“I truly appreciate your kindness, Young Master Kael. But I’ve already made my decision.”
For several long seconds…
Kael simply looked at her, as if trying to decipher the unranked girl standing before him.
Then, he gave a single, respectful nod.
“I understand. May fortune favor your path, Miss Lyra.”
Without another word, Kael turned on his heel and walked back toward his massive, waiting vanguard.
The moment his back was turned, the plaza erupted into a chorus of disbelief.
“What is she even thinking, rejecting the heir of the Draven?!”
“Has she completely lost her mind?!”
“Does she actually believe a tiny ant is going to save her in a death zone?,it won’t be of help in any danger not to talk of a danger in a Forbidden realm.”
“She just threw away the safest opportunity she will ever get in her life!”
“She’s suicide marching!”
The harsh criticisms came from every direction, loud and unrelenting.
Lyra heard every single word, but she didn’t flinch at their words.
She felt no regret afterall they had no connections with her, they can talk all they want.
Mira looked between Lyra’s calm face and Kael’s departing figure.
Then, a slow, brilliant smile spread across her face.
“…Well,” Mira said, popping her knuckles.
“I already made up my mind before he even walked over here anyway.”
She took two steps forward until she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Lyra.
“If you’re going into the deep woods… I’m going with you.”
Lyra blinked in surprise, looking at her newly made friend.
“Mira…”
The auburn-haired girl laughed softly, adjusting her bag straps.
“I don’t know why, Lyra. But my gut instincts are telling me to stick with you. And my gut has gotten me through every exam so far!”
A moment later… heavy footsteps echoed beside them.
Mason stopped on Lyra’s other side, his massive sheathed great sword gleaming faintly in the pale light.
“I will accompany you as well,” Mason stated gruffly.
Lyra looked at both of them, her heart swelling.
“You guys really don’t have to do this. Kael’s group is obviously safer.”
“I know,” Mason replied, adjusting the leather wrap on his weapon’s hilt.
“But I prefer to choose my own battles.”
Mira folded her arms proudly, nodding in agreement.
“Besides! I’d rather brave the wilderness with real friends than spend seven days listening to arrogant nobles argue about who gets to sit in the middle of the formation!”
Lyra couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh, the remaining tension in her chest completely vanishing. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
Three people.
Against an unknown world.
It sounded utterly crazy.
It sounded almost impossible.
Yet somehow… looking at Mira’s bright smile and Mason’s steady presence, Lyra didn’t feel afraid anymore.
She didn’t feel alone.
Hidden beneath the hem of her sleeve, Myrmor watched the trio silently.
His tiny eyes glanced toward the dense, misty canopy of the endless forest ahead.
Then… he quietly turned on her collarbone and nudged her neck toward the eastern path.
Only Lyra felt the gentle touch.
She smiled faintly, taking her first firm step forward.
“…Let’s go.”
Without another word, the three of them turned their backs on the safety of the massive crowd and walked directly toward the silent, dark forest.
Behind them, dozens of stunned eyes continued to track their retreating figures.
Some mocked their stupidity.
Some pitied their eventual demise.
And a quiet few… simply wondered if the girl with the weakest Beast Soul in the academy had seen something hidden in the dark that the rest of them were probably blind to.
…
The deeper Lyra, Mira, and Mason walked into the ancient forest, the quieter the world became.
The lingering sounds of the panicked examination grounds gradually faded far behind them until only the soft crunch of dead leaves beneath their boots and the occasional whisper of the mountain wind remained.
Colossal trees stretched high into the violet sky, their thick, interwoven canopies blocking out almost all of the afternoon sunlight.
Twisted, moss covered roots rose from the damp soil like sleeping serpents, forcing the three candidates to carefully watch every single step they took.
Mira tightened her nervous grip on the short bow slung across her back, her eyes darting between the towering trunks.
“…This place gives me the absolute creepies,” she whispered, her voice barely carrying in the heavy air.
Mason gave a single, somber nod beside her, his hand resting near his sword’s hilt.
“It should. A forest this silent is usually never empty.”
Lyra glanced around cautiously, adjusting her backpack straps.
‘So… where exactly are we heading?’
“I do not know,” Myrmor answered truthfully within her mind.
Lyra blinked, pausing briefly. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
‘…You don’t?’
“I have never entered this specific sub realm.”
That answer took her by surprise.
Ever since she had summoned him, she had subconsciously assumed the ancient ant possessed absolute, infinite knowledge of the world.
Apparently… even Myrmor had blind spots.
‘So we’re just wandering blindly through a death zone?’
“We are searching,” Myrmor corrected calmly.
“There is a vast difference.”
Before Lyra could ask what on earth they were supposed to be searching for, a sudden movement on a nearby root caught her eye.
A tiny black ant climbed out from beneath a patch of glowing blue moss, scurrying along the weathered bark.
Then another.
Then three more.
Lyra stopped, a faint, instinctual smile touching her lips.
“…Hello there.”
Mira paused and looked at her strangely.
“Who are you talking to, Lyra? Is the isolation already getting to you?”
“The ants,” Lyra replied softly, pointing down at the root.
“…The ants?” Mira repeated, blinking.
Lyra scratched her cheek awkwardly, feeling a flush of heat.
“I know it sounds strange…”
“It really does,” Mira admitted with a soft laugh, though her tension eased slightly.
Before their conversation could go any further, another thick line of tiny black ants emerged from the dense undergrowth beside the path.
Hundreds of them.
Moving in a terrifying synchronicity, they marched in a clean, perfect formation across the sandy forest floor.
Mason’s sharp, analytical eyes narrowed instantly.
“…That is an unusually high concentration.”
” I know that,.
Cause usually, even if you see an ant colony lining up, there’s usually one or two that’s just not in the line.” Mira interjected.
Lyra crouched beside the trail.
Instead of scattering in fear as human shadows fell over them, the tiny workers continued marching forward without the slightest hesitation, entirely unfazed by her presence.
Myrmor remained silent on her shoulder, just watching the behaviour of the ant’s, not a word left his mouth.
A second trail emerged from a hollow trunk nearby.
Then a third.