The forest south of Irvel village is home to many creatures, some hostile to humans, while others pose no threat to the livelihood of those that reside in the community.

All the people in the village grew up being taught to stay away from the forest. Stories would be told of the unknown horrors lurking beneath the shades of those towering trees.

As such, Ajax and Samael were left with barely any reliable information after circling the village. Most of the inhabitants only knew false, exaggerated rumours.

"My ma told me once that a monster so grotesque lives in the woods south of this village. Arms as long as vines and fangs as sharp as razors!" A man said.

"I heard fairies reside in those woods and watch over this village! We must have incurred their wrath for these disappearances to occur!" A woman exclaimed.

Answers like these were the norm, and this left Samael and Ajax with barely any leads to go with. Forcing them to unravel all the mysteries on their own.

As the sun reached its peak, Samael and Ajax found themselves on the border south of Irvel village, where they stumbled upon a humble farmer.

"You folks delving in the forest? You should go back while you still have the chance," the man warned.

He was a man in his 50s with grey hair and a hunched back, adorned in peasant clothes like all the rest. Wrinkles have marred his face, along with the coarse callous nesting in his palms, a testament to the years of labour he's been through.

"Don't worry, sir; we're watchers who specialise in these types of environments," Samael assured the man, a gentle smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Hmm... To think someone as young as you is already tackling such a harrowing occupation..." he said.

"How long have you been living here, sir?" Samael asked.

Ajax went ahead and told him to stay put. He said he'd scout ahead and examine the vicinity of the forest before they set foot.

"You're interested in the ramblings of an old man? It seems youngsters these days have time to spare," the man said.

Samael smiled wryly.

"Well, if you insist," the old man muttered.

"Me, pa, and ma used to live down at Edensburgh. It's a village far east. Well, it used to be. But it got overrun by monsters, and we were forced to move here when I was but a youngling," he narrated.

"It's been 40 or so years since we've settled down. I grew up here and came to love this small village. I've seen many come and go, the fortunate and unfortunate moments pass. That reminds me..." The man came to a brief halt, as if reminiscing about the past.

"There was once a nun that resided in this village, about 16 or 15 years ago? I have forgotten. She was a wonderful person with a kind, compassionate heart. A devout follower of the Church of Light," the man said.

"She always warned us to stay away from the forest and to never disturb the creatures that live there. She was highly strict when it came to such topics, especially regarding the south," he continued.

"My memory betrays me now; I do not remember the details as to why, but the village lives by her words."

Samael's gaze trailed far into the towering trees. Lost in the torrents of emotions raging in his heart.

The Church of Light, worshippers of the God of Light and Peace: Taranius. People all over the globe praise his kindness and his power. Yet, when Samael needed him the most, he was as bright as the cold night sky.

Gods, deities, higher beings? He's ceased to believe in such figures. He's seen too much of the darkness to know that their light only reaches so far. Oh, so far.

"I see; thank you for telling me," Samael answered after a brief silence.

The sound of steel boots rang in the air as Ajax made his way towards the two.

"Come, the vicinity is clear," Ajax said, beckoning Samael to follow close.

Raising to his feet, he dusted himself. "Thanks again, grandpa; I'll see you later." Samael bid his farewells before following in the footsteps of his mentor.

Setting foot into the southern forest, a strange chill sent shivers down Samael's spine.

His brows furrowed as he gazed around. "Isn't this place a little too silent?" he asked Ajax.

"I saw no animals here," he replied.

Samael's frown deepened. No animals? How can that be?

"That can't be; there's no way such a lush forest is empty and desolate," Samael retorted.

However, this statement of his was soon rebuked as they traversed deeper into the forest.

There was no wind, no animals, and no insects. Just the eerie silence that encompasses the towering trees.

"I told you, there are no animals here," Ajax said.

Samael gave a brief nod, his gaze darting back and forth. If he knows something, the absence of animals in a specific area usually means one of two things. Either the place is not fit for life, or something of great horror lurks within the dark crevices of these woods.

Samael has questions regarding this place, but now is not the time.

Ajax approved of this action. It seems Samael understood the situation and took the appropriate decisions.

As they dived deeper, the cold, suffocating atmosphere of the forest trailed close.

Samael's chest rose and fell, akin to a boat stranded in the middle of a storm. But he was too preoccupied to notice these subtle changes.

