As they stepped out of the Spirit Beast Garden and onto the path to Crescent Moon Forest, Reika and Zephyr felt the air grow thicker and heavier, as though someone had draped a misty veil over the sun. Reika's heartbeat quickened, the lively words of the Spirit Hall lady lingering in her mind and mingling with the creeping unease of their mysterious destination.
"Zephyr, you really think we're going to find that phoenix chicken this time?" Reika muttered, her voice revealing a faint tremble.
"With me here, you won't get bitten by any spirit beasts again," Zephyr replied with that trademark warm smile, like sunshine on a chilly day, putting a little steadiness back into her step.
She glanced at him, amused by his easygoing, golden-boy look. "You say that so casually! Last time, that so-called 'phoenix chicken' almost took my leg with it, and it still throbs when it rains!"
Zephyr chuckled, mischief dancing in his eyes. "Want me to give it a little rub for you? Or maybe let you ride on my shoulders? That way, you can be queen for the day and scout for our target from above."
"Can you be serious for once?" Reika rolled her eyes.
Behind that sunny grin, though, Zephyr's thoughts churned, keeping one eye out for signs of dark obsidian crystals—the whole reason he was interested in Crescent Moon Forest. He'd hidden his deeper mission behind the excuse of the phoenix chicken, carrying his motives lightly, unreadable, even to Reika.
Crescent Moon Forest finally loomed before them, with thick, swirling wisps of spirit energy rising off the ground and creating a shadowy aura around the tree trunks. Stepping into its borders, Reika felt the strange pressure of the forest settle on her shoulders like a warning.
"Uh… Zephyr, doesn't this place feel kinda off?" she whispered, glancing nervously at the ancient trees.
"Oh, it has all the horror movie opening vibes," he replied, lowering his voice to a spooky tone. "But don't worry. The main character doesn't get 'axed' this early on."
"Really? You had to bring that up?" she muttered, but her nerves lessened with the playful jab.
Despite his light-hearted tone, Zephyr's eyes were sharp as he scanned their surroundings. He knew Crescent Moon Forest's reputation well; many brave adventurers had entered, only for the forest to close behind them like a mouth swallowing prey. He wasn't about to drop his guard.
Suddenly, Reika's eyes widened as she pointed ahead, excitement overriding her wariness. "Look! There's something there in the tree—a feather! Is it… could it be from the phoenix chicken?"
Zephyr followed her gaze. Sure enough, a few shimmering feathers clung to the bark, emitting a faint, frosty glow. Reika hurried forward, her steps quickening with anticipation of finally catching up with their elusive target.
"Hold on! Not so fast," Zephyr called, keeping a protective pace just behind her, his usual smile intact but with an edge of caution that didn't go unnoticed.
Reika approached the feathers and, hesitating for a moment, gently touched one. A chill ran through her fingertips, spreading to her hand, causing her to pull back. "Zephyr… shouldn't the feathers feel warm? This one's freezing."
Zephyr crouched down, studying the feathers, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Strange. If this were from a phoenix chicken, it would feel hot—fiery, even. This probably isn't the bird we're after."
Suddenly, the forest's air shifted, becoming oppressively heavy, and Reika felt an invisible force drawing closer. She instinctively stepped back, eyes wide as she tried to locate the source of the ominous feeling.
"Did you hear that?" she whispered, heart pounding, scanning the trees with growing anxiety.
Zephyr didn't answer immediately. His hand drifted to his waist, a thin shield of spirit energy flickering around his fingertips. He gave Reika a calming look, yet his gaze sharpened like a blade, ready to strike.
From the shadows came a rustling, growing louder, until something enormous lunged from the undergrowth with a speed and ferocity that sent dust swirling into the air.
"Run!" Zephyr called, grabbing Reika's hand as they bolted through the forest, dodging low-hanging branches and rocks.
Reika's heartbeat echoed in her ears, and she could feel the air thickening around them. "I thought we were here for a phoenix chicken, not some wild chase for our lives!"
