Dr. Ren's eyes were as wide as saucers, his voice trembling with panic. "Oh my God! What is that thing? Sou, please, do something!"
Sou stared, frozen in disbelief. The creature before them was unlike anything he had ever imagined—a spider the size of a carriage, its grotesque form enhanced by the addition of a long, elephant-like trunk. It moved with terrifying speed, each step shaking the ground beneath them.
His mind raced as the monstrous spider closed the distance. Suddenly, he shouted, "The fire! Dr. Ren, give me the fire!"
Dr. Ren blinked, momentarily confused. "The fire? What fire? Oh! Yes, the fire! Where is it?" He patted his pockets uselessly, clearly overwhelmed by the situation.
From the web, the ant groaned in exasperation. "It's in your hand, you moron! Give it to him! Hurry!"
Startled, Dr. Ren looked down at the flaming log he'd been holding the entire time. "Oh! Right!" He tossed it toward Sou with trembling hands.
Sou caught the log deftly and scanned the area, his gaze landing on a tall tree nearby. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward it, clutching the burning wood. He began climbing the tree with surprising agility, his determination overriding his fear.
"Sou!" Dr. Ren shouted from below, his voice laced with desperation. "Don't abandon me! Please!"
Sou glanced down, irritation flashing across his face. "Doc, will you shut up for one minute?!"
Once he reached a sturdy branch high above the ground, Sou balanced carefully, the log in his hand blazing brightly. He waited, watching as the spider inched closer, its red eyes glowing with predatory intent. When the creature was directly beneath him, Sou hurled the flaming log with all his strength.
The log struck the ground near the spider, and the flames erupted into a brilliant blaze. Startled, the spider let out a hideous screech, its trunk flailing wildly. It retreated quickly, skittering back into the shadows of the forest, its massive form vanishing into the gloom.
Breathing heavily, Sou climbed down and hurried to the web. He used the remaining embers of the log to burn away the sticky strands, freeing both Rema and the ant.
The ant fluttered its wings weakly as it landed on the ground. "Thank you, young man," it said, bowing its head. "You saved my life."
Before Sou could reply, the ant's body began to glow, its form shifting and morphing. When the light faded, standing in its place was a strikingly handsome man. His long, snow-white hair shimmered like silk, and his sharp, symmetrical features seemed almost otherworldly. Dressed in flowing robes embroidered with intricate golden patterns, he exuded an air of regal authority.
"Allow me to introduce myself," the man said, his voice smooth and melodic. "I am Rachel Macel, known as the Wise Saint of Austagorose. As promised, I will do everything in my power to assist you."
Rema, still catching her breath, blinked in astonishment. Her gaze lingered on Rachel's striking appearance—his piercing blue eyes, radiant smile, and graceful demeanor. So handsome… she thought, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Sou, however, looked at Rachel with disbelief. "I can't believe this," he said, his tone incredulous. "We've been searching for you for days, and we end up meeting you like this?"
Rachel chuckled softly, his smile widening. "Fate has a strange sense of humor," he replied, before noticing Rema staring at him. His eyes sparkled with mischief. "So, beautiful lady," he said, tilting his head slightly, "am I really as handsome as you seem to think?"
Rema jolted, her face turning a deeper shade of red. "Huh? Oh! I-I'm sorry, sir," she stammered, looking away in embarrassment.
Rachel chuckled again, clearly amused.
Sou, standing nearby, twitched uncomfortably. He didn't understand why, but something about the exchange irked him. His fists clenched at his sides as he glared at Rachel.
Noticing Sou's reaction, Dr. Ren leaned in close and whispered, "Hey, Sou, you'd better keep an eye on Rema. Love rivals have a way of sneaking up on you. Rachel might just be the most worthy rival you'll ever face."
Sou scoffed, his voice defensive. "What are you talking about, Doc? I don't care about that stuff. It's not like I like or love her or anything!"
Dr. Ren smirked knowingly. "Sure, sure. Whatever you say, Sou. Only God knows the truth."
As Sou grumbled under his breath, Rachel smiled, completely unaware of the tension simmering beneath the surface. Rema, meanwhile, continued to steal glances at the saint, her heart fluttering despite herself.
And so, their journey took another unexpected turn, with the enigmatic and charming Rachel now accompanying them. Little did they know, their new companion would soon prove to be both a blessing and a challenge, testing the bonds between them in ways they could never have anticipated.