Chapter 25
The Ruler of Green Grassland
Date: Day 23 of Harvestmoon. 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
The suns began their descent toward the horizon. Sol dipped lower. Luna followed close behind.
Just as Hyoren was beginning to think they would need to find a place to make camp, Elise stopped abruptly.
She held up a hand for silence. Her body went rigid. Her pointed ears twitched. Her eyes focused on something in the distance.
She pointed with her chin toward a shallow dip in the rolling plains. About three hundred meters away.
Hyoren followed her gaze.
There was a small spring in the indentation. A natural hollow in the earth. The water was clear. Fresh. He saw the spring also fed the river they had been following.
But there was something else.
The wind was on their side. Carrying their scent away from the depression. So the wolves hadn't smelled them coming.
Lapping at the water were three Green Wolves.
Their fur blended perfectly with the grass. If not for their movement, they would have been nearly invisible.
"Three green wolves…."
Elise's voice was a low whisper. Barely audible.
"They might be scouts. Or just a group that decided to separate from their original packs."
She was already turning. Her eyes scanning for a path around the depression.
"Let's detour, Hyoren. Better to not risk ourselves."
Hyoren watched the wolves. His mind already calculating risks and rewards.
"Wait, Elise." he grabbed her arm.
"Let's fight them."
She turned. Looked at him. Surprise in her eyes.
"The suns are almost set…" he pointed at the sky.
"The spring there, where those three wolves are, looks like a perfect camp for us. Fresh water. Natural shelter from the depression."
He paused.
"If we detour, we don't know if we can find a better place. And detouring here means we need to walk at night. It will add more days to our journey too."
He watched the wolves. His eyes tracking their movements. He tightened his grip on his spear.
"Also. I want to fight properly with the green wolf. I need to learn their habits."
Elise studied him. Her eyes searching his face. Evaluating.
Then she nodded. And she exhaled slowly
"Understandable. Your logic is sound, Hyoren. And learning green wolf habits..."
She shook her head slightly.
"You and your analytical mind."
She drew an arrow from her quiver. Held it loosely at her side.
"So, Hyoren. What's your plan?"
Hyoren thought for a moment. The wolves were still drinking. Unaware of their presence.
"I want you to focus on reducing their numbers from afar. But when there's only one wolf left, let me deal with it alone."
Elise nodded. Her expression serious.
"Understood."
Both of them crept around the depression. Using the tall grass for cover. Moving silently. The wind remained in their favor. Carrying their scent away.
As they got closer, Elise drew her bow. Her body was still. Her breathing controlled.
Hyoren continued creeping. His steel tip spear in his hand. He moved low. Using the grass for concealment.
But wolf senses were higher than goblins.
The wolves noticed Hyoren getting closer. Their ears perked up. Their heads turned. Their yellow eyes found him.
But it was too late.
With a soft sound—shoosh—one of Elise's arrows flew. Lodged into the left green wolf's hind leg. Pinning it to the ground.
The wolf yelped. Tried to stand. But one of its legs was useless. It couldn’t stand.
The other two wolves turned. Snarling. Their attention now fully on Hyoren.
Hyoren shouted.
"You two mutts! I'm your opponent!"
The right wolf lunged. Hyoren used his spear's butt end. Swung it like a club. Knocked the wolf down mid-air.
It yelped. Crashed to the ground. But recovered quickly.
Another wolf tried to bite him. He used his spear shaft to block its jaw. The wolf's teeth clamped onto the wood. It tried to scratch him with its claws. But there was no power behind them. They only managed to scratch shallowly on his arms.
Hyoren was locked with the wolf. His arm started to ache. The wolf was strong. Trying to break free.
Then he heard Elise yell.
“Charged Arrow!”
Her arrow met its mark on the pinned wolf. The one still struggling on the ground.
The arrow didn't just lodge into its head. It penetrated. Left a gaping hole in the wolf's skull.
The wolf went limp. Dead instantly.
Hyoren was still locked with the wolf in front of him. His arm ached. The wolf was trying to break free.
Then he felt the right wolf recover. It lunged again.
Hyoren instantly kicked the wolf in front of him. Freed his spear. The wolf stumbled backward.
He pivoted. Braced himself for the lunge.
But before the wolf could reach him—thwack.
Another arrow lodged into its side. The wolf yelped. The lunge stopped mid-air. Its momentum broken.
Hyoren didn't miss the chance.
He pushed his spear forward. The steel tip thrust into its throat. Pierced deep. He quickly yanked it out. Blood sprayed from its wound.
Two wolves collapsed. One remaining.
