The transformed creatures ravaged the forest. Shadows leapt from between the trees with feral growls, moving as if racing against the night. In the midst of battle, the team fought with an almost flawless rhythm. The wind Vega summoned hurled the monsters into the air, while Kael's flame-forged arrows pierced their bodies one by one; Aryel struck true with spears of ice, shattering the monsters' cores and erasing them from existence.
But a short distance away, Nathan chose to fight alone. His daggers flashed with blinding speed, his body weaving among the creatures like a shadow. Yet the monsters kept coming. He had been fighting for hours. His magic was nearly depleted, his breath heavy, his steps dragging.
A little behind, Maia watched in fear. Her heart pounded in her chest, her hands trembled. The village elder had already been escorted to safety. What happened here now rested entirely on their shoulders.
Her eyes were fixed on Nathan. His movements were slowing.
"How can I help?" she whispered to herself. Before she could answer, the monsters closed in around him. One beast lunged, claws aimed straight for Nathan's stomach.
Maia's eyes widened in horror. Time itself seemed to slow. Her heart nearly stopped.
"No… no!"
Something inside her snapped. "I have to use my powers!" she cried.
Forcing her mind into focus, she silenced everything else. One thought filled her being:
Save Nathan.
And in that instant…
When the creature's claws sank into Nathan's body—
Everything rewound.
As if it had never happened.
Maia's voice rang out:
"Nathan! From the right! Watch out!"
Nathan narrowed his eyes, leaping back without understanding why. The claws slashed only air.
Breathless, he muttered,
"Didn't I… just get hit? I swear I felt the pain." His eyes were blank with shock. He should have been dead.
Aryel, fending off the beasts, stepped beside him.
"You'd better pull yourself together, or you really will get hurt."
Nathan looked at her in disbelief. "So I wasn't wounded? I could swear I was."
Aryel smiled. "That was Maia's power—time. For the first time, she used it consciously to save you." She nodded toward Maia. "But it drained her. She passed out. Take care of her. You also need rest. We'll handle things here."
Nathan hesitated, his heart still pounding. He wanted to refuse, but he had truly faced death—and that girl had saved him.
He swallowed hard.
"…Fine. I'll rejoin you once I recover a little. Be careful."
Not far away, Maia lay motionless beneath a tall, green tree. The ground was dappled with shade. Sunlight slipped through the leaves, catching on her hair—red waves shimmering, swaying gently in the wind.
Her face was pale. Fragile, silent… defenseless.
Something pierced Nathan's heart. Shame welled up inside him. Slowly, he knelt down. His hands trembled as he reached out.
And then, something utterly foreign to him:
He gently lifted Maia into his arms… and laid her head upon his lap.
Heat rose to his cheeks, flooding them with crimson. He turned his eyes away.
"What am I doing…?"
But he couldn't leave her. For the first time in his life, someone had done something for him.
***
The sun was leaning westward, draping the sky in a blanket of orange. Beams of light filtered through the trees, falling softly upon bodies weary from battle. The creatures now appeared only in small numbers, their attacks weakening.
When Kael set the last one ablaze, he was left breathless. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply, casting one final glance at the silhouette consumed by fire.
"I think it's over," he said, slinging his bow across his shoulder. "Even if they aren't finished… my magic power definitely is."
Vega smiled faintly. His hair, tousled by the wind, clung to his forehead.
"Looks like your stamina is rather low, Kael. I still have enough magic left. You should train more."
Kael straightened immediately, his voice rising.
"Who said my stamina is low! My magic may be gone, but my fists are still here!"
Aryel stepped in to ease the tension, her face showing both fatigue and satisfaction.
"You both did really well. I think we're becoming more in sync with each fight."
Then she turned her head, her tone sharpening. "And… even Maia managed to use her powers. Let's check on her."
Vega nodded.
"You're right. When everything suddenly rewound, I was shocked. But she finally did it…"
Kael frowned slightly, his eyes serious.
"She did, yes… but she collapsed. And in that state, she was completely defenseless. Using such power without control is dangerous. Besides… we left her with some stranger."
His words hung in the air, but the faint concern on his face spoke louder than his tone.
Vega placed a hand on his shoulder in a friendly gesture.
"Come on, let's go."
The trio began walking slowly. The coolness of the forest mingled with the warm tones of sunset, wrapping them in a calm silence. Without realizing it, they drifted away from the battlefield and deeper into the woods.
Aryel whispered as though in prayer:
"Maia… please be alright."
