《What Lurks Within The Dead Forest》


 Chapter One

    In this world, the winters were ruthless. Even if one had an adequate food supply, it was highly likely they would freeze to death. Countless less fortunate people were found frozen to death in the slums every year. Parents would wrap themselves around their children in an effort to spare them from the same fate. Thugs that usually stole from the citizens and merchants, were now trembling together around fires, trying to get warm.


    Though winter was certainly harsh, it wasn¡¯t like it was impossible to survive. If one had enough finance, they could afford an insulated home with servants, plenty of firewood, and high quality animal furs. With this much, it was possible to survive the winter in comfort. An alternate method was to keep warm using magic. However, the amount of people able to use magic was low, and even if one was able to, they wouldn¡¯t be able to keep activating spells to keep themselves warm forever, let alone when they slept.


    Really, it was only the poor and ill prepared that ran the risk of dying, but it was still extremely taxing to walk around outside for anyone.


    On such a cold evening in the dead of winter, a lone figure could be seen walking just off of the paved road which connected the southern city of Vashala to a small town on the south-east border of the human kingdom.


    The figure wore a simple hooded cloak and stumbled with each step as if they would fall at any moment. Other than the cloak which covered most of their body, some scrap cloth could be seen hanging down just past the knees. Their exposed feet were coated in pure white fur, and resembled the paws of a cat. The snow white color of the person¡¯s legs blended in with the snow on the ground, making it appear as if they were floating.


    When a covered wagon approached, the person would stray further from the paved road and walk just on the other side of the forest line until it passed. Occasionally, the driver would catch a glimpse of the cloaked figure through the dead trees and gasp. However, once they saw it was not a ghost, but someone traveling on foot in the dead of winter, their shocked expression would turn to one of pity as if looking at a corpse.


    Like this, the cloaked figure slowly staggered through the snow, straying on and off the road as people passed by until¡­.


    How long had she been walking on this road? Even if she thought about it, she couldn¡¯t give an answer. Her brain had stopped thinking long ago, now she moved on instinct. Spacing out as she walked, when she heard the rolling of wheels, she would naturally distance herself from the path and wait for them to pass before getting back on. Even in the dead of winter, it was common sense not to enter the forest unless you were geared and prepared. In her condition, even the weakest monsters would tear her to shreds in an instant.


    She had no destination in mind, she was only running.


    Luckily, there weren¡¯t many travelers on the road due to the cold weather, but she couldn¡¯t think of herself has lucky. If things continued like this, she would freeze to death before she died of starvation. In fact, the only reason she was still moving was thanks to her fur.


    The numbness from her feet had already traveled up her legs until she could hardly feel anything below her waist, making it harder and harder to take each step.


    Lost in a numbing daze, a faint noise brings her back to her senses.


    Several hooves pounded the road behind her, and she could hear the sound of metal clanking. Turning her head to look, a chill immediately runs down her spine.


    Some ways down the road, five knights were clad in armor and riding on horseback.


    Without even giving herself time to think, her body moves into the tree line, stumbling behind a dead tree. She presses her back against the black bark and covers her mouth with both hands, stifling her breath. She could only pray that they hadn¡¯t seen her.


    The distant footsteps grew louder as they approached.


    Just when she thought they would pass¡­


    ¡°Now!¡±


    A man shouted, and she could hear the sound of several feet hitting the floor. They had dismounted and were heading her way.


    Without even letting herself shriek, she runs forward, deeper into the forest. In her desperation to get away, she rushes forward quickly and her hood falls from her head exposing her furry ears and long silky white hair.


    ¡°Just as I thought, it¡¯s a slave! There¡¯s bound to be a reward for her capture! Don¡¯t let her get away!¡±


    Though the forest was dangerous, the trees were too dense to maneuver horses in. Even if her chances were slim, the alternative was certain death(capture). After all, there was no way she could outrun a horse.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Her numb legs wouldn¡¯t move the way she ordered them to, and she ran while stumbling against the trees. Due to the knights heavy armor and narrow vision, she was somehow managing to stay in front of them, but the distance was closing quickly.


