Chris and Elara walked side by side as they followed the village elder into the Dark Woods, the other kids were behind them, walking close as they felt protected under the presence of Chris and Elara.
The village elder's eyes began to dart around the place, his eyes roaming the eerily silent forest.
"How strange.." He muttered out loud, "There's not a sign of monsters anywhere."
Chris could hear the kids behind him breathe a sigh of relief, while Elara looked more annoyed. She pouted slightly as she really wanted to face some monsters, especially after the small training session they just had.
"How stupid.." Elara said dissapointed. "We've been walking for a while now, and yet, no monsters, just when i was starting to get excited."
Chris chuckled and smiled towards her "Cheer up, there'll be monsters to face once we become adventurers." He said as he looked forward.
Elara calmed down and managed a smile, though she wanted to get her blood boiling in a heated hunt, she knew that she should take it slow and steady. Jack clenched his fists from behine them as he grit his teeth, Jack's partner felt the anger coming off from him and took a few steps back.
Suddenly, the village elder stopped dead in his tracks. All the children came to a stop too, curiousity filling their minds. Infront of the village elder, a Dark Hound's body lied. It's head was badly damaged as it bleed from it's mouth, ears, and nose.
"What the..?" The village elder muttered as he took a step back, he moved his gaze from the body and looked ahead, and to his shock, there were alot more bodies.
"Who could've done this?" The village elder asked himself, nervously stroking his chin in contemplation.
One of the children suddenly ran up to him and pointed at a certain spot on the ground "Look!" They shouted.
The village elder followed the dirfection the child was pointing at, and immediately his eyes went wide. On the ground were footprints, many of them all scattered around the place.
Chris' body tensed up as he clenched his fists, his eyes were wide and hungry as he saw that some of the Dark Hound corpses had Souls attached to their bodies. Chris could feel a strong heat build in his mouth as the saliva in his mouth began to rise.
Elara noticed this and raised an eyebrow while maintaning a serious expression, a bit concerned, she gently shook Chris by the arm "Chris, are you okay?" She asked concerned.
Chris blinked as if waking up from a dream as soon he heard Elara's voice. He turned to face her and managed a small smile, "Sorry, the sight of monster corpses make me a bit, uncomfortable." Chris lied.
Elara's eyes narrowed as she glared at Chris suspiciously, she could tell that he was abviously lying, but before she could probe further, the village lord suddenly turned to them.
"Children, it is not safe here. Something strange is going on, and i'm going to investigate it. In the meantime, you all can go home and rest, there won't be any hunting taking place for a while." He said to the children.
Chris nodded, "Okay, we understand." Chris assured the village elder before turning back and walking towards the village.
Elara watched him for a few seconds, before deciding to leave as well, hurriedly running after him. The remaining kids followed suit, and one by one they all left the Dark Woods and headed home.
'I'll definetly be coming back to that place.' Chris said to himself as a wide grin formed on his lips, his mind set on absorbing the remaining souls.
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A few hours later...
"Ungh.." Liora stirred in her sleep as she stirred awake, the light of the moon flowing into her room through her window, barely illuminating the dark space.
Liora clutched her head, a strong pain booming across every cell of her mind. She began recalling the fight with Lisa, her Elite Pet, Saber, was now dead. Liora grit her teeth in frustration at the painful loss, she tried to stand up from her bed, but was suddenly yanked back as a metal cuff was placed on her left arm.
"W-what the hell!?" Liora couldn't help but gasp as her eyes widened in shock, she instictively began to yank on the chain, each thrust of her hand made the chain jingle and her arm ache.
After trying for a while, Liora had given up. Despair weighed heavy on her mind as she stared hopelessly at the cuff of her hand, "What do i do...?" Liora muttered to herself be her eyes went wide and a idea struck her.
Though she didn't have the physical strength to break through the chains, but do you know else did? The Snow Rabbits! Liora smiled as hope began to surge inside her, she gently raised her palm and pointed it to a corner of the room, ready to summon her fluffy allies.
But before she could, the door to her room swung open unexpectedly. Liora immediately yanked her hand back and turned her head towards the figure walking into the room.
Liora's breath caught in her throat as her father stepped closer, his cold eyes fixed on her with chilling intensity. Her mother and sister lingered behind him, silent but observing her with unreadable expressions. The duke's gaze was probing, calculating.
"Liora," he began, his voice low and dangerously calm. "I have a simple question. Tell me how you control those beasts."
Liora narrowed her eyes, her lips pressed into a stubborn line. She met his stare defiantly, refusing to give him even the slightest hint of an answer.
He sighed, as if disappointed. "Very well," he muttered, raising his hand. Liora watched warily as a faint orange glow flickered at his fingertip, a spark of heat radiating from it.
"If you won't answer," he continued with a dark smile, "I have other ways of making you talk."
Liora clenched her fists against the chains, forcing herself to keep her breathing steady, even as fear slithered up her spine. The duke stepped closer, his finger glowing brighter with the warmth of contained flame. Without another word, he pressed his heated finger to her stomach, just above her navel.
A sharp, searing pain tore through her, forcing a hiss from her clenched teeth. The heat radiated from the small point of contact, burrowing into her skin like a red-hot brand. She struggled not to cry out, her body trembling with the effort.
"Now," the duke whispered, his face inches from hers, "will you speak?"
Liora forced herself to meet his gaze, her voice a hoarse whisper. "I'd… rather die than tell you."
He clicked his tongue, as if chastising a child, and pressed harder, the heat intensifying. The pain was almost unbearable, but Liora clung to her silence. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
As the scent of scorched skin filled the room, Lisa's straight expression faltered. Her gaze dropped to the floor, her arms wrapping around herself as she looked away from the cruel scene. Liora caught the momentary flicker of guilt in her sister's eyes—a flash of remorse that seemed to battle with her loyalty to their father.
Their mother, impassive as ever, remained still, but Lisa's breaths grew uneven. Her hand twitched as if to reach out and stop him, but she froze, caught between her father's expectations and the horror of what she was witnessing.
"Remember, Liora," her father's voice was a hiss, "this is just the beginning. If you don't cooperate, I'll ensure you experience a far worse fate."
Liora gritted her teeth, her resolve only hardening as she looked her father in the eyes. But she couldn't ignore the glimmer of guilt she'd seen in Lisa's eyes—a hint that, perhaps, her sister's heart wasn't entirely cold.