1: A Couple of Strangers

Moments earlier, on the outskirts of Alas Tumangkar...

Two pairs of footsteps trekked northward through the dense forest, boots crunching over leaves and branches in the ground within their tracks. Thick scent of decaying plants and earthly dampness filled the air, towering trees and canopies casted long shadows across the rough path.

"The trek is more interesting than I thought."

One of them, a tall and striking figure, moved with a relaxed but confident stride. Her frame, athletic and toned, was clad in a modest yellow cloth and fitted black trousers, both worn but sturdy, layered beneath a scuffed leather jacket that bore scars of countless journeys. Jagged, broken horns crowned her forehead, a mark of her Sura heritage. Her dark green hair, tied loosely at the nape of her neck, swung with each step, and her mismatched eyes—one an intense emerald, the other a piercing golden hue—gleamed with curiosity as they lingered on the vibrant flora lining their path. A large adventuring backpack hung from her shoulders, its weight hardly slowing her as she twirled a dagger idly between her fingers.

"Hey, Yuuna," she continued bantering, as she glanced back with mischievous grin and teasing voice, "do you know why this place is called Alas Tumangkar?"

Yuuna, trailing a step behind her, paid no heed as her sharp and discerning, carmine-colored eyes were focused on the geographical map given from "Paku Jajar Branch Adventurer's Guild". Her sight fixated on a distinct marker within the map—an ominous red cross, scrawled on the parchment. Even so, her long, tapered ears gave the occasional twitch at her companion's words, silently listening.

She was a vision of the refined Shinsou—Sindar people from Far East. Her carmine hair, tinged with fading shades of violet—a remnant of a once-vivid dye—cascaded down her back in straight, silken strands. She wore crimson kimono with intricate embroidery of carnation flowers, a garment that whispered of her homeland's traditions. Its flowing sleeves, tied neatly to avoid hindering her movement, contrasted with the sharpness of her aura. Resting against her waist was a sleek katana, its dark, lacquered sheath as polished as her measured gaze.

"The locals said this forest was called the Forest of Propagation." The Sura woman then replied her own question with mocking grandeur, mixed with playful tone and implied sarcasm.

With her gaze unmoving, Yuuna let out a soft sigh, the faintest hint of exasperation lacing her composed demeanor. "Alessa, If you're about to tell me another one of your weird trivia facts, please spare me."

"Aw, come on," the taller Alessa replied, glancing back with a deliberately feigned pout. "Don't you think it's interesting? This forest was supposedly a sacred place. Some kind of magical hotspot. People believed it could help crops grow faster, make families bigger—propagation, you know?"

"And now it propagates curses instead. Lovely." Yuuna replies reluctantly. Her speech was dry and unamused.

"Right?" Alessa chuckled, spinning her dagger and catching it effortlessly. "Funny how things turn out. Entering this forest hoping for prosperity, but then you're crawling with Lost Ones and spooking travelers."

Yuuna let out a quiet sigh as she stopped her walk abruptly, her grip shifting slightly on her weapon. "Focus. We're not here for sightseeing."

"Geez, Yuuna. You've got to lighten up sometimes. You'll get wrinkles if you keep being tense like that."

Yuuna shot her a piercing look, but said nothing in response. Instead, she puts back the map into her satchel bag. Alessa sighed, surrendering to Yuuna after the shift of her body language.

Their banters made a complete stop when Yuuna raised her right hand, signaling to wait and prepare. Her pointed ears twitching slightly at the faint, ominous presence.

"The air feels... heavier," she said, her tone subconsciously sharpened with caution.

"Yeah, I feel it too," Alessa replied, with her playful demeanor fading away. She then took a quick glance around before noticing the ground and inspected it carefully, her attention caught the faint claw marks etched into the dirt.

"Fresh tracks."

Yuuna knelt beside Alessa, her carmine gaze fixed sharply on the track. "How many?"

"Two, maybe three," Alessa said, tapping the ground lightly with her dagger. "And judging by the depth, they're big."

Yuuna's grip tightened on her weapon.

"Lost Ones."

"Mmm-hm," Alessa said, dusting her hands off while standing up. "Looks like we're on the right track."

Yuuna nodded, her face shifted into a stern expression. "Let's move. The longer they roam, the more damage they'll do."

They moved in silence for a time, the air grew thicker and heavier for each step they took. The trees seemed to lean closer, their twisted branches clawing at the dimming sky. Alessa hummed softly under her breath, resisting the oppressive silence.

As they pressed deeper into the forest, the eerie feeling in the back of their mind seemed to grow. The trees stood like silent sentinels, their twisted branches reaching out like skeletal hands.