    ¡°!!!!¡±


    One of the knight¡¯s hands grabbed the hood of her cloak, stopping her in her tracks, but only for an instant.


    In a smooth and flawless motion, she slips out of her cloak. The cold air hits her exposed arms and shoulders, stabbing into them like countless knives. The only thing left protecting her from the cold was a simple rag of a shirt, hanging from her neck to just past her knees. Her heart skips a beat from the shock of the cold air, but even so she runs.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    The knight curses and throws the cloak to the ground and resumes the chase.


    The other knights had split right and left, and were now closing in on her. Just as one of them reached out to grab her arm, the ground vanishes from under her and she falls forward.


    The snow white skin on her face, barely covered by extremely thin fur, crashes into the frozen hillside and splits open. Her momentum carries her further and her back and shoulders are next to slam against the icy dirt. Unable to understand what is happening, she tries to protect herself as much as she can while tumbling down the hill.


    After rolling several times, her body finally comes to a stop in a bed of snow at the bottom. Her leg was twisted at a strange angle, and she had several cuts and gashes on her body, slowly turning the snow red in places around her.


    Having been unable to feel her legs from the beginning, she tries to stand without realizing that one of them is broken. With her leg not moving no matter how much strength she put in, she gives up and starts crawling through the snow with pained breaths.


    ¡°Fuck. That¡¯s gonna reduce the value.¡±


    ¡°What an idiot, to go running off a cliff.¡±


    ¡°Will it even survive if we bring her back?¡±


    The knights stood at the top of the hill talking to each other as the girl struggles to pull her body through the snow.


    ¡°Look at that white fur. I¡¯ve never seen one that was pure white. It¡¯s got to be a rare breed right?¡±


    ¡°Now that you mention it¡­ I seem to remember hearing something about that somewhere.¡±


    ¡°Even if it dies, I¡¯m sure we could make money from selling the fur.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ve already come this far.¡±


    ¡°Tch. A mere beast forced us to run all the way out here, any further and we would have had to turn back.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s only right for us to be compensated.¡±


    Having come to a decision, the four knights slowly descend the hill.


    By the time they reach the bottom, the girl had only crawled about 15 feet. The forest in front of the girl is shrouded in a white mist, if she were able to run just a bit further, she could have disappeared into the thick fog. Unable to even lift her head, her face drags the ground as she stretches out her shaking arm to once again grasp the snow in front of her. As her hand falls, what she feels is not snow, but a cold metal. Metal so cold that it made the snow seem as if it were a warm blanket spread beneath her. Her hand immediately jumps back and she forces herself to tilt her head with what little strength she has left.


    As turns her head, the object she touched slowly comes into view.


    Black metal grieves. With wide eyes, and spurred by curiosity, she continues to tilt her head and her breath gets caught in her throat.


    Standing there was a person clad in black armor.


    Unlike the knight¡¯s armor, which were stitched together with numerous thick animal furs, the black armor was nothing but metal. The armor seemed to freeze the very air around it, giving off a spine chillingly cold aura. Various fine engravings etched into the plate armor resembling countless snakes coiled and tangled with each other. The helmet was of a sinister shape and a single narrow slit had been cut out for vision. Looking into the helmet was like staring into a dark abyss. As she stares into the depths of the helmet, she feels as if her soul is being sucked into the darkness.


    ¡°What the¡­.¡±


    ¡°Oi, who the hell is that? When did he show up?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I never heard anything. I didn¡¯t notice when he got there, but he definitely wasn¡¯t there before.¡±


    ¡°What should we do?¡±


    The knights draw their weapons and stand on guard, keeping their distance from the black armor and eye him cautiously. Three of them glance towards the fourth knight, waiting for orders. The black armor stands in front of the girl, unmoving.


    ¡°E-excuse me, that has escaped custody and we are on orders to recover it. If you intend to hinder the capture, it will be seen as an act against the kingdom.¡±


    The knight captain speaks to the black armor in an unsteady voice.


    Something inside him was telling him this person was not normal. No, how could he be a normal person survive out in this weather in cold metal armor. A normal person would freeze to death instantly. Though the knights had metal armor on, it was mostly thick fur with metal plates covering vital areas, however the person standing in front of them had no visible fur or cloth anywhere on them, only black metal.


