The squad, led by Tighnari, followed the forest path toward the water source.
Tighnari walked at the very front, stopping from time to time to examine the plant traces along the road.
Aether followed by his side, his golden braid swaying gently with his steps.
Paimon floated in mid-air, his little eyes darting around, full of curiosity about everything.
Meanwhile, Nahida walked quietly at the back, holding Amid.
They had not walked long before Tighnari suddenly slowed his pace, turning his head to look at the barefoot little boy behind him.
“Oh, right,” he said gently.
“I am Tighnari, a Forest Watcher of Avidya Forest.
And you?”
Nahida looked up and said softly, “My name is Nahida.”
“Nahida…” Paimon repeated, tilting his head.
“A good name!
And what about you, little one?”
He looked at Amid, who was flying beside Nahida.
Amid pointed at himself with his little claw.
“Bee~” ‘My name is Amid.’
Paimon, of course, could not understand, but Nahida spoke for him, “His name is Amid.”
Does that name have any meaning?”
Nahida nodded, his gaze falling on Amid with a gentle light in his eyes.
“In the Sumeru language, it means ‘hope’.”
Paimon paused for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully.
“Hope…
that is a good name.”
Aether also glanced at Amid, then at Nahida, feeling even more curious about this pair.
However, he did not ask further, simply nodding at Nahida.
“I am Aether.
This is Paimon.”
“Hehe~” Paimon puffed out his little chest proudly.
“I am Aether’s guide, and I am very capable!”
Watching his display, Amid silently grumbled to himself: ‘A guide?
I think “emergency food” would be more like it.’
But on the surface, he waved his little claw at Paimon, looking friendly.
Paimon waved back, and with that, they had officially met.
— The team continued walking forward. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
The path through the forest was not easy; tree roots twisted and vines intertwined, and they had to cross streams from time to time.
Yet Nahida walked steadily, his bare feet pressing into the damp soil, each step very light, as if afraid to disturb something.
Amid did not fly back into his arms but hovered beside him, glancing at him occasionally to ensure he would not get pricked by anything.
Just then— Tighnari suddenly stopped and raised a hand.
“Wait.”
Everyone stopped immediately.
Aether’s right hand was already on the hilt of his sword, his gaze scanning the surroundings vigilantly.
Paimon also shrank back nervously, asking in a low voice, “W-what is wrong?”
Tighnari did not speak, just tilted his head slightly, his ears twitching.
Then, he sighed.
“There is a group of Fungus ahead,” he said, his tone tinged with helplessness.
“And there are quite a few of them.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than rustling sounds came from the bushes ahead.
The next second— seven or eight Fungus rushed out from the forest!
Some were water-blue, others were grass-green, pouncing toward them in a cute manner.