Beautiful Scenery Shadowed by Darkness

It was a beautiful day, filled with the gentle breeze of cool air and the earthy scent of damp soil deep within the forest. Among the thickets, a small, rabbit-like creature with emerald eyes hopped lightly, pausing now and then to sniff at the scent of wild herbs sprouting between the roots. Its pale white fur contrasted vividly with the lush greenery around it, like a tiny cloud drifting across the forest floor.

Its innocent steps came to a halt when its paw pressed down on something hidden beneath a pile of leaves.

Click!

A snare snapped, catching its small foot and hoisting it into the air. Its body swung helplessly, emerald eyes wide in panic.

“Alright! Dinner is secured!

The one responsible for the interception stepped out from hiding, raising his arms high and pumping them in celebration over the capture of the little white beast.

After four days of repeated failure and countless attempts, his suffering had finally borne fruit.

Still, his growth was undeniable. His ability to craft tools from natural materials and set traps had improved greatly since his first days in the forest. Now he even possessed proper equipment to dress his catch and prepare it into an edible meal.

Securing his prize, Ayato munched on a small dark-red fruit he had picked from a nearby tree. Its sweet-and-sour taste refreshed his throat—and, most importantly, it wasn’t poisonous. Knowledge he had gained by observing the Forest King from a distance. Though she often vanished without a word, whenever Ayato wandered the woods he would occasionally catch glimpses of her hunting.

She never gave direct instructions, but her movements alone were lessons worth more than any book. To Ayato, it was like having a walking encyclopedia… though one that spoke only through glances and fleeting shadows among the trees.

The golden glow of the sky was fading, the warm air giving way to a piercing chill.

Ayato knew he had to hurry. His cooking setup was nearly ready; only one step remained—lighting the campfire with the magic stone the Forest King had given him. Holding the stone between his fingers, Ayato focused his energy into it until—

Plop!

A spark burst into flame from a light flick of his hand.

Though he panted slightly, unaccustomed to using magic, his expression brimmed with satisfaction. He had managed to replicate exactly what the Forest King had shown him days earlier. At last, he could say farewell to the old-fashioned struggle of rubbing sticks together just to spark a flame.

No sooner had he placed the rabbit above the fire than a presence stirred nearby.

“Hoo, looks like you managed to catch dinner for today.”

“Hah, hearing that from someone carrying something bigger feels more like mockery.”

Thud!

The ground gave a faint shudder as the Forest King dropped a massive boar at her feet.

“I was surprised myself. It suddenly charged at me, but in the end, it became tonight’s meal.”

“Maybe it knew the Forest King required a feast and decided to offer itself.”

“If all boars were that considerate, their species wouldn’t last long, would it?”

“Quite right.”

Ayato and the Forest King shared a laugh at their silly banter.

“Ah! Who said you’re allowed to joke with me like that?!”

“Hmm? Weren’t you the one who carried the joke further?”

“…You’re right. Forget it! Let’s call it a one-time exception.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll take it as a once-in-a-lifetime event.”

Their laughter dwindled into quiet as the Forest King set about butchering her catch, while Ayato tended to the rabbit, the aroma of roasting meat wafting through the clearing.

…

“Fwah! Meat really does make the best dinner.”

Ayato stretched wide after finishing the rabbit.

“But it still feels gloomy, being stuck in the forest with only a campfire for company. Speaking of gloomy, nothing was gloomier than being captured by those strange creatures when I first entered the woods.”

He cast a glance toward the Forest King, who had somehow already devoured the massive boar in no time at all.

“I’d say you were unlucky to run into a pack of Olorin hunting at the forest’s edge.”

“Yet I still don’t remember how I escaped their bindings at the bonfire. Their ropes were so strong I couldn’t resist, as they rolled me helplessly over that massive fire.”

“Yes… looking back, that was strange indeed.”

“Strange?”

“The air suddenly turned cold, frost crystallizing across the ground. Then came the sound of an explosion. When I looked, several Olorin were frozen solid within jagged shards of ice. Tough as they are, I doubt any could have survived, even had the ice melted.”

Ice shards? I vaguely remember feeling something cold at that time… Could it have been me? Could I have caused it?