    The only answer was that he was using magic to keep himself warm. But in that case, almost all of his focus and magic power would be spent on maintaining the temperature of his body. Furthermore, the man didn¡¯t appear to even be carrying a weapon. The four of them were seasoned knights with a place in the royal army and geared for combat. There was nothing to be scared of. This would be just like every other time. If the man didn¡¯t comply, the knight captain and his comrades would kill him and take is armor.


    Reassuring himself, he waits impatiently for a response, tightening his grip on his sword and preparing to attack.


    Having only fought against the weak, in favorable instances, always on the side with larger numbers¡­ the knight captain could not even consider the possibility of his defeat, and so he squashed the uneasy feeling about the black armor inside of him.


    In doing so, he stopped thinking about what the identity of the person could be. He didn¡¯t notice the darkness dwelling within the depths of the helmet. He didn¡¯t consider the fact that it would have been impossible to walk through this forest, miles away from any civilization, only using magic to keep yourself warm. Or the way he ominously appeared through the fog without anyone noticing.


    Thinking about nothing but his first attack, the knight captain braces himself and waits for the man to respond.


    Just as he is about to give the command to attack, the black helmet moves slightly as the thing inside turns its gaze on him.

 Chapter Two

    Terror, agony¡­ there were no words that could describe what the knight captain was feeling. Deprived of his senses, he found himself in utter darkness, unable to move as countless small creatures burrowed into his body, biting and tearing at his flesh. How long had he been like this? Every passing second a living hell¡­ for how much longer would he be made to suffer?


    Thinking back just a short time ago, they were members of the royal army ordered to go out on an ordinary patrol mission.


    Nobody was enthusiastic about having to go on patrol at this time of year, and being assigned to such a faraway route only made matters worse. The route they were assigned was especially disliked due to it cutting straight through a thick forest. This particular forest was unlike most in that it was completely dead. Not a single green leaf or blade of grass could be seen anywhere all year round. The tree¡¯s black bark was as hard as metal, not even a steel axe could cut into it. No one knew how the road going through the forest was built, only that it had been there since the beginning.


    When one traveled very far at all past the tree line, they would be enveloped by a dense fog, shortening their vision. With this, it was extremely easy to get lost.


    All in all, this was the worst patrol route at the worst time of the year. They had definitely pulled the short straw.


    However, during their journey, they discovered an escaped slave. Feeling like a bit of fortune had come their way, they set off to capture it immediately.


    That¡¯s where it all went wrong.


    The slave had slipped away from them and ran into the forest. It wasn¡¯t until it had almost reached the fog line that the chase had finally come to an end. And then, that mysterious ma- thing showed up.


    Deciding it was pointless to wait for a response, the knight captain prepares to attack. Just as he is about to give the order, the person in the black armor turns its gaze on him.


    His spine turns cold, and his head is filled with soft chanting and garbled words of languages he has never heard before. He stands still, unable to look away from the suit of black armor as the words become louder and louder, echoing throughout his head.


    He had never heard anything like this. This was a language not of this world. It was something demonic, and as the words filled his mind, he felt them tugging at his consciousness.


    Suddenly a crisp and clear voice resounded in his head. The tone was deep and carried an inhuman weight to it, as if the voice of a massive beast were calling out to him from a dark abyss.


    [Such foolishness. Sleep.]


    At that moment, an intense drowsiness assaulted him. He heard his comrades collapse around him, and something inside of him snapped.


    Without thinking, he turns his back to the person and climbs the hill as fast as he can. It was common practice driven into every knight that you never show your back to the enemy. However he completely disregarded something so insignificant and fled like a frightened child.


    This was not something they had any chance of winning against. He hated his past self for not realizing it sooner. Even now as he reached the top of the hill, it felt as if a black void was right behind him, reaching out to envelope his body.


    Without a single look back, he sprints at full speed toward the road. If he could just reach his horse, he could get out of there and report his findings to the king. This kind of existence was a danger to the kingdom, perhaps all of humanity!


