Family dinner

Schulz’s whole body tensed up. Could the man know where they were and be playing dumb? Maybe it could’ve been an illusion?

Maybe the man was toying with them?

“Aurora, we need to go. He knows where we are.” He looked at Aurora.

Her eyes widened, and her tears continued to fall. Schulz stood up, took her hand, pulled her to her feet, and ran away from the spot.

Navigating through the endless forest with no visibility in the distance, it was difficult to know where they were heading so he needed to be cautious not to run into the man from earlier.

But where would they go? How would they hide?

Schulz halted, still holding Aurora’s hand, catching his breath.

Every time he looked around, paranoia gripped him.

Where do I hide? How do I know if it’s safe? Do I even think it’s safe? How will I protect Aurora, who’s still firmly holding my hand?

There were large bushes, but no clear hiding spot or even a way to survive.

Schulz had to find a way for both of them to survive. Even if it was just Aurora, he didn’t want her to die on his behalf.

“...Aurora, if you happen to survive, tell my little brother that big brother is just exploring another part of the continent.”

Schulz turned to Aurora with an anxious expression, blinking slowly.

“What are you saying, Schulz? Please don’t say that.” She responded, her voice still raspy. “Please, I don’t want both of us to die. I’m scared just like you are.”

He gritted his teeth. His brows furrowed.

“Yeah… We’re both going to survive, definitely. I don’t want your parents to worry, and neither does my little brother. So we’re definitely gonna survive! Even if it takes all our strength.” Schulz tried to lighten her mood.

“I’m sure she would forgive me too.” He muttered to himself.

Even though they weren’t going to live.

Schulz used his free hand to take the grimoire from his waist and open it, testing if magic is working in this area.

Aurora saw this and immediately pulled it down. He jolted, confused.

“No, no… The book might give our location away,” Aurora said anxiously.

“….! You’re right, that was close.” He quickly put the grimoire away.

But now what?

If he couldn’t use that, what other options did he even have?

There was no food and no way to defend themselves. They were trapped.

It’s risky to stay in one spot.

But neither could they leave themselves in the open.

“I think it’s safer to stay in one spot and migrate occasionally than run around with no visibility.” Schulz looked at Aurora.

Schulz searched for the nearest bush, and they both hid inside. Aurora let go of his hand and sat down. Her appearance was a mess—her hair disheveled, her eyes red from all the crying, and both of their clothes dirty from the mud.

The skies opened, and it began to rain.

Thunder roared, the forest shifting from silence to the sound of rain soaking into the soil.

“Careful, Aurora. Your grimoire is going to get stained. We still need it,” Schulz reminded her, noticing she was sitting near the edge of the bush.

She moved farther inside, away from the rain. Aurora tightened her grip around her knees, her eyes glistening.

They sat in silence, doing nothing for six hours.

“I’m hungry, Schulz.” She sobbed.

“We have to resist it, just a little longer.”

They were hiding in a fairly safe spot, and the conditions were perfect. The trees blocked most of the rain from reaching the bush.

Maybe, just maybe, they can survive.

It was safe.

They couldn’t be found there.

It was safe.

It was safe.

It was safe.

Is it safe?

“Good evening.” The voice came from behind them.

Both froze. That familiar voice.

Schulz couldn’t turn around. Aurora didn’t want to look up.

“I knew my visitors were here all this time! I was looking everywhere~~ It’s getting late. My family is waiting.”

Neither of them could stop shaking.

If they tried to run, they would die.

If they tried to fight back, they would die.

If they cooperate.

Who knew what would happen to them?

Aurora’s expression was pale white, her pupils trembling. She was on a knife’s edge, reaching her limit.

She had enough, it’s better to die than to be experimented, tormented or possibly killed brutally by whoever this is.

Without hesitation, she grabbed a branch beside her and—

“Don’t do that. You haven’t even tried my cooking yet, miss.”

The man caught her hand just before she struck.

Schulz was horrified. His abdomen couldn’t handle it anymore, and he vomited.

The man gently took the branch from Aurora’s hand and grabbed a handkerchief from his robe, handing it to Schulz.

He froze for a moment before eventually accepting it. His hands were shaking. The man laughed, looking at Schulz.

Schulz wiped his mouth.

“I personally requested this invitation. And we’re having dinner. Afterwards, you two can go back to your homes.”

