Lyra walked along the forest path, her legs heavy but her heart still racing from the fight with the Razorclaw Bear. The rush of adrenaline had faded, leaving behind the familiar ache of exhaustion. Her body was sore, her muscles trembling as the strength the Ramen had given her fully wore off. She felt like a normal adventurer again—powerful, but not invincible.
The town came into view ahead, the stone walls and thatched rooftops bathed in the fading light of the setting sun. Merchants were beginning to pack up their stalls for the evening, and adventurers gathered in the tavern, their laughter and rowdy cheers filling the air. Lyra considered heading straight for the tavern herself—perhaps a pint of ale and a long rest would help shake off the exhaustion.
But as she stepped into the outskirts of the town, something caught her eye.
A figure was walking slowly through the market square, moving almost like a ghost among the crowd. His cloak was torn and dirty, his gait sluggish, as if each step took great effort. Lyra's eyes narrowed, and a flicker of recognition sparked in her mind.
That face... she knew that face.
Jarin. He had been a skilled adventurer—a warrior she had fought beside more than once. They had shared a few quests together, and he was one of the few adventurers Lyra had truly respected. But Jarin had disappeared months ago, venturing into the Great Forest with a team of adventurers on a mission to explore the deepest regions of the forest. No one had seen or heard from him since. It was widely believed that his group had been lost to the forest's dangers.
And yet, here he was.
Lyra's brow furrowed as she pushed through the crowd, her eyes locked on him. "Jarin?" she called, her voice sharp.
But Jarin didn't respond. His eyes were glassy, unfocused, as if he didn't recognize the world around him. His face was pale, his lips thin and cracked, and his movements were stiff, mechanical.
"Jarin!" Lyra called again, this time louder. She stepped in front of him, blocking his path. He stopped, his gaze flicking to her but without any sign of recognition. His once-vibrant eyes seemed dull, empty.
Lyra frowned, placing a hand on his arm. "What happened to you? Where've you been?" she demanded, searching his face for any sign of the man she once knew. "We thought you were dead."
Jarin blinked slowly, his mouth opening as if to speak, but no words came out. His body swayed slightly, like he was on the verge of collapsing.
Lyra's hand tightened on his arm. "Jarin, talk to me," she urged, her voice dropping low. "What did you find in the forest?"
But he didn't respond. Instead, he pulled his arm away from her grip and continued walking, his slow, mechanical steps carrying him deeper into the town's narrow streets. Lyra stood frozen for a moment, watching him disappear into the shadows, a knot of unease forming in her chest.
This isn't right.
She had heard rumors—whispers from the adventurers who had ventured too far into the Great Forest—about strange things lurking in its depths. There were tales of people who had gone missing, only to return later... changed. Some came back with no memory of who they were or what had happened to them. Others returned with strange powers, their bodies altered by the magic that lived in the forest's heart.
But Jarin wasn't just changed—he was broken. Hollow.
Lyra's instincts screamed at her to follow him, to find out what had happened to him and his team. But she hesitated, her mind still spinning from the fight with the Razorclaw Bear and the fading effects of the Ramen. She wasn't in any condition to dive into another mystery, not right now.
Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Something bigger than just a lost adventurer returning from the depths of the forest. And if Jarin had found something out there—something dangerous—she needed to know what it was.
Her thoughts drifted back to Evan's shop, to the strange power the Ramen had given her. If there was more going on in the forest than anyone realized, she might need that strength again.
I'll follow him, she decided. But not tonight.
She watched the last of the daylight fade from the sky, her mind already turning over the possibilities. There were too many questions, too many unknowns. What had happened to Jarin in the forest? Why had he returned in such a state? And most importantly—what was he hiding?
Lyra turned on her heel, heading back toward the town square. She'd need to rest, recover from the day's battle, and then figure out her next move. But one thing was clear—whatever secrets the Great Forest held, they were darker and more dangerous than she had imagined.