"Spirit beasts don't always follow the plan," Zephyr responded with a laugh, sounding a little too amused for the circumstances. "Now, run faster before it turns us into snacks!"
The two dodged and weaved as the beast charged forward, its steps pounding into the ground behind them. Finally, they spotted a hidden alcove and slipped into it, breathlessly watching as the creature continued its rampage down the path.
"Whew… that was close," Reika panted, leaning against a tree, her face pale but her usual humor surfacing. "For a second, I thought we were about to star in a 'forest monster's feast' special."
"Guess we got lucky this time." Zephyr's smile remained unfazed, though he was secretly relieved as well. He knew Crescent Moon Forest held far more mysteries than just that last encounter. This was likely only the beginning of their challenges.
Reika managed a chuckle, finding relief in the humor. "Zephyr, maybe we need a 'spirit beast guidebook' so we know which ones to avoid in the future."
"Let me guess, first page: 'Spirit beasts are unpredictable.' Second page: 'Run for your life,'" Zephyr replied, giving her an exaggeratedly serious look.
They both burst out laughing, the tension finally easing as they leaned back and let the forest's eerie quiet surround them. Just as their laughter faded, the atmosphere shifted again, with an unmistakable sensation of something powerful lurking in the trees ahead.
"Zephyr…" Reika whispered, her earlier lightheartedness replaced with a serious tone, "Do you feel that?"
Zephyr's gaze turned steely, focusing on a spot in the trees. He'd felt the same wave of spirit energy washing over them, its source hidden, yet unmistakably potent.
They exchanged a knowing look before stepping forward, cautious but curious. The deeper they ventured, the denser and darker the trees grew, casting long, twisted shadows across the forest floor. An unsettling, low rumbling sounded from nearby, something between a growl and a whisper, setting their nerves on edge.
"Are we… getting close to a big reveal?" Reika ventured, her tone half-joking, half-hopeful.
"Maybe even a hidden boss fight," Zephyr replied with a glint of excitement.
The two crept forward, the world around them shifting and intensifying. Somewhere beyond, in the dark depths of Crescent Moon Forest, a mystery awaited them.
＊＊＊
As they ventured deeper into Crescent Moon Forest, Reika and Zephyr found the air thickening, carrying a strange, charged hum that made the trees sway with eerie whispers. Both moved cautiously, trying to shake off the weight of the forest's oppressive silence.
"Weren't we just supposed to find spirit herbs here? How'd it turn into some kind of spirit beast mega mall?" Reika asked, her voice low but laced with a hint of exasperation as she recalled what Master Brightforge had mentioned about this place.
"Good question," Zephyr replied, fingers brushing over a tree trunk with deep claw marks. He wore his usual grin, though the edges of his smile hinted at a hidden wariness. "Spirit beasts shouldn't be swarming the forest like this—something's definitely off."
Reika scanned the area, spotting overturned stones, splintered branches, and even a few spirit beast remains littering the ground, their last trace of energy fading into the damp earth. "Uh… you think they're all fighting each other? These guys didn't exactly have a friendly picnic."
"Spirit beasts fighting, sure, but this feels more… unnatural," Zephyr replied thoughtfully, his voice low. "It's like something's controlling this place."
As they took another cautious step forward, a nearby bush suddenly rustled with an alarming ferocity. An enormous shadow advanced, accompanied by a bone-rattling roar that seemed to tear the very air apart.
"Look out!" Zephyr shouted, pulling Reika behind him while his other hand unsheathed his sword in one fluid motion, the blade humming as it sliced through the air.
They were face-to-face with a massive spirit beast—a Blazing Fang Tiger. Standing over twelve feet tall, its blood-red eyes seemed to burn with inner fire. Its jagged teeth glinted with a metallic sheen, and the striped fur on its muscular body shimmered as though aflame. Its mere presence was like staring down a small volcano ready to erupt.
