CHAPTER 5

Back in Nyth, the sun was setting, just above the horizon was a beautiful scene to behold. The sky was like a mirage of red, orange, and purple. The wind swirled through the grass, causing it to rustle.

Walking through the field of grass were two figures, a girl with two tails led the way, while the girl with one tail slacked behind.

The redhead sighed tiredly and groaned.

"Are we there yet?"

"Do you see any towns or buildings here? I guess I've answered your question... for the seventh time."

"But..... we've been walking for hours. When will we get there?"

Nyx exhaled.

"You're talking way too much."

"Who's causing it?" Alya interjected. Nyx could only roll her eyes as she continued forward.

"So.....where did you come from? I'm intrigued." Nyx knew Alya was a strange one. No amount of sheltering or hiding would leave someone so clueless.

"...*sigh*..Reincarnation."

Nyx knowingly hit her forehead with her palm.

"Of course..."

"You believe that?" Alya raised a brow with uncertainty.

"Uh huh, it's possible, I hear it happens. It's extremely rare though."

"So the old man wasn't joking?"

Nyx looked back, confused.

"What old man?"

"Oh, nothing."

...

Minutes passed and it was nightfall. They stood at the edge of a forest, not like the one that Alya saw earlier. The forest was filled with weird-looking trees and shrubs. A racket of stage animal sounds could be heard inside, Alya didn't like it one bit. The forest gave off an eerie vibe.

Alya froze. Were they really going to enter such a dangerous place?

"Mmhmm." Nyx hummed.

"Isn't there another way?"

"Can you fly?" Nyx answered with a small smile.

"But it's so dark in there, we wait till dawn. We'll be killed if we aren't careful." Alya was terrified. Now that she knew about monsters, she had to be more cautious. Nyx sighed, grabbed her hand, and smiled reassuringly.

"Then we'll be careful. Don't worry, I can protect us." She pulled Alya with her and entered the dense forest.

.....

Minutes passed, luckily there were no signs of trouble so far. Alya stuck to Nyx like glue as they strolled through the forest. The howls and growls wouldn't let down. Alya was terrified.

"Are we almost out?" She asked quietly as her lips quivered.

"We're already at the center of the forest, don't worry."

"Just the center?"

"Calm down," Nyx repeated and tried to pet her head, but Alya quickly swatted it away. Nyx rubbed her hand dejectedly.

"...."

Just before Alya could retort, a loud growl caught their attention. Alya's soul almost jumped out of her, she forgot what she wanted to say and held Nyx tightly.

"What was that?"

Nyx found out where the sound was coming from and pushed Alya behind her.

"Stay close."

Where else would she go?

Moments later, a large silhouette slowly emerged through the trees. Its growling didn't stop as it strode forward. The moon shone on grey fur.

Alya and Nyx couldn't see it clearly until it came to a stop under the moonlight. The moon shone directly on it.

It had the body of a wolf but with eight legs and six glowing yellow eyes. Its fangs were like sharp tusks and strong enough to bite one's head off. And with the size of a full-grown elephant, it was a truly terrifying creature. Alya was shocked to see such a creature in real life, her face turned ghostly white.

'We're going to die.'

Nyx, however, was as calm as ever, she sighed in relief. Alya's head swung in her direction.

'Huh?!'

"Good, It's not a high level." Nyx smiled. Alya stared in shock.

"How is this not high level?! Let's just run away."

"Running is pointless, they're fast. Just stay back."

The monster's growling got even louder, it was ready to pounce. But before he could do so, Nyx swiftly jumped and landed on his back. The creature was stunned for a moment, his prey was agile.

"You're not supposed to be in this part of the forest. Where is your pack?."

"You really are a stupid one."

The monster was furious. He tried to shake the girl off his body, but was all in vain. The girl was holding on to his fur, and her grip was strong. This made him so frustrated, he ran into a nearby tree to shake her off, but was still in vain.

Nyx smiled mockingly and held on tighter. She was having fun.

Alya watched behind a tree, and she was awestruck. She had never seen anything like this before. A young girl was winning a fight against a large beast and was teasing him on top of that.

'Unbelievable!'

Not more than twenty seconds had passed. The beast was still struggling to get Nyx off his back.

"Hmmmmm..."

Suddenly, Nyx's nails instantly elongated till they were as long and as sharp as beast claws. She gazed at the back of the beast, then dug her claws into the monster's neck. The beast let out a painful growl as blood forcefully gushed out.

In seconds, the monster stopped moving, and his heart stopped. Nyx retracted her claws and got down from the lifeless beast's back.

Alya still couldn't believe what just happened. Nyx chuckled at her dumbfounded face.

"You didn't imagine it."

"I see that..."

"Well... it's still just a low level so...."

"There's no way that thing is low-level!"

"And I'm telling you it is."

Alya was shocked to the core. Nyx just told her that huge ferocious beast was low-level. But she still couldn't believe it. Every tree it smashed into, crashed to the ground, but she was saying that was nothing? Alya gazed at Nyx with a tinge of admiration, she started to see her in another light. The light was small, but it was there. She smiled.

"You are indeed strong."

Nyx was taken aback. She waved her hands carelessly.

"Seriously, it was nothing."

Alya shook her head in denial.

"You saved my life, how is that nothing?"

"I know it's not nothing, I'm just trying to be modest." Nyx's shy smile turned smug the next second.

Haha.... I'm great aren't I?" She raised her head high with a proud smile on her face, then placed her hand on her hips. She mentally patted her back.

"...."

"How do you do that thing with your nails?"

Nyx gazed at Alya and then at her nails, somewhat unsure what to say. Her nails instantly elongated.

"Not so sure, it just seems natural. Call it an inborn animal attribute."

Her nails retracted again.

"You can do it too."

Alya stared at her own nails, waiting for something to happen, but...

"Nothing...."

"Well... don't worry, baby steps. Right now you're just like a newborn. As your senior, I'll guide you..... that's alright?"

"I barely even know you."

"You don't need to know. You owe me."

"How old are you anyway?"

"Nineteen....so it counts. We could be sisters even."

"No."

Alya didn't have a family in her last life, and she wasn't keen on having one now. She never once thought of having a sibling, thinking of Nyx as her sibling, was not so easy.

With a huge sigh, she nodded her head.

"Sure, senior."

Nyx smiled, satisfied.

"Good, let's go. We still have a long way to go. We haven't even touched the center."

"I thought you said we were close."

"I lied."