Alessa kept up her usual chatter, her tone lighter than the eerie atmosphere. "Yuuna,"

"Have you ever wondered what it feels like to turn into one of them?"

Yuuna shot her a sidelong glance. "No. And I don't plan to."

"But you've got to admit, it's kind of fascinating. Like, what goes through their minds? Do they even remember who they were?"

"They're not people anymore," Yuuna said firmly. "They're just... husks. Whatever humanity they had is gone."

Alessa didn't respond immediately, her golden and green eyes fixed on the path ahead.

"Maybe," she said after a moment. "But sometimes, I swear I've seen a flicker of... something. Like they're still in there, trapped."

Yuuna's expression softened slightly, but she didn't say anything.

The sudden sound of a low growl snapped both of them to attention.

Yuuna's hand immediately went to the hilt of her katana, and Alessa spun her daggers, ready to rumble. The growl was followed by rustling, and then the clearing ahead came into view.

A wolf stood there, its pristine white fur practically glowing against the shadowy backdrop of the forest. Its icy blue eyes met with theirs, calm but cautious.

"Well, that's not something you see every day," Alessa muttered, her daggers lowering slightly.

"Stay sharp. It's unusual." Yuuna said, her voice low.

Before they could make a move, the wolf's gaze shifted toward a nearby bush, its posture calm but alert.

"What's it looking at?" Alessa whispered in her mind..

A muffled groan answered her question, followed by the sound of shuffling. Her mismatched eyes quickly glances at the source of her anxiety.

A man. Probably ragged and exhausted from a long trek. But she's not sure until there is a clear view.

😈🧝🏻‍♀️🤦🏾

Present time at Alas Tumangkar...

"I know you're there. Come out now."

A hiss echoes from the bush. Moments later, a ragged man stumbles out of the undergrowth, emerging with his hands half-raised. His skin, marred by burn scars, glistens faintly with sweat under the fading sunlight. Dried dirt clings to his tattered clothing, and signs of exhaustion apparent on his drooping shoulders.

And yet, his fading, dark brown eyes are glimmering with wry defiance. Enough to make the carmine-haired elf's brows furrowing in confusion.

"Relax," the man said, his voice dry. "I'm too tired to be a threat. Unless you're afraid of sarcasm."

His scarred, filthy appearance is enough to make the pair tense instinctively. Yuuna's katana gleams faintly as she angles it toward him, and Alessa's daggers twitch in her grip.

"Fantastic," the man curses under his breath sardonically, just loud enough for Alessa to hear. "A Shinsou and a Sura, both armed and glaring at me. What a day."

Alessa's lips curl, showing a dangerous smile hinting both amusement and warning. "Careful, Grumps. We don't have much patience for sarcasm."

Yuuna's sharp gaze cuts through the exchange, her tone as steady as her grip. "Who are you?"

The man's back straighten as much as his battered frame allowed, but weariness clings to every movement like a shadow. "Just a traveler," he replies, his voice full of self-deprecation. "Lost, starving, and questioning my life choices."

Yuuna's gaze didn't waver. "And the wolf?" Continuing the impromptu interrogation, the Shinsou nods toward the peculiar canine, which now sits between them and the man.

The man took a quick glance at the wolf, before returning with an expression that could only be described as a mild annoyance.

"Uh... emotional support animal?"

Alessa snorts at the absurdly funny answer, which made Yuuna shoot her disapproving glare.

"Try again."

The man sighs heavily, raking his scarred hand through the tangled hair. "Fine. It's been helping me. Leading me through this forest. Honestly, it's doing a better job than I ever could."

"But wolves don't normally 'help' people." Yuuna countered with a cold frown, full of suspicion.

"Yeah, well, nothing about this forest screams normal." He gestures vaguely at the towering trees around them, their twisted branches cast eerie shadows over the group.

"Take you two, for example."

Alessa's grin widening, though the dagger on her right hand remains ready. "Fair enough. But you've got to admit, you're a pretty suspicious one yourself. Lost traveler guided by a wolf is too convenient to be an excuse."

Yuuna keeps the blade of her katana steady as her sharp eyes scan him from head to toe. "You're scarred, limping, and your Mana reading is all over the place. For a second, I thought you might be one of them."

"One of what?"

"Lost Ones." Her voice drops, each following word gets heavier.

"Cursed beasts. They look human sometimes, but they're twisted. Corrupted. Dangerous."

"And you're hunting them?"

She nods, her expression hard as steel. "That's why we're here."

The man exhales sharply as if releasing a burden he couldn't carry anymore. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not cursed. Just ugly. Big difference."

The taller girl's lips twitch awkwardly, trying her best not laughing at the turn of events.

"Ugly, huh? Got that right."

