Woon and Arth continued their journey through the wild woods and winding trails. Shafts of sunlight dappled the mossy ground, filtering gently through the leafy canopy above. A soft breeze stirred the trees, carrying with it the earthy scent of damp soil and blooming foliage. Birds chirped from unseen perches, and every now and then, a rabbit or deer darted through the underbrush.
The occasional encounter with goblins had turned into little more than live-fire practice sessions for Woon, who eagerly tested his magic on the hapless creatures.
Fireballs lit up the forest, stone bullets cracked through the air, and each skirmish ended before Arth even needed to draw his sword.
"You're getting scarily good at this," Arth commented, as they stepped over another charred goblin corpse.
Woon nodded and said with a slight smirk. "Besides, goblins make the best target dummies. They're aggressive, dumb, and abundant."
Their peaceful trek was abruptly disrupted.
When suddenly, a sharp cry pierced the tranquility of the woods. A terrified, high-pitched scream echoed through the trees. It was followed by a cacophony of growls and snarls, the unmistakable sound of beasts closing in.
"Did you hear that?" Woon's body tensed. His senses sharpened. "That didn't sound like a monster. That was a person."
Arth's eyes narrowed. "Northwest. Let's go."
The two of them bolted through the forest. Woon's heart pounded—not from fear, but from urgency. He leapt over fallen logs and ducked under branches, adrenaline pushing him forward.
They emerged into a clearing.
Before them, a horrifying scene unfolded.
A girl in light adventuring gear stood desperately in front of a wagon. Blood stained her shoulder and legs. She clutched a chipped sword in both trembling hands. Her breath came in panicked gasps, chest heaving. Tears streamed down her dirt-smeared cheeks. Her boots slid slightly as she backed up into the wagon.
"Get back! Get—no, please, not yet!"
Snarling wolves—six in total—circled her, growling, saliva dripping from their open jaws. But worse yet, behind them loomed two massive ogres, lumbering with wicked clubs in hand. Their guttural roars echoed like thunder.
One of the wolves lunged, its snarl splitting the air. The girl screamed—a raw, terrified sound—as she swung her sword. The blade met fur with a glancing strike. Her hands trembled violently, and her grip loosened. She stumbled backward, her knees threatening to give out.
"I-I won't die here!" she sobbed, voice cracking. "Not like this!"
Another wolf leapt forward.
"Arth!" Woon shouted, his voice sharp.
Arth shot forward like a bolt of steel. In a heartbeat, his blade flashed, cutting down the wolves one by one with precise, fluid slashes.
Woon raised his hand. "[Fireball]!"
A searing burst of flame hurtled into the pack. One wolf was caught mid-leap, shrieking as it was engulfed in flames.
"[Bolt]!"
Sparks danced from his fingertips and a crackling bolt of electricity surged forward, dropping another beast instantly.
The remaining wolves hesitated, but Arth didn't. He advanced and cut them down before they could retreat.
But the ogres were unfazed. One of them let out a roar that made the trees shake. The girl screamed again, shielding her head with her arms.
Woon's thoughts raced. He had only four spells: Fireball (5 MP), Stone Bullet (5 MP), Bolt (10 MP), and Water Wall (20 MP). He had to use them wisely.
"[Water Wall]!" Woon shouted.
A shimmering wall of water erupted between the girl and the ogres. The beasts stumbled back, momentarily confused.
"Cover me!" Arth yelled as he dashed through the cascading water.
Woon launched a [Stone Bullet], aiming for the first ogre's eye. The projectile hit true, making the giant beast howl in pain.
Arth reached the ogre's side and slashed deep into its knee. The monster crumpled, thrashing.
The second ogre charged. Woon, beads of sweat dripping down his face, cast [Fireball] again. The explosion engulfed the ogre's chest, staggering it.
"Now, Arth!"
With unerring precision, Arth drove his sword into the creature's throat. It choked, gurgled, and collapsed with a final tremor.
Her eyes widened in shock, and as the danger vanished, so did her strength. She collapsed into unconsciousness, falling against the wagon with a soft thud.
The clearing grew quiet again, save for the soft rustle of leaves and the faint creak of the wagon.
