Tamer's Path

As consciousness slipped from me, I felt the energy drain to its very core. The last thing I remembered was the concerned looks on Voltis and Lilia's faces before the darkness claimed me. When I finally woke up again, it wasn't my body I was aware of—it was the lingering feeling of emptiness where my energy should have been, an exhaustion so profound it seemed to have burned a part of my very soul.

I wasn't the only one who had collapsed. Asura lay just as still as me, the two of us pushed far beyond our limits in the desperate fight for survival. In my absence, Voltis and Laila had taken charge.

Voltis, with his newly developed draconic features and the slight bump of a growing horn, coiled protectively around us. His mist barrier—a skill he must have just gained—shrouded us in an almost ethereal cloak of concealment. It was silent yet comforting, ensuring that predators wouldn't easily sniff us out.

Lilia, on the other hand, had her roots planted deep in the forest floor. She wasn't just sitting idle; her consciousness was reaching out through the web of life that connected the forest.

Voltis looked at her with concern. His voice rumbled softly, as though he feared to disturb the fragile balance of the moment.

"What do we do, Lilia? Can you heal them?"

Lilia shook her head gently. "This isn't something I can fix. They burned past their limits, past their energy, and touched their life force itself. The damage is… delicate. It's dangerous to interfere without a proper remedy."

Her words were like a weight on Voltis' shoulders. He lowered his head, the shimmer of his red scales catching the faint moonlight. "Akira could've evolved one of us… We might've been able to save him from pushing so far. Why didn't he—"

"He wasn't thinking about himself," Laila interrupted. "He was thinking about us. About surviving. None of us could have anticipated how far he would push himself."

A heavy silence followed, both of them processing the precariousness of the situation. Finally, Laila reached a decision.

"I'll ask for help," she said, her voice soft but resolute.

Voltis watched her intently as she dug her roots deeper, her glowing green eyes closing in concentration. He remained vigilant, scanning the forest with his sharp eyes while maintaining the mist barrier.

---

Laila's consciousness traveled across the vast network of plant life. She was searching for someone—or something—that could save Akira and Asura. Her mind brushed past countless smaller entities: wildflowers whispering secrets, vines weaving stories of predators, and ancient shrubs sharing their quiet wisdom. Finally, she found it—the presence she sought.

The Great Blushwood Tree.

The ancient guardian of this part of the forest, the Blushwood stood over 100 meters tall, its pink petals and vibrant fruits glowing faintly even in the dark. It was said to be a gentle soul, a protector of life and balance, who offered aid in exchange for small favors. Beneath its immense canopy lived countless tiny creatures who relied on its protection.

The Blushwood's presence radiated warmth and authority. As Laila reached out, a melodic, almost motherly voice filled her mind.

"You seek my help, little one," the Blushwood said. "Your tamer and his partner have overstepped their bounds. They need healing of a kind that cannot be rushed. I can aid you, but there is a price."

Laila nodded within the mental connection. "Name it, Great Blushwood. I will do what I can."

"There is a tribe of Kinnelbuns—small, gentle creatures—at the edge of my domain. They are threatened by a pack of Mistfang Wolves, and they cannot defend themselves. I need you to assist them. Their guardian is awakening, but they need protection until it is ready."

The request made Laila hesitate. She knew the Kinnelbuns: adorable, bunny-like beings with long, drooping ears and humanoid torsos no larger than a baby. They were soft-hearted and utterly defenseless, having migrated here from a distant region where they had never needed to evolve beyond the basic iron rank.

But Mistfang Wolves were another story entirely. These creatures, two meters tall with sleek, mist-like forms, were the pinnacle of predation in the forest. Even the wasps avoided them. Their ability to dissolve into mist made them nearly untouchable, and their pack mentality made them deadly.

"I—" Laila faltered. "That's impossible. I cannot fight the Mistfangs. They are stronger than even the wasps. How can I protect the Kinnelbuns from them?"

The Blushwood's voice remained calm but firm. "You will not face them alone. The Kinnelbuns are about to gain a guardian, one that will rival even the Mistfangs in strength. All you must do is provide support. Distract, misdirect, and buy time."

It wasn't a choice, not really. Laila understood that this was the only way to save Akira and Asura. She bowed her head. "I will do as you ask."

The Blushwood hummed softly, a sound like rustling leaves in a summer breeze. "Good. Go swiftly, little one. Time is short."

---

Back in the clearing, Laila's consciousness returned to her body. She opened her eyes, meeting Voltis' questioning gaze.

"I've found a way," she said. "But it won't be easy."

Voltis raised an eyebrow, his coiled form tightening protectively around Akira and Asura. "What do we have to do?"

She explained the situation—the Kinnelbuns, the Mistfang Wolves, and the guardian-to-be. Voltis let out a low growl of frustration.

