Mizar had gone quite far during his stroll. After visiting several places, he decided to turn back. As he contemplates his next move, he muses, "Hm... maybe I should take a shortcut." With that thought in mind, he heads towards a nearby dirt road that leads downhill.
He had walked to a very steep dirt road that led to a high hill. That was when he noticed a small girl walking in front of him. Despite her petite frame, she carried a rather large backpack.
She had brought a remarkably large backpack on her back, which towered over her size and almost wrapped her entire back from sight. The sheer size of that thing must have been very heavy for her as she pulled herself up when she trekked to the top of the hill. Intrigued, Mizar caught a glimpse of her from behind and grew curious to see her face.
He approached her cautiously, gradually matching his pace with hers, hoping to overtake her and catch a frontal view. As he walks alongside her, Mizar finally catches sight of her face, and he is instantly captivated.
The girl possesses the most adorable features. Her long black hair cascaded down to her hips. Her eyes are deep and dark, with a touch of innocence shining through. Though she carries slight eye bags and a hint of fatigue, her pale complexion radiates a delicate charm, with a subtle rosy hue.
She had been panting and out of breath as she struggled to climb up the hill. The heavy backpack she carried had become a huge burden on her.
When Mizar finally walked beside her, the girl suddenly became aware of Mizar's gaze.
"Hi there!" greeted Mizar cheerily.
"That looks heavy. Need a hand?" Mizar said, offering his help.
"No, thanks. I can handle it," the girl said, refusing Mizar's offer to help.
She climbed the hill several steps away before she stopped and looked at the road in front of her. It was an ascending road that led to the top of the hill. She could see that she still had a long way to go. Even after she had placed her full efforts, it had barely taken her one-fourth of the way to the peak.
"Hah..." she let out a huge sigh. "After thinking about it, I changed my mind," She said as she put down her backpack.
"Could you lend me a hand? The bag is killing me," she finally asked for help.
"Sure," Mizar said, beaming with light.
Mizar took the huge backpack from her back and effortlessly carried it on his back. "Where are you going, carrying such a big bag with you?" he asked. He could carry the bag quite well, but the weight of the bag was significant enough to change his posture a bit.
"I'm planning to go get the scenery of the rice field on the top of that hill to work on my paintings." She said while pointing her finger to the hill where there was a single tree planted on top.
"Can you help me bring it there?" her voice filled with a mix of anticipation and hope.
"with pleasure," He was happy that he was able to help. He carried the bag and went with her to the hill.
As they walked together Mizar started to strike up a conversation.
"I forgot to introduce myself by the way. My name is Mizar Morgan. what's yours" With a genuine smile curved on his bright face, he warmly introduced himself to her.
"I'm Nine Nocturne, nice to meet you Mizar," She said, trying to reply to his warm welcoming introduction.
After a moment, they finally arrived at the top. the views from there were amazing as they could see the entire view of the terrace rice fields.
"Finally, we're here."
"Thanks for your help, I really appreciated it"
"It's nothing big, "He said as he put down the bag under the tree.
It was a really sunny day and the tree provided them with a nice shade and the cool breeze helped them cool themself under the bright hot sun.
Nine was looking at the nice view from the top of the hill she could see everything from atop it. She was like looking as if she was trying to spot someone from that spot.
"What are you looking for?" Mizar asked her. He wondered why did she look restless as they have just arrived there.
"Nothing. Well, I don't have much time. Better start to this it quickly" She then pulled her painting set from her bag and started to paint.
with a single store from her brush, she was able to make a clear image of the horizon on the canvas. She drew the painting meticulously and with great focus. and within just a few minutes, she finished a quick sketch of the scenery, it was a rough painting of the place, but she got the general image of the place they were in, she drew all the important detail of the place and stared at her painting for several more minute.
"Hey, that was really fast? Why are you so in a hurry?" Mizar was curious why did she went to a great length to climb the hill just to draw a simple painting of the view of the place.
"I need the painting from later, I don't have a map so drawing it from here would help me to figure out the whole place easier."
"a map? you're not from here aren't you?"
"Yes, I have to meet someone. how about you Mizar? You're not from here too?"
"I'm on vacation, I guess. I just wanted to find a strong person here"
"A strong person? Are you perhaps a duelist?"
"Spot on! I am a duelist, and I am currently training now"
"Well... I can tell that you're strong"
Nine was able to sense a familiar aura that Mizar exuded. He was brimming with a never-ending stream of mana. But now she can't afford to think about him, she didn't want to avert her attention now as she hurriedly collected her equipment
After Nine completed her painting. She turned towards Mizar, her voice steady and eyes brimming with anticipation. "Hey, Mizar, I have a small request," she began, her words laced with seriousness.
Just as she was about to complete her sentence, a deafening thunderclap shattered the air, drowning out her words in its menacing roar. As if on cue, the temperature plummeted, causing the air to turn frigid. A foreboding rumbling sound resonated through the atmosphere, heralding the approach of ominous, dark clouds.
Suddenly, a bone-chilling gust of wind swept through the area, causing the surroundings to grow eerily still. From the murky depths of the encroaching darkness, a figure emerged with a malevolent aura.
As the oppressive storm raged on, a bone-chilling voice pierced through the tumultuous winds, chilling the hearts of all who heard it.
"There you are!" The angry proclamation echoed from above, resonating with a venomous fury.
Emerging from the tempestuous sky, a witch soared through the air, her presence exuding an unspeakable terror.
With eyes bulging grotesquely from their sockets and veins pulsating ominously on her contorted face, she glared at her prey with an intensity that sent waves of fear coursing through their veins. The witch's wrath was palpable, her anger manifesting in every sinew of her being.
"Where did you think you were going, young lady?" Her words dripped with malice, a warning of the horrors that awaited the unfortunate girl who had dared to defy her.