“With just one touch—crack!—the crystals splintered into dust, scattering the Olorin’s remains into the night wind.”

The Forest King glanced at Ayato with a small, knowing smile.

“A few meters away, I found you collapsed. I thought it was already too late—but to my surprise, you survived.”

A faint “Heh…” slipped from her lips, as though stifling laughter.

Then she rose, slow and steady, her very presence commanding. Her gaze cut sharp, piercing straight through Ayato’s lingering confusion.

“Strange as it may be,” she spoke softly, her words heavy with weight, “you’d best start mastering the cold within you… if you truly wish to survive.”

Before Ayato could respond, a sudden gust of night wind forced him to shield his face. When he lowered his hand, the Forest King was already gone.

By now, Ayato had grown used to this. Whenever her business with him ended, she vanished without warning. Yet somehow, he could always sense her nearby, watching.

With that faint reassurance, Ayato allowed himself to drift into sleep once more.

…

The sky was bright and clear, faint clouds drifting lazily above. The sun’s harsh rays were tempered by thick leaves overhead. A breeze stirred the canopy, cooling the air—but no wind could wipe away the sweat pouring down Ayato’s face.

Are you kidding me? After one good night’s sleep, this is what I get to see at midday?!

Crunch, crunch—the sound of bones breaking echoed as a pack of wolves tore apart their prey.

Ayato’s legs trembled at the sight, yet survival instincts honed over the past days steadied him. Forcing calm, he watched the wolves feast while quietly tracing their movements.

To mask his scent, he had smeared Thydera flowers across his body, cloaking himself in their unique fragrance. Even so, his senses tingled with danger, sometimes making him forget to breathe clearly.

His eyes did not follow the predators alone; they swept the surroundings as well, searching for a way out. He measured each step with care, mindful not to snap a twig and draw their attention.

Holding his breath, Ayato crept away, quickening his pace to flee predators that could devour him in seconds.

Once the area seemed safe, he spotted a small stream winding nearby. Kneeling, he drank from cupped hands, easing the tremor in his fingers. He splashed his face, then filled his bamboo flask—an item he had fashioned while shadowing the Forest King.

“Phew… never thought I’d stumble upon a stream while running from those wolves. Good timing too—my water supply was nearly gone.”

His gaze followed the stream’s path. Though faint, his ears caught the sound of splashing farther ahead.

“Could it be…?”

Cautiously, Ayato followed the sound, wary of beasts or monsters that might also be drawn to the river.

As the splashing grew louder, fortune favored him: no creatures crossed his path.

Bushes thickened, and the terrain grew steep, forcing him to circle around until at last the source revealed itself—a waterfall.

The roaring cascade drew a smile to his lips, its beauty mesmerizing. Yet before he could savor the sight, another vision seized his attention.

There, before him, stood the Forest King. Her frame was lithe yet powerful, muscles more defined than most women’s, yet her figure retained an undeniable grace. Wolf-like ears twitched as droplets slid down their tips.

She waded into the stream, letting the water wash over her skin, then sank beneath its surface. When she rose again, rivulets cascaded down her curves, glimmering in the dim forest light.

Without warning, she snapped her fingers. A pebble shot forth, slicing through the air, grazing Ayato’s cheek before skewering the strange insect that had crept upon him from behind.

Ayato clutched his stinging cheek, then bolted in panic, too shaken to even notice the insect’s corpse sprawled at his back.

“Fufu…”

The Forest King chuckled softly at his frightened retreat.

“Perhaps now he’ll think twice before spying on someone bathing.”

But then—an ominous aura seeped in from behind her. Her playful smile fell away, replaced by a grim scowl as she turned to face the source.

The air thickened with dread, chilling as the forest itself seemed to recoil. Trees trembled, leaves shivering as darkness bled through their veins.

The green crystal on her wrist flared, drying her body and clothes in an instant before twisting into a spear of gnarled roots, its blade shimmering with arcane green energy.

Her grip tightened, stance lowering, every motion brimming with lethal readiness. Yet her voice carried a quiet sorrow as she murmured:

“Though I tried to cast it away… in the end, it’s come back to haunt me, huh…”