The wolf let out a sharp bark, cutting through the tension. Its blue eyes shifted from the man to the path ahead, insistent to stop entertaining them any further.

"See?" the man said, gesturing towards the wolf. "Even it thinks we're wasting time."

Yuuna lowered her katana slightly after a moment of hesitation.

"You may pass." She said with sharp coldness. "But you'd better stay out of our way. If you're not one of them, you've got nothing to worry about."

"Unless you turn into one," the taller girl adds, her tone half-joking, half-serious.

"Yeah," the man mutters dejectedly, throwing the wolf a glance before leaving the scene. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Safe travels, Grumpy man! Try not to get eaten."

The pair disappears into the thick bushes, their silhouettes swallowed by the forest. Alessa sheaths her twin daggers with languid motion, tension leaving her stance.

"Well, that was fun. But we should find a camping spot before the Lost Ones make their nighttime rounds."

Yuuna nodded, scanning the area with a calculating eye. "Agreed. Let's keep moving. The sun will set soon."

"Lead the way, madam~" Alessa throws a playful bow and makes her way, falling into one step beside her.

The encounter with the ragged man lingers in both of their minds as they delve deeper into their tracks.

But the hunt for Lost Ones—and survival—come first.

🌅🌅🌅

Meanwhile, the man walks to the deeper end of the forest, his wolf pacing silently beside him. Shadows thicken as the sun dips lower, dim shades of orange and violet slowly fading into dusk.

"Charming ladies," the raggedy man muttered, still remembering the sharp edges pointed at him earlier. The wolf huffs softly in response, its piercing gaze fixed ahead.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's keep moving."

Thoughts swirling in his mind like leaves caught in restless wind. Who were those girls? And why did the wolf, normally wary of strangers, seem at ease around them? Questions without answers, but they could wait. His throat is burning with thirst, and it needs to be quenched. Soon.

After what felt like hours, the faint rush of a river can be heard. Relief floods him as he stumbles toward the sound, the wolf leading the way. The river sparkles under the fading light, its surface reflecting the fiery hues of the sunset.

"Finally," he exhales a deep breath, dropping to his knees by the bank. He frantically splashes the water over his face, refreshing him with the shocking cold before drinking the clear waters deeply.

"What do you think, buddy? Stay here for the night?"

The wolf's ears twitched, its gaze snapping downstream. It growled softly, signaling movement. Two figures emerged from the distance—the same pair of women from before.

The wolf howled, its voice echoing across the water.

"Guess we've got company..."

Rising, he dusts off his hands and moves toward them, his steps steady despite the overwhelming fatigue.

Alessa turns her head, her mismatched eyes of gold and green locking onto the familiar figures approaching through the bushes. The raggedy man moves with an air of practiced quiet, his thin and malnourished frame wrapped in layers of patched fabric, while his white wolf padded beside him, each step silent yet deliberate.

The wolf's icy-blue gaze swept the clearing, a glint of intelligence and primal vigilance that even Yuuna's sharp eyes couldn't rival.

"Well, look who it is," Alessa said, her voice bright as she stood, brushing dirt from her worn pants. "Our favorite grumpy vagabond and his fluffy partner."

Yuuna remains less amused. Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her katana, her wary gaze shifting between the man and his animal companion. "Alessa, don't let your guard down. They could be dangerous."

The wolf's ears twitch as though hearing the comment, its sharp eyes snapping to Yuuna. It didn't growl, but the weight of its stare was enough to make her stiffen.

Alessa waves a hand dismissively, her grin widening. "Relax. If they wanted to eat us, they'd have done it earlier. Isn't that right, wolfy?"

"That's not exactly comforting," Yuuna replied, her tone as sharp as her sheathed weapon.

The raggedy man stopped just shy of the clearing, his expression shifting from mild surprise to a resigned sort of bemusement. "Didn't think I'd run into you twice in one day," he said dryly, his voice carrying the rasp of someone used to speaking only when necessary.

He gave a half-shrug, glancing at his companion. "Because I'm not fast enough to outrun fate—or this guy's nose," he added, gesturing toward the wolf.

Alessa laughed, her easy demeanor at odds with lingering tension in the air.

"Well, it's a small forest, I guess. Mind if we hang around for a bit? We're about to set up camp, and honestly, you two seem... tolerable."

Yuuna shot her a sharp look. "Alessa—"

"What?" Alessa interrupts, flashing a playful grin. "They're harmless. And if any of them tries anything funny, just chop 'em in half, right?"

The man raised his remaining brow, his scarred face crinkling in faint amusement. "That's... reassuring."

The wolf continues with a huff, a sound so soft it was almost conversational, as if voicing its shared skepticism.

Yuuna sighed, her grip on her katana relaxing slightly. "Fine. But only because it's getting late. The sun's almost gone, and I don't want to waste time finding another spot."

