The silence hung in the air, only the crackling of the campfire and the gentle rustling of leaves in the wind filling the surroundings. In a clearing, with night already approaching, the flickering light of the fire cast shadows on Ghislaine's serious face.
She raised her hands over Rygar's arm, where a cut was still bleeding. Her red eye shone intensely under the firelight as her firm and controlled voice resonated:
"Divine power is rich and nourishing. It offers the strength to rise again to those who have lost their strength. Healing."
A bright green energy emanated from her palm, enveloping Rygar's wound. He felt the flesh mending, the pain fading away like a distant memory. However, his eyes were not fixed on the disappearing scar.
No. He was looking at Ghislaine in a different way.
The fire's glow highlighted every contour of her face. The scars marking her skin did not make her any less beautiful; instead, they made her even more striking. The corner of her lips curved almost imperceptibly, and at that exact moment, Rygar found himself lost in it, his gaze carrying a touch of lust, even if unconsciously.
"Rygar?"
Eris's voice cut through his reverie. He blinked quickly and averted his gaze, snapping back to reality. Eris looked at him with her head slightly tilted, curious but without suspecting what was going through his mind.
Recovering swiftly, he flashed a smile.
"Congratulations, Eris. And Ghislaine, you are now elemental mages in fire, water, and healing magic, which completes the magic curriculum I planned for you." His voice carried pride. "Also, even though there are some details left, you both can now read and write in the human language."
Eris's eyes widened before her face lit up with a smile so big it seemed impossible to contain. She jumped into the air and spun around, laughing loudly, her energy as contagious as ever.
"Finally! I'll never study again!" she exclaimed, her fists clenched in pure joy. "And I'm a complete mage now!"
Ghislaine, on the other hand, maintained her usual posture, but Rygar noticed how her tail swayed slightly. For those who knew her well, this was a clear sign of happiness. She closed her eyes for a brief moment before crossing her arms and nodding.
"I appreciate your teachings."
Rygar smiled, seeing the veiled satisfaction on the sword master's face.
Then, as if remembering something, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small object. The silver gleam reflected the firelight as he extended it toward Eris.
It was a wolf-shaped pendant, attached to a simple but sturdy chain. The details were sculpted with precision, making the piece surprisingly realistic. The wolf's eyes were small red stones, almost the same color as Eris's own eyes.
She blinked, surprised, not immediately understanding.
"You and Skoll are very close," Rygar began, his voice softer. "So I decided to give you something to remind you of him for your birthday."
Eris blinked again.
"M-my birthday??"
The shock in her voice made Ghislaine raise an eyebrow, and Rygar chuckled quietly. The redhead's genuine reaction even made Geese, who had been listening from a distance, let out a muffled laugh.
Geese crossed his arms and smiled as he saw Eris's stunned expression. With a theatrical gesture, he reached for a finely crafted wooden box, which he carried with a certain care. He placed it before Eris and, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, announced:
"Besides that, Eris, we all got together and bought this for you."
Eris blinked, still trying to process the situation. Geese opened the box, revealing a lightweight yet durable leather armor, intricately designed with an elegant dark brown tone. Every stitch and plate indicated high-quality craftsmanship, made to ensure mobility without sacrificing defense. Alongside it lay a fine fabric cloak, clearly enchanted, with a faint bluish glow running through its folds.
"This magic cloak was found by Rygar in an enchantment shop. It has the ability to make the wearer lighter, which works well with your sword skills. You'll be even faster." Geese explained, gently pushing the box toward her.
Eris remained motionless, staring at the gift with wide eyes, her face tinged with disbelief. Slowly, her trembling fingers touched the surface of the armor, feeling its soft yet sturdy texture. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.
After a moment, she lifted her gaze, filled with genuine emotion, and directed it toward Ghislaine with an expectation she could barely contain.
Rygar noticed that Ghislaine didn't seem to realize it and nudged her with his elbow.
She blinked and looked at him, confused, but when she turned back to Eris and saw that everyone was staring at her, she finally understood.
Ghislaine hesitated for a moment, then let out a quiet sigh. Without saying anything for a few seconds, she slid a ring off her finger and held it up before Eris.
"This is the protection amulet of my tribe." Her voice was as serious as ever—it was not common for the beast tribes to give gifts.
The ring was simple, carved from wood, appearing old yet well-maintained. A faint green light pulsed on its surface, subtle but mesmerizing.
"They say that whoever wears it will not be attacked by wicked wolves at night." Ghislaine finished, extending the ring toward Eris.
Eris swallowed hard, her hand hesitant as she accepted the gift. Her eyes sparkled with intense emotion as she held the ring between her fingers, as if it were a priceless treasure.
"You... you're really giving me this?" Her voice was lower than usual, as if she feared the answer would be different from what she wanted to hear.
Ghislaine shrugged, keeping her serious expression. "Yes. It's just a superstition."
But Eris didn't see it that way. To her, that gift was more meaningful than any jewel or treasure.
Rygar smiled at Eris's reaction and crossed his arms. "Happy birthday, Eris. I know it's not the grand noble party you would've had back home, but it's something."
