Walked to the Wrong Path

The golden elevator descended to the ground, its ornate carvings shimmering in the sunlight as it came to a smooth stop. Celeste stepped out with a graceful motion, her golden hair catching the light as it tumbled over her shoulders. Her butler, standing nearby, bowed deeply.

"My lady," he said softly, his voice tinged with emotion. "This is where I leave you. Please take care."

Celeste turned to him, smiling warmly. "Thank you, Walter. I'll be fine. You've always taken such good care of me."

Walter's lips quivered, and for a moment, he seemed on the verge of tears. "It has been an honor to serve you, my lady. Please... stay safe." With that, he bowed again, turned on his heel, and stepped back into the elevator.

Celeste watched as the elevator began its ascent, her hand raised in a small wave. "Goodbye, Walter," she murmured. "I'll see you again someday."

When the elevator vanished into the clouds, Celeste turned to face the sprawling landscape before her. A cobblestone road stretched out in one direction, leading to the bustling city in the distance. To her side, however, lay the edge of a dense forest.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "The forest," she whispered to herself. "I've always dreamed of exploring it... seeing the stars through the trees... hearing the sounds of nature."

Without hesitation, she stepped off the road and onto the forest path. Her steps were light and elegant, each movement exuding the natural grace of her noble upbringing. As she walked deeper into the woods, the rich scent of earth and greenery surrounded her. Birds chirped in the canopy above, and shafts of sunlight pierced through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground.

She noticed the faint hum of insects and the occasional rustle of small creatures moving through the underbrush. They seemed drawn to her — a butterfly flitted around her head, and even a squirrel paused on a branch to stare at her with curious eyes.

"Am I that interesting?" she chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Her stroll came to a halt when she spotted an apple tree. Its fruit hung low, ripe and red, practically begging to be picked. Celeste's eyes widened with delight. "I've never eaten an apple straight from the tree before," she said, walking over to it.

She reached up, plucking one of the apples from its branch. Holding it in her hand, she examined its vibrant color, then took a bite with excitement.

Her initial satisfaction was short-lived. She froze, her golden eyes snapping open. She looked down at the apple and saw... worms.

Her face paled, and without hesitation, she spat the bite out, dropping the apple onto the ground. "Ugh!" she exclaimed, wiping her mouth furiously. "Disgusting!"

Determined not to let one bad apple ruin her experience, she picked another. This time, she used her Cut Ability — a Grade 1 spell — to split it open neatly in her hand. But this apple, too, was infested.

"This is ridiculous!" she snapped, her voice echoing in the quiet forest. One by one, she checked the apples, and each one proved equally disappointing.

Finally, her patience ran out. She kicked the trunk of the apple tree in frustration. "Stupid tree!" she huffed, before storming off down the path.

The forest grew quieter as she ventured further, the dense foliage blocking more and more of the sunlight. Celeste felt an odd sensation prickling at the back of her neck — as if she were being watched.

She stopped walking, her posture tense. Slowly, she turned her head, scanning the trees. "Come out," she commanded, her voice steady despite the unease she felt.

The bushes rustled, and Celeste raised her hand, forming a glowing magic circle in the air. She prepared to strike, only to see a small rabbit hop out from the underbrush.

She sighed in relief, letting the magic circle dissolve. "It's just a rabbit."

More rabbits emerged, darting past her with surprising urgency. Their eyes were wide with panic, their tiny bodies trembling. Celeste frowned. "What are they running from?"

Her question was answered by a deep, guttural roar. She turned her head sharply and froze.

A massive beast emerged from the shadows — a Tiger-Lion, its muscled body covered in golden fur streaked with black. The creature was at least twice her size, its glowing yellow eyes locked onto her with predatory intent.

Celeste took a deep breath, her golden eyes narrowing. "It's been a while since I've had a real fight," she murmured, recalling the last time she faced a true challenge — the Ignite Beast her teacher had summoned to test her strength.

Before she could act, something blurred past her.

The Tiger-Lion roared again, but this time in pain. A man had appeared out of nowhere, delivering a powerful kick to the beast's side. The man's wild white hair and ragged pants made him look like he'd been living in the woods for weeks.

Celeste stared, momentarily speechless. His physique was lean but toned, his movements precise and confident. He turned to glance at her over his shoulder, and for a moment, their eyes met. His white pupils and long eyelashes caught the sunlight, and Celeste felt her breath hitch.

"He's gorgeous," she thought.

But her admiration was short-lived. The man's expression shifted to one of irritation as he shouted at her. "What is a weak woman like you doing here?"

Celeste's jaw dropped. "Weak?!"

The man rolled his eyes. "You can't even handle a rabbit, let alone this beast."

Her face flushed with anger. "I'll have you know I'm one of the strongest magicians in the world!"

He smirked, crossing his arms. "Oh, really? Prove it."

Before she could respond, the Tiger-Lion stirred, letting out another deafening roar.

"Run!" the man barked, stepping protectively in front of her.

"No!" Celeste shot back, summoning another magic circle. "I don't need your help. You should be the one running!"

The man chuckled, shaking his head. "Suit yourself. But don't come crying to me when you get hurt."

The Tiger-Lion lunged at the man, its jaws wide. He caught the beast's jaw with both hands, holding it back with sheer strength. With a grunt, he shoved the creature away, then leapt into the air.

Celeste watched in awe as he raised his leg and brought it down in a devastating axe kick, striking the Tiger-Lion square on the head. The beast crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Landing gracefully, the man turned to Celeste with a smug grin. "See? Easy."

Celeste clenched her fists, torn between admiration and irritation. "What's your name?" she demanded.

The man tilted his head, smirking. "Why do you care?"

"Because I want to know who to thank," she replied, though her tone was anything but grateful.

The man shrugged. "It's Kael. And you?"

"Celeste," she said, lifting her chin.

Kael's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Well, Celeste, maybe next time, leave the fighting to someone who knows what they're doing."

Her face burned with anger as Kael walked away, his laughter echoing through the forest.