"Great!" Alessa declared with a clap. "See? Everyone's friends now."

The raggedy man moves away without further comment, disappearing into the trees. He returned minutes later with an armful of dry branches and twigs. Without a word, he knelt at the clearing's center, arranging the wood with a precision that spoke of countless nights spent under the open sky.

"Not bad," Alessa said, watching him work. "You might survive out here after all."

He didn't reply, instead continuing on stacking the branches into a proper shape of a campfire that can hold a proper pot. Once the campfire is properly built, the man raises his scarred right hand.

"I'll light it,"

A faint spark ignited on his fingertip, flashing a tiny, controlled flame that leapt to the kindling. The fire caught quickly, flickering to life as he leaned back and extinguished the ember on his finger with a soft puff of breath.

As he finished his work, Yuuna returned from her self-assigned watch, her gaze shifting between the growing fire setup and the wolf, which settled quietly at the edge of the clearing.

"There. Happy?"

"Thank you very much!" Alessa said, dropping to the ground beside the fire and holding her hands toward the warmth. The flames painted her mismatched eyes with a glimmer of satisfaction. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"

Yuuna hesitated before sitting down across from him, her katana laid beside her within easy reach. The wolf settled at the man's side, its watchful gaze fixed on the shadows at the edge of the firelight.

"If it were dangerous, you'd know by now," the man said, his tone calm as he noticed Yuuna's lingering tension.

Yuuna's lips pressed into a thin line. "Easy for you to say."

He faintly smirks at the tense response. "Fair. But if it wanted me dead, it had plenty of chances already."

Alessa laughs warmly, her voice breaking the quiet. "I like you, Grumps. You've got this whole 'grim but funny' vibe. What do you think, Yuuna?"

"I think we're still in the middle of a forest filled with cursed beasts," Yuuna said flatly, though there was a faint twitch of amusement at the corner of her mouth.

The man's shoulders shook with a quiet laugh. "Don't worry. I'm not one of your 'Lost Ones,' if that's what you're thinking."

Yuuna's eyes narrowed.

The raggedy gestured vaguely to the forest around them. "Well... this place isn't exactly subtle about its dangers. People talk—before they disappear, anyway."

Despite the tension, Alessa interjects, leaning forward with her interest piqued on the grumpy man before her. "So what's your story, Grumps? You look like you've been through hell and back."

The man hesitated to reply, his scarred hand brushing absently against the wolf's fur. He stares at the fire in silence, the flames dancing in his tired eyes. "Not much to tell, but you can call me Dirza." He said, finally opening up.

"I'm just a guy tired of the world out there and came here to get lost."

"Not sure if it's cryptic or poetic, but go on. I'm all ears." Alessa said, leaning her head ever so slightly.

"The name is Alessa, by the way. The girl over there is Yuuna."

"It's the truth," Dirza replied. His voice softened, something heavier slipping through. "I came here to get away from... everything. The world out there? It's not for me. Too much greed, too much hate. I'm better off here. It's much more peaceful. Even with the beasts."

Yuuna frowned, her stoicism cracking slightly. "That's... bleak."

Dirza answers with a shrug.

"I've made my peace with it. It is what it is."

The wolf let out a soft whine, nudging Dirza's arm. He scratches the wolf behind its ears, the creature leaning into his touch. "At least this one doesn't judge."

Alessa broke the somber mood with a playful grin. "You're more interesting than you let on, Dirza. Do you know that? Maybe you'll rub off on Yuuna here. She could use a sense of humor."

Yuuna gave her a flat look as her response to Alessa's usual banter, but it is apparent the tension in her gestures has gone. The fire crackles softly, casting warm light over the unlikely group.

As the sun leaves the sky, Alessa stretches her body, letting out a loud yawn. "Alright, enough with the heavy talk. Let's call it a night before the forest decides to throw something nasty our way."

Yuuna adjusts her seating position, gazing on the darkness beyond the clearing. "I'll take the night watch."

"I'll help," Unexpectedly, Dirza volunteers himself to participate, despite his apparent exhaustion.

Both girls glance at the raggedy Dirza, surprised about his initiative but unsure about the situation.

"I can't sleep much anyway," he adds, trying to speak more casually.

"Might as well make myself useful."

Hearing that, Alessa grins happily. "See? Told you he's not so bad."

Yuuna simply nods in silence. But her sharp gaze continues to linger on the enigmatic Dirza for a moment before she takes her position.

As the night deepens its color, the campfire's glow burns brighter, warding off the encroaching darkness. And for the first time in a long while, the raggedy Dirza found himself not entirely alone in the vast, unforgiving Alas Tumangkar.