I kept running, my legs heavy and my lungs burning.
I continued running. The forest was suspiciously quiet.
Too quiet.
I stopped and hid under some thick bushes.
I was breathing heavily. Then—
I heard it and covered my mouth.
Footsteps?
Near.
I held my breath.
The footsteps disappeared.
...
Then someone grabbed my shoulder.
My heart jumped.
"Jean! What are you doing here?"
I slowly relaxed when I saw her.
"Fila?"
Fila sighed.
"Didn't Jaro tell us to run?"
Somewhere behind us, a growl grew louder.
Fila grabbed my wrist and dragged me along.
We kept running until we reached a cliff.
A dead end.
Fila quickly hid me behind her as she prepared to face the hounds.
"Stay behind me, Jean," Fila said as her hands trembled.
Slowly, the hounds emerged from the forest's shadows.
Fila quickly raised her hand and chanted.
"Von Bullets!"
Earth spikes rose from the ground and pierced through the monsters.
The monsters kept coming, but Fila handled them without effort.
I stood behind her, feeling more relaxed.
Until—
A deep growl came from the forest.
Slowly, a huge hound appeared.
Its skin seemed tougher than the others, and its tail was blazing like a torch.
I clutched Fila's clothes, leaning closer to her.
Fila then cast the same spell, but it was ineffective.
Fila hesitantly took a step back but stopped.
She pointed a finger toward it.
"Jean, close your eyes."
Before I could close my eyes, Fila shouted.
"La Blazor!"
A bright light filled the dark forest. I couldn't see anything.
But I heard the monster growling.
The last thing I knew was that we were falling off the cliff, with Fila hugging me tightly.
When we hit the river, I slipped from Fila's grip.
The last thing I saw was red in the water.
But one thing I knew—
It wasn't mine.
And slowly...
My eyes
shut.