The forest loomed before Sky like a wall of ancient secrets, the trees standing as silent sentinels with branches that seemed to reach for him with gnarled fingers.
His boots crunched on frozen leaves as he stepped past the boundary stone, the permit glowing faintly in his inventory.
The air grew colder here, carrying the scent of damp earth and something else, something metallic and wild.
[Welcome to the Whispering Woods.]
[Recommended Level: 15.]
[Current Level: 10.]
[Proceed with caution, idiot.]
Sky ignored the system's taunt, his hand resting on the hilt of his rusty sword.
"Beast Sense," he murmured, and the world shifted. Colours drained away, replaced by heat signatures and movement patterns. A rabbit's frantic heartbeat thumped somewhere to his left.
Birds rustled in the canopy above. And something larger, much larger, moved through the undergrowth about fifty yards ahead.
He moved silently, his Diabolos bloodline granting him unnatural grace despite his low level.
The forest floor seemed to cushion his steps, and the shadows clung to him like old friends.
Through the trees, he saw it, a Timber Wolf, level 12, its fur the colour of weathered bark, with intelligent yellow eyes that scanned the forest with predatory patience.
Sky's grip tightened on his sword. He could feel the Beast Sense feeding him information, the wolf's breathing pattern, the slight tension in its hind legs, the way its ears twitched toward a distant sound.
This was different from the mindless creatures he'd fought before. This one was hunting too.
He circled, using the thick oaks as cover. The wolf's head snapped in his direction, nostrils flaring. It knew.
[Elemental Root Control activated.]
[Earth affinity suggested for terrain advantage.]
Sky pressed his hand against the nearest tree, feeling the ancient life thrumming within it. He willed the roots to stir, and the ground beneath the wolf shifted subtly. The creature stumbled, momentarily distracted.
That was his opening.
He burst from cover, rusty sword flashing.
"Slash Mastery!"
The blade moved with precision he shouldn't possess, cutting through the air toward the wolf's flank. But the wolf was faster, twisting with unnatural agility to avoid the blow entirely. Its claws raked through the air where Sky's throat had been moments before.
They danced through the trees, strike and counterstrike, a deadly ballet of rust and fur. Sky's HP dipped to 780 when claws caught his shoulder, tearing through his worn tunic. The wolf wasn't much better off, bleeding from several shallow cuts.
Then he saw it, the wolf's pattern. It always favoured its left side after a lunge, leaving its right flank exposed for a split second.
Sky waited, breath fogging in the cold air. The wolf charged again, exactly as predicted. This time, he didn't dodge.
He met the charge head-on, dropping to one knee and angling his sword upward. The blade sank deep into the wolf's chest with a sickening crunch.
The creature shuddered, its hot blood spraying across Sky's face. Then it collapsed, the light fading from its yellow eyes.
[Timber Wolf defeated.]
[150 EXP gained.]
[Materials harvested: Wolf Pelt (Quality: Average), Wolf Fangs x2.]
Sky leaned against a tree, breathing heavily. The adrenaline faded, leaving him trembling. He wiped the blood from his face with a shaking hand.
This was only the beginning, and he'd nearly died from a common forest predator.
A soft sound made him freeze. Not an animal, this was melodic, almost like singing. He followed the sound deeper into the woods, Beast Sense still active. The heat signature he saw ahead was humanoid, but... different. Warmer. Brighter.
He pushed through a thicket and saw her.
A woman knelt by a stream, her silver hair flowing like liquid moonlight. Her skin seemed to glow with inner light, and delicate wings like crystallised frost folded against her back.
A Frost Sprite, level unknown. She was singing to the water, and where her fingers touched the surface, ice flowers bloomed and drifted downstream.
She hadn't noticed him yet. Sky watched, mesmerised. Then his eyes fell on what lay beside her, a small leather bag, open to reveal glowing herbs that pulsed with magical energy. Moonpetal blossoms, each worth more than his entire life savings.
[Frost Sprite detected. Level: ??? Race: Fae. Warning: Frost Sprites are a protected species. Harming one will result in automatic bounty placement.]
The system's warning echoed in his mind as he calculated. Five bronze coins had bought him entry to the forest, but those herbs... they could buy proper equipment.
A real sword. Armor. Food. Security for him and Serena.
The Frost Sprite stood, stretching her slender arms toward the sky. She turned, and her eyes, pools of liquid silver, met his. For a moment, there was no fear in her gaze, only curiosity.
Sky acted on instinct. Instead of drawing his sword, he focused his will on the moisture around her feet.
Ice crystals formed instantly, crawling up her ankles and freezing her in place with a gentle but firm grip.
She gasped, her wings fluttering in surprise.
"Terrible," she whispered, her voice like wind chimes. But there was no anger in her tone, only assessment.
"Your control is... primitive. You freeze like a human trying to grasp winter's essence."
Sky stepped forward, his hands raised in what he hoped was a peaceful gesture.
"I'm sorry," he said, genuinely meaning it. "I didn't mean to startle you. I just... need those herbs."
The Frost Sprite tilted her head, her silver eyes studying him intently. The ice around her ankles began to crack as she moved her feet slightly. "You have ice affinity," she observed.
"Unusual for a demon. Your technique is crude, but the potential is there."
She gestured to the Moonpetal blossoms. "These are not mine to give. They belong to the forest spirit, or the wood element, as you humans call it. They bloom where ancient magic gathers."
Sky's shoulders slumped. Another dead end. Another failure.
"However," the sprite continued, her voice taking on a thoughtful tone, "if you wish to learn proper ice manipulation, I could teach you. Your current method is like trying to carve ice with a hammer when you should be using a sculptor's tool."
Hope flickered in Sky's chest. "You would train me?"
The Frost Sprite smiled, a small, mysterious curve of her lips. "Consider it an investment. The forest grows more dangerous by the day. Having another ice user who doesn't bludgeon the elements might prove useful."
[New Quest Available: Frostweaver's Apprentice. Accept training from the Frost Sprite. Reward: Ice Affinity Mastery, New Skills, ???]
Sky looked from the glowing herbs to the sprite's serene face. The easy path, stealing the herbs, would solve his immediate problems. But the harder path...
"I accept," he said, his voice steady despite the uncertainty swirling within him.
The Frost Sprite nodded, the last of the ice around her ankles shattering into glittering dust. "Good. My name is Lyra. First lesson: true ice magic isn't about freezing things. It's about understanding the stillness between movements, the silence between heartbeats."
She gestured toward the stream. "Begin by feeling the water's flow without disturbing it. Make the current dance to your will without freezing it solid."
Sky approached the water's edge, his mind racing. Five bronze coins had bought him entry to the forest, but they had purchased something more valuable than he'd realised, not just a lesson, but a teacher.
The real treasure wasn't in what he could take, but in what he could become.
And becoming stronger starts now.