Ajax halted his steps, his fist raised in the air.

Samael tensed up, his hand hovering close to his side, ready to summon Crimson Raven if needed.

"Odd..." Ajax muttered.

"What do you mean?" Samael asked, his heart racing out of his chest.

"We've gone far enough from the village, yet we've never encountered anything at all, not even abominations," Ajax said.

Come to think of it... Samael wandered his gaze around his vicinity. The forest remained dormant, devoid of life and abominations. Such traits are nigh impossible, especially in an area so close to a human settlement. If anything, it would be more plausible if this place were crawling with monsters.

And why do I feel so nervous? Samael thought in exasperation. Ever since he set foot in this forest, he's been fidgeting nonstop. Not to mention, his stamina isn't so weak that he's out of gas after travelling a couple hundred steps.

Just what is going on? Samael wondered.

Ajax strode forward through the tall bushes, delicately brushing them to the side as he hunched down.

Samael's brows rose to an arch. "Is there something wrong?" Samael asked.

Ajax bolted up as he approached the trees, each step firm and purposeful. With his steel gauntlets, he firmly swept the coarse bark, rubbing his fingers together.

"Let's leave," Ajax said.

"Okay," Samael replied, his forehead creased. Just what is happening right now?

Samael wiped the icy beads of sweat meandering down his forehead. His breath was deep and ragged.

Did I catch some form of disease? Am I poisoned? Samael wondered.

Codex, show me my status, Samael commanded. Unfortunately, he didn't manage to absorb the void essence of the two Kunilors he killed during their previous clash. It's quite a shame, but he couldn't risk compromising their safety for something he could earn later.

A dark blue panel warped in front of him, bathing his face in its radiant glow.

Void: Tier 0 Mark 0

Control: Tier 0 Mark 0

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

-Marker: 12/20

Quantity: Tier 0 Mark 0

-Marker: 12/20

[STATS]

Name: Samael

Title: [Loved by the void]

Species: Void Spawn [+]

Affinity: Void [+]

Rank: Awakened

Condition: Fatigue [Debuff], Fear [Debuff]

STATS

STR: 12.6

SPD/AGI: 12

CONSTITUTION: 14.6

SPIRIT: 15.7

CHARM: 6.5

∆SKILLS [+]

"What the..." Samael muttered under his breath, his eyes jolted wide.

Debuff? Fear? Fatigue? What the hell is this? Samael wondered.

Codex, can you explain what a debuff is? Samael asked.

Debuff is one of the system effects to be used when the master is under the influence of a skill capable of temporarily weakening them.

Skill...? Don't tell me... Samael's face paled. He shot a glance at Ajax, thoughts wreaking havoc in his mind.

He wanted to tell his mentor about his new discovery, but doing so might attract the attention of whoever or whatever cast the debuff upon him.

He gritted his teeth. He'll have to endure for now. Not to mention, telling his mentor means he'll reveal the existence of the Codex. He trusts Ajax enough to disclose his element, but the system? He's hesitant.

But isn't he my mentor? No, just because he's my assigned instructor doesn't mean I'll have to share everything. But he trusted me enough to tell me about his affinity.

Thinking back, the people who know Ajax the most trust him with all their hearts. The blacksmith, the woman back in the apothecary, and even the guards of the sanctuary

As they neared the exit of the chilling forest, Samael's thoughts came to a conclusion. Ajax wasn't just his mentor; he was a friend.

Ajax is a straightforward person; he says what he thinks and does what he wants. He shows his kindness by his actions, even if what he gets in return is feeble in comparison. Above all, Samael believes what Ajax values most is loyalty.

Yes, he will do what he must.

Samael remained silent for the rest of their voyage. After leaving the forest, he felt considerably better. He could breathe properly, and the persistent chill in his bones had subsided. Upon checking with the Codex, the debuff effects Fear and Fatigue have vanished, leaving no trace of their existence.

Back in their abode, Samael sat down with a resounding sigh. A frown etched deep in his face.

Ajax sat on the other side of the table, crossing his arms as he submerged in the silence.

Taking a mouthful of air, Samael spoke. "Ajax..."

The man shot a glance at him.

"I need to tell you something," Samael resumed.

