Roselyn

After saving the girl from the kidnappers, I continued my journey towards Elaria with her following closely behind. She hadn't spoken much since we started moving, but her presence was a constant reminder of my responsibility. We encountered several monsters along the way, but I dispatched them with ease, my skills honed from two years of relentless training.

Suddenly, she spoke up, her voice breaking the silence. "Hey, can I ask something?"

I stopped and turned to face her. She looked nervous, which I found endearing. Her silver hair and striking eyes made her quite a sight, and I could tell she would grow up to be a beautiful woman. But I quickly pushed those thoughts aside; she was just a kid, and my focus needed to be on our safety and getting to Elaria.

"Ah, yes, my name..." I hesitated, not wanting to reveal my true identity. "Noah. Yes, my name is Noah."

"Oh, hello, Noah," she said, introducing herself as Roselyn. "And sorry for not trusting you earlier. I was scared, you know," she added, looking down at the ground.

"It's alright, I don't mind," I replied, trying to put her at ease.

She smiled, visibly relieved. "Thank you." Then we resumed walking, her demeanor noticeably more relaxed.

"Aric, I think she's too innocent. That's why they were able to kidnap her," Shadow remarked in my mind.

"Yeah, I noticed," I replied.

Roselyn moved closer to me, seemingly more comfortable now. "By the way, why are you so strong, Noah? Even though you're my age? And why are you wearing that mask? Do you want to conceal your identity? If so, don't worry, I won't ask you to show your face."

Once she started talking, it seemed like she couldn't stop. I found her chatter amusing and a bit refreshing, considering how quiet my journey had been up until now.

"Oh, sorry if you don't want to answer my questions, but will you tell me how you became this strong?" she asked, her curiosity evident.

"I've been training in the forest for the last two years, fighting monsters," I explained. "That's probably why."

"Oh, I see. I came to this forest because I wanted to get stronger too," she said, a note of determination in her voice.

As we walked, Roselyn continued to ask questions, her curiosity seemingly insatiable. She asked about my training methods, the monsters I had fought, and my future plans. I answered as best as I could, without revealing too much about my true identity and my mission.

"Do you have a family, Noah?" she asked at one point, her tone turning more serious.

"I do," I replied. "I'm actually on my way to Elaria to get stronger so I can protect them."

She nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I hope to get strong enough to protect my family too. That's why I came to the forest. But I guess I was too naive."

"Everyone starts somewhere," I said. "The important thing is to learn from your experiences and keep moving forward."

She looked at me with a mix of admiration and determination. "You're right, Noah. Thank you."

As we walked through the dense forest, Roselyn started to feel more comfortable around me. Our conversations became more frequent and natural. After a while, I decided to ask her how she ended up in such a dangerous situation.

"So, how did you fall into the kidnappers' trap?" I asked, genuinely curious.

She sighed and began her story. "Oh, that... I'll start from the beginning. Actually, both my brothers and I awakened dual elements. But for our training, I was kept inside our home, while they were taken outside into the forest to train. This made me weaker than them. Whenever I asked my father to let me join them, he refused, saying I was too precious for him to risk."

She paused, taking a deep breath. "So, I slipped away and ran into the forest without being detected. But I didn't know that it was human-restricted, which led me to encounter those men who then kidnapped me."

I shook my head slightly, understanding her frustration but also recognizing the danger she had put herself in. "Oh, Roselyn, you shouldn't roam outside alone."

"I know," she said, her voice filled with regret. "Now I'm really regretting my choice to go out alone. I should have listened to my father. I just want to go home."

"Don't worry, we're close to Elaria," I reassured her. "And by the way, you're from Elaria, right?"

"Yes, I am," she replied with curious face.

"Then can you help me find some good food there? I haven't eaten well since this trip started. I want to try some good food," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

Her face brightened. "Oh, don't worry. I'll take you to the best restaurant in my city. You're my guest, after all."

As we continued walking, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. On one hand, I was relieved to have someone to talk to after so long in the forest. On the other hand, I was wary of the dangers that still lurked in the forests. Roselyn's story made me think about my own family and how much I missed them a loving family .

As we continued on our way, the atmosphere started to feel tense. Shadow's voice echoed in my mind, a hint of urgency in his tone.

"Aric, something is wrong here."

"What happened, Shadow?" I asked, instinctively scanning our surroundings.

"I'm sensing danger here. And it's different. It's not any monster."

"What are you talking about? What could it be?"

"I don't know, but let Roselyn stick with you. Be aware. There's someone watching us, but they haven't made a move yet. And they're dangerous."

I felt a shiver run down my spine. "Hmm, okay. Don't worry. I'll be aware."

I turned to Roselyn, who was blissfully unaware of the impending danger. "Stay close to me," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Roselyn noticed my sudden change in demeanor and looked at me with concern. "What's wrong, Noah?"

"Just stay close to me," I said, my voice firm but gentle. "We might not be alone."

Her eyes widened in fear, but she nodded and moved closer

We continued walking, but my senses were on high alert. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig put me on edge. I could feel someone's eyes on us, a predator stalking its prey.

"Shadow, can you pinpoint where the danger is coming from?" I asked internally.

"It's elusive, moving in and out of my senses. But it's close."

I tightened my grip on my weapon, ready for whatever was coming.