Chapter 3
1870 Words
The forest path stretched deeper between the trees.
Elara walked beside Aren, her eyes constantly moving from one side of the path to the other.
Aren, meanwhile, looked completely relaxed.
Too relaxed.
Elara glanced at him.
Then again.
Then again.
Aren noticed.
“You're staring.”
“I’m observing.”
“You've been observing me for five minutes.”
“I’m curious.”
“That sounds like a nicer way of saying you're nosy.”
Elara frowned.
“I’m not nosy.”
Aren raised an eyebrow.
“You've asked me twelve questions since we started walking.”
“Thirteen.”
He looked at her.
Elara smiled.
“I just asked another one in my head.”
Aren let out a quiet laugh.
“You're strange.”
“You're the one who followed me into the forest.”
“You were walking in circles.”
“I was exploring.”
“You walked past the same tree three times.”
Elara looked behind them.
The tree was still visible between the branches.
“…It looked different from the other side.”
Aren shook his head.
Elara continued walking.
“So, how long have you been in the Silver Fang Guild?”
“A few years.”
“How many?”
“Three.”
“How did you join?”
“Walked through the door.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I know.”
Elara gave him an annoyed look.
Aren smiled faintly.
“You ask too many questions.”
“And you give too few answers.”
“Fair.”
She thought for a moment.
“Why do you train so much?”
Aren's expression became slightly more serious.
“Because I want to be stronger.”
“For what?”
“That one is harder.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't know if I can explain it.”
Elara studied him.
Aren continued walking without looking at her.
She decided not to press him.
For about five seconds.
“So—”
“No.”
“You don't even know what I was going to ask.”
“I know you were going to ask another question.”
Elara crossed her arms.
“You're annoying.”
“And yet you're still walking beside me.”
“That’s because I got lost.”
“Right.”
Aren glanced at her.
“Definitely not because you enjoy my company.”
Elara's face tightened.
“I never said that!”
“I didn't say you did.”
“You implied it.”
Aren smiled.
“That sounds like another question.”
Elara groaned.
They continued deeper into the forest.
For the first time since leaving the guild, Elara felt less nervous.
Aren was strange.
Quiet.
Calm.
And occasionally irritating.
But there was something reassuring about having him beside her.
Suddenly—
Thump.
Something fell from Elara's bag.
She stopped.
Aren looked down.
A worn, old book lay on the forest floor.
Elara immediately crouched and picked it up.
“Oh.”
Aren looked at the book.
“You carry that around?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Elara brushed dirt from its cover.
“It’s important to me.”
“What is it?”
“A book about dragons.”
Aren stared at her.
“You carry a dragon book into a monster investigation?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I like dragons.”
“I noticed.”
Elara smiled proudly.
“I've liked them since I was little.”
Aren glanced at the worn cover.
“You've read it that many times?”
“Probably hundreds.”
“You know most of it by heart?”
“Some of it.”
She opened the book.
“I used to read it whenever I had free time.”
Aren leaned slightly closer.
“What's inside?”
“Stories. Old records. Drawings. Information about different dragons.”
She turned several pages.
Then stopped.
Aren noticed her expression change.
“What?”
Elara didn't answer.
She was staring at one particular page.
A faded illustration filled the page.
Five figures stood beneath the crest of the Dravaryn royal family.
At the top was a heading:
THE FIVE CHILDREN OF KING ALDRIC DRAVARYN
Beneath it were five names.
Vaelor Dravaryn — Eldest Son
Lucien Dravaryn — Second Son
Caelan Dravaryn — Third Son
Seraphine Dravaryn — Only Daughter
And beneath them—
The King's Fifth Child — His Stepson
The name beside the final figure had been scratched away.
Aren's eyes lingered on the page.
Elara noticed.
“You know them?”
“No.”
“Have you ever seen the royal family?”
“No.”
Elara looked back at the page.
“King Aldric had five children.”
“Apparently.”
“He had three sons, a daughter, and a stepson.”
Aren remained silent.
Elara continued reading.
“Vaelor is the current Dragon King.”
She traced her finger beneath his name.
“Lucien and Caelan are his younger brothers. Seraphine is their sister.”
Then her finger stopped at the final figure.
“And this one…”
She frowned.
“The name is missing.”
Aren looked at the damaged page.
“Maybe someone removed it.”
“Why would someone do that?”
“I don't know.”
Elara turned the page slightly.
There was another old note written beneath the illustration.
The fifth child was banished from Dravaryn following the king's death. His current whereabouts remain unknown.
Elara's eyes widened.
“Banishment…”
Aren's expression remained calm.
But something about the page had caught his attention.
Elara looked at him.
“Aren.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you think he's still alive?”
Aren stared at the faded words.
“I don't know.”
Elara closed the book.
“Imagine disappearing from the kingdom like that.”
Aren looked toward the trees.