"Please let me deal with the last one alone!" Hyoren yelled.
He turned. Faced the last wolf. The one he had kicked. It had recovered. It was now circling him. Its yellow eyes filled with rage.
Elise didn't respond. But she didn't shoot either. She watched with her arrow nocked in her bow, but hadn’t drawn. Ready to intervene if needed. But letting Hyoren have his fight.
He tightened his grip on his spear. His mind raced. Analyzing the creature's position. Calculating the best way to approach.
He took a deep breath and began to move.
The last wolf started to growl. Seeing the other wolves already dead. Its packmates. Its companions.
The growl was low. Deep. Filled with fury.
The moment the growl left its throat, the wolf lunged.
Fast. So fast!
He didn't try to meet the charge like before. Instead, he pivoted on his heel. Used his own momentum to sidestep to the left at the last possible second.
The wolf shot past him. Its jaws snapping shut on empty air.
But the wolf was faster than he thought.
As he sidestepped, the wolf's front claw grazed Hyoren's chest. Leaving a three-claw mark gash. Tearing through his rabbit leather. Cutting into flesh.
Pain flared. Hot and sharp.
"Damn it..." he gritted his teeth.
"It was so fast. I couldn't dodge perfectly."
But even through the pain, his mind still working fast.
See its movement. Its habit. Dodge before it actually lunges.
The wolf skidded to a halt. Turned to face him again. Its yellow eyes now mocking him. Telling him that soon he would be full of claw marks.
It didn't charge again immediately. Instead, it began to circle. Its body low to the ground. Its yellow eyes never left him. Looking for an opening.
This green wolf is fast. But its strikes are not powerful. As long as I can find its habit, I should be able to dodge them and counterattack.
Hyoren held his ground. His spear held ready. His feet planted firmly.
He watched its every move. His mind was focused on the wolf. Looking for a habit. A tell. A rhythm to its movements.
The wolf would feint left. Then right. Its muscles tensing as if to lunge. Only to relax again. Testing him. Probing his defenses.
Hyoren watched—observing and analyzing.
Then he saw it.
A subtle twitch of its right hind leg. Just before it committed to a feint to the left. A slight dip of its left shoulder before it circled right.
It was a pattern. A tell.
"That's it! I see it!"
The wolf was fast. But now Hyoren could see its habit. It was a creature of instinct. And its instincts had a rhythm.
He took a slow, deep breath. Calming the adrenaline-fueled pounding in his chest.
The wolf would lunge. Hyoren would evade. He would sidestep. Pivot. Duck. Each movement a calculated response to the wolf's attack.
Hyoren sometimes received the wolf's claws. Giving him some scratch wounds. The speed overwhelmed his defense. He couldn't dodge everything.
A claw on his arm. Another on his leg. Shallow cuts. Painful but not debilitating.
After a few minutes—which seemed like an eternity for Hyoren—he saw the opening he had been waiting for.
The wolf feinted left.
As predicted, its right hind leg twitched.
But this time, instead of dodging away, Hyoren stepped in.
He took a quick, decisive step forward. Inside the wolf's guard. Turning the creature's own momentum against it.
The wolf, expecting him to retreat, was completely thrown off balance.
For a split second, its throat was exposed. A vulnerable target in the chaos of its failed lunge.
Hyoren didn't miss the chance.
He instantly used his active skill. The spear tip glowed then moved in heartbeat. Aimed at the wolf's neck.
"Piercing Thrust!"
The sharp steel blade at its tip found its mark. Sinking deep into the wolf's neck.
The wolf let out a choked, gurgling yelp. Its body convulsed once. Then went limp.
It collapsed at his feet.
Hyoren stood over the dead wolf. His chest heaving. The adrenaline slowly receding. He trie take a deep breath. Calming down his heartbeat.
Blood dripped from his wounds. His rabbit leather clothing was torn. Shallow cuts covered his arms and chest.
But he was alive. And he had learned.
***
He pulled his spear from the wolf’s neck.
The steel blade slid free with a wet sound. Blood dripped from the tip. He wiped it clean with a handful of dry grass. The fibers soaked up the blood. Turned red.
The adrenaline that had fueled his movements was fading. Leaving a trembling exhaustion in his limbs. A dull ache where the wolf's claws had clawed his skin. His arms felt heavy. His legs felt like lead.
He looked up.
Elise was walking toward him. A wide, approving smile on her face. She moved with a loose, easy grace. The tension of the earlier battle completely gone from her posture. Her bow was slung over her shoulder.
She stopped in front of him.
"Congratulations, Hyoren. That was almost flawless."
