Ankit suddenly froze.
Not far away, a little girl was surrounded by a pack of wild dogs.
Their growls echoed through the silent forest as they slowly closed in on her.
Without wasting a second, Ankit grabbed a thick wooden branch from the ground and charged forward.
“Get lost!” Thwack!
He swung the branch with surprising precision.
Thanks to the sword training his father had given him since childhood, his movements were far steadier than those of an ordinary three-year-old.
The dogs yelped in pain and quickly retreated, disappearing into the forest.
“Phew…” Ankit let out a sigh of relief before grinning proudly.
“That was close.
But I’m not weak either.
Did you see that?
I sent those dogs running without much effort.” He turned toward the frightened girl.
“Who are you?
How did you end up in this deserted forest?
And…
how old are you?” The moment he finished speaking, the little girl burst into tears.
“Waaah…” She cried louder and louder until the entire forest echoed with her sobs.
Ankit immediately panicked.
“H-Hey!
Wait!
Please don’t cry!
I didn’t even say anything bad!
Come on…
stop crying!” After several moments, the girl’s sobbing gradually calmed down.
In a trembling voice, she quietly answered, “I’m…
four years old.” Ankit blinked before laughing.
“Really?
You’re four?
I’m only three.” The girl stared at him in disbelief.
“What…?
Three years old?
But…
you don’t look like one…” Ankit scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.
“Yeah…
everyone says that.” Then his expression became serious again.
“By the way, how did you end up here?
This forest is completely deserted.” The little girl lowered her head.
“I…
I was in the capital…
Then suddenly a hole opened in the clouds above me…
It pulled me in…
and threw me here.” Ankit’s eyes widened.
So the dimensional portal appeared in two different places on the same day…
After a brief silence, the girl looked at him nervously.
“W-Who are you…?
And how did you get here?” Ankit smiled.
“The same way you did.” “W-What…?
You too?” Before she could ask another question…
Grrrr…
A loud sound came from her stomach.
The girl’s face instantly turned bright red with embarrassment.
Ankit couldn’t help but smile.
“I guess you’re hungry.” He looked toward the trees in the distance.
“How about we save the questions for later?
I saw a banana tree on my way here.
Let’s fill our stomachs first.” He extended his small hand toward her.
“Come on.” The girl hesitated for a moment before asking, “Are you really…
only three years old?” Ankit laughed.
“Yep.
I’m really three.” Finally, she gathered the courage to take his hand.
The two children walked through the forest until they reached the banana tree Ankit had noticed earlier.
Using the wooden branch, Ankit knocked several ripe bananas down from the tree.
Soon, the two of them sat beneath its shade, quietly eating together.
For the first time since arriving in this unfamiliar place, neither of them felt completely alone.
Ankit walked at the front while the little girl quietly followed behind him.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Ankit broke the silence.
“So…
what’s your name?” The girl looked up and answered softly, “My name is Rain.
What about yours?” “I’m Ankit.” “Ankit…” she repeated.
“That’s a rather unusual name.” Ankit smiled faintly.
“Yeah…
I know.” After a moment, he asked curiously, “By the way, Rain, what kind of magic do you have?” Rain lowered her head.
“I have Water Magic.” Ankit blinked.
“Then why didn’t you use it against those dogs?” Rain’s expression darkened.
“My Mana Core is…
very weak.” “Oh…
I see.” For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Rain hesitantly asked, “Don’t…
don’t you feel disgusted by me?” Ankit looked at her in confusion.
“Disgusted?
Why would I?” “Because my Mana Core is weak…” She paused before asking in a timid voice, “What kind of magic do you have?
You must be very strong.
Don’t tell me you have two elemental affinities?” Ankit suddenly burst into laughter.
“What?
Magic?” He shook his head.
“I don’t even have a Mana Core.” Rain’s eyes widened in complete disbelief.
“W-What…?
That’s impossible!
Everyone in this world is born with a Mana Core.” Ankit smiled helplessly.
“Maybe everyone else is…
but not me.” “But…
you’re so strong.” Ankit shrugged.
“That’s only because my father trained me in swordsmanship from a very young age.” “I see…” Before Rain could continue speaking— “I found it!” Ankit suddenly shouted excitedly.
Rain jumped in surprise.
“What did you find?” Ankit pointed ahead with a bright smile on his face.
“A giant banyan tree!” Rain looked at the enormous tree in confusion.
“A banyan tree?
What are you going to do with it?” Ankit smiled mysteriously.
“You’ll see.
But first, I need your help.” “My help?” Rain tilted her head.
“With what?” “Just do exactly what I do.” “…Alright.” Ankit walked toward the hanging aerial roots of the giant banyan tree.
“Come on.
We need to cut these roots.” Rain looked around nervously.
“Cut them?
With what?” Ankit pointed at the sharp stones scattered across the ground.
“With those.” Rain stared at him in disbelief.
“Using stones?
But…
how?” Ankit picked up a sharp-edged rock and grinned.
“Like this.” He struck one of the hanging roots again and again until it snapped free.
“See?
Just hit it, cut it, and keep going.” Rain nodded and began copying his movements.
The two children worked together, cutting dozens of long aerial roots from the banyan tree.
Once they had gathered enough, Ankit sat on the ground and began weaving them together.
He twisted and braided the roots just like a girl’s braid, making them stronger with every twist.
Rain watched in amazement as the short pieces slowly turned into long, sturdy ropes.
Before long, Ankit had woven several thick ropes from the banyan roots.
“What do you think?” he said with a satisfied smile.
“Not bad, right?” Ho….