Samael shifted his gaze towards the steel visor of Ajax. "Back in the forest, something or someone cast a skill on me. It temporarily bestowed me fear and fatigue," he confessed.

"However, the fear and fatigue cast on me vanished the moment we left the forest," Samael narrated his experience.

"As for how I knew, I—"

Ajax raised his hand, cutting him off abruptly. "We all have our own secrets. You are not compelled to tell me anything; I trust you as you trust me."

Samael was shocked silent for a brief while. A single thought lingering in his mind.

Ajax was indeed his trusted companion.

"Thank you," Samael gratefully said.

Ajax gave a stiff nod. "As you've said, I also felt the effects of the debuff Fatigue and Fear back in the forest. However, I failed to sense who's casting it on us," he said.

"That leaves us with three—no, four—possible options," Ajax stated.

"Four?" Samael asked, his brows furrowed.

"First, someone or something casted it upon us. But, seeing as how we're unable to detect the caster, it's highly implausible. Unless we were cursed."

"What's the difference between a debuff and curses?" Samael asked.

"A debuff can be easily cast by an entity or person, which also means we can track who caused it by the fluctuations of energy. However, a curse is different. It can come in many different ways. One of which is through engravings or markings. By etching a diagram in your body, they can form an outlet to constantly put you under heinous effects, even in far distances. But in our case, I saw no changes with our shadows," Ajax explained.

"Second probability, there could be a totem situated in the forest that constantly casts the debuff. But this is also nigh implausible since I saw no runes on our voyage," Ajax pointed out.

"Third, a curse lies in the forest itself, bestowing debuffs to those that set foot in its woodland realm. This is also highly unlikely. If a curse was casted on the forest, then it should be in a state that cannot sustain life or filled with abominations to the brim. Now, this might sound the most feasible choice, but upon checking earlier, I saw traces of life in the forest, which means it wasn't long since they vanished."

"This brings me to the last and most problematic possibility: a subspace. There's a separate dimension in the forest that inflicts the debuff on us," Ajax said, his tone grim.

"Subspace? How do we know if something of the kind lurks in the forest? We've been there, but our expedition bore fruitless," Samael said.

"Subspaces are hard to find. They don't exist in this dimension, hence the name. Imagine inside a manor, you're inside a room, and there's another chamber next to yours. You know it's there, but don't know what lies beyond," Ajax said.

"So how do we figure it out?" Samael asked. If this subspace is indeed as Ajax stated, then how are they going to solve this case?

"Simple, we open a hole," Ajax answered.

***

Ajax told him his plan. While they suspect a subspace lies hidden in the southern forest, they will never know for sure until they see it themselves.

However, unveiling a subspace is by no means a walk in the park. They would need something Ajax coined "Atlas." It's a device imbedded with time and space runes.

An atlas is capable of distorting time and space within a small area. Unfortunately, it doesn't end there. They would also need a concoction named Gyser.

It's a liquid concoction made from various rare herbs and ingredients. Once applied to a blade, it can tear a hole in space itself for a fixed amount of time.

With the help of an Atlas, they would be able to form a temporary entrance to this subspace if it indeed does exist.

But yet another hurdle blocks their path. The amount of time a Gyser can sustain is highly brief, so they would require to be quick and fast on their feet.

Ajax left a while ago to collect the materials needed for their grand plan. He estimates that it may take a week at most to get everything, even with the help of the guild.

A resounding sigh escaped Samael's lips. He didn't know monster killing took so much time and effort. But who can he blame? At the end of the day, all these preparations are for their safety.

Samael glanced outside. The luminescent glow of the sun was setting over the horizon, marking the passing of another day.

The ethereal light of the moon soon painted the night sky dark. The village has gone silent once more. Yet Samael found himself taking a leisurely stroll.

The village has gone to sleep now. The only light guiding Samael is the dim glow of the moon and the lit torches by the side of the dirt road.

He had no qualms with it, for even in darkness, his vision remains the same.

The gentle embrace of the wind wafted through his hair. The scent of grass and earth invaded his senses, along with the distant sounds of footsteps.

Wait— Footsteps? Samael's eyes flung open. His gaze darted back and forth, seeking the direction of the sound.

In the corner of his eyes, a silhouette bolted away.

With a forceful kick to the ground, Samael flew towards the location of the figure. The wind lashed against his face.