But only a few steps later, the sight before her eased her heart.
Beneath a lush green tree, Maia was still unconscious.
And Nathan…
Sat quietly on the ground, Maia's head resting on his lap. The sunlight bathed them in warm hues, while the breeze stirred the leaves, filling the scene with a fairy-tale stillness.
Vega squinted at the sight.
"Is Maia really lying on that guy's lap, or am I seeing things?"
Kael frowned.
"Both of us can't be imagining it…"
Vega clenched his fists. "If he's taking advantage of an unconscious girl, we'll beat him up."
Kael cracked his knuckles. "My fists are still solid."
Both of them stepped forward in anger—but suddenly froze. Their feet were bound by ice.
Kael snapped his head around. "Aryel, what are you doing?"
Aryel's voice was calm but firm. "Don't waste your energy on nonsense. What was he supposed to do, leave her lying on the ground? Then you'd complain he hadn't cared for her. And remember, Maia used her powers for him for the first time—if she wakes up and sees you two attacking him, she'll be hurt."
Vega clenched his fists tighter. "You're being awfully calm about this."
Aryel shot back, "He's a guardian. He fought alone to protect the village. If he meant her harm, he would've done it already. Aren't you two the ones being reckless?"
Kael took a deep breath. "Aryel's right. We're acting too protective. Let's not argue with each other over this. Most likely, Maia doesn't mind resting on his lap. Maybe she's even awake but pretending to be unconscious."
Aryel smirked. "I hope she's not pretending."
Vega muttered, "But that's exactly the kind of thing she'd do. She kept saying how handsome he was."
Aryel stood before them like a teacher scolding two naughty children.
"I swear, I feel like smacking both of you," she said, narrowing her eyes.
"One day, this reckless behavior will get you badly hurt."
Kael and Vega muttered in unison:
"Fine… you're right."
Still carrying the tension of battle, the three approached Nathan and Maia together. Beneath the wide shade of the tree, both had their eyes closed.
Aryel crouched down gently, placing a hand on Maia's shoulder.
"If you're awake, you should get up, Maia."
A groan came.
"How did you know…" Maia muttered without opening her eyes.
At that moment, Nathan blinked his eyes open. His gaze fell on the girl still lying in his lap—then shifted to Aryel.
Panic flashed in his expression.
His face turned scarlet in an instant.
"N-no, don't get the wrong idea!" he stammered.
"I just… thought it would be safer and more comfortable this way. I didn't do anything, I swear!"
Aryel raised an eyebrow, but a faint smile tugged at her lips.
"We weren't thinking that. Thanks for looking after her."
Then she extended her hand to Maia. "Come on, time to get up."
Maia slowly opened her eyes, squinting against the sunlight.
She thought to herself:
Couldn't they have come a little later…
But she forced her face into calmness. Hiding her emotions was what she did best.
As she sat up carefully, Nathan stood as well, his movements shy and awkward.
Once Aryel was on her feet again, she scanned the surroundings.
"We've dealt with the monsters. For now, it looks like no more are coming. We can rest a bit before heading back."
Nathan quickly offered,
"You must all be exhausted. If you want, I can stay here and wait, while you return."
Aryel shook her head firmly.
"No problem. I don't sense any living beings nearby. We can all head back and rest together."
Nathan silently approved of Aryel's calm and decisive tone.
If I didn't know she was a student… I'd have thought she was a full-fledged guardian like me.
As he walked among them, he couldn't help but avert his eyes slightly, a faint sense of guilt pressing in.
When I first met them, I underestimated them…
Now, he spoke with sincere gratitude from the depths of his heart:
"Thank you… for saving me, Aryel."
His eyes shifted to her.
"If it weren't for you… I might have died."
He lifted his head and looked at the faces of the entire team one by one.
"When I learned you were students… at first, I thought you'd just be in the way."
His voice trembled slightly.
"I'm sorry. When you graduate… I'm sure all of you will become incredibly strong guardians."
His cheeks flushed faintly with his last words. Normally, Nathan didn't openly express his emotions—but this time, things were different. These people had saved his life.
Aryel stepped forward without taking her eyes off his.
"Don't mention it," she said softly.
Her smile was gentle, yet her gaze stayed fixed on Nathan.
"When I used my power… I become vulnerable. Before, it was always uncontrolled. But this time… I managed it consciously for the first time."
She lowered her head slightly.
"And for looking out for me afterward… I thank you too."
Their eyes locked. For a moment, everything else around them faded. Unspoken emotions lingered in their gaze.
