The sky was already dark, and now I had to be patient, with my blurred vision, veiled by the cloudy thick fog. Fragrance of the nature was once a bliss to my senses but, somehow, the forest were filled with putrid and metallic scent. The stench was excruciatingly nauseating and upset not only my nose, but my eyes, my throat and my stomach.

“Wear this,” Mira said as she threw a full face respirator at me, waiting for me to put it on myself, “better?”

I nodded, blinking away the tears in my eyes, finally feeling a little bit better, albeit still uncomfortable. “I so want to say I regret this…but! I already got my books!”

She let out a snicker while giving me a side eye. “It’s going to be harder the longer we stay. No matter how, might as well try to be fast as we could, or else we have to come back another time for better luck.”

“Have you ever done this before?” with a stifled sob, I asked.

“Hmm…” she tilted her head, continued, “when I was younger. Not a good memories to reminisce. Putting that aside, have you never thought the twin might forgot to give those to him?”

“It couldn’t be… right?” I laughed, awkwardly.

“That was not impossible you know,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.

“Then I just have to remind them every time I meet them until they finally give the present to him. Enough about that… what about the lead?”

Mira looked down on her watch, stated, “the last time it was tracked was on the south, 8.16 kilometer far. From this point, that is. We’re going to start with that before expanding the area in case we still haven’t found it.”

She lifted her gaze toward me, added, “well… I wanted to suggest for us to split, but it might get dangerous as we go deeper, so make sure you stay close to my side.”

I wanted to tell her not to worry, however, I swallowed my spit and nodded. Truthfully, just being here scared the gut out of me. I never thought forest could look so scary and intimidating before, as if the darkness itself would devoured me whole.

Each step I took became heavier as we went deeper into the forest. The fog became thicker, and it was harder for us to see our way in.

Mira grumbled as she slashed the branches that were getting in her way, “what did she even need the snake for? Doesn’t she knew it was almost close to impossible to even get a glimpse of those rare Goldie?”

“Goldie?”

“Yeah, duh~ It was not a coincidence that the snake had golden skin. The skin is the gold itself, not an imitation of the color. That’s why it was priceless and hunted by many. On top of that, the organs and the blood were high quality medical properties.”

“A treasure indeed.”

“Some even said, the heart of a 1000 years old golden snake can make a person immortal.”

“That… just a myth, right? I mean… good medical properties might prolonged your life, but it won’t make us immortal.”

“Who knows what’s real. No one ever met a 1000 years old golden snake. The oldest they managed to find would be 50 years old.”

“There were a time where I wondered, why does some people were obsessed with idea of becoming immortal? It’s not like living is all that great.”

Mira chuckled as she listened, said, “well… who knows why… It’s not easy to understand the way idiots think.”

Her statement made me laughed. “Idiots…” I mumbled, thinking about the people who had been categorized as idiots by Mira. Because, most of those who searched for the way to immortality were those obsessed with power, and wished to be drowned in innumerable wealth.

“Wait.” Mira held my arm, stopping me from moving forward and pulling me closer.

She was the first to realize something went wrong with our expeditions. Just a second ago we were walking in the misty forest. Yet, now, suddenly our surrounding changed into a barren land with no green lushes nor the foul stench of that weird forest.

“Careful,” she whispered, as she took out her favorite gun from the holster, “stay behind me.”

It was at this kind of moment that I started to hate my weak pathetic self. Not only I can’t be of help, but I was a burden instead. If only… if only I was not here, she could get away from here faster.

The monster growled as it slowly stretching its muscle before it let out a big roar that shook the sky. It spread it magnificent wing with the rumble of thunder sang their praise.

“Ugh! I hate it so much when they had AoE skill!” Mira complained, dragging me away to avoid the flash of lightning.

“Definitely troublesome, I agree…”

Baffled by the deep coarse voice, we turned around to see the silhouette of a man leaping toward the monster. “Sylus?” we uttered at the same time and looked at each other in confusion.

“What? Your eyes tell me I shouldn’t be here,” he said, walking past the two of us. He didn’t wait for an answer from us and went straight to defeat the Wanderer. It took him only few move to win.

