The man stepped toward us slowly, his footsteps light but deliberate. Even though he had saved us moments earlier, I kept my scythe raised. Trust wasn’t something I could afford to give freely.

  “Fifty openings,” the man said calmly.

  I blinked. “Fifty… openings?”

  He nodded. “I could’ve struck you fifty times just now. You leave yourself open to anyone who intends harm.”

  He paused, his moonlit eyes shifting between me and the girl behind me. “Now tell me — why are two children wandering this forest alone? Hinda is no place for unguarded youth.”

  “I’m going to the Kingdom of Alvans,” I answered plainly. “I’m walking there.”

  “Hm. An unusual goal for a child your age. Aren’t your parents worried?”

  “Both of my parents died,” I replied, “along with the kingdom I lived in.”

  Recognition flickered over his face. “A survivor… of Kingdom Nexus.”

  He then turned his gaze to the half-Dryad girl trembling behind me.

  “And you, young lady?”

  She swallowed hard. “M-my village… bandits destroyed it three days ago. I’ve been surviving here since.”

  He stepped closer. Instinctively, I tightened my grip on the scythe.

  “You can trust me,” he said gently. “I won’t harm either of you.”

  “Proof,” I muttered.

  He raised an eyebrow. “Saving the two of you from mana beasts isn’t enough?”

  I didn’t respond.

  He let out a breath, then placed his backpack on the ground, opening it. From inside, he took out two small round tin boxes. When he popped them open, warm steam drifted into the cool night air.

  Rice.

  “You must be hungry,” he said, offering the boxes.

  The half-Dryad girl — starving — rushed past me and buried her hands into the meal, eating desperately. The man chuckled softly and ruffled her hair.

  Then he looked at me.

  “You can lower your scythe now.”

  I hesitated… then slowly lowered it. I reached for the tin and began eating. Warmth spread through my body — something I hadn’t realized I desperately needed.

  “So,” the man said, “you wish to go to Alvans by foot?”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  I swallowed and nodded. “Yes.”

  “And you?” he asked the girl.

  She hurriedly cleared her mouth. “No… I don’t have anywhere to go. I just… want to live a normal life.”

  The man straightened. “Then I have an offer. I want the both of you under my wing. Will you accept?”

  The girl didn’t hesitate. “Yes! I’d… finally have a parental figure.”

  I wanted to say yes, but my task — God’s command — echoed in my mind. So I stayed silent.

  The man studied me. “You’re worried about reaching Alvans, aren’t you? Don’t. My home is in the Kingdom of Erta — just one kingdom beyond Alvans. We’ll be traveling in that direction anyway. Until then, you’ll be under my protection. Does that sound fair?”

  I thought about it.

  Someone strong.

  Someone knowledgeable.

  Someone who had just saved us with effortless power.

  I nodded.

  He smiled warmly. “Good. Then let’s begin with introductions.”

  “My name is Alya,” the half-Dryad girl said quickly.

  Seeing her, I decided to speak too. “My name… is Dliva.”

  “Beautiful names,” the man said. He rose to his full height.

  “What’s your name, mister?” Alya asked.

  “It’s Luan,” he replied, “but you two may call me Master Luan.”

  Alya repeated it under her breath, as if tasting the words.

  Master Luan stretched his arms. “Alright. You two come with me. We move together from now on.”

  Alya immediately followed him. I grabbed my bag and scythe and hurried after them.

  After a moment of silence, I asked, “Master Luan… what is your Nectar type?”

  He didn’t pause. “I don’t have one.”

  I blinked. “But the white particle earlier — what was that?”

  “That was ''''White Mana'''',” he said. “Not Nectar. It’s a lightened phase of mana — something far beyond basic classifications.”

  “White Mana…” I whispered, awestruck.

  “You don’t need to know the details yet,” he said gently. “When the time comes, I’ll teach you.”

  I nodded and followed closely behind him as we moved deeper into the forest.

  Demon Castle — King Jini’s Chambers

  A flash of crimson light burst into the dimly lit chamber as a demon teleported inside, kneeling immediately.

  “I’ve returned, King Jini,” the demon said, bowing deeply.

  “Nahor,” King Jini replied, rising slightly from his throne. “You came earlier than expected. I assume you successfully evacuated the survivors of Kingdom Nexus?”

  “Yes, my lord. Lady Elva has taken them into her kingdom for shelter. But…” Nahor hesitated. “On my way back, I found a demon — dead.”

  Jini’s expression sharpened. “Continue.”

  “The demon did not die naturally,” Nahor said. “It looked as though it… dug through its own body before dying.”

  Jini’s brow knitted. “Who was this demon?”

  “The Messenger Demon.”

  Silence fell across the chamber.

  Jini leaned back slowly, mind racing. “You may leave for now, Nahor. I may call for you again shortly.”

  “Yes, my lord.” Nahor vanished in a burst of dark mist.

  Jini closed his eyes, thinking deeply.

  *Why would the Messenger Demon kill himself?*

  *Was it because I refused his report about the Mana-less beast?*

  *Even so… that isn’t reason enough to rip one’s own body apart.*

  He considered possibilities — none made sense.

  Finally, he called out, “Nahor.”

  Instantly, the demon reappeared.

  “Bring me the body,” Jini ordered, voice low and serious. “Exactly as you found it.”

  “Yes, my lord,” Nahor said before teleporting away again.

  Jini’s eyes narrowed.

  Something was terribly wrong.