Chapter 5
Three people stood facing one another deep within the forest.
Dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves above, painting soft patterns across moss-covered ground as the man stepped forward, extending a neatly bundled clutch of silvery-blue herbs bound with vine.
“You mentioned earlier that you were looking for Moonglow, correct?” he said gently. “Here. Take it.”
“N-no, that’s..” Mina began, hands lifting in reflexive refusal.
“It’s fine,” he cut in smoothly, smiling. “Consider it a parting gift… for my first guests.”
“First…”
“…guests…”
Both women echoed the word almost unconsciously. Their pleased expressions lingered for a heartbeat. Before subtly dimming, a shared reluctance settling in.
“Don’t look so troubled,” Soobin continued lightly. “This may be our first meeting, but I doubt it will be our last.”
“Who knows?” he added with a shrug. “Maybe our paths will cross again.”
Then, tilting his head with a teasing glint in his golden-blue eyes,
“Or…” he leaned closer just a little, “…do you really like me that much? That you’re so reluctant to say goodbye?”
His smile turned unmistakably mischievous.
“N-no! We’re not!” Mina blurted out. “I-I mean, n-not really, it’s just—!”
THWACK!
“Oww!!” Mina yelped, clutching the top of her head.
“Don’t be rude,” Keila said flatly, retracting her hand. “We actually really appreciate your company.”
She straightened, clearing her throat.
“And thank you for the herbs. If not for you, we would’ve spent hours searching.”
Then, awkwardly,
“Mr. Soobin, sir…”
“Oh, we haven’t even introduced ourselves yet,” the man said quickly, waving a hand. “Just call me… Soobin.”
“Is… is that really alright?” Keila asked. “Not addressing you by a title?”
“Please don’t,” he said earnestly. “It makes me uncomfortable.”
Then he gestured between them. “Now then, what should I call you two ladies?”
“Soobin… Soobin…” Mina muttered under her breath, clearly testing the name.
Keila seized the moment. “You can call me Keila. And this one here is—”
“Ah! M-Mina! N-nice to m-meet you… Soobin, s-sir.”
“Fufu,” Soobin chuckled. “She’s quite shy, isn’t she?”
“I know, right?” Keila smirked. “She’s only like this because of you, you know~”
“Oh my~”
Mina’s face ignited like a lantern.
“I—I’m g-going to g-go now…!”
She bowed a perfect ninety degrees. Too perfect, before hurriedly turning on her heel.
“Well then!” Keila called out. “Thank you for everything, Lord Soobin!”
“Yes!” Mina added hastily from a distance. “S-see you next time!”
Soobin waved cheerfully as the two departed, Keila quickly catching up and draping an arm around Mina’s shoulders. Mina glanced back just once. Then snapped her gaze forward again, face burning.
“…Haah,” Soobin exhaled softly once they were gone.
“somehow, It really feels like talking to my old male friends.”
He wondered briefly how they were doing.
Then,
The wisps floated into his field of view, hovering expectantly, glowing softly as if tugging at his attention.
“Alright, alright,” he said fondly. “Don’t worry. I didn’t forget.”
“And also…”
He turned slightly.
“So, you know I can see you, right?”
Behind a tree not far away, a very large, very white unicorn froze. Its body remained concealed… except for its very obvious rear end jutting out from the trunk.
It did not move.
Soobin stared.
The unicorn remained perfectly still.
“…You’re not even trying,” he muttered.
With a sigh, he deliberately turned his head away, pretending ignorance.
“I suppose you’re the only ones I’ll be giving names to first,” he said casually.
Immediately, the unicorn stepped out, huffing indignantly.
The wisps burst into soft, chiming laughter at its childish antics.
“See?” Soobin smiled. “Was that so hard? Why were you even hiding?”
The unicorn stomped once, then tilted its head. Pointing its horn backward toward its own back.
“Oh,” Soobin blinked.
“…You thought I’d be mad that you let a stranger ride you instead of me?”
He smirked.
“So that’s what this is about.”
He folded his arms, feigning seriousness.
“Haaah…”
The unicorn flinched at his furrowed brow and exaggerated sigh.