Just then, Kael's voice cut sharply through the silence:
"You still shouldn't use that power everywhere."
Arms crossed, his expression serious.
"If we can't protect you, you could get hurt. Or even die. If you want to use that power, you need to train until you can handle it without fainting."
Vega nodded in agreement.
"Kael's right. If you want help with your training, we'd gladly assist. But don't use it on the battlefield again."
Aryel slowly placed a hand on Nathan's shoulder.
"We can't let you put yourself in danger."
Her voice was calm but filled with determination.
"When we return, a strict training session awaits you."
Nathan sighed softly.
"Alright, alright… but you're exempt from exams. I still need to pass mine to graduate."
Aryel smiled faintly, a mixture of pride and the sweet satisfaction of not having to face exams showing on her face.
Turning to Nathan, Aryel said, "You don't need to apologize. Anyone would have thought the same." She didn't smile.
When they returned to the village, it wasn't silence that greeted them—but joyous shouts.
The villagers had celebrated upon hearing the monsters were defeated. Lamps waved in their hands as they shouted, children running around gleefully. A large fire burned in the village center, its warm orange glow turning night into almost day.
Music rose in the air; villagers played cheerful tunes on instruments, the atmosphere filled with festive energy.
Kael and Vega, however, sat slightly apart from the jubilant crowd at a wooden table…
…engaged in a food-eating contest.
Vega rested his elbows on the table, focusing intently on the plates in front of him.
"Do you really think I can't beat you just because you're taller and bigger than me?" he asked confidently.
Kael raised his eyebrows mockingly.
"Exactly that. You're barely half my size, Vega. How big could your stomach even be?"
That was all it took to ignite Vega's competitive spirit.
Suddenly, he started shoving everything in front of him into his mouth—as if he were starving to the point of collapse. Apples, meat, bread… everything vanished into him.
Kael's eyes widened.
"What are you doing? You're going to choke!"
Suddenly, panicking, he reached out with his hands toward Vega's wrists, trying to stop him from eating.
Vega, startled by Kael's sudden intervention, began coughing as the food stuck in his throat.
Kael jumped up and started patting him on the back.
"Hang in there! Take deep breaths! Calm down!"
Vega, hands trying to push him away while coughing, managed to say:
"Okay… I'm fine! If you hit me any harder, my ribs will break!"
Kael, out of breath, sat down beside him.
"If I knew nothing would work, I'd sew your mouth shut. Don't do that again, alright? Eat slowly, a little at a time. Ugh, now am I supposed to teach you the rules of eating too…"
Muttering to himself, Kael didn't notice Vega quietly grumbling in his mind:
If you hadn't grabbed my hands so suddenly, I wouldn't have choked…
Of course, he would never say that out loud.
Kael's concern… oddly pleased him.
A little further away, sparks from the campfire danced into the night. The air, heavy with smoke and the smell of cooking, felt peaceful.
Maia looked at the warmth of the fire and then at the silent figure beside her.
"Nathan… um," she said hesitantly.
"Do you… have a girlfriend?"
Nathan practically jumped at the sudden question.
"What? A girlfriend?"
His face instantly turned bright red.
"No… I've never had one," he stammered.
He turned his gaze to the fire, eyes drifting into the darkness.
"Besides… I don't really have time for those things. I need to get stronger."
His voice grew cold at the last sentence.
Maia tilted her head slightly.
"Why?" she asked sincerely.
"Why can't you have both? Someone by your side, supporting you… why should that be a burden?"
Nathan involuntarily whispered something.
"I… don't trust women."
Maia's eyes widened. She stared at him with a mix of surprise and curiosity.
Nathan realized what he had said and tried to change the subject, but… he had spoken so openly that there was no turning back. He took a deep breath and looked down.
"My mother…" he began slowly.
"When my father died, she married another man. And she left me. She didn't even look back."
His voice gradually faltered. At that moment, Maia reached out and took his hands in hers.
"My brother abandoned me too," Maia said, eyes locked on Nathan's.
"He was always jealous of my powers… bullied me constantly. Then one day, he left home. Since then, we haven't heard from him."
Her hands gripped his tightly.
"But just because someone abandoned us, it doesn't mean everyone will."
Nathan almost tried to pull his hands away, but Maia's warm touch began to melt the coldness inside him.
His heart raced. He struggled to breathe, yet he kept talking.
"You're right… maybe…"
He swallowed.
"But I don't feel ready to trust anyone. Not yet."