    All around him, he can hear branches cracking, and broken hyena-like laughter. Numerous small steps resounded around him like a pack of wolves encircling him. From the sides of his vision, black shadows danced on top of the snow, darting back and forth between the dead trees.


    The cold air filled his lungs as breathing became painful but he couldn¡¯t stop, just a little further, the tree line was just in front of him. Just a few more steps and he could mount his horse and escape.


    ¡°Wha-!¡±


    Just when he is about to break through the tree line, the ground disappears from under him and he tumbles down the side of a cliff. His skin slams into the cold dirt and snow as his body plummets, landing on the cold hard ice below.


    The skin across his entire body burned from the contact with the frozen surface, and as he pulled himself to his feet, a cold wind blew through him, piercing him like daggers.


    ¡°What happened?! Where¡¯s my armor?!¡±The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The knight captain clutches his naked body and looks around frantically.


    There was nothing. Let alone his armor, the cliff side he had fallen down was nowhere to be found. All that surrounded him was an endless sea of ice. As if he were at the center of a frozen ocean.


    ¡°Where am I¡­.¡±


    Suddenly, he notices a shadow moving beneath the ice. Adjusting his gaze, the shadow of a colossal creature slowly circled him beneath the ice.


    ¡°!!!¡±


    He tries to scream, but his voice doesn¡¯t come out.


    At that moment, the sound of ice splitting apart enters his ears and he sees cracks beginning to form around him.


    Panicking, he turns and flees. It didn¡¯t matter what direction he was running, he had to get away from there. If he were to fall beneath the ice, it would be over.


    The cracks spread towards him, as if countless arms were reaching out to grab him. It was hopeless, in no time at all they had reached him and he felt the ground beneath him fall.


    As he fell through the ice, his body became weightless for a moment before crashing hard into a stone surface below.


    ¡°Arrrghh¡­¡±


    His legs had broken.


    ¡°W, what now!?¡±


    Looking around, he seemed to be in a dark cave. He could barely make out the grey walls in the darkness around him. There were several tunnels branching off from the center cavern now found himself in.


    Looking up, there was no sign of the hole he had fallen through.


    ¡°¡­.ha HA ha HA¡­.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s there??!¡±


    With his eyes darting back and forth, looking into the darkness of each tunnel, he calls out to the voice. The laughter seemed to come from a single person yet from different tunnels around him at the same time. It was the innocent laughter of a small girl, yet in this kind of situation it sounded cold and ominous.


    ¡°¡­Hee HEE hee HEE hee¡­.¡±


    Seemingly finding his confusion humorous, the giggling laughter continues to echo through the cave.


    A feeling of sheer terror crawls up his back and numbs the back of his mind. The sound of light footsteps is heard right beside him and when his eyes snap to their location, nothing is there.


    At that moment he feels a warm breath on the back of his neck as if there were something crouched right behind his back.


    His body trembles as he slowly turns his head around. But just as the thing was about to come into view, the breath could not be felt anymore and there was nothing there.


    ¡°P,please¡­ spare me¡­¡±


    His weak voice travels through the cave, but there is no answer. He curls up and clutches his head, mumbling to himself as he lies shivering on the cave floor. He tries to escape, tries to deny the world around him, even prays to his gods for salvation, but he would not be saved.


    A loud, piercing shriek shakes the cave and long black arms shoot out from one of the tunnels grabbing onto the man¡¯s legs.


    His heart stops in his chest and he almost blacks out from fear.


    Without leaving the man even time to scream, he hands drag him into one of the tunnels at an inhuman speed.


    Silence descends as the knight captain disappears into the darkness.


    [How foolish. Sleep.]


    Immediately the four knights behind the slave girl collapse in the snow. The knights that had threatened her life and put her in this crisis had so easily been vanquished. However, she couldn¡¯t be happy. As soon as this suit of black armor appeared before her, the knights became no more than an afterthought.


    [She can be a bit mischievous, but I hope you¡¯ll keep her company.]


    The person in front of her talks to himself about something she doesn¡¯t understand. Rather than coming from within the helmet, his voice seems to originate from inside her own head.


