The air was thick with tension as Alex moved swiftly, his daggers glinting in the fading light of dusk. A Dire Wolf lunged, jaws snapping, but he sidestepped, slashing with precision. The blade cut shallow, just enough to keep the beast at bay. Across the clearing, Emily swung her staff with practiced ease, crushing the skull of another wolf.
Two months. It had been two months since they started taking on quests, rising from complete novices to newly promoted D-rank adventurers. The road hadn't been easy—late nights, countless fights, and too many close calls—but they had learned to survive. Together.
Alex ducked as another wolf charged, and he drove his dagger into its side. He glanced at Emily, who was holding her own with practiced strikes, her movements fluid and precise. She had grown faster, sharper, and more confident. The two of them had become a team in every sense of the word.
He leapt back as two more wolves surrounded him. Channeling mana into his daggers had become second nature, the energy sharpening his blades to a deadly edge. But channeling mana into thrown daggers? That was another story. Without direct contact, the connection broke, leaving the dagger nothing more than a regular blade once it left his hand. He'd tried using string daggers for longer reach, but maintaining precise control over the mana while accounting for the string's length had proven almost impossible in the heat of battle.
Emily caught sight of his struggle and reacted immediately. Her staff hummed faintly as she channeled mana through it, swinging with enough force to knock one of the wolves off balance. Alex seized the opening, plunging his dagger into the other wolf's throat. Blood sprayed, and the beast crumpled.
That was how they survived. When one faltered, the other was there to cover. Their teamwork wasn't perfect, but it was enough to keep them alive. And in this world, that was all that mattered.
The last wolf circled them warily, growling low in its throat. Emily locked eyes with Alex, and they moved in unison—her staff coming down hard while his dagger found its mark. The wolf collapsed in a heap, and the clearing fell silent.
Breathing heavily, they began collecting the fangs from the wolves, their reward for the quest. As the last light of day faded, they made their way back to the adventurer's guild.
The guild hall was alive with noise and energy, adventurers celebrating successful quests or drowning their failures in drink. Alex and Emily headed straight to the front desk, where Lola, the ever-cheerful receptionist, greeted them with a bright smile.
"Back already?" she said, her eyes sparkling. "You two don't waste any time, do you?"
Emily offered a tired smile. "Not when there's money to be made."
Lola chuckled, taking the bag of fangs they handed over. She began sorting and counting them with practiced efficiency. "You've been moving up the ranks fast—D-rank already, huh? Not bad for a couple of rookies."
Alex shrugged. "The higher the rank, the tougher the quests. We're managing, though."
Lola finished her count and handed over their payment. "Here you go—good work as always. Heading home for the day?"
"Not quite," Alex replied, pocketing the coins. "We need to hit the market and pick up dinner first."
Lola leaned forward, her tone suddenly conspiratorial. "Before you go, can you stop by tomorrow? I have something for you."
Emily tilted her head, curiosity sparking in her eyes. "What is it?"
Lola's grin widened. "It's a secret!"
Alex sighed but couldn't help smiling. "Fine, we'll stop by. But don't keep us waiting too long."
"No promises!" Lola called after them as they turned to leave.
The market was bustling with activity, merchants shouting over each other to advertise their goods. Alex and Emily wove through the crowd, picking up fresh bread, vegetables, and a cut of meat for dinner. They talked idly about the fight with the wolves, Emily teasing Alex about his failed attempts at channeling mana into throwing daggers.
By the time they returned to the small house they shared with Betty, the sky had darkened, and the streets had quieted. Alex pushed open the door and called out, "Betty? We're back!"
Silence.
Emily set the groceries on the table. "She's probably at the church again. You know how she is with her charity work."
Alex nodded, but unease prickled at the back of his mind. It wasn't like Betty to stay out this late without leaving a note or telling them where she was going.
Ten minutes passed. The house remained silent. Alex paced the room, his unease growing by the second. Finally, he turned to Emily. "She should be back by now."
Emily frowned. "You think something happened?"
"I don't know. But I'm not waiting around to find out. Let's go."
They left the house and headed for the market, the closest place to check. Most of the vendors had packed up for the night, leaving the streets eerily empty.
"Betty?" Alex called, his voice echoing off the stone walls.
No answer.
They moved on to the workshop district, where the sounds of hammers and machinery were a constant presence during the day. Now, the silence was deafening. Alex's unease deepened, his hand tightening around the hilt of his dagger.
"Something's not right," Emily murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
They pushed on, quickening their pace. The church district was their last stop, the tall spires of the churches looming against the night sky. The streets were deserted, and the only sound was the faint rustling of leaves in the wind.
Then they heard it.
A heavy thud, followed by a muffled scream.
Alex's heart raced. "That sounded like Betty!"
Without hesitation, he broke into a sprint, Emily close behind. The sound grew louder as they ran, weaving through the narrow streets of the church district.
"Betty!" Alex shouted, his voice sharp with panic.
They rounded a corner, and the noise hit them full force—struggling, heavy breathing, and a faint cry of pain.
Then, they saw it.