Moonveil Forest, Border of Gaia – October 14, 1385, 9:47 PM
Fitran's steel boots crunched on the damp foliage, the sound of wet leaves rustling echoing through the suffocating silence of the night. Pausing deliberately at the edge of the narrow path, his gaze swept across the inky shadows that slipped between the tightly packed black trees, each step he took amplifying the tension in the atmosphere. The damp, earthy scent of the dew-soaked ground intensified the oppressive environment surrounding him. His right hand gripped the hilt of his sword, though he was well aware that the footsteps behind him posed no immediate threat.
Rinoa suddenly emerged from a gap in the gnarled tree trunk, her magical gown, which hugged her body, split at the side to allow for more agile movement. Her smile seemed anxious, "You walk too fast, Fitran. It's as if you want to leave without me."
Fitran didn't divert his gaze; his focus remained straight ahead on the mysterious path. "If you lag behind, it's a sign that you shouldn't be here," he said firmly, his voice low yet sharp, as if cutting through the stillness of the night. "The Beast won't wait for us to be ready."
"Fitran, the Moonveil Beast is not just a mindless creature driven by instinct. Consider this—what compelling force drives it to act in such a violent manner? Every step it takes is motivated by a reason, albeit one we may not fully grasp. While your intent is to slay it—my desire is to comprehend the powerful entity controlling it. Understanding its motives could provide insights invaluable for defending ourselves if we succeed. Slow and steady, I hope to calm my racing mind amidst the deepening panic of the night."
Fitran glanced over, his glowing red eyes momentarily catching the glint of her sharp blue ones. "This is where we differ," he said firmly, as if constructing a wall between them. "I'm here to finish what's before us. While you prefer to seek reasons behind it."
The distance between them persisted, yet the tension in the air was palpable, almost as if it could be sliced through with a knife. Fitran swept his gaze around, his senses finely attuned to the unusual rustling of leaves, awakening a potent sense of alertness within him. From afar, a long, eerie howl echoed—nothing like the usual cry of a wolf, but haunting, as if emanating from the darkest depths of the forest, sharpening his instincts. "Did you hear that?" he asked with a sneer, his lips curling into an unpleasant grin. "That's a warning we cannot afford to ignore."
Fitran tilted his head slightly, signaling for silence while focusing his eyes on the lurking darkness ahead. Rinoa furrowed her brow, sensing a terror that was far more profound than the Beast that hovered over them. "We need to prepare ourselves," she said, her voice quivering yet striving to maintain composure. "This isn't a regular hunt, Fitran."
"We have to move, Rinoa," Fitran said, his tone laden with urgency as they walked in unison. He gazed at the Moonveil forest shrouded in stillness, illuminated only by the pale, cold light of the moon. "The sound is getting closer."
Rinoa bit her lip, trying to analyze the situation carefully. "But we don't know what awaits us ahead. We need to think of a plan, Fitran, before it's too late."
Fitran paused for a moment, staring at the shadow shifting between the towering trees. "A plan? Time isn't something we can hide here. We can't let them take the first step," he stated, his voice firm yet tinged with melancholy, signaling just how heavy the decision weighed on him.
"But if we act recklessly, we could end up exacerbating the situation," Rinoa replied earnestly, scrutinizing every silhouette in their surroundings. The tension hung heavy between them, like the charged air in the forest, laden with dew and the unmistakable scent of damp earth. "Don't you perceive all the signs? We're not alone; something is observing our every move."
Fitran narrowed his eyes, though his tone betrayed no doubt. "Every second we waste only brings us closer to their grip. We need to move now, before they decide to make their move first," he said, with a determination that made Rinoa ponder more deeply.
With steady strides, Fitran continued his journey, while Rinoa struggled to keep up, feeling her heartbeat racing within her chest. "But we could easily get trapped, separated far apart. Is that what you want?" she asked, her voice reflecting the growing panic that was creeping in.
"All I want is for us to survive!" he shouted, pausing his steps for a moment. "You're still too entangled in logic right now, Rinoa. Sometimes we have to be brave enough to step forward, even without knowing what comes next."
"Or we'll end up like every other victim who has come to this place," Rinoa voiced her opinion, her eyes shining with deep conviction. "Have you forgotten how strong our enemy is? We can't afford to play with too many possibilities."
Suddenly, a horrifying sound echoed from a distance, shattering the tense silence that enveloped them. The reverberation pierced through the stillness of the Moonveil Forest, as if asserting that they weren't the only creatures lurking in the dark. "See? We have no alternative," Fitran declared, his voice resolute, completely disregarding the creeping fear that permeated the air. "We must press on." Rinoa glanced away, her eyes flickering with skepticism. "But you do recognize the risks, don't you? They could capture us one by one."
"Risk is part of this game, Rinoa. If we don't take action now, more lives will be lost—not just ours, but potentially those of innocent creatures caught in the crossfire. This is more than just a personal choice; it's a matter of survival, for ourselves and all that inhabit this forest."
Fitran's insistence left her breathless, while Rinoa felt uncertainty wrapping around her like a thick fog. Tonight, the hunt was not just about battling the creatures of the night; it marked the beginning of something far greater—something that could change everything for them and the world they knew, possibly exposing truths about the delicate balance of life and death within these woods.