She stopped beside the dead wolf. Nudged the heavy carcass with her boot.
"You were patient. You analyzed your opponent. You exploited its weakness."
She tilted her head. Examining him.
"You only took a bit long. But that's understandable as a first-timer. And you didn't receive bite attacks. Only a handful of scratches."
She rummaged through her bag. Pulled out a green vial. A potion.
"Thank you, Elise. For the compliment... and for the opportunity."
He took the vial from her. Hyoren exhaled.
"Now I know how to fight them properly. These wolves are really faster than Goblin Warriors. But generally still weaker."
He uncorked the vial. And drank.
The potion was refreshing and grassy. The effect was immediate. His wounds started to close. The shallow cuts on his arms. The claw marks on his chest. The skin knit together. Leaving no scar. Unblemished.
The pain faded. Replaced by a cool sensation.
Elise watched him. Then turned toward the other wolf carcasses. And clapped her hands.
"Now. Time to work. There are three carcasses worth of wolves."
She looked up at the sky. The suns had almost set. The autumn air was cooling rapidly. The sky was starting to get darker. The first stars were beginning to appear.
"Let's make it quick."
They worked efficiently. Using the Dissection Skill Hyoren had recently acquired. The knowledge flowed through his hands. Guiding his cuts. Showing him where to separate. Where to preserve.
The pelts were carefully removed. The magic stones extracted from the carcasses. The meat carved into manageable portions.
After they were done, there were three magic stones in their bags. Three pelts tied tightly to their packs. Some of the meat was set aside for dinner. The rest of it...
"We'll have to leave it…" Elise looked at the remaining meat.
"This might be waste. But we can't carry all the meat. We'll let slimes or other scavengers deal with them."
She cleaned her hands on the spring water.
"Now, Hyoren. Time to camp."
Hyoren found a flat spot near the spring. Out of the wind. Protected by the natural depression in the land. The spring bubbled softly. Fresh water for the night.
He gathered bundles of long, dry grass from the nearby grassland. The suns had set completely now. The sky was dark. The stars were bright. The three moons were beginning to rise.
As he returned to the camp, Elise had already erected the Ward Stones barrier. The familiar shimmering light covered their campsite. A protective barrier against the dangers.
She saw him carrying bundles of grass and dry branches. Her expression softened.
He put down the bundle of grass. Started to weave them into makeshift beds. His hands worked automatically. The motion familiar from his days in the forest.
"Hyoren..."
He looked up. His hands still trying to weave the grass.
"What is it, Elise?"
Her eyes locked onto him. Her jaw tight. There was something in her expression. Something vulnerable. Something hesitant.
"Please make our two beds close to each other."
He blinked.
"I see you always spaced them. Separated by the fire pit. But for tonight... Please. Side by side."
Elise turned around. Her voice dropped. Muttering.
"And from tomorrow onwards too. I hope..."
Hyoren didn't catch her last few word as the wind muffled them. But he nodded.
"Okay..." he paused a bit, hand still weaving the grass.
"I was always respecting your privacy, Elise. But if you say so..."
He repositioned the grass. Wove two makeshift beds side by side. Close together. Near the fire. Within the protective dome of the barrier.
Elise used her fire starter magic tool—a spark, then small flame—then The fire crackled to life. Casting orange light across the depression.
Elise picked up the wolf meat they had set aside.
"Let's roast this wolf meat…" she held up the strips.
"It's lean and delicious, Hyoren."
She skewered two strips of meat. Sprinkled them with salt and spice. Handed one skewer to Hyoren.
They roasted them together. Over the fire. The flames reached at the meat. Cooking it.
The fat sizzled and dripped. Filling the air with a savory aroma. It made Hyoren's stomach rumble in protest. He hadn't realized how hungry he was.
He took a bite. Savored the flavor.
It was different from rabbit meat. Less gamey. A depth and richness that the rabbit lacked. Tender. Juicy.
“Wow, this is a delicacy, I thought wolf meat was going to be tough and chewy, but it actually juicy and easy to eat.”
Elise also bit into her meat. Nodding.
"I said so, Hyoren…" she smiled.
"Again. Not as good as squirrel meat, of course. But this is also delicious."
They finished their meal mostly in silence. The fatigue was catching up. The weight of the day settling over them.
The day had been long. They had woken before dawn. Attacked by a wolf. Traveled through the grassland. Fought another three wolves. Processed carcasses. Set up camp.
The combined weight of it all was finally settling in. Dragging their eyelids down. Slowing their movements.
"Elise…" Hyoren yawned.
