Chapter 4

We woke up early that morning. The cold bit at us, and everything around was shrouded in a thick blanket of fog. We ate something quick and continued on our way. Another slope awaited us, though nothing as steep as yesterday's climb, so I managed the ascent better this time.

As we entered the forest, I noticed the path here was far more neglected than the one outside, littered with obstacles and fallen branches. Hina remained silent the entire way. I couldn't tell if she was upset about something I'd said yesterday or if she was simply focused on something else. I tried to think of something to say, some way to break the silence, but nothing came to mind. I lifted my head to attempt conversation when I noticed Hina had stopped a few steps ahead of me.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

"Stay alert," Hina said, her eyes scanning our surroundings carefully.

"Is there something out there?"

I looked around and realized the fog was beginning to close in around us—so thick and dense that you couldn't see anything within its depths.

"Don't separate from me," Hina said, moving closer to me.

"Right," I replied, stepping toward her as well, though I knew I couldn't offer much help in an actual fight.

Then, suddenly, something wrapped around my leg.

"Hina!" I cried out, and in that instant, whatever had caught me yanked with tremendous force, sending me flying into the mist. Hina tried to grab me, but she was too slow. I was being dragged through the forest, surrounded by impenetrable fog, until whatever held my leg finally released me and I went tumbling across the ground, crashing against a tree with enough impact to knock the wind from my lungs.

I struggled to my feet and looked around, but the fog obscured everything. Whatever attacked me had to be nearby.

I heard something that sounded like speech, but for some reason, I couldn't understand it—or rather, I couldn't hear it properly. All I perceived was an incomprehensible noise that sent waves of searing pain through my head. The ache was so intense I couldn't stay standing. I couldn't think clearly.

Then I saw something move between the trees—a human figure, a woman's silhouette, but I couldn't make out any details. Her outline was barely distinguishable, crossed out entirely by chaotic streaks, as if someone had scribbled over her with a pen. Simply looking at her made my skull feel like it was about to shatter.

"Don't you remember me, ____?" the mysterious figure asked.

I could understand what she said, except for the last word—that part became incomprehensible noise. The figure kept moving toward me, but I couldn't move, paralyzed by the pain. I had to do something. Gritting my teeth, I managed to grab a stone from beside me and threw it at her. The rock passed straight through the figure as if she were made of mist. The moment she vanished, the pain in my head began to fade.

"Navnlos!"

Someone was calling my name. It was Hina's voice. She emerged from the fog, running toward me.

"Are you okay?" she asked, rushing to my side with concern etched across her face. I reached out my hand to take hers.

"Don't!" someone shouted.

Suddenly, a burst of flames erupted, engulfing the Hina in front of me.

"Hina!" I screamed.

A familiar figure leaped between us—Drust, the black dog—and another Hina appeared from the mist.

"Two Hinas?" I said, completely confused.

"It was an illusion created by a Banshee," Hina explained, her eyes constantly scanning the fog around us. "If you had touched her, she would have drained all your life force."

"A banshee?"

"It's something like a ghost," he said while looking around. "It uses your memories to create illusions and trap you."

My memories? So that mysterious figure was someone I knew. But why did just seeing her cause me such unbearable pain?

"You damned little girl," an unpleasant voice began to echo from every direction.

"Get ready, Drust," Hina said. The dog barked to signal his readiness. "Navnlos, put these in your ears," Hina extended her hand, offering me earplugs.

The mysterious voice began grinding its teeth, emitting a horrifying sound.

"Let's go, Drust!"

The dog released a roar so powerful that the fog was forcibly dispersed, revealing a mysterious feminine figure. She was skeletal, wearing a white dress torn and riddled with holes. The ghostly woman attempted to flee into the mist, but Drust was faster, reaching her neck and capturing her. With her in his jaws, he unleashed his fiery breath, incinerating her completely.

The phantom let out an agonized shriek and vanished.

"It seems the danger has passed," Hina said, breathing a sigh of relief.

I picked myself up from the ground, my head still spinning slightly from the earlier pain.

"Thank you for saving me."

"I'm responsible for your protection. If I'd done my job better, you wouldn't have been taken in the first place."

"I'm just a burden who can't fight. It's natural they'd come for me."

"You're not a burden. Besides, you managed to hold on until I arrived. A normal person wouldn't have lasted as long."

"I only lasted because of that mysterious figure."

"A mysterious figure?" Hina tilted her head.

"Before your illusion appeared, another girl showed up, but she was… it was like she was covered in scribbles and chaotic streaks, as if someone had crossed her out completely. I couldn't see her clearly at all. And seeing her caused me terrible headaches."

"If the banshee used her to attack you, she must be someone important to you," Hina mused, her brow furrowing in thought. "But it's strange. Even with your name sealed, seeing someone from your past shouldn't cause you pain like that, or prevent you from recognizing them."

"Then who was she?" I asked.

"The only thing that comes to mind is that she might be someone you reject—someone you don't want to see, or someone who frightens you."

Someone who frightens me. I tried to think about what kind of person would inspire such fear, and there was also that word I couldn't hear—the one that seemed to be my name.

"Well, I'm just glad you're alright," Hina said. "Thank you, Drust. You helped me locate him quickly." The dog stood beside Hina, his tail wagging happily.

Seeing him brought me back to the present, pulling me away from my spiraling thoughts. No matter how much I pondered, I wasn't going to figure anything out this way.

"By the way, what is Drust doing here?" I asked.

"Being my familiar, I can summon him from anywhere," she explained. "In this case, he was hiding in my shadow, keeping watch. He was the one who alerted me to the banshee's presence."

"In your shadow?" I asked, taken aback.

At that moment, the dog stood up and stepped directly into Hina's shadow, disappearing completely. I was left speechless, but for Hina, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world.

"We should get back to the road," Hina said. "Before anything else appears. We need to exit this forest before nightfall."