"Oh no… This thing looks like it skipped breakfast, lunch, and dinner!" Reika stammered, feeling a trickle of sweat on her forehead. She'd known spirit beasts were dangerous, but this felt like facing a mini-boss on level one.
With a powerful growl, the tiger crouched and sprang at them, claws outstretched, pouncing with the weight of an avalanche.
"Get on the sword!" Zephyr commanded, springing into the air as his spirit-charged sword flew up, carrying him just out of reach. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a second sword toward Reika.
"I… I don't know how!" she yelped, gripping the hilt as if it were her only lifeline, eyes wide with panic.
"Easy—just say the flight mantra and try not to think too hard!" he called down, somehow managing to sound casual, as if they were trying out a new playground ride.
Taking a shaky breath, Reika forced herself to focus, gripping the sword tighter and muttering the flight mantra under her breath. She cautiously stepped onto the sword.
The moment her foot touched the blade, the sword rocketed upward, and Reika flailed wildly, her balance nowhere to be found. She spun helplessly through the air, trying and failing to control her trajectory until she finally crashed to the ground in a spectacular face-first dive, her hair askew and pride thoroughly squashed.
"Ahhh!" Reika's cry of frustration echoed through the trees. She scrambled to her feet, dirt smeared across her face, looking like she'd barely survived a landslide.
Zephyr, watching the whole thing unfold, couldn't hold back his laughter, doubling over as he tried not to drop his sword. "Reika, you've got some serious technique there—you fell with such authority, even the tiger took off running!"
"Hilarious. Just hilarious!" she snapped, crossing her arms with a mix of embarrassment and indignation. But as she glared at Zephyr, she noticed the Blazing Fang Tiger slinking away into the underbrush, clearly unnerved by her less-than-graceful performance.
"Wait… it ran away? Seriously?" Reika blinked, looking from the retreating tiger to Zephyr, who was now practically crying from laughing so hard.
"You're a natural, Reika! One faceplant, and you've got spirit beasts fearing for their lives," he teased, still catching his breath. "You should consider making this your signature move!"
"Oh, very funny," she muttered, brushing herself off. But deep down, she couldn't help but laugh along with him. "One more stunt like that, and I might be the first 'flying face-plant master.'"
Zephyr straightened up, wiping his eyes, though his smile remained. "If it keeps working, who's to argue?"
As they chuckled, Zephyr's mind raced, hiding the tension that his own spirit energy release had stirred up. He'd kept a careful mask, making sure Reika didn't catch onto the fact that he'd used a sliver of his hidden power.
"By the way, Zephyr," Reika said, frowning slightly, "why did you make flying a sword look so easy, but when I try, it's like a wrestling match?"
"Maybe because you're overthinking it," he replied with a grin. "Flying a sword is about going with the flow, not trying to force it like you're kicking off a stubborn horse."
Reika let out a sigh, but her lips quirked up into a grin. "Good point. With how I'm going, I'll probably scare myself off the sword next time."
"Hey, you've got me with you. I'll make sure you don't end up as spirit beast bait," he reassured her, his tone light-hearted but his gaze softened.
"Are you implying you're my personal good luck charm?" she quipped, arching an eyebrow.
"Personal bodyguard, good luck charm—call it what you want," Zephyr replied, patting his chest with a smug smile.
Reika rolled her eyes with a laugh. "Alright, my 'bodyguard,' where are we off to next?"
Zephyr's expression turned thoughtful, recalling a towering tree he'd spotted from above. "I saw a massive spirit tree up ahead. If anything is going on in this forest, that might be the place to check."
"A massive tree?" Reika echoed, her curiosity piqued despite the eerie atmosphere. "Well, why not? We don't have much else to go on."
And so, they set off once more, with Reika still brushing leaves out of her hair, ready to follow her "bodyguard" deeper into the unknown, toward whatever secrets Crescent Moon Forest had yet to reveal.