His eyes drifted among the shadows as he continued:
"Until I was fifteen, I grew up in an orphanage. It… it was like hell. I don't even want to talk about it."
His voice trembled.
"When I ran away, a man found me. He taught me how to fight. How to control my powers… how to survive."
With a deep sigh, he added:
"But I couldn't protect him. And I was alone again."
Maia slowly withdrew her hand… then, without thinking, hugged Nathan tightly.
Nathan's eyes widened.
For a moment, he didn't know what to do. But then… a warmth spread through him, from inside out.
Perhaps for the first time, he truly felt that someone was listening to him, truly by his side.
And at that moment… silent tears slid from his eyes.
But this time… he was not alone.
Aryel, after smiling and chatting with the villagers and playing with the children, quietly made her way back to Kael and Vega. The three of them sat by the fire, enjoying the festive atmosphere.
Kael sipped his fruit juice while Vega dug into the desserts.
At that moment, Aryel's eyes involuntarily drifted toward a tree at the edge.
In the dim light of the fire, Maia and Nathan were sitting silently, wrapped in each other's arms. They weren't speaking, just feeling each other's presence while looking at the same sky.
Aryel's gaze paused for a moment.
"Hmm…"
Kael noticed the direction Aryel was looking and turned his head.
"That girl… moves fast, doesn't she? Just broke up with her last partner, and now a new prospect?"
Aryel nodded slightly.
"I don't understand it either," she said with a faint smile.
"But… if she's happy, what can we say?"
Vega crossed his arms over his chest.
"I hope she won't get hurt this time," he said thoughtfully.
"Although… when will we ever see this guy again? Maybe it's just a passing fancy."
Aryel took a deep breath.
"You never know what life brings, Vega. Maybe their paths will cross again."
Kael nodded.
"He doesn't seem like a bad guy. Actually… better than Lorin, right?"
Vega frowned.
"Kael… anyone is better than Lorin."
Kael tilted his head with that irritating grin.
"Oh right… you two were dating, weren't you? Maia?"
Vega squinted.
"Did you actually believe that?"
Kael puckered his lips and spoke with fake innocence:
"Do I look that naive?"
The two of them teased each other while Aryel grew quiet again.
Despite the crackling of the fire, the sparks falling from the sky, and the distant cheerful laughter… she felt a slight emptiness inside.
What was it like to love someone romantically? She had never experienced it. The feeling was foreign, but… it also stirred her curiosity.
She sighed deeply.
Her gaze returned once more to Nathan and Maia. Then to Vega and Kael…
Among them, only she belonged to no one. A single star shining alone in the light of the flames.
When morning came, the first rays of the sun painted the village's stone houses golden. The team dispersed around the village one last time. No trace of the creatures remained.
The village was finally safe.
The villagers sent them off with joy. Children waved their hands, the elderly prayed, and the youth bowed in gratitude.
Next up: the city of Viralka.
It was half a day's journey away.
Since Nathan was heading in the same direction, he decided to travel with the group.
Along the way, Maia sat next to Nathan.
Talkative, energetic, and curious, she shared stories, asked questions, and smiled while waiting for answers.
Nathan, on the other hand… usually gave short responses or just nodded.
Normally not a talkative person, he did his best not to be harsh toward Maia.
Sometimes he stammered, sometimes he looked away, but he stayed by her side.
As the sun neared the horizon, they finally reached Viralka.
The city was crowded, lively, and dazzling. Stone roads, winding streets, and bustling inns filled the place.
Weary from the journey, the group headed to the inn where they had arranged a meeting.
Aryel spoke thoughtfully:
"Do you think the person we're meeting has arrived yet?"
Then she turned to Maia.
"The details were in the box in your bag, right? Can you check?"
As Maia entered the inn, she immediately sank into a chair and opened her bag. Kael, Vega, and Nathan had already moved to a nearby table and ordered food. The clinking of glasses and the aroma of food filled the air.
Finally, Maia handed the box to Aryel.
Aryel opened the lid and began reading the documents inside.
Her eyes widened immediately.
She slowly lifted her head… and looked directly at Nathan.
"Nathan… Wilder?" she said.
Nathan had his fork halfway to his mouth and froze.
"…Yes?" he replied, surprised.
Aryel, showing him the documents, said:
"This box… we were supposed to deliver it to you. It was sent by Alex."
A moment of silence fell.
Everyone at the table looked at Nathan with surprise.
Nathan furrowed his brows and instantly grew serious.
His gaze deepened.