A Dramatic Encounter (1)

"It's coming, echo"

I woke up. Again.

The third time, as far as I can remember. The first thing I noticed was the golden light of dawn creeping into the cave. The sun was rising.

Beside me, the elf girl was still sleeping. Her position was anything but comfortable—one arm stretched above her head, the other resting limply by her side. Her long, golden hair was a tangled mess, and her slightly open mouth gave her a strangely unrefined look. It was so different from the elegant, composed demeanor she had when awake.

Shaking my head, I stood up and stretched before making my way toward the cave entrance. Only then did I realize just how high up we were. Last night, in the dim light of our fire, I hadn't noticed the sheer height of our location. Now, as I stepped outside, a breathtaking view unfolded before me. Towering mountains stretched across the horizon, their jagged peaks crowned with mist. Rivers snaked through deep valleys, their surfaces glistening like liquid silver in the morning light. Below, a vast forest of emerald green spread out endlessly, broken only by the occasional cliff or glade. It was mesmerizing.

I inhaled deeply, letting the crisp mountain air fill my lungs. The wind tousled my silver hair, and for a moment, I simply stood there, taking it all in.

Maybe I'm the that type of person who likes being alone.

But I wasn't alone for long.

Behind me, I heard sluggish footsteps. The elf girl—Celestia—had dragged herself out of the cave, looking half-asleep. Her eyes remained shut, and she swayed slightly like a lifeless puppet. Her blonde hair was an even bigger mess than before, and her black armor was still slightly disheveled from last night's rest. She yawned loudly.

"Good morning, Rhys."

"Good morning," I replied, my voice still heavy with drowsiness.

She shuffled to my side, her sleepy gaze taking in the view. Then, rubbing her eyes, she smiled. "Isn't the landscape beautiful?"

I followed her gaze and nodded. "Yeah… it really is."

We spent some time cleaning up the cave. Celestia grabbed the fur we had slept on and held it over her bracelet. The blue gem embedded in it shimmered faintly, and in an instant, the fur vanished.

My brows furrowed. "Where did it go?"

"It's an artifact," she explained, nonchalantly tossing another item toward the bracelet. "It's used to store items. Very useful—and very expensive."

"An artifact…" I repeated under my breath.

"Yup," she continued. "You can store hundreds of things inside one of these. There are different kinds, too. Some are meant for convenience, like this one, and others are for combat. Those are rare, but incredibly powerful. The people who use them are called artifact users. I also have an artifact for combat, but they aren't allowed to be used in Sentria."

She just continued stuffing items in her artifact.

Out of curiosity I aksed "You're really strong, aren't you?"

She smirked. "I'm currently the royal guard of the Princess of Sentria."

Princess of Sentria? The name echoed in my mind. If she was the princess's royal guard, that meant she held a significant position.

"You're the royal guard of the princess of Sentria?" I repeated. "Then what are you doing all the way out here in Ashveil Forest?"

Her expression darkened. With an exasperated sigh, she rolled her eyes. "Some of the higher-ups wanted to get rid of me, so they sent me on a 'scouting mission.'" She made air quotes with her fingers. "Total nonsense."

"Why would they want to get rid of you?"

"Because those bastards want to control the princess," she muttered, kicking a loose rock off the edge of the cliff. "And I was in their way."

I watched as her gaze hardened. There was no doubt in my mind—this wasn't just duty to her. It was personal.

"As soon as I get back to the capital," she continued, her voice laced with determination, "I'll do whatever it takes to protect her. We have to follow the path, outside the cave to reach the Capital. But first... ."

Unexpected she pulled out of the bracelet a handcuff. A handcuff?!

"You still commited a crime, I have to handcuff and take you hostage until we reach the capital" 

I sighed. It's not like I had a chance to fight back. I just accepted my fade.

We traveled a long distance, following the path leading from the entrance of the cave. The air was cold, but it was nothing compared to the biting chill of the forest we had come from. Occasionally, we took breaks, either to eat some dried meat or to simply admire the breathtaking view around us.

Celestia and I stood before a vast sea nestled in a valley, surrounded by towering mountains and dense forests. The serene moment was shattered when a sudden bolt of black lightning struck the edge of the forest, just fifty meters away. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground. Startled, I jumped back, while Celestia instinctively unsheathed her black sword, her stance tense and alert.

"What was that?" I asked, my voice shaky from the sudden fright. I turned to Celestia, and from the look on her face, I could tell she knew exactly what had just happened. Without hesitation, she answered.

"A strong Hunter."

She narrowed her eyes, scanning the area. "Probably Tier 2 or Tier 3," she murmured.

"Tier 2 or Tier 3? What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, confused.

She glanced at me and took a quick breath before explaining. "The strength of Hunters, elves, humans, vampires, and dwarves is ranked by a system called 'Tiers.' Tier 1 is the highest, while Tier 6 is the weakest. There are only a handful of Tier 1 beings, barely enough to count on one hand. The presence I just sensed… it's powerful. Likely a Tier 2." Her voice grew tense. "We can't run. It has already detected us. We have to fight."

For the first time, I saw Celestia looking genuinely anxious.

Sensing my unease, she gently placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry," she said softly, offering a small smile. "I'm stronger. I promise." Without another word, she removed my handcuffs.

"Wait here. I will fight this Hunt—"

"It found you... echo," a mysterious voice interrupted.

A cold, unnatural hand gripped my right shoulder.

No—it wasn't Celestia's.

Every muscle in my body locked in place. No cell dared to move.

BREATHE. I couldn't. BREATHE. My mind went blank.

"BREATHE. BREATHE. BREATHE." I screamed internally. But I couldn't. The sheer presence of whatever stood behind me was suffocating.

"What are two cute little cubs like you doing all alone in this dangerous mountain region? Tell me?" A deep, dark voice whispered right behind me, his breath, ice cold.

The hand lifted from my shoulder. Slowly, from the shadows, a figure emerged before me.

A dark, humanoid silhouette. Its entire body was engulfed in pure blackness, writhing shadow-like tendrils flowing from its back. Its piercing red-yellow eyes locked onto Celestia with a twisted amusement. A light but menacing smile played on its lips.

I remained frozen, unable to move, unable to breathe. The weight of its presence alone threatened to crush me. Even Celestia, as strong as she was, trembled slightly as she stepped forward, forcing herself into a defensive stance.

"Who are you?" Celestia asked, her voice wavering despite her resolve.

"Ah, how rude of me," the shadowy being chuckled. "To ask for your names without introducing myself first." He tilted his head slightly. "My name is Umbra. May I know yours?"

It could talk? Hunters could talk? Was this monster even a Hunter?

Celestia hesitated, then took a deep breath. "My name is Celestia Dawnveil, a royal knight. What do you want from us?" she demanded, her grip on her sword tightening.

Umbra's grin widened. "A royal knight? How cute, I would like to pass the time by playing with you." His voice dripped with malice.