"Mistfang Wolves?" he hissed. "You mean those shadowy death machines? How are we supposed to fight them?"

"We're not fighting them," Laila clarified. "We're stalling them. The Kinnelbuns' guardian is awakening. We just need to hold the wolves off until it's ready."

Voltis sighed, his tail thumping against the ground in reluctant acceptance. "Fine. Let's do this. But if we die, I'm blaming you."

Laila managed a small smile. "Deal."

With that, the two set off, Voltis carrying the duo. They knew the task ahead would be perilous, but there was no other way. Akira's life—and their own survival—depended on it.

The Great Blushwood hadn't explained how one guardian could take on a pack of Mistfang Wolves. A part of me doubted it was even possible. Bronze-ranked predators weren't something to take lightly. But the tree's voice had held an unwavering confidence, and though I didn't fully understand, I trusted it.

Voltis took the lead, his red scales glinting faintly under the pale moonlight. He carried Akira and Asura on a platform of solidified mist, an ability I hadn't seen him use before. The mist seemed thick yet pliable, holding the unconscious pair securely as we moved.

"We can't leave them here," Voltis muttered, his voice low but tinged with determination. "The forest would devour them before sunrise."

He was right. This place was brutal at the best of times, but nighttime brought out the worst of its horrors. Every shadow seemed to move with predatory intent, and the cries of unseen creatures echoed around us.

Luckily, the mist offered us an advantage. Most of the forest's inhabitants feared the Mistfang Wolves, and the scent of Voltis' mist tricked them into believing the wolves were prowling. Every time we encountered danger, the creatures would hesitate, then vanish into the undergrowth.

But not everything was fooled.

It started as a chill, a presence so subtle it was almost unnoticeable. Then I saw it: a figure in the trees, moving with an unnatural grace. An owl.

Not just any owl—this one was ethereal, its feathers glowing faintly like moonlight on water. It glided through the air without a sound, its ghostly form slipping effortlessly through branches and trunks as though they weren't there.

Voltis slowed, his eyes narrowing as he observed it. "That one's different," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The owl's head tilted, its large, luminous eyes locking onto us. My heart raced. Unlike the other predators, this creature wasn't deterred by the mist. It moved closer, its ghostly body phasing through the mist as if it weren't real.

"It's hunting us," I murmured, feeling a shiver crawl down my spine.

Voltis didn't hesitate. With a burst of lightning, he shot forward, carrying us at a speed that made the forest blur around us. The owl screeched behind us, but it didn't pursue. Whether it lost interest or we simply moved too fast, I couldn't say.

We didn't stop until we reached the edge of the Kinnelbuns' territory.

---

The burrows of the Kinnelbun tribe were nestled beneath a cluster of ancient trees. The ground here was dotted with small mounds, each marked by an entrance barely large enough to fit a small child.

As we approached, the Kinnelbuns emerged. Dozens of them peeked out from their burrows, their large, floppy ears twitching nervously. The unranked ones were tiny, barely the size of human infants, with round faces and soft, gray fur. They stared at us with wide, innocent eyes, their tiny hands clutching at one another for reassurance.

The few iron-ranked members were slightly larger, about the size of a human toddler, but they looked no less fragile. Their fur was patchy, their limbs thin, and their movements awkward. Unlike most iron-ranked creatures, they lacked any visible signs of strength or unique abilities.

"They're… weak," Voltis said bluntly, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"They are," I agreed, though I felt a pang of sympathy for them. "But that doesn't mean they don't deserve a chance to survive."

One of the iron-ranked Kinnelbuns stepped forward hesitantly. It had slightly darker fur than the others and carried a wooden staff that looked too big for its frail frame. It was trying to appear brave, but the way its hands shook betrayed its fear.

"Y-you've come from the Great Tree?" it asked, its voice high-pitched and trembling.

"Yes," I said gently, stepping forward to meet its gaze. "We're here to help. The Mistfang Wolves won't reach you if we can stop them."

The Kinnelbun's large eyes filled with tears of relief, and it nodded fervently. "Thank you… thank you so much!"

I glanced at Voltis, who looked less than impressed. "This is what we're risking our lives for?" he muttered under his breath.

"Stop," I whispered back. "We're not here to judge them. We're here to do what we promised."

Voltis rolled his eyes but didn't argue.

The Kinnelbuns led us toward the heart of their burrow system, where their young and elderly were hidden. It was clear they were terrified, but I also noticed a faint spark of hope in their eyes.

As we reached the central clearing, the unranked Kinnelbuns began to hum softly, a sound like a lullaby carried on the wind. I realized they were praying—perhaps to the Great Tree, or perhaps to whatever guardian was meant to save them.

I only hoped the Blushwood was right. Whatever guardian they were waiting for would have to be extraordinary to stand against the Mistfang Wolves. If it wasn't…

I didn't want to think about what would happen if it wasn't.