He stood up, kneeling down and extending a hand to Aurora.

She stared at the gloved hand, her heart racing. Trembling, Aurora looked at Schulz, who was behind the man.

Schulz’s eyes were devoid of light, his face pale white. Reluctantly, Aurora took the man’s hand, and he gently helped her up.

The man did the same for Schulz.

He showed no ill intentions.

He seemed friendly.

“Well then, my self-esteemed guests. Shall we head to the table?” He stepped into the rain and moved forward.

Aurora’s legs became limp around the man.

In this situation, how would they escape? If every decision led to death, then perhaps it was better to listen to him.

Schulz followed, keeping some distance. He looked behind him to see if Aurora was following, but she couldn’t move her legs.

The man looked over his shoulder and asked if she needed any help.

Aurora immediately shook her head. Schulz took her hand, gently pulling her forward.

The man chuckled before continuing onward.

“Are you two lovers?” the man asked as they walked.

Both of their bodies tensed up.

“I’ll take that as a yes? Or a no?” He exhaled. “Well you are a great friend, you know?” The man chuckled.

After forty minutes of walking, a light shone ahead of the man, reflecting through his clothes.

A scent lingered in the air. A sweet aroma of food.

“This horrible smell again,” Schulz muttered to himself, covering his nose as his abdomen grumbled once more.

They entered a clearing and saw a massive white table beneath a shelter. Lanterns sat beside plates and utensils. The people seated there wore the same outfits as the man, though their facial features were different.

They were chatting and laughing.

Aurora looked at the table. It was filled with delicious-looking food. The kind nobles ate.

It looked so appetizing. She was starving.

She let go of Schulz’s hand and approached the table.

He squinted his eyes and took a closer look.

Then he immediately pulled her back.

“AURORA, DON’T EAT IT! IT’S— EUGH.”

Schulz vomited.

Aurora jolted.

She took a closer look at the white table.

Her eyes widened.

Aurora vomited at the sight.

“Please, have a seat. We’ve reserved two places for you,” the man offered.

Both stood frozen. Their heads felt light.

Schulz held Aurora’s hand and stepped slightly backward.

“Don’t be shy! It’s okay to ask for seconds.” The man smiled softly.

Aurora held her chest.

Schulz slowly stepped back.

One small step at a time.

Then they sprinted away.

Both ran with all their strength, turning left and right, trying to lose him.

They passed endless trees.

The path always looked the same.

“I’M SCARED! I WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE! PLEASE!” Aurora screamed, her legs almost giving out.

“KEEP MOVING! DON’T TRIP! KEEP GOING!” Schulz shouted.

Both of their legs were giving out.

At any moment, they could collapse into the mud.

They couldn’t give up. They didn’t want to give up.

Even if it cost them their legs, they had to live.

Repeating the same words.

I have to live.

I have to live.

I have to live!

Aurora’s legs finally gave out.

She tripped, her face scraping against the muddy soil. She didn’t want to get up. Her tears began to mix with the muddy soil.

She rested for a minute before slowly standing again, her legs and arms shaking violently.

Then light shone from the muddy ground.

Her eyes opened. Aurora looked up. She saw the hill where they had descended.

Her heart raced with joy.

The rain had stopped. The clouds had parted.

She looked down and saw the exact needle she had placed.

It had been there the whole time.

To double-check, Aurora took out her grimoire, opened it, and used the checkpoint magic.

It worked.

“SCHULZ! WE’RE ALIVE! WE’RE ALIVE! WE MADE IT!”

Aurora looked to the side. Only to realize she was talking to herself.

“Schulz?”

Anxiety gripped her. Where did he go? What happened to him?

She didn’t know. And she didn’t know how she got out, all that mattered was that she was alive.

Aurora couldn’t stay on the ground for too long. She doesn’t know if the man would show up again. But she had to wait for Schulz, but Aurora had to call for backup first. She opened her grimoire and flew up to the top of the hill.

Landing on the grassy surface, her legs went limp, and she held her chest. She flipped her grimoires to use communication magic and sent a message to the capital kingdom of Imperium Aurelia.

She prays Schulz will come back alive. But that’s uncertain. However, it’s certain that she was safe, back to normal, she was relieved.

Aurora cried at the top of her lungs.