    Where had this person come from? What was going to happen to her? She felt her blood slowly running out of her body, and her life with it. She no longer had the strength to support her neck, and her gaze began to fall back to the ground.


    Finally taking notice of her, the person kneels down and observes her.


    She feels his penetrating gaze from within the helmet, as he were looking through her at her very existence.


    [This one is quite interesting.]


    Her vision begins to fade from blood loss. The sound of the wind blowing and trees creaking as they sway around her grows distant, but the person¡¯s voice remains clear in her head.


    [Still hanging on to life in that condition, even after coming in contact with this armor of mine¡­]


    The voice trails off, as if considering something.


    [How is it? Do you want to live?]


    The slave girl¡¯s breathing is faint, and her eyes are unfocused as if in a daze. After a long pause, her head nods slightly.


    [Then, will you give yourself to me, body and soul? Will you accompany me on my journey, following my every command until your body rots and falls apart in the ground? Of course, there is no guarantee this will be a better fate than dying as you are now¡­]


    His voice once again trails off, as if lost in thought.


    [Now, tell me your answer. Just how far does your will to live go?]


    In towns, bards would sing tales of people who have seen the devil and have sold their soul for a single wish. Some wish for money, some for power, some for fame¡­ no matter what the wish, no matter how it played out, they would be unable to escape their contract with the devil and their soul would be lost forever.


    Surely this person in front of her was the same as in the legends. A devil that could grant any wish as long as she gave up everything. There was no way of knowing what kind of life she would have if she accepted the contract, but even so, she would be alive. Her body numb, her senses dull, there was only one thing that went through her mind.


    She didn¡¯t want to die here.


    And so¡­


    In the cold snow, barely hanging on to life, the girl uses the rest of her strength to whisper a single word. On the verge of losing consciousness, she didn¡¯t know if she had actually made a sound or not, but her quiet voice faintly escapes her lips and disappears in the wind.


    [Very well.]


    Hearing the devil¡¯s voice, the girl allows her mind to fade into darkness.


    On that day, the slave girl blindly entered into a contract to hang onto her life. She had no way of knowing what lied ahead. But at least for now, she could rest knowing she would see the sun rise once again.


    Incidentally, when the sun started to set and his comrades still hadn¡¯t returned, the fifth knight that stayed with the horses explored the forest a bit without venturing too deep. Unable to find his captain and the others, the fifth knight rides back to the capital to report the losses.


    Some time later, a force was sent out to investigate, but the bodies of the knights or the slave girl were never found.

 Chapter Three

    The largest city in the southern part of the human kingdom is called Vashala. Even now during winter people could be seen walking through the icy streets. Though food stalls had long closed due to the weather, you could feel the warm air drifting out of the numerous opened doors lining the streets in the commercial district.


    While walking, you could see people stumbling out of bars and sobering up when hit by the cold winter wind.


    The streets weren¡¯t as crowded as they would be in the spring or summer, but even as the sun set, there were too many people walking around to count.


    On a certain main road within the city, everyone stopped in their tracks and stared as two figures walked through the crowd. It was strange for the people who were constantly in a hurry to get to the warmth of the next shop suddenly come to a stop. However, once one saw what they were staring at, they would become a victim to the strangeness along with them.


    One of them was a Beastkin slave, wearing a bloody pelt.


    Normally this wouldn¡¯t be a strange sight at all, however there were reasons why this slave drew everyone¡¯s attention.


    The first abnormality was the way the slave looked. The Beastkin¡¯s fur was pure white from head to toe without imperfection. Its crystal blue eyes shone like glaciers amidst a sea of white. A single look would make people gasp in awe. It was unlike any Beastkin they had seen before. Surely the price on such a slave would be astronomical.


    The second abnormality was with what the slave was wearing.


    A jet black fur that contrast heavily with her snow white fur and seemed to suck in the light around it. The hairs on it squirmed as if they were living things and if you looked closely, you could see small lumps crawling around aimlessly within the fur. There was only one creature that had fur like that.


