Chapter 3 The First Encounter

Ethan followed the sound of voices, moving cautiously through the forest. The voices grew louder as he approached, and soon he could make out words.

"Ugh, why does it have to be so muddy here? My boots are ruined!" a young woman's voice complained.

"Relax, Elara. It's just a little dirt. You'll survive," another woman replied, her tone teasing but light.

"Quiet, both of you," a deeper, gruff voice interjected. "We're not alone."

Ethan froze. He stepped into a small clearing, where three figures stood. Two young women, dressed in finely tailored but practical clothing, were bickering lightly. The third was a tall, broad-shouldered man clad in leather armor, his hand resting on the hilt of a sword. He had the air of a bodyguard, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.

The man spotted Ethan immediately and stepped forward, positioning himself between Ethan and the two women. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice low and wary.

Ethan raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "I'm… lost. I don't know where I am or how I got here. My name's Ethan."

The man narrowed his eyes, clearly skeptical. One of the women, however, stepped around him, her curiosity piqued. She had long auburn hair tied back in a braid and wore a confident smile. "Lost, huh? In the middle of the Emerald Glade? That's… unusual."

The second woman, shorter and with dark hair, peeked out from behind the bodyguard. "Are you a traveler? Or did you get separated from your group?"

Ethan hesitated. He didn't know how much to reveal. "I… don't have a group. I woke up here and have no idea where I am."

As he spoke, a wave of relief washed over him. They speak the same language. Thank God. For a moment, he had worried that communication would be another barrier in this strange world. At least that was one less thing to worry about.

The auburn-haired woman tilted her head, studying him. "Interesting. Well, you're lucky we found you. This forest isn't exactly safe for someone wandering alone." She extended a hand. "I'm Elara, and this is my sister, Mira. The grumpy uncle here is Garrick, our bodyguard."

Garrick grunted, clearly unimpressed. "We don't have time for strays, Elara. We're on a schedule."

Elara waved him off. "Oh, relax, Garrick. He's just one person. Besides, he looks harmless enough." She turned back to Ethan. "If you're lost, you can tag along with us. We're heading to the nearest town, Silverleaf. It's not far from here."

Ethan nodded, relief washing over him. "Thank you. I'd appreciate that."

Garrick sighed but didn't argue further. "Fine. But stay close, and don't slow us down."

As Ethan fell in step with the group, he couldn't help but feel a spark of hope. These people seemed friendly enough, and they might have the answers he needed. For the first time since waking up in this strange world, he felt like he wasn't completely alone.

As the group moved through the forest, Ethan stayed close, his eyes darting around nervously. The forest felt less intimidating with others nearby, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them. Garrick led the way, his hand never straying far from the hilt of his sword, while Elara and Mira walked side by side, chatting quietly.

Ethan glanced at Elara, who seemed to be the more approachable of the two sisters. "So… Silverleaf. What's it like?" he asked, trying to break the ice.

Elara smiled, clearly happy to talk. "It's a small frontier town, but it's lively. Traders pass through often, so there's always something new to see. Plus, the inn serves the best roasted pheasant you'll ever taste."

Mira rolled her eyes. "You only say that because you're too lazy to cook."

Elara shot her sister a mock glare. "Says the one who burns water."

Ethan chuckled, feeling a little more at ease. The banter between the sisters reminded him of his guildmates in God's Dream. It was comforting, in a way.

Garrick, however, wasn't as amused. "Enough chatter," he grumbled. "We need to stay focused. The Emerald Glade isn't called the 'Forest of Shadows' for nothing. Even experienced hunters avoid this place if they can."

Ethan's curiosity got the better of him. "What kind of dangers are we talking about? I've already run into a wolf and a deer, but they didn't seem too bad."

Garrick gave him a sidelong glance. "You fought a Shadowfang Wolf and lived to tell the tale? With no weapon?"

Ethan shrugged, holding up the branch he'd used earlier. "I had this."

Garrick raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing him. "Hmph. Lucky, then. Those wolves usually hunt in packs. If you'd run into more than one, you wouldn't be standing here."

Elara leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Wait, you took down a Shadowfang Wolf with just a branch? That's… impressive."

Ethan scratched the back of his head, feeling a little self-conscious. "I guess? It didn't feel that hard. The wolf went down pretty quickly."

Mira tilted her head, studying him. "You're either really strong or really lucky. Either way, you're full of surprises."

Ethan didn't know how to respond to that. He still wasn't sure how his strength translated in this world. His stats were low, but his actions felt more powerful than the numbers suggested. It was confusing, but he didn't want to press the issue. Not yet, anyway.

As they walked, Ethan decided to ask the question that had been on his mind since he woke up in this world. "So… what's this place called? I mean, the forest, the town, the whole area."

Elara blinked, surprised. "You don't know where you are?"

Ethan shook his head. "Like I said, I woke up here. I have no idea how I got here or where 'here' even is."

Elara exchanged a glance with Mira, who shrugged. "Well, you're in the Emerald Glade, one of the most dangerous forests in the region. It's unclaimed land—no kingdom dares to claim it because of the monsters and strange phenomena. Silverleaf is one of the few towns brave enough to exist on its edge. It's part of the Kingdom of Lirandor, but barely. The capital, Eryndale, is a few days' journey from here."

Ethan nodded, filing the information away. "And… what about the people here? Are there adventurers? Guilds? Anything like that?"

Elara laughed. "Adventurers? You've been reading too many stories. Most people here are farmers, traders, or craftsmen. The only 'guilds' are merchant associations. Speaking of which…" She paused, her tone turning serious. "We're part of the Red Stone Merchant Association. Let's just say we're on a mission that requires discretion."

Garrick's expression darkened. "And we don't need outsiders complicating things."

Mira sighed, her usual cheerfulness fading. "Garrick, relax. He's just tagging along to Silverleaf. It's not like we're revealing association secrets."

Ethan frowned. "A secret mission? What kind of mission are we talking about?"

Elara waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, nothing too exciting. Just some… logistical issues we need to resolve. But don't worry about that. What matters is that you're safe with us—for now, at least."

Garrick muttered something under his breath but didn't argue further. Ethan got the sense that there was more to their mission than they were letting on, but he didn't press the issue. For now, he was just glad to have a direction.

As they continued walking, the forest began to thin, and the faint glow of lanterns became visible in the distance. Elara pointed ahead. "There it is. Silverleaf."

Ethan felt a mix of relief and apprehension. Finally, a place where he might find answers. But what would he do once he got there? For now, though, he was just glad to be out of the forest—and to have a purpose, however temporary.