However, it did not stop there. Another pair of Wanderers emerged. They look like a giant wolf with the tail of scorpion. The were fast but Sylus was faster. Mira and I stood at the side, like an audience watching a match, but with no popcorn and soda.

“This won’t do! How can he get all the fun!” Mira exclaimed with a big grin on her face as she held her gun pointing to one of the Wanderer.

‘BANG!’

One shot followed by two and then three. Wanderers kept coming even though the one before them died. And, I… I just stood there, away from the danger, behind the boulder as I witness the fight.

I don’t dare to even thought of going in and brought disaster to myself. I’m not an idiot, that was for sure. While I was immersed in my own thought, I stumbled down as the ground shook.

Stolen novel; please report.

I look at the front, toward the battlefield. Stuck to the ground was giant boulder with it’s upper half shaped like a monster. The growl was louder than any Wanderers I had seen so far. Both Sylus and Mira wasted no time and plunged forward giving no rest to the said Wanderer.

Although the two of them moved without hesitation, there was no coordination between them as they keep colliding into each other. Curse word pouring out from her mouth, and if look could kill, she would have died numerous time already.

“Why would you hit me?!” Mira shouted as she avoid his hit.

“You should have use your eyes instead,” he replied without looking at her, continuing his attacks.

“YOU!”

“Careful! Beside you!” I screamed from the top of my lungs as my heart was about to drop.

Unable to dodge at the last moment, Mira was shot by the Wanderer. “Mira!” I yelled out her name, taking few step forward but was stopped by a sudden appearance of another Wanderer.

Particles of white and cold crystals levitated in the sky. “Snow?” I mumbled as I catch it in my palm. Only then, I saw the other Wanderer appearance clearly.

It was a beautiful big white deer. It froze the ground in which it step. It was quick on it feet and I lost my breath trying to keep myself alive. When the deer almost hit me with it frozen blade, Sylus came to my rescue and pushed me aside, so that I will stay hidden from their sight.

Unfortunately, he took a hit when he was shielding me from the deer’s attack. His shirt had torn a little bit and his skin was scratched.

“Sylus!”

“Stay,” he uttered with a scowl on his face.

I didn’t dare to move an inch for I could only be nothing but a burden. Mira kept her attention on the previous Wanderer, while Sylus fought with the deer.

I don’t know with what courage did I do what I did. I leaped forward as I saw the boulder released it’s beam toward Sylus and shielded him with my body.

The pain overtake my body and my vision was hazy to see what happened in front of me. I could hear someone shouting my name. I could hear a loud blasting, and a line of gunshots thundering. I could hear they said something, I swear. But. I could not understand anything.

My vision turned dark and darker as time passed. Until I could see no more. Until I could hear no more. Until I could feel no more.

***

Sylus’s POV

Dream and reality. What differentiate the two? When I came to consciousness, I had decided to go with the flow. I accepted my new reality rather easily. His life and my life was not much different from each other. Even his way of thinking, was similar to my own.

If anything, there was one thing that discerned our value, no, precisely, it was one person. In his memories, lies a woman whom he deeply cared for. However, that was his, and I am my own.

That day was different. The red moon was brighter than any other day. I did not knew what came to me. I told my people to go back early and I moved by myself. The street was not different yet something about one particular alley stood out.

“Get! Off!”

I heard a shout. It was a young lady. She was… amusing, and weak. I applauded her luck for she was rescued by someone. Well… I was in awe with the possibility of her being defeated by a single rat, yet was saved by mere luck.

Then, I met her again. At the base of our organization. She was, changing. A little bit pity that she was almost done. Perhaps, shocked, she screamed.

“Keep quiet,” I said.

I sighed as I saw she continued putting on the apron. There was not an ounce of hesitation or fear. I thought she was fascinating. That was until I look into her eyes.

The body I am currently occupying had an ability to see into other people’s desire, yet she was not affected in the slightest. It was too suspicious to let go, considering the many enemies I had behind my back.

However, the answer she gave was trivial. She was foolish, yet at the same time, knew exactly how to act. Was it an act or was she being honest. That I could not be sure of.

The third time I saw her, she spoke to Mephisto. Definitely interesting. No one dared to even tried making small talk with him.

