren muttered.

“It wasn’t easy,” Ed said. “We also leveled up and gained some new runes and glyphs.”

“At least we got something out of all this mess. You take them for yourself?” Ren asked accusingly.

Ed knew Ren’s pride was hurt, but his patience grew thin.

“No.”

Ren looked genuinely surprised. “Huh, can’t say I’d have down the some in your shoes. Not sure I deserve them given how useless I was.”

“I think we should head for Silt and recover there. We can figure out all this Netheryn nonsense once we’re safe.”

“Assuming Silt is a safe place,” Ren said quietly. She was concerned, her stern demeanor shaken by what had happened.

Ed felt like he understood. Ren was a royal and a very proud one at that. A commoner had saved her. And she was betrayed by Juna, whom she was uncharacteristically warm towards. Embarrassed and knocked out in their first real fight. Her ego was bruised, along with her body. She would need some time to recover.

“It must be safer than being alone out here without food,” Ed said.

“I suppose so. We traveled for what, six or seven hours this morning? We should be most of the way there. Assuming we’re going in the right direction at all.”

Ed suddenly wished he had asked the dead men if they were telling the truth about Silt. Before, getting to Silt felt like an option. Now, it felt like a necessity.

“Not like we have a choice. Plus, the vegetation around here has grown greener and denser as we travel. We’re approaching water, which probably means civilization,” Ed tried to reassure Ren.

And himself.

“Let’s get going then.” Ren picked up the sleeping lumie, slinging it over her shoulder gently. It snored quietly, totally oblivious.

Ed followed, catching up to Ren and walking side by side.

They eventually came across a small river, likely a tributary of some larger river nearby. Ed found some edibles, berries, and roots near the bank. It was the first bite of food either had taken since that fateful dinner.

Ed popped a dark red berry into his mouth, its tart sweetness gracing his tastebuds. It was simple and sweet, cutting through the fog of hunger that had been secretly clouding his mind. Ed hadn’t realized how hungry he was.

Ren likewise appreciated the food, chomping down on a hardy vegetable Ed had rummaged from the riverbank.

“Not too bad,” she muttered between bites, struggling to chew on the tough fibers.

“Everything tastes better when you’re starving,” Ed said with a smile. “How are your ribs?”

“Fine,” Ren said.

Ed kneeled by the gently flowing stream and cupped his hands. He brought a small pool of water to his mouth and took a sip. The water was clean and cool, and felt incredible against his dried and parched lips.

The two took a short break, replenishing themselves with the meager offerings of the river. They sat on the ground, staring towards the eastern horizon.

Neither spoke for a while. Ed felt a sense of calmness for the first time, relishing it.

Ren was the first one to speak, muttering two simple words.

“Thanks, Ed.”