When Kael woke up, morning had already arrived. The surroundings were quiet and calm, yet the scent of blood had spread throughout the forest. At that moment, a pleasant voice echoed:
"Kael, you're awake? I gathered some food while you were asleep," it said.
The speaker was none other than the beautiful priestess, drenched in blood, standing next to the severed head of a troll. She recounted the events of the night, explaining how the troll had tried to attack them but how she had easily slain it.
Kael, caught between confusion and astonishment, nodded his head.
"Ah... Right. So, where do we go now, Lady Priestess?" he asked.
The priestess placed a hand on her chin, pretending to think for a moment, before finally saying, "I don't know."
Kael shrugged. "Alright. Then let's get moving. The monsters will be active by nightfall."
The beautiful priestess suddenly spoke again, "Kael, there's someone who wants to see you. He said he's your friend. Also, he was the one who killed the goblins we found dead earlier. So we owe him."
Kael nodded. "Alright then, let's go."
With that, Kael and the priestess began walking deeper into the forest.
---
As they walked through the woods, Kael felt an eerie chill run down his spine. Cold sweat trickled down his face. He couldn't turn around; his body had frozen stiff.
The priestess noticed his reaction and asked, "Kael, are you alright?"
Just as Kael was about to open his mouth, a calm yet chilling voice echoed through the air:
"Hello, Kael. Did you miss me?"
Kael turned around and couldn't believe his eyes. The man standing before him wore clown makeup and held a jester card in his hand. It was none other than Vale.
Kael rubbed his eyes, unable to believe it. "Vale?" he muttered.
The priestess, confused, wondered: Why is Kael so tense? Why is he afraid of this man?
Vale smirked. "Well, well, Kael. You already know me. And you, priestess, know me as well. So I'll keep it short," he said. "My mission is to kill the priestess. So if you don't mind, I'll get to work."
Kael clenched his fists. "Vale!" he shouted. "What the hell are you thinking, you bastard? My mission is to protect her! Do you really think I'd let you do that?"
Vale chuckled, slipping the card back into his pocket. Then, from his other pocket, he pulled out a cigarette and a lighter. Lighting it up, he leaned against the trunk of a tree and exhaled smoke before speaking.
"Hey, Kael, you really don't know your limits, do you? Ahaha! Even if the two of you worked together, you wouldn't stand a chance against me. So stop wasting your energy."
Kael reached for his sword, but his body was trembling. It felt as if Vale had already established complete dominance over him.
Vale stepped down from his perch. Just as Kael was about to assume his dueling stance, he felt a hand touch his shoulder from behind. Instinctively, he leapt back and shouted, "Stay away!"
Vale raised his hands mockingly. "Woah, woah! Alright, alright, calm down," he said with a smirk. Then, grinning, he added, "I suppose my decision was different from the start. I won't be killing the priestess after all."
Taking a step back, he turned around and said, "Well then, it's time for me to leave."
Kael clenched his teeth. "What is your goal, Vale?"
Vale simply grinned and took another drag from his cigarette. His eyes locked onto Kael's before he let the cigarette slip from his lips. Smoke filled the air around him.
Through the thick haze, the last thing Kael could see was Vale's eerie, menacing smile.