“Ha ha… Are you shy with that nickname? But you really are a cutie!” she said cupping her cheeks with her big eyes staring at him.

“Caw! Caw! Caw!”

“Aw~ I’m not teasing you… I’m speaking the truth. And, I’m not slacking off. Just taking a break.”

She greeted me with the excitement I had never saw before, and she also stopped hiding her beautiful eyes behind those hideous lens. When I remembered the suspicion I had before, it dawned on me how should I test her.

I brought her along with me to Silio to take back what was mine. To my surprised, her reaction was concern toward myself and more to critical thinking. She did not support my action and going on and on about moral, yet she also did not sympathize with the one I had killed.

I gave the jewel I had painstakingly gained to her and left her alone with Mephisto. I do not knew how should I communicate with her at that moment. When I turn around to get back at her, she was there no more. Guess Mephisto had already brought her back home safely.

Few days later, she managed to surprise me once again. She gifted me a bracelet that was made using the jewel I gave her before. It was cute of her when her face turned bright red as I teased her. I could not help myself but to let out a giggle when she ran away in embarrassment.

I do not knew what came to me when I smashed down the wall after I heard she had been attacked by Wanderers. Her luck was in the better again, because the twins was there to help her, and even Mephisto protected her.

When I saw her dejected face, my hand was itching with the urge to stroke her cheeks and patted her head.

“Caw!”

“Yes, indeed. You look much better,” I said, praising the new look Mephisto had.

“Sylus,” she called out my name with her soft spoken voice that lost it colorful vibrant.

I tried to speak as careful as I could to accommodate her mood, but when she asked for a leave, there was something burning in me. Like an alarm warning me that I might not see her again.

Nevertheless, I ignore those nonsensical thought. I gave her what she wanted and told her to leave. I was afraid I might do something foolish if she were to stay any longer even though I, myself do not knew what I would do.

I have to say I was quite taken aback when I saw her with another man. A hunter on top of that. It almost felt like she was betraying me even though I had never once put my trust on her.

I was even more aghast when she defended me with her small body. I wanted to kill her, was what I thought. Because she made me a fool. She clouded my judgment. I could not think properly when she was in the picture.

After that day, I stop looking for her. The twins and Mephisto would be enough to protect her. As for the people who messed with her. They had met their end.

However, there would be a day when my feet found their way near her. Her presence brought a calm to the wave inside my heart, even though she was the one who created the wave. I also received a new gift from her. A red jewel shaped like a crow.

That day, everything changed. I knew she was going into the forest with that woman who was an acquaintance of the twins. What I could not predict was she would be sucked into an unstable Protofield.

I followed along and fought off the Wanderers. I had to make sure she was alright. Though, I had to say her friend was annoying enough. However, I failed to protect her. I failed to keep her safe.

I didn’t knew I was capable of tears until I held her lifeless body in my embrace. I could hear nothing else but my own breath and her voice calling for me in some distant dream. I closed my eyes wishing my dream would end.

***

“Miss Alissa,” the young lady called out.

“Yes?” I replied, “what is it, Linda?” I turned around facing her.

“Wow… Did you not get a good sleep at night?” she said, poking my cheeks with concern on her face.

“You could say that. I was planning to look over the proposal Daniel sent me, but who knew when, I fell asleep on the sofa. When I woke up, it was dawn already.”

“Ah~ That’s why you came later in the morning… even though you usually the first to arrive.”

“Enough about me. What was it you about to say?”

“Oh! Almost forgot,” she exclaimed, and handed over a file of document to me, “here… this is all the information you asked.”

I took the file from her hand, added, “that was not much…”

“Well… this is all I can get.”

“There is more to this?”

“That’s what I heard. The new CEO was quite the mysterious public figure. Only people in the same circle knew about him.”

“I didn’t knew I left such an impression,” a soft yet deep coarse voice sounded from behind.

Like a bell that rang when the break was over, or the chime in the church on a wedding day, his voice resonated into my heart like a signal something were about to start. It was a voice I felt so dear and so near as if he was someone I knew.

I turned around and saw his beautifully sculptured face. He was tall with a broad shoulder. The black three piece suit was perfect on him like no other.

“Did you have a good dream?” he said as he bent his body so that his eyes would met mine.