Although Florin City was the nearest city from here, it did not mean it could be reached in one or two steps. He remembered well that when he first played the game Aetherion Chronicle, to go from this forest to see the gates of Florin City, he had to go through two cycles of day and night.
Of course, that made Cael feel a little frustrated, so he lowered his expectations a bit.
"The important thing is to just get out of this forest first."
However, it was indeed a savage forest. Time and again, Cael almost died, attacked by black bears, giant venomous snakes, and ferocious iron-fanged wolves. And then, without realizing it, night arrived.
"Bonfire... bonfire...."
Cael's exhausted body slumped down weakly, leaning against the trunk of a giant tree. He had reached a small lake that looked beautiful at night because it reflected the stars and the full moon above.
"A bonfire should be able to restore HP and Mana, but there is no item box now." Cael sighed.
When first playing, players got one bonfire item in the item box that could be used. However, now there was no such thing as an item box, only a small bag that certainly couldn't be compared to an item box.
"I wish someone would approach me right now, and then promise to help me by giving me strength. It'd be great if she became the heroine, too?"
As if the gods had heard his prayer, he was startled by the rustling sound of bushes from the right side. Cael quickly assumed a Main Character stance. He jumped up with his hand ready to draw his sword.
Usually, a protagonist respected by readers does not rush to draw their sword. During this one day, Cael had nearly died quite a few times, so he did not panic as easily as he did when he first fought the black bear.
However, what he saw was far from what he imagined. He thought perhaps a hungry wolf's snout was hidden behind the bushes, but what emerged was a sweet girl with short blonde hair carrying a broken magic staff.
"Ah, Sir!" She hurriedly ran towards where Cael was standing. "I finally met a human, I thought I was going to die."
Cael blinked several times, not believing his own sight. Earlier, he had believed that all of this was indeed reality, but now the doubt returned. Why were his prayers answered so easily? When he was on Earth, he even started to doubt whether his prayers were even heard.
"Uhm, who are you?" Cael took a step back, feeling nervous when he smelled a fresh, fragrant scent from the girl's body.
With clothes typical of medieval times, like in movies, Cael felt as if he had been thrown into that era. Clothes like that had always piqued his interest, it was one of the reasons why Cael played the Aetherion Chronicle game, because it was set in a medieval era mixed with fantasy elements.
The girl seemed to realize she had scared the man in front of her. She placed her right hand on her upper left chest and bowed slightly.
"I apologize for startling you, I am Claire from Roven Village nearby, but I am now lost," she said gracefully.
Her fair face with green eyes was very charming and stirred Cael's heart. With the moonlight sweeping across that beautiful face, Cael felt as if this was a secret meeting between the main character and the heroine.
Is this a hidden quest that I didn't know about?
Cael never remembered a hidden quest like this when he first played the game Aetherion Chronicle.
Ah, the first time I played, I never came to this lake. Cael thought. She has introduced her name, so I must introduce mine too, but who?
Then, suddenly, a name popped into his head. It was better than his real name, Cael. Since he was now in a new world, it should be fine to use a new identity, right?
So Cael imitated the girl's demeanor; he placed his right hand on his upper left chest and bowed slightly.
"My name is Alioth and I am also lost."
That was the name of Cael's avatar in the game. He really liked the name because Alioth is the brightest star in the Ursa Major constellation. In all the games he played, he always used the name Alioth. So from this day forward, he considered his name to be Alioth.
The girl smiled and exhaled a sigh of relief. "It seems we are both lost, but I feel relieved because at least you are a human, not a monster."
Alioth was still quite wary. Usually, in stories that were a bit more serious than most isekai tales, the first woman met would turn out to be an enemy.
"Why did you get lost?"
Claire rubbed her chest and took a heavy breath. "I had a fight with my brother. Because my brother didn't want to teach me fire magic like I wanted, I went into this forest to vent my frustration. But suddenly, a pack of wolves appeared and chased me. I tried to defend myself and survived, but my magic staff broke, and I ended up here."
Alioth looked at the magic staff, which was only half an arm long.
In the Aetherion Chronicle game, a mage character who lost their staff was equivalent to being a burden. They could still cast magic, but not as strong as when using a staff. Their power dropped many times over.
"You survived with only that incomplete staff?" Alioth wouldn't believe it unless he saw it for himself. "In this dangerous forest?"
Claire nodded vaguely. "I survived by luck. After I escaped from the pack of wolves, I saw a lot of monster carcasses all along the way. I wanted to go back, but instead, I got lost even further."
Alioth was stunned. If he thought about it, he didn't know how many monsters had fallen because of his Shadow Slash skill. It was very likely that all those monster corpses were the result of his hard work all day.
Looking on the bright side, at least now I have a decent idea of how to fight, even if I'm still a bit clumsy.
"Ah, your body is full of wounds." Claire just realized that Alioth's clothes were torn here and there and covered in dried blood. "May I treat you?"
Alioth was a little astonished. "You know healing magic?"
However, Claire shook her head. The blonde girl then took out a pouch made of animal skin. "Inside here is Gold Dust to heal external wounds and it can restore Mana. It is usually sprinkled into a bonfire so the warmth can provide a healing effect. But it seems we will be in danger if we make a bonfire now, right?"
Gold Dust, that was a new name to Alioth's ears. However, hearing the girl's explanation that it was usually sprinkled into a bonfire, Alioth immediately suspected that what Claire meant was the in-game bonfire.
So Alioth nodded. "Alright, and thank you."
Claire was happy that her good intention was accepted. She sprinkled the powder onto her palm and then blew it onto Alioth's body.
Immediately, Alioth felt a calming warmth. His nearly depleted Mana slowly recovered, and his wounds closed. In an instant, the pain he felt vanished without a trace.
"Now, once we return to the village, I will give you new clothes," Claire said with a smile.
Alioth smiled too. "For now, let's sleep."
Very suddenly, Claire's smile vanished, replaced by wide, fearful eyes. "S-sleep? What if monsters attack?"
Alioth thought this girl was really innocent. Was it true that Claire was a local resident?
Even he, a resident of another world, had a good idea to solve this sleeping problem. In stories, it is usually explained that the main character will take this approach to sleep safely from monsters.
"We'll climb a tree," Alioth said casually while pointing upwards.
Claire tilted her head; she looked at Alioth with a rather strange gaze.
"Why?" The young man was surprised by Claire's reaction.
"Emm...." Claire gave a wry smile. "T-that...."
"Why? Just say it," Alioth urged, growing more curious.
Claire slowly looked up and pointed upwards as well. "Are you sure you want to climb this giant tree?"
Ah, I just remembered.
Alioth looked up too, his wry smile even more bitter.
"Damn it, this tree is so tall and there are absolutely no low branches."
"Besides, it must be slippery because it's full of moss," the beautiful blonde girl chimed in.
Then the sound of a wolf howling was heard from far away.
Claire, with a pale face, moved closer to Alioth, who became tense because now he had to fight while protecting someone else.