    An Aronix (air-ah-nix). An S-class monster that¡¯s said to need a team of the highest class adventurers to bring down. There were those that claimed if feasted on the souls of the living. It was said that clothing made from its fur would make the wearer completely immune to any degree of temperature, as well as ward off almost all magic. If someone sold this ridiculously high-grade material, they and their families could live comfortably for the rest of their life.


    And yet this mere slave was walking around with it on. More than that, it was still dripping black blood, as if the S-class monster had just been slain.


    Noticing this, their gazes change to the person walking beside the beastkin.


    Solid black plate armor.


    There was no one who wore such a thing at this time of year. Their first instinct was to think this person was insane. However, on a closer look, you couldn¡¯t see him shaking at all. He walked with a firm but smooth gait, as if he were taking a stroll in the middle of summer. More than that, he gave off a pressuring aura that made them sweat as they looked at him. Though no one could see his face, they felt his gaze from within the darkness of his helmet. As he walked past, they thought they could feel the air around them become even colder.


    The slave girl looks around nervously. So many humans were staring at her... She could hardly believe she was right back where she had escaped from. The fur she was wearing was still soaked in blood and the feeling of it on her fur made her sick. Though it strangely warded off the winter cold, keeping her body at room temperature, she couldn¡¯t endure the stench of it or the way the sticky blood would make her fur stick together in clumps. Keeping her pace with the man next to her, she recalls the events of the past few days that led her here.


    ¡°Uwaa!! It¡¯s so hard!¡±


    A small beastkin girl throws a tantrum while sitting at a crudely made table in a small grass hut. The older beastkin woman sits beside her with a patient smile.


    ¡°It¡¯s important to learn the common language.¡±


    ¡°But I can already talk good!¡±


    The older woman¡¯s smile widens and she looks at the child with gentle eyes.


    ¡°You need to have a complete understanding of the language. Someday you might find yourself in the outside world and at that time, you¡¯ll need to be able to communicate properly.¡±


    ¡°Never! I¡¯m staying here with mama and papa forever!¡±Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    The woman stifles a soft laughter.


    ¡°In that case, maybe your father and I will speak in nothing but complex expressions and advanced vocabulary.¡±


    The child¡¯s expression becomes stiff as she hears her mother use words she doesn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°Y, you guys wouldn¡¯t do that¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, Elena is a smart girl, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to learn what we are saying eventually.¡±


    ¡°Noooo! You can¡¯t use words you haven¡¯t taught me yet!¡±


    The woman gently pats her daughters head.


    ¡°What an honest child. Then, are you ready to keep learning more words?¡±


    The child firmly nods, filled with determination.


    Just as they were about to resume their studies, another beastkin enters the hut. Unlike the two female beastkin who¡¯s fur was pure white, the male beastkin¡¯s fur was dark grey.


    ¡°Papa!¡±


    ¡°Welcome home dear.¡±


    The woman welcomes him as the child runs up and embraces him. The man reaches down and ruffles the child¡¯s long silver hair.


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re hungry, tonight we¡¯re having deer.¡±


    The child¡¯s eyes light up and she looks back to her mother.


    ¡°Waa! Did you hear that?! Papa got a deer! Can I go out and help cook?¡±


    Her mother looks at her with a confused expression.


    ¡°Elena? Papa still hasn¡¯t returned yet. What are you doing over there?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about, papa is right he-¡°


    When the child turns back, the man she had been embracing was nowhere to be found.


    ¡°B, but¡­¡±


    Confused, she turns to look back to her mother, but the chair she had been sitting on was now empty.


    ¡°Mama?¡±


    Somehow, it seemed to have gotten dark without her noticing. She strains her eyes in the darkness, looking around in the dark grass hut.


    ¡°Mama? Papa? Where did you go?¡±


    Calling out in a worried voice, her gaze falls on a door within the grass hut.


    Had there always been a door like that? It was carved out of wood and swung on metal hinges, looking completely out of place within the simple grass hut.


    The door creaked open slightly, and a sliver of light escaped from behind the door, brightening the dim interior of the room.


    Stepping cautiously toward the door, the girl places her hand on the knob and pulls it open.