"I also asked Skoll to hunt a big boar."
Before he could finish his sentence, a loud thud made the ground tremble, and a massive shadow loomed over them. Everyone turned their heads just in time to see Skoll, his black fur gleaming under the light, walking forward with heavy, firm steps. Hanging from his jaws was a gigantic boar, its glassy eyes indicating that it had already stopped struggling.
Eris's eyes widened, and a moment later, an excited grin spread across her face.
Geese rubbed his hands together, eyeing the prey with an experienced look. "This is going to take some work… Let's get to it!"
Eris, still holding her gifts with shining eyes, simply nodded, a joyful laugh escaping her lips. She never imagined that her birthday, even far from her family and old life, would make her this happy.
The smell of slowly roasting meat over the fire mixed with the earthy aroma of the trees around them, creating an atmosphere both cozy and wild.
Geese was hunched over a pot, stirring with concentration as steam curled into dancing spirals. "Just a little more, and it'll be perfect!" he said with a grin, licking his lips as he imagined the juicy flavor of the boar cooked with his special spices.
Eris, full of energy as always, galloped around the clearing riding Skoll, holding Aisha in her arms. The little girl laughed loudly, her hair flying in the wind as the enormous black wolf ran with speed and precision, his light steps barely leaving marks on the ground. "Faster, faster!" Aisha cried between giggles, holding onto Eris tightly.
Meanwhile, Lilia moved stiffly, panting, her sword slicing through the air in a stance that revealed her rustiness.
Eidar, watching with critical eyes, corrected her form with firm but patient words. "You know the theory, but you're out of practice. Let your movements flow, don't force them. You're trying to move the same way you did when you used to fight, but remember, you've spent almost ten years without doing anything like this."
Lilia nodded, sweating, but determined. "I understand." After Rygar had healed most of the poison and restored her leg to its original condition, she had decided to resume practicing the Water God Style. No one stopped her—after all, having some combat ability was never a bad thing in a world full of superhumans.
Rygar and Ghislaine sat a little apart, near a large rock that provided a panoramic view of the camp. The orange glow of the fire partially illuminated her face, highlighting the strong features and scars that told the story of her battles. He watched the way her muscles moved beneath her bronzed skin, admiring her imposing presence.
"Have you ever wondered where your magic eye came from?" Rygar asked.
Ghislaine tilted her head slightly, considering. "Actually, yes. When I was younger, it bothered me a lot… but after becoming an adventurer, I learned to live with it. And in the end, it turned out to be very useful."
Rygar nodded, but his gaze on her was different now. More intense. His eyes traced her body with a mix of admiration and subtle desire. He looked away for a moment, watching the flickering flames before asking, "Do you believe in fate, Ghislaine?"
She noticed his gaze, but instead of pulling away, she subtly shifted her posture. Her shoulders relaxed, and she leaned slightly, emphasizing her natural curves. "I don't understand much about those things," she said with a faint smile. "But I believe we make our own destiny. Every decision we make affects who we become in the future."
Rygar raised an eyebrow, thoughtful. "Then what about you and Eris being brought exactly to where I was?"
Ghislaine smiled, shaking her head. "We were lucky."
Rygar chuckled. "Luck, huh...? I hope so. It would be boring if the future was predetermined."
The two fell into a comfortable silence, watching the rest of the group enjoying themselves. Rygar, however, kept glancing at Ghislaine out of the corner of his eye. She was a formidable woman in many ways. Strong, dedicated, and fiercely loyal to those she considered close. At the same time, she cared nothing for those outside her circle. She was ruthless, no doubt, but also incredibly beautiful. With each passing day, Rygar found himself admiring her more and more.
Suddenly, Ghislaine broke the silence. "I think I might have a clue about your problem with Touki. I don't know if it'll be useful."
Rygar turned to her, golden eyes sparking with interest. "What?! What is it?"
She crossed her arms, thoughtful. "Remember that strange feeling I had every time we fought?"
Rygar nodded, now fully focused on her.
"When we were training this morning, I finally remembered what it was. That sensation reminded me of something that happened years ago, when our adventurer party was in a dungeon. We fought against several living statues. They seemed alive and fought well, but I could still defeat them. Their movements felt strange and unnatural, as if they were following erratic commands."
"When we reached the boss room, we found out why—they were being controlled by the dungeon's boss monster."
Rygar frowned. "And what does that have to do with me?"
Ghislaine met his gaze and spoke seriously. "When I fight you now, it feels similar to fighting those statues. Like I'm battling a puppet. You move as if you're just a body being controlled by something else."
Rygar fell silent, processing the information. His heart quickened slightly.
Ghislaine continued, "A puppet… or like a sack of flesh being controlled by invisible strings."
"A puppet?" he murmured to himself, a chill running down his spine.
Ghislaine sighed. "It's strange, right? I don't see how it could be useful… but that's the feeling I get."
Rygar didn't respond immediately. He looked up at the starry sky, feeling uneasy. If what Ghislaine said was true… what did it mean for him? He wasn't sure what to think.
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