EXPEDITION

Scene: The Little Girl's Punishment

The scene shifts back to the little girl with red hair, who had been locked in the store. The maids finally released her, but her punishment wasn't over. Her food allowance was cut drastically, leaving her with only a piece of bread and a cup of water for breakfast. The maids continued to bully her, but she kept silent, fearing further punishment if she reported them. She believed neither her father nor her brothers would believe her.

Silently, she forced down the bread, her tears mixing with the crumbs. As the maids left the room, one muttered under her breath, "Hehe, that's what you deserve, slum kid."

Once alone, the girl allowed herself to cry, knowing no one would come to her aid. "Sniff... somebody help me," she whispered through her tears, choking on the bread in her mouth.

Scene: Harith and Charbel

Meanwhile, Harith and Charbel were inside Solomon's store, dealing with the owner.

"Your father really loves our green tea leaves. It must be bothersome for him to send you all the way here just to buy them," Solomon remarked.

"It's not a big deal, sir. This is my first time here, so it's worth the trip," Harith replied.

Before they left, Solomon offered them some tea. Harith accepted the offer, and they moved to the next room where Solomon prepared for the tea ceremony. Using his ability, called "Songs," Solomon made the tea ingredients float and blend as if by telekinesis. Harith watched, speechless.

"Never seen an Aetherian before?" Solomon asked with a smile.

"I don't think so, probably," Harith stammered.

"As you can see, we Aetherians are the only race that can use Songs. But it affects our health, so we can only use it for short periods," Solomon explained.

As Harith and Charbel sat, they watched Solomon brew the tea with elegance and confidence.

"Damn, I'm fascinated," Charbel said.

"Same, but I'm still wondering if there's a reason for that pose," Harith added.

"Don't worry, young ones. One day, this brewing skill will come in handy once I teach you," Solomon said with a chuckle.

They took a sip of the tea, their faces lighting up with surprise.

"What?" Harith exclaimed.

"Dear god," Charbel muttered.

"How is it?" Solomon asked, smiling.

"This tea—"

"—IS SO GREEN!" they both exclaimed.

The taste of the green tea was grassy, vegetal, nutty, and herbaceous, but never bitter. After their delightful tea party, they prepared to leave.

"Thank you, Mr. Solomon. My father chose wisely in having you handle his tea supply," Harith said, shaking Solomon's hand.

"Hahaha, I'm just doing what comes naturally. Hope to see you again, soldier," Solomon replied.

Charbel helped Harith carry the green tea to the steed. After securing the supplies, Harith turned to Charbel.

"Alright, thanks for helping me, Charbel."

"Not a big deal."

"I guess this is our farewell," Harith said, preparing to leave.

"Wait, you're leaving now? It's almost dusk," Charbel pointed out, looking concerned.

Harith wondered why Charbel seemed so worried. "Have you heard about the adventurers who get ambushed by bandits at night?" Charbel asked.

"I didn't meet any on my way here, so I should be fine," Harith replied nonchalantly.

"You're lucky, but bandits aside, there's something unnatural in the forest," Charbel said, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"What do you mean?"

"A group of merchants took the forest route not long ago. They saw something horrifying," Charbel explained. "Bodies of bandits torn apart, some in halves, and a creature chewing on the corpses."

"The Weeping Wolf," Charbel whispered.

Harith's expression turned gloomy. "Really?"

"Yes, it's big and has eyes all over its body. Most who see it don't survive."

Harith's curiosity was piqued. "What happened to them?"

"When they saw the creature, they tried to run, but one of them shot at it. That exposed their position, and you can guess the rest," Charbel said grimly.

"Damn," Harith muttered.

"That's why you can't travel alone at night," Charbel insisted.

"Fine, I'll stay at the inn tonight," Harith conceded.

Just then, a group of local adventurers, led by Mr. Natan, approached them.

"Long time no see, Charbel," Natan greeted.

"Same to you, old man," Charbel replied.

"Please, I'm not that old," Natan laughed.

Harith introduced himself, feeling awkward but determined. "Greetings, my name is Harith Zashchitnik. Nice to meet you."

"No need to be formal, my friend. Anyone who's friends with Charbel is a friend of mine," Natan said warmly.

"YES!" Harith exclaimed, feeling welcomed.

Natan, however, was in a rush. "We need supplies for tonight's task. A merchant hired us to guard his goods to the city."

"But why so many of you?" Charbel asked.

"Bandits operate at night, so we have to take a route that avoids them, which means..." Natan trailed off.

"No way!" Charbel gasped.

"Yes, the Misfit Forest Route," Natan confirmed.

The group fell silent. Charbel looked like he had more questions, but Natan and his team were in a hurry.

"Charbel, you should join them. You know about the myth," Harith suggested.

"Pff, no way. I have work tomorrow. How about you go?" Charbel shot back.

"Me?! No, I'm staying at the inn tonight," Harith protested.

"Come on, there are plenty of them. Don't be a chicken," Charbel urged.

"It's not about fear. I'm just not experienced enough," Harith replied.

"Imagine, Harith. If you go, you'll be one step closer to becoming a hero like your father. And you'll get home earlier," Charbel argued.

"A hero? Seriously?" Harith pondered, beginning to show interest.

"Just think about it," Charbel insisted.

"Fine! I'll think about it!" Harith agreed.

They joined the adventurers in the tavern to negotiate with Mr. Natan about Harith joining the expedition.

Scene: The Expedition

Harith and Charbel followed Mr. Natan and his group into the tavern. Harith felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. Natan, sensing Harith's hesitation, put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry, kid. You'll be safe with us," Natan said.

"Alright, I'm in," Harith decided, his voice steady.

"Excellent! We leave at dusk," Natan announced.

Charbel patted Harith on the back. "Good luck, Harith. You'll do great."

Harith nodded, determined to prove himself. As they prepared for the journey, he couldn't help but think of the little girl back at the mansion, hoping she was safe.

With the sun setting, the group set off, Harith riding alongside Natan. The forest loomed ahead, dark and foreboding. Harith's heart raced, but he was ready to face whatever lay ahead.

Together, they rode into the night, the shadows closing in around them.