    When she enters, she is surrounded by darkness and she can barely make out her surroundings. Why had she thought there was light coming from here?


    Looking around, it appeared to have once been a child¡¯s room, but the toys have long since fallen apart, the bed had mold growing on it, and the walls were peeling and falling apart. She could see black shadows skitter across the floor, darting between piles of trash.


    Suddenly, she heard a quiet sobbing, and her eyes instantly find the source.


    In a corner of the room, she can just make out the small figure of a hunched over girl. The girl appeared to be human, and had a long and ragged one-piece dress on. Her long black hair completely covered her face, and her shoulders trembled as if she were crying.


    Elena¡¯s mother had always told her to never show herself to a human. That if she ever saw one, she was to report it to her or her father and never approach them. However, the girl in front of her was about her age, and looked as if she were in trouble. It should be fine if she just makes sure she¡¯s okay¡­


    In an uneasy voice, Elena calls out to the small girl.


    ¡°H, hello?¡±


    The girl in the corner shows no response and continues to sob quietly as if she didn¡¯t hear her.


    ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    Slowly making her way towards the crying girl, Elena navigates through the piles of trash while calling out to her.


    As she gets closer and closer, the sound of the sobs seem to carry further and further, bouncing off the walls and echoing all around her. The area around the girl starts to become blacker, as if all of the darkness in the room were converging on in the corner around the girl.


    Elena comes to a stop at the center of the room. Something was not right.


    Just as she decides it would be better to turn back, a pair of bloodshot eyes fly open within the girl¡¯s black hair.


    Before she can react, a loud scream is pierces the air and the girl lunges towards her at an incomprehensible speed.


    It takes a fraction of a second before her vision fills completely with the black hair of the girl, and the pair of bloodshot eyes are inches from her own.


    She feels her heart sink and a chill spreads through her brain as if her mind were frozen. As she opens her mouth to scream, her consciousness tugs at her and she opens her eyes while her upper body flies out of the snow like skeleton rising from a grave.


    Sitting upright and breathing heavily from the shock, the cold air around her assaults her lungs. Looking ahead, she can make out the shapes trees hidden behind a layer of thick fog.


    It was only a dream.


    ¡°Thanks for the meal.¡±


    As she was calming her heart, a dry voice enters her ears. It sounded like someone with a bad cold was trying to sound cute and cheerful. Elena turns toward the strange voice and sees a black shadow.


    The shadow was in the shape of a small girl, similar to the one she had just seen in her dream. Though it¡¯s a shadow, it stood on the ground with two legs and its body was three dimensional. The shadow appeared to have on a dress which ran down to just before her knees. Its hair was long and adorned on the side of its head was an oversized bow, of course, that was also part of the shadow.


    Though Elena was confused, she couldn¡¯t sense any hostility from the peculiar shadow.


    ¡°W, who are you?¡±


    Though it had no lips that she could see, she felt the shadow grin brightly.


    ¡°Who am I? I¡¯m Lily, the world¡¯s most lovable Night Terror!¡±


    The shadow strikes a strange pose, puffing out its chest as it tries to use its dry and raspy voice to talk in a cute and prideful manner. Its actions were completely inconsistent with its demonic voice and appearance.


    Elena¡¯s eyes go wide. A Night Terror? It was a demon from fairytales that fed on fear of humans. They were only found in stories mothers told their children in order to get them to mind. Behave or the Night Terror will haunt your dreams! It was that kind of story.


    However, right now one had appeared before her. Was this the cause of her nightmare?


    [Good, you¡¯re awake.]


    As the deep voice fills her mind, she turns around and sees a black suit of armor leaning against the bark of a tree.


    That¡¯s right, she had made a contract with this person. In order to stay alive, she would dedicate her life to this person that granted it.


    Remembering the chase with the knights, she hurriedly looks down at her body.


    Not a single scratch could be found anywhere. Putting strength into her legs, they both moved normally and the pain from her broken leg was gone. Touching her face, she only felt her thin fur, even the blood had disappeared from her body as if she had never been injured in the first place.


    ¡°H, how¡­¡±


    She lets out an amazed voice.