The silhouette took a sharp turn, stumbling a few times as he raced to escape Samael's vision by taking refuge behind the wooden cabins.

Samael clenched his jaw, dark smoke billowing out of his soles. His figure zoomed forward, swiftly halting where the unknown figure once stood.

He's gone. Samael thought.

It is in times like these that he wishes Ajax had taught him how to track.

Crouching down, he closely examined the scene for any traces leading to the culprit.

Unfortunately, the silhouette was smart. He left no traces, not even footprints.

Samael stood guard for the rest of the night. In case the culprit comes back again, maybe this time he'll catch who it is.

As the morning sun greeted Irvel village, the town erupted into an uproar.

The villagers immediately noticed some of their cattle had gone missing once more. News of this spread like wildfire, causing unrest within the populace.

"Didn't we have a watcher in the village?" A man asked.

"He left yesterday morning on an errand. He hasn't come back," another chimed in.

"How about the kid with him? Isn't he a watcher as well?" A woman pointed out.

Samael pushed through the flickering crowd, earning the gaze of all the inhabitants.

"That's the kid, right?" A voice asked.

"Isn't he supposed to take care of this matter? Are we paying them for naught?" A man asked.

Eric, the village elder, came up. "People! Calm down! I know we all feel a little unnerved by these disappearances, but, please, do not blame the watchers. They're willingly trying to help even if our rewards aren't that great. Have some humility!" He said.

Samael met the gaze of the people head-on. "I caught a glimpse of the culprit stealing the cattle last night," he announced.

The crowd gasped in unison, their whispers leaving trails of echoes in the air.

"You did!? Tell us! Who the hell is the bastard stealin our cattle?" A man roared in rage.

The crowd erupted in chaos as they bombarded Samael with questions regarding the culprit.

"Who is it?! Tell us!"

"I'll skin that fucker when I find him!"

"Did he cause the disappearances of old man Verun and little Tori?"

The village elder slammed his cane on the ground, luring the attention of the villagers to him once more.

"Silence! Let Samael speak of what he saw," Eric said.

The crowd went silent, anticipation brimming in the air.

"Last night, I took a stroll around the village when I saw a silhouette in one of the animal barns. I was about to approach him when he ran away in haste. I chased after him, but he took refuge behind the cabins, and I lost track of where he went. Whoever it was, he knew where to go and covered his tracks well," he retold.

"Damn, son of a bitch!" A man roared.

"That person probably knew his way around the village!"

"Piece of scum! Don't tell me it's one of us!"

Chaos stirred in the air as the villagers started pointing fingers. Arguments as to who it could be bloomed, sowing distrust in the hearts of the populace.

"CALM YOURSELVES!!!" Eric bellowed. His voice reverberated in the air.

"Samael, are you sure of what you saw? Perhaps you simply saw wrong? We've all lived in this village in harmony for years. Why would we stab each other behind the back now?" Eric asked, his tone grim.

"The elder is right..."

"Indeed, isn't it odd that the moment the watchers got here, misfortunes befell our community?"

"Now that you mentioned it..."

Piercing gazes fell on Samael, carving holes in him. However, he stood steadfast, meeting their gazes with defiance.

"Do not take it to heart, boy, but you know, they say a 'black cat' crossing your path brings bad luck. Funny how we haven't seen any cats, but luck's been running thin," Eric said.

Samael's gaze sharpened. "Are you blaming us for the disappearances?" he asked, his tone heavy and unforgiving.

"I did not mean that; I'm simply stating that if we don't find this "culprit" soon, then this village will be starving sooner or later," Eric replied.

He turned around, facing the villagers present. "Now, all of you go back and leave the rest to our guests; take a break and cool off," he instructed.

"You too, Samael; rest for now," Eric said before storming away.

The villagers are losing trust in us; if we don't find this culprit soon, I fear—Hmm? Samael's train of thoughts halted as he gazed at Eric's figure walking away.

"Did you scrape your knee, elder?" He asked, freezing the man in place.

"I can't help but notice your left leg is limping even with the help of your cane," Samael pointed out.

Eric shot a sidelong glance at Samael. "Oh, this? It's nothing; I bumped it when making tea yesterday," he said.

"I see, then you better get it treated soon, Elder," Samael said before bolting away. A lone thought dwelling in his mind.

It can't be right...?