The wisps exchanged looks, giggling. They knew exactly what he was doing.
“But I am jealous, you know~” Soobin continued innocently.
“How could you let other women ride you like that when I haven’t even taken your first~”
He paused.
“…Wow. That sounded way dirtier than I intended.”
The unicorn snorted loudly.
“Anyway~” he went on, “I’m really, really disappointed.”
NEEIIIGH!!
The unicorn huffed and stamped, clearly overwhelmed by the relentless teasing.
“Alright, alright~” Soobin laughed. “I’ll forgive you this time.”
The unicorn instantly brightened.
“But only if…”
Soobin stepped closer.
“…you let me ride you once.”
“Pretty fair deal, isn’t—WOAH!”
Without warning, the unicorn dipped its head and scooped him up effortlessly. Soobin yelped as he slid down onto its back.
“Whoa…”
From up here, everything felt different.
“Three meters really is no joke,” he muttered, gazing out over the forest.
CLAP!
He clapped once, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Alright then!” he announced brightly.
“Are you all looking forward to the surprise~?”
The wisps spun excitedly in midair, glowing brighter and zipping in loops.
The unicorn stomped eagerly, tail swishing with barely contained anticipation.
Soobin chuckled warmly.
“Hehe… then look forward to it.”
—
At the edge of the forest, two adventurers emerged into the open plains, Moonglow bundled securely in their arms.
Mina walked in silence, eyes unfocused.
Keila noticed.
She crept up behind her and blew gently into her ear.
“Phoooo~”
“EEEEEEEK—!!”
“U-unnie!! I almost dropped the herbs!”
“What?” Keila laughed. “Your chest could carry them like a tray. And it’s not like they’re fragile.”
“S-seriously…”
“Come on~ what’s got you thinking so hard?”
“…You know,” Keila added lightly, “we can visit Mister Soobin anytime.”
“T-that’s not what I was—!”
“See?” Keila grinned. “Your face went red again!”
“G-geez! I-it’s not just that!”
“Oh?”
“So you were thinking about it.”
“Y-yes, b-but—”
“But what?”
Mina looked down, fingers tightening.
“Spill it.”
Keila shook her playfully.
“O-okay! Okay!”
“I-it’s just…”
“…you never told me…”
“Told you what?”
“H-how you…”
“…lost your virginity.”
The world seemed to dim.
Keila’s expression went blank—like a candle snuffed out.
“U-unnie…?”
“……”
“D-did I say something wrong…?”
Then, snap.
Keila laughed, sheepish, as if nothing had happened.
“Haha! Sorry, sorry. Zoned out for a second. What were you saying?”
“N-nothing…”
“That so? Then let’s go!”
“Let’s get paid and grab a drink!”
“W-wait—!”
“Let’s goooo~!”
Keila ran ahead. Mina followed, worry etched deep into her face.
“…Something definitely happened,” Mina thought.
As Kiela ran ahead seemingly tried to get away from something, Mina followed suite
Her expression showed deep concern and worried for her friend's wellbeing.
She may be timid, but she can't exactly miss something like this. Especially, from her closest friend.
I'll just wait until she's comfortable enough to open up about it..
—
As the sun dipped low, orange light painting the plains,
At the northern hills…
A group of figures stood overlooking the forest.
They wore layered animal-fur cloaks, leather straps, bone ornaments, and tribal markings. Wolf ears twitched atop their heads; thick tails swayed behind them.
“I tracked traces of the bicorn,” said a crouching woman named Yara, nose close to the ground. “It was wounded. I can still smell its blood.”
Behind her stood their leader.
Aiza.
Tall. Muscular. Sun-kissed skin marked with faint scars. Her wolf ears stood proud, eyes sharp and predatory. An aura of authority radiated from her, an undeniable alpha.
“Good,” Aiza growled.
“We’ll avenge our fallen kin. That monster, and whoever bastard drove it. Will pay.”
She looked over the forest, nestled perfectly between the hills like a cradle.
“And once this is settled…”
“…this land would make a fine refuge for our people.”
Her tail swayed slowly.
“A safe place,” she murmured.
