That morning, sunlight began to filter through the gaps in the thin curtains of the inn, waking Nyssa, who was used to rising earlier than her companions.
She got up from her wooden bed and immediately began to organize her combat gear.
With quick and practiced movements, she donned her leather armor and retrieved the sword stored in her artifact ring, a rare sight among ordinary adventurers.
After ensuring she was ready, Nyssa stepped out of her room to wake the others.
Ethan, Draven, and Lina were still sound asleep when Nyssa knocked on their doors one by one.
"Ethan, Draven, Lina! Time to wake up," Nyssa called out with a firm but not overly loud tone. "It's morning, and we have a mission to complete."
Ethan's door opened first. With slightly messy hair and a sleepy expression, Ethan stood at the threshold, rubbing his face with his hand.
"Is it morning?" he mumbled half-conscious.
Nyssa nodded. "Yes, and we need to move quickly. The gray werewolf won't wait for us."
Ethan nodded slowly and began to get ready while Nyssa continued to wake the others. Draven and Lina, though still looking tired, took little time to prepare.
After a few minutes, they had all gathered in front of the inn, ready to continue their journey.
"Alright, we need to check the surroundings of this village and find out more about the gray werewolf that poses a threat to the villagers. We can't wait until nightfall without knowing anything about our enemy," Nyssa stated firmly.
Draven nodded, slinging his bow over his shoulder. "I'll check the outskirts of the forest; there might be tracks or signs of the werewolf there."
"Lina, you can use your power to gather information from the wind. See if you can pick up anything," Nyssa added, trying to adjust to the group dynamics.
"Okay," Lina replied as she moved her hands, preparing her wind energy. "I'll try to listen to the whispers of nature."
"And I'll look around the village. We should also talk to the villagers and see if they've noticed anything suspicious," Nyssa added.
The group then split up to spread in different directions, each with specific tasks. Ethan headed toward the open fields on the village's edge, feeling that tracks might be more visible there.
After walking for a while, Ethan began to take notice of his surroundings.
The ground in the field looked somewhat trampled, and there were large footprints leading toward the forest. "Hmm, this might be the signs we're looking for," he muttered, mentally taking note.
Suddenly, the sound of rapid footsteps approached from behind. Ethan turned and saw Nyssa coming closer.
"I saw you here, Ethan. Did you find anything?"
"Yes, there are large footprints here," Ethan replied, pointing out the tracks he had found. "It looks like werewolf tracks. We need to follow them."
Nyssa nodded, her face displaying a serious expression. "But we have to be careful. We don't know how close they are to here. Let's follow these tracks."
As they began to follow the tracks, Nyssa suddenly halted. "Ethan, may I ask about your power? Last night, when we faced the Razorbacks, I saw something different from you something like Hyak but strong like Mana?"
Ethan's heart raced at the question. He knew Nyssa was a perceptive person, and lies would not deceive her.
However, revealing the true origin of his power that he was of the long-extinct Devourer race was very risky. He needed to think quickly to respond without revealing too much.
"Nyssa," Ethan said, trying to keep his tone calm and unremarkable. "The power you saw comes from... a technique I've learned over years of training. An ability to harness the energy around us."
Nyssa narrowed her eyes, seeming not fully satisfied with his answer. "But that's not like an ordinary technique, Ethan. I've met many adventurers and seen various abilities. What you demonstrated against the Razorbacks can't be explained just by technique alone. I felt a darker, deeper aura."
Ethan swallowed hard, feeling trapped by his own words. He thought for a moment, trying to find a way to ease Nyssa's suspicions without lying.
"There... there is an element of lineage in my power," he finally answered, slightly teasing a deeper truth without revealing it directly. "My family has a history of fighting and mastering this power. Perhaps that's why my strength seems different."
Nyssa pondered, appearing not entirely convinced by Ethan's answer but also not wanting to continue the debate during their journey.
"Alright, I understand. But remember, Ethan. In this group, we need to trust each other. If something dangerous arises and that power comes out, I want to know how to deal with it."
Ethan nodded, though inside he felt a heavier burden. Keeping the secret of his origins was not easy. For him, admitting he was a Devourer, a race thought to be extinct and isolated, was a great challenge.
After a moment, Ethan asked again, "Nyssa, about the artifact you use to store things, that ring... how does it work?"
Nyssa smiled, pleased to share. "This is a storage item. Created from ancient magic, this artifact allows the user to easily store and retrieve items. It's very useful for adventures like this. I can store weapons, potions, or anything I need in it."
"Interesting. That seems very practical," Ethan commented, feeling curious.
Not long after their conversation, the footprints led them deeper into the forest, and the atmosphere began to feel more tense.
The usual sounds of the forest became silent, as if something was watching them.
They exchanged wary glances, aware that tonight could be very dangerous.
"From here, we need to be more cautious," Nyssa whispered. "We have to find out where they are hiding and plan our strategy."
Ethan nodded. "Let's move on."
They continued walking, sensing a mysterious aura surrounding them. The tension increased with each step, and both knew that the coming battle would test their courage and strength.