The road wound through rolling fields until the first rooftops came into view. Smoke curled from chimneys, and I caught the sound of laughter carried by the wind.
A village. A real, breathing, living village.
I floated faster, glowing like a lantern. "Whoa… people actually live here. They have houses. Look, that one even has flowerpots! Advisor, look!"
[Observation: Confirmed. This is indeed… a village. Congratulations, you are no longer in a forest.]
"…Sometimes I think you're trolling me."
---
As we entered, small heads peeked out from behind fences. The Nerulians were shorter than humans, with slightly pointed ears and bright, jewel-like eyes. They wore simple tunics, many patched at the elbows, but their smiles were warm despite the soldiers' grim march.
Then they noticed me.
Gasps filled the street.
"Spirit! A real spirit!" a child cried, pointing at me.
Within seconds, I was surrounded. Dozens of wide eyes, little hands reaching out.
One bold boy tapped me with a stick. My glow flickered.
"Hey! I'm fragile, you know "
A girl leaned close, peering into my glow. Her face filled my vision. I panicked and spun, only to bump right into her chest.
"EEP!"
She stumbled back, blushing furiously. "I-It touched me there!"
The crowd erupted in giggles and whispers.
[Observation: Congratulations. You have been branded as both holy and indecent simultaneously.]
"I SWEAR IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!"
Bran muttered, "Figures."
---
The village chief, an elderly Nerulian with a long braided beard, approached and bowed low to the captain.
"Thank you for coming. We've been plagued by… those things. They come from the forest at night. We can't fight them."
The captain nodded. "We'll hold watch tonight. Keep your people inside."
The chief's gaze slid toward me. "…And this spirit?"
The captain hesitated, then spoke carefully. "He is… an ally. At least for now."
Not the most reassuring endorsement, but better than nothing.
---
That night, the militia stood guard along the outskirts. I hovered overhead, nerves buzzing.
The forest loomed, shadows stretching like claws. Then I heard it the growl.
From the darkness, they emerged.
Not goblins. Not wolves.
Twisted, four-legged creatures, their skin stretched thin over jutting bones, mouths split too wide with rows of jagged teeth. Their eyes glowed red in the dark.
The Nerulians screamed from inside their huts.
[Alert: Multiple Corrupted Hounds detected. Threat Level: C+. Recommendation: Do not get bitten.]
"No kidding!"
The first hound lunged. A soldier met it with a spear, but the beast's strength nearly bowled him over. Another clawed at the barricade.
I darted forward, blasting a beam of condensed mana. It seared the hound's side, leaving smoking flesh but my MP bar dropped fast.
MP: 210/260 → 180/260
"Too costly!" I hissed.
Another hound slipped past the line, heading straight for a hut. A child screamed.
Without thinking, I shot forward, slamming my glowing body into the hound's face. It reeled back, stunned, but
CRACK.
Pain exploded through me. My HP plummeted.
HP: 82/100 → 39/100
Warning: Core Integrity Critical
"Ghhhhh ! Advisor, this sucks!"
[Observation: Correct.]
The hound snarled, about to strike again
Then, a flash.
A figure dropped from the rooftops, landing between me and the beast. Silver hair gleamed under the moonlight, and in her hands, twin daggers danced like streams of water.
Her movements were fluid, graceful, almost unreal. In one blink, she slashed the beast's throat, black blood spraying the ground.
The hound crumpled.
She turned, her jewel-blue eyes locking onto me.
"…A spirit?" she whispered.
My glow flickered nervously. "…Uh. Hi?"
Behind her, more hounds poured from the treeline, their howls filling the night.
And for the first time, I realized this battle wasn't close to over.
---