“Sometimes disappearing is easier than staying.”
Elara looked at him.
“That sounds like something someone would say if they were hiding something.”
Aren glanced back at her.
“You really don't know when to stop asking questions, do you?”
“No.”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Thought so.”
Then—
Crack.
Both of them stopped.
A branch had snapped somewhere ahead.
Elara slowly reached for her dagger.
Aren's expression changed.
The teasing disappeared.
His eyes focused on the darkness between the trees.
Something was there.
Watching them.
Elara whispered,
“Aren…”
“I know.”
A low growl echoed through the forest.
Aren stepped forward.
“Stay behind me.”
Elara frowned.
“But—”
“That's an order.”
“You're not my boss.”
Aren glanced back at her.
“Then consider it extremely strong advice.”
Another growl came from the darkness.
This time, it was much closer.
Aren drew his weapon.
Elara tightened her grip on her dagger.
The trees ahead began to move.
Whatever had been following them…
was finally ready to reveal itself.
The trees stopped moving.
For a moment, the forest became completely silent.
Then something stepped out from between the trees.
Elara froze.
It was enormous.
A massive wolf-like beast stood several meters away, easily twice the size of an ordinary wolf. Its dark fur was thick and matted, its claws dug into the earth, and its yellow eyes remained fixed on them.
A low growl escaped its throat.
Elara slowly raised her dagger.
“Aren…”
“I see it.”
The beast lowered its head.
Aren immediately grabbed Elara's arm.
“Run.”
“What?”
“Now!”
They turned and sprinted.
Branches whipped past Elara's face as she ran.
Behind them—
BOOM!
The beast charged.
Elara glanced over her shoulder.
It was gaining on them.
“It's catching up!”
“I know!”
“Then run faster!”
“I am!”
Aren looked back.
The creature leapt over a fallen tree and landed heavily behind them.
The ground shook.
Elara nearly stumbled.
Aren caught her arm and pulled her forward.
“Keep going!”
They raced between the trees.
Elara's breathing became heavier.
Her legs were beginning to ache.
But the beast didn't slow down.
Its footsteps grew louder.
Closer.
Closer.
Then Aren suddenly stopped.
Elara almost crashed into him.
“What are you doing?!”
Aren turned around.
The beast stood at the other end of the path.
It slowly approached them.
Elara stared at Aren.
“You said we should run!”
“I changed my mind.”
“That's not funny!”
“I wasn't joking.”
Aren stepped forward.
Elara grabbed his sleeve.
“Aren, don't.”
He looked at her.
“You can't fight that thing!”
“Maybe.”
“That is not reassuring!”
Aren gently pulled his sleeve free.
“You keep running.”
“And leave you here?”
“Yes.”
“No!”
“Elara.”
She shook her head.
“I’m not leaving you.”
Aren sighed.
“You really are terrible at following instructions.”
The beast growled.
Aren raised his weapon.
His expression became completely serious.
“I'll hold it here.”
Elara tightened her grip on her dagger.
“But you don't know if you can beat it.”
“No.”
The beast suddenly charged.
Aren stepped forward.
The wolf beast lunged.
CLANG!
Aren blocked its first strike.
The impact forced him backward several steps.
His boots dug into the dirt.
The beast snarled and swung again.
Aren ducked beneath its claws and struck toward its side.
The beast twisted away.
Aren barely avoided another swipe.
“This thing is fast…”
The wolf beast lunged again.
Aren jumped aside.
Its claws tore through the tree behind him.
CRACK!
Aren stared at the damaged trunk.
“…Very fast.”
Elara watched from behind.
Aren wasn't winning.
He was surviving.
Every attack from the creature forced him to retreat.
The beast suddenly charged again.
Aren planted his feet.
This time, he didn't move.
He raised his weapon.
“Come on.”
The beast leapt.
Aren swung upward.
BOOM!
The collision sent both of them backward.
Aren hit the ground and rolled.
“Elara!”
She flinched.
Aren pushed himself up.
“Run!”
Elara shook her head.
“No!”
“That's an order!”
“I already told you—I'm terrible at those!”
The beast turned toward Elara.
Its eyes locked onto her.
Aren's expression changed.
“ELARA!”
The creature charged.
Elara froze.
Aren immediately sprinted toward it.
He threw himself between them.
The beast collided with him.
CRASH!
Aren was sent rolling across the ground.
“Aren!”
Elara ran toward him.
He quickly pushed himself up.
“Don't come closer!”
The beast turned back toward him.
Aren raised his weapon again.
His breathing was heavier now.
His arms trembled slightly.
But he didn't retreat.
He stared directly into the creature's eyes.
“Fine…”
He tightened his grip.
“If you want a fight…”
The beast growled.
Aren lowered his stance.
“…then fight me.”
The wolf beast charged once more.
And Aren charged straight toward it.
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