"Let's sleep early. Today we started with a distress call of a wolf attacking our camp. And half of our journey was also rushing. I won't ask any questions tonight."
Elise finished her meat. Stretched. Feeling the tension in her muscles.
"Actually, you might be right."
She rolled her shoulders.
"After eating and relaxing, the fatigue is starting to set in me."
She let out a long sigh. Her shoulders slumped. She looked at the fire. Her expression soft. Vulnerable.
She lay down on the makeshift bed.
"Let's sleep, Hyoren. Night!"
He lay down on the makeshift bed beside her. Her face was in front of him. Close. The firelight flickered across her features. Softening them.
"Good night, Elise."
The fire crackled softly. The barrier shimmered overhead. The spring murmured nearby. The stars twinkled above.
Then both of them tried to sleep.
***
Hyoren had closed his eyes for a while. But he couldn't sleep.
The exhaustion was there. Heavy in his limbs. Pulling him toward unconsciousness. But something kept him awake.
He noticed from the sounds. Elise was not yet asleep. Her breathing was still fast. Shallow. Not rhythmic. Not the deep, even breathing of sleep.
He opened his eyes. And saw her green emerald eyes locked onto him.
There was no playfulness in them. No hint of the veteran ranger. The confident mentor. The teasing teacher.
They were softer. Foggy. Distant. Lost in thought.
"Elise…" he kept his voice low.
"Can't sleep?"
Elise snapped from her thoughts. She didn't realize she had been staring. She thought he was already asleep.
"I thought you already slept, Hyoren..." she smiled weakly.
The smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"And well. Yes..." she exhaled.
"I don't know why but I can't sleep. My body is tired and screaming at my mind to rest. But..."
She trailed off.
"I just... can't."
Hyoren looked at her. Saw her soft and weak expression.
He remembered her distress that morning. The trembling. The panic. The way her mind had broken under the weight of the anomaly.
The journey through grassland. Teaching him many knowledge about this world. Answering his weird questions. Laughing at him.
It had made her forget for a while. Distracted her.
But now, lying on the bed. As she tried to enter sleep. The memories surfaced. The anomaly.
The knowledge of this awakened something in Hyoren’s heart.
"I know I'm still weak…" he spoke quietly.
"And my knowledge is a mess. But Elise..."
He paused. Gathered his thoughts.
"The one thing that I'm sure is... I will be here. I will protect you. So please rest easy."
Elise's eyes widened. Then she let out sound.
"Pfft..." Her chuckling sound was soft.
"Hyoren. You, who's going to touch beastkind ears without their consent? And still at level 6? Going to protect me?"
She shook her head slightly.
"Your jokes are funny. Fufufu."
She was teasing him. But he knew. Her eyes were starting to change. The fog was lifting. The sparkle was returning.
Hyoren locked his gaze to her emerald eyes. Trying to convey his feeling. His sincerity.
"I already saved you once, Elise. Remember?"
He held her gaze.
"And I will save you again if needed. I know my level is still low. You are stronger than me. But..."
He paused.
"I know. My will is unbreakable."
The fire crackled softly beside them. The barrier shimmered around them. The wind rustling the grass making a whispering sound.
Seeing the seriousness of his confession made her expression soften. Her eyes regained clarity. The vulnerability faded. Replaced by something else. Warmth. Trust.
"I see..." she spoke quietly.
"You might be right."
She looked at him. Really looked at him.
"No normal person can survive alone in the Forest of no Return. Alone. Without any knowledge, weapon, or supplies. Starting from level 1. And emerging as a level 6 survivor."
She smiled brightly. A genuine smile. The first real smile he had seen since the morning.
"Okay..." She nodded.
"I will leave it to you then. If I need... saving. Fufufu."
She closed her eyes. The tension on her shoulder was fully gone. Her sleeping posture was relaxed
Not long after, Hyoren heard her breath start to even. Creating rhythmic sounds. Deep. Peaceful. She had finally fallen asleep.
He looked at her.
Her angular face. The silver hair framing her features. The fire light dancing across her skin. She looked peaceful.
His face suddenly felt hot. If Elise were still awake, she would tease him because of how red it was.
He muttered. Trying not to wake her. But cursing himself.
"Damn it!" he whispered.
"What did I just say. That's basically a confession..."
He cringed at himself. At his own words.
"I will protect you, my ass."
He mentally kicked himself.
"Fighting a single green wolf still gave me a lot of wounds. How the heck can I protect her?"
He tried to sleep. But Elise's face in front of him distracted him. He turned around. Trying to remove the image from his head. Facing away from her.
Not long after, the tiredness finally claimed him. And he slept. His breath matching hers.