Rifi slowly began to regain his senses, his body still heavy with exhaustion. He had no idea how much time had passed, and every muscle in his body ached with a deep, persistent pain. His eyes fluttered open, struggling to adjust to the blurry darkness around him. It took a moment for his mind to catch up, to remember where he was—or more accurately, to wonder where he had ended up.
The faint sound of running water reached his ears, soothing but unfamiliar. He turned his head toward the source of the noise, and the brightness of light filtering through a small opening blinded him. Squinting, he tried to make sense of his surroundings. He realized he must be inside a cave.
The thought offered a small sense of relief. If the cave had an owner with ill intentions, he would have already been dead by now. The fact that he was alive meant, for now at least, he was safe. His entire body felt like it had been run over by a boulder, but after everything he'd been through, the idea of resting, even in a strange cave, was a welcome change.
He breathed deeply, savoring the cool, humid air of the cave. Each breath still burned in his lungs, but it felt incredible—like the first real breath of life he'd taken in ages. The soft murmur of the nearby river sang a gentle lullaby, its sound soothing the edges of his pain.
Life and death… they just can't stop torturing me, can they? Those bastards love to watch me struggle, then spare me at the last moment, Rifi thought, a wry smile creeping onto his face. Well, I won't complain. I'll take this little peace while I can.
But just as he began to relax, a voice broke the stillness.
"Oh, human… you can still smile?"
The words sent a jolt of fear through him. His body stiffened immediately, every muscle on high alert. Rifi pushed himself back against the cave wall, his heart pounding. His eyes darted toward the darker depths of the cave where the voice had come from, but he could see nothing.
"Who… who are you?" he stammered, his voice cracking. "What do you want with me?"
A strange, almost purring laughter echoed from the shadows, an eerie sound that sent shivers down Rifi's spine.
"Silly human," the voice teased. "Who would want anything from a human?"
The laughter continued, still strange, but there was no malice in it—just amusement.
Rifi forced himself to relax, just a little. There was no immediate danger in the voice, no sense of hostility. "Why do you call me human?" he asked, his voice a little steadier. "Aren't you also human? And why did you save me if you don't want anything?"
The voice scoffed, almost offended. "I certainly am not human," it replied, with a touch of disdain. "And from what I've seen of your kind, I'm quite glad for that. As for why you're alive… well, I found your courage amusing in that last battle. So, on a whim, I decided to help you. Nothing more."
Rifi's confusion deepened, though the panic was starting to fade. "I… I'm sorry if I offended you," he said cautiously. "But I'm still not sure why you brought me here. Who are you?"
The voice sighed, a note of sadness slipping into its tone. "I am not of this world," it said quietly. "And I am likely the last of my kind. For months, I have watched this world, learned what little I could, and searched for something... until I found you."
Rifi's confusion only grew. He shook his head, trying to make sense of the strange words. "I don't understand… Why would you be looking for me?"
"I wasn't looking for you specifically, little human," the voice explained. "But I was searching for anyone with a natural connection to the world's energy—or what you humans call magic. Surely you've noticed how magic is drawn to you, how it flows toward you without much effort, haven't you?"
Rifi thought for a moment before responding. "Now that you mention it… yes. I've always felt that magic comes to me easily, especially after my core rank increased. But I thought that was just how it worked for most mages."
"You are the first I've found since I arrived in this world," the voice said, sounding both bitter and weary. "There may be others, but I do not have much time left to search. Nor can I leave this place. But you, little human, may be the only hope for your world—and for me." The voice paused, then added, "Now, come toward me. There is a mana vein here, and it will help you heal faster. We can talk face to face."
Rifi hesitated, unsure if this was some kind of trap. But after everything, why would the voice have gone to the trouble of keeping him alive only to kill him now? He had no choice but to trust it for now. He groaned as he forced his aching body to move, his legs barely functional. He limped deeper into the cave, his steps slow and painful.
"My name is Rifi," he said as he made his way forward. "Do you mind telling me yours?"
"I am Nala, a warrior of the Felis Silvestris family."
As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Rifi could make out the shape of a large creature resting in a shallow pond. It looked somewhat like the panther he had fought before, but larger, more majestic. Only the back of Nala's head protruded above the water, resting on the edge of the pond.
"Come closer, little human," Nala said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Don't worry, I don't bite." A soft chuckle followed, and Rifi could see the faint outline of Nala's teeth—or rather, what remained of them. One canine was completely missing, while the other was broken in half.
"My body was nearly destroyed in a battle long ago, back when I fled to this world," Nala continued. "This pond and the mana vein within it are all that keep me alive. There's plenty of room here for both of us, and it will help your injuries heal faster. We don't have much time."
Rifi's heart sank as he took in Nala's broken form. Despite their differences, they shared similar fates—both of them survivors of battles that had left them scarred and broken. But where Rifi had been lucky enough to survive, Nala seemed to be slowly fading.
"So… you're dying, Nala?" Rifi asked softly, his voice heavy with sympathy. "Is that why you say we don't have much time?"
"I am indeed dying," Nala replied, his voice solemn. "But that is not the only reason. The devils who destroyed my people will soon be able to open a portal into this world. Once they arrive, they will seek to annihilate your world, just as they did mine. I need you to grow stronger, Rifi, to defend your world—and to avenge my people."
Rifi stepped to the edge of the pond, meeting Nala's gaze. The weight of the creature's words hung heavy in the air. "You are still early in your cultivation," Nala continued, his voice grave, "but you are the only hope I have left. It may not be fair, but I must entrust my people's vengeance—and the fate of this world—to you. What do you say, little Rifi? Will you help this old warrior fulfill his last wish?"
Rifi hesitated, pondering the enormity of what Nala was asking. He had never sought battle, never yearned to fight, but he understood the pain of loss, the desire for revenge. With some effort, he slid into the pond, his injuries protesting with every movement. Grumbling to himself, he finally settled into the water, turning to Nala with a more resolute expression.
"I made a promise to survive," Rifi said, his voice steady. "And I'll do whatever I can to keep that promise. I won't seek out battle, but if these devils come for our world, I'll give everything I have to stop them. And if it brings peace to you and your family, I'll fight in their name to stop the devils."
Nala's whiskers twitched, and a low, rumbling laugh echoed through the cave once more.
"That is all I needed to hear, little Rifi," Nala said, his voice lighter now, as if a great burden had lifted. "My heart trembles at the thought of my family's name being used again… to stop these devils at last."