New Friends

After what felt like an endless sleep, I finally opened my eyes.

The first thing I saw was the sky.

For a few seconds, I just stared at it.

My body was still exhausted from the fight.

I slowly turned my head.

Guliath was lying nearby.

A few seconds later, his eyes opened too.

He looked at me.

Then he spoke.

“Vinaas.”

“You won the duel.”

I looked at him.

“So?”

Guliath slowly stood up.

“As the loser, I must give you something in return. Tell me. What do you want?”

I thought about it for a moment.

Anything?

I looked at Guliath.

“Anything?”

“Yes. Anything within my power.”

I smiled.

“Then become my subordinate.”

Guliath went silent.

I waited for his answer.

After a few seconds, he lowered his head.

“I accept.”

“Huh?”

“I, Guliath, King of the Forest, accept you as my master.”

A strange feeling passed through my body.

Then a magic circle appeared beneath us.

The mana around us began to move.

I could feel something connecting between us.

Guliath's aura and mine collided for a moment before becoming one.

A pact had been formed.

I looked at him.

“So... you're really my subordinate now?”

“Yes.”

“That's convenient.”

Guliath looked at me with a slightly annoyed expression.

“You defeated me in a duel, and that is all you have to say?”

“What else am I supposed to say?”

He sighed.

Then something strange happened.

Guliath's enormous body began to shrink.

His huge claws became smaller.

His massive body became shorter and shorter.

His terrifying aura disappeared.

A few moments later, the King of the Forest was no longer standing in front of me.

Instead, there was a small version of Guliath.

He was still a wolf-like beast, but now he was small enough to sit on my shoulder.

I stared at him.

Guliath stared back.

“...What?”

“You're small.”

“I know.”

“This is actually pretty useful.”

“Do not treat me like a pet.”

I picked him up anyway.

He immediately jumped onto my shoulder.

Well... he kind of looks like one.

“Where are we going now?” Guliath asked.

“Royal Capital Varahi.”

“The human capital?”

“Yeah.”

Guliath looked toward the forest behind us.

“So you are leaving the Forest of Death?”

“For now.”

I started walking.

The forest that had once felt like a place I could never escape from was now behind me.

After everything that happened here...

I had finally made it out.

Guliath sat quietly on my shoulder as we walked toward the edge of the forest.

When we finally stepped outside, I stopped for a moment.

The open land stretched far ahead of us.

And somewhere beyond it was the Royal Capital.

Varahi.

I looked forward.

“Come on, Guliath.”

“Hmm?”

“We've got a long way to go.”

Guliath gave a small growl.

“Then lead the way, Master.”

I started walking.

And this time...

I wasn't alone.

We continued walking away from the forest.

Guliath was sitting comfortably on my shoulder.

After walking for a while, I looked at him.

“By the way, do you know which direction we need to take to reach Varahi?”

Guliath looked at me.

“I have never once left this forest.”

I stopped walking.

“Seriously?”

“Yes.”

Guliath looked at me for a moment.

“And it seems the human who came out of the forest is not very knowledgeable either.”

“Hey, I just woke up after nearly dying.”

“That is not an excuse.”

This guy is already getting annoying.

I continued walking.

After some time, I noticed something in the distance.

Someone was riding a horse.

They were wearing armour, and their face was covered by a helmet.

I immediately raised my hand.

“Hey! Wait!”

The rider heard me and stopped the horse.

He looked toward us before getting down.

I walked toward him.

“Sorry to bother you, but could you help us?”

The person looked at me and then at Guliath sitting on my shoulder.

“What do you need?”

“I need to reach a nearby town. From there, I need to get to the Royal Capital.”

The person remained silent for a moment.

I quickly introduced myself.

“My name is Riune Aster. I'm from the country, but I lost my map while travelling through the forest.”

I pointed toward Guliath.

“And this is my pet, Guliath.”

Guliath looked at me.

Pet?

I ignored him.

The armoured person slowly removed their helmet.

Long hair fell down as the person looked directly at me.

“I am Alecia Vergon.”

I waited.

She continued.

“I am the right-hand person of the Archduke of Dorad.”

Right-hand person of an Archduke?

That sounds like someone I shouldn't mess with.

Alecia looked at me.

“You said you want to go to the capital?”

“Yes.”

“My mission here is complete.”

She turned toward her horse.

“So I will be returning to the capital.”

Then she looked back at me.

“You can tag along with me, good sir Riune.”

I thought about it for a moment.

It was much better than wandering around without knowing the direction.

“Sure. I'll come with you.”

Alecia nodded.

“Then let us go.”

I climbed onto the horse behind her.

Guliath remained on my shoulder.

And just like that, our journey toward Royal Capital Varahi began.

We travelled until evening.

By then, the sun was already disappearing.

Alecia eventually pointed toward a town in the distance.

“We should stay there for tonight.”

I nodded.

“Sounds good.”

We entered the nearby town and found a place to stay.

For the first time in a long while.

I looked at Guliath.

He was already sleeping on my shoulder.

He really adapted to this pet thing quickly.

I closed my eyes.

Tomorrow...

We would continue toward Royal Capital Varahi.

That night, before going to sleep, I found myself thinking about something.

A few questions kept coming to my mind.

What is a hero?

Who is a hero?

What are their duties?

I didn't have an answer.

I had met people who were called heroes.

I had seen people fight.

I had seen people protect others.

But was that really what made someone a hero?

I didn't know.

Still, there was one thing I believed.

A person who helps someone in need without expecting anything in return...

A person who protects other lives without any selfish reason...

And soldiers who stand on the battlefield to protect their homeland and the people living in it...

They are heroes.

At least, that was what I believed.

Maybe one day I would find the real answer.

But for now...

I was too tired to think about it anymore.

I slowly closed my eyes.

And before I knew it...

I fell asleep.