__________
Time passed....
The wagon rocked gently. Inside, the girl stirred. Her eyelids fluttered open, her senses returning. She sat up with a start.
"Huh? Where—Where did the wolves go?!" she cried, alarmed. Her eyes darted around until they settled on a young boy and a stoic knight sitting beside her.
"It's alright now," said the older wagon driver seated nearby. "These gentlemen took care of the beasts."
The girl's memory clicked into place—the flash of a blades, wolves falling like wheat before the scythe.
"That was your doing?" she asked, turning to Arth, awe and disbelief mixing in her voice.
After Woon calmly explained what had happened, she finally relaxed, her breathing steadier.
Her eyes landed on the shrouded bodies beside the wagon.
"My party... they didn't make it, did they?"
Woon shook his head gently. "I'm sorry."
Tears welled in her eyes. She whispered a prayer, her voice breaking.
A moment of silence passed, then she looked up with a shaky smile.
"Ah, right! I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Diana Warfir, sixteen. D-rank adventurer. Nice to make your acquaintance." She gave a polite bow, her voice slightly hoarse from exhaustion, but laced with sincerity.
Woon blinked, caught off guard by the formality. Hearing her age, he instinctively glanced at her chest, then quickly looked away, a faint heat rising to his face.
"Aren't those a bit too developed for sixteen? Must be cultural differences... or nutrition in this world works differently," he thought awkwardly.
The group resumed their journey in relative peace. With the earlier tension faded, the forest seemed quieter now. Birds had returned to their songs, and the wind whispered gently through thinning branches. The deeper woods gradually gave way to signs of civilization—wider dirt trails, cobblestone patches, and the occasional wooden fence lining distant farmland.
At one point, Diana shared stories of her travels—her voice softening when she mentioned her now-deceased party members.
"We were a small group," she said, her tone wistful. "But we were close. Dungeons were getting harder, but we kept pushing. I thought we could handle one more job..."
Woon nodded slowly.
__________
Through their conversations, they find out that the city they were headed to is named Bahamara, one of the biggest trade cities in the Aldrehed Kingdom. In Aldrehed many different races like Elves, dwarves, beast folks and humans live peacefully.
But recently, the dungeons all around Eldia—not just Aldrehed—have become quite strong and dangerous, overflowing with monsters. Even the pack of wolves and ogres that attacked the Diana's party before were monsters that had came out of the dungeon due to it getting overflowed.
"It's not normal," Diana said. "Even the Guilds are worried. Bounties are going up, but so are the deaths."
Woon rubbed the back of head.
"Sounds like a setup for trouble... I'll have to tread carefully. One misstep and I might get dragged into things I don't want to deal with."
As thoughts of planning filled his mind, the city gates finally came into view.
The towering walls of Bahamara loomed ahead, bustling with people entering and exiting. Traders, guards, adventurers—it was a hive of movement.
"So, this is Bahamara," Woon said, eyes scanning the walls. "Doesn't look too bad."
Diana gave a small smile.
"Wait until you see the marketplace. Just keep a hand on your coin pouch," Diana warned. "Pickpockets love fresh faces."
Once near the entrance, Woon and Arth stepped down from the wagon.
"Please accept this," she said, holding out a small leather pouch to Woon, her expression serious.
He blinked, accepting it reluctantly. "What is—"
"Just a token of thanks. For saving me."
"You really don't have to—"
"I want to." Her eyes met his with quiet resolve. "And I'll repay this debt properly one day."
She bowed deeply. "I'll never forget this favor."
"Take care of yourself," Woon said. "And maybe join a bigger party next time. Safety in numbers."
Diana chuckled softly, then climbed back onto the wagon. "I will. And... I hope we meet again someday."
And The wagon rolled off...
After Diana left, woon opened the pouch she gave him.
Inside were ten platinum coins.
He stared, stunned, he thought "Just what is her background...?"
As he looked at the direction in which the wagon left.
"Well doesn't matter, it's not like we're gonna see her again." he muttered, trying to brush off the lingering curiosity.
They headed towards the entrance of the City.
To be continued.....