Morning crept in slowly, pushing away the heavy veil of night. Orange light spread across the sky, brushing dew from the leaves and gently touching Clara's face as she slept between the bushes. The morning air was cold, yet refreshing. Birds had begun to chirp, and the world that had felt suffocating yesterday now seemed calm again—but Clara's soul was still wrestling with emptiness.
Clara opened her eyes slowly, disoriented. Her eyelids felt heavy, and her body ached as if crushed under an invisible weight. She sat up slightly, clutching her chest—her heart was still racing, and last night's nightmare lingered in her mind.
"Lux…" she whispered faintly, but only silence replied.
She let out a deep breath and looked around. The morning light touched the trees and the wet grass, but her thoughts were still wrapped in doubt and fear. The wound on her arm stung again, a reminder of the encounter with the rabbit last night.
Suddenly, the snap of a twig broke the silence. Clara flinched, crouching into a defensive stance, her hand gripping a bloodstained knife. Her eyes sharply scanned the direction the sound had come from.
From between the trees, a young man appeared. His face was calm, his black hair slightly tousled, and his eyes held a cool kind of serenity. He was carrying a boar-like creature over his shoulder, clearly already dead.
He stopped a few steps away from Clara, observing her for a moment.
"I didn't mean to startle you," he said, his voice low but clear, the kind that belonged to someone who thought before speaking. "You look like someone who's just survived a fight—with something or someone."
Clara didn't answer. She remained in her guarded position, eyes locked on him.
"Who are you?" she asked cautiously.
The man bowed slightly—not in submission, but as a polite introduction.
"Liorin. A traveler. Are you a traveler too?" he replied shortly. Clara still said nothing.
Liorin glanced at the wound on her arm.
"That injury… it's not a regular scratch. Were you attacked by an animal?"
Clara closed her eyes briefly, trying to steady her voice. "A rabbit. But not an ordinary one."
Liorin raised an eyebrow slightly but didn't interrupt. He nodded, then pulled a small vial from a pouch at his waist.
"Take this. Healing potion. It won't fully heal you, but it'll make walking less painful."
Clara took it slowly, still cautious. But as her fingers brushed the bottle, she sensed no ill intent from him—only the desire to help.
She opened it and drank. A warm sensation spread through her, and the pain began to ease.
"…Thank you," she said finally. "My name's Clara."
Liorin lifted his head slightly, seeming to examine Clara more closely.
"Clara… are you traveling alone? For what purpose?"
Clara hesitated, but for some reason she couldn't explain, she finally answered.
"I'm looking for someone who can help me with something no one would believe. I know it's not something I can handle without knowing anything… because I feel like it's my responsibility. I don't know much… but I can't turn back."
Liorin stared at her for a while, as if trying to understand more than just her words.
"Something no one would believe?"
Clara lowered her gaze a little. "Yes, and only I know about it."
"Why not tell others? Wouldn't it be easier if people knew?" Liorin loosened his arms, letting the boar drop to the ground with a thud.
"I've told others, but they didn't believe me… And when I tried to show them, the thing wouldn't reveal itself," Clara replied softly, sounding exhausted despite her rest.
"Hm, sounds like that thing chose you," Liorin mused.
Clara gave a bitter smile. "I'm just getting started. There's so much I don't know. This world… it's vast and full of things I never imagined."
Liorin stepped over to the boar, checking if it was still in good condition.
"In that case," he said calmly, "let me help. At least until you figure out where you're headed."
Clara was caught off guard. She opened her mouth to protest, but the words got stuck.
"I can take care of myself—"
"I believe you. But the journey's lighter with company."
A voice echoed faintly in her mind—one she had heard long ago, a hazy memory of someone she used to know.
Clara stayed quiet. That line stirred something inside her.
Finally, she nodded slowly.
"Alright. But don't bother me when I want silence."
Liorin gave a slight smile.
"I don't enjoy talking without reason, so we're compatible."
Suddenly, a weak sound—not words, but a small pained breath—came from a dense patch of shrubs.
Clara immediately turned, her instincts flaring.
"Lux…?" she whispered, filled with hope.
Without hesitation, she rushed toward the bushes, pushing past thorns and tangled branches. And there—lying beneath a shroud of faint green mist that shimmered like morning dew—Lux, the fox, lay weak, his fur matted and stained with dried blood.
"Lux!"
Clara dropped to her knees, gently touching his small body. Lux lifted his head slightly, his eyes tired but recognizing her. His nose brushed her finger, and he let out a soft exhale.
"Your fox is still alive," Liorin said, stepping closer. Without another word, he pulled out a small bottle and uncorked it.
"Give it to me," Clara said quickly. She helped Lux drink a few drops.
Moments later, the light around Lux changed—becoming a soft green glow. His breathing steadied, and his body, once limp, began to stir. Not fully healed, but enough to sit up slowly and lean against Clara.
Clara smiled with deep relief. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Thank you, Lux… and thank you, Liorin."
Liorin nodded slightly. "He's a resilient one. I rarely see bonds like this."
Clara only nodded, still holding Lux close.
Liorin stepped to the side, looking around at the aftermath of the previous night's fight.
"Whatever attacked you last night… it wasn't a normal beast. That was a Hellspawn Beast."
His eyes narrowed with evident anger.
Clara looked at him. "You're saying Hellspawn Beasts are real again?"
"Most likely," Liorin replied grimly. "Hellspawn Beasts were created to spread fear across the world in order to fulfill the Demon King Dyrius's dream."
Clara was silent for a moment before speaking softly, "It feels like I faced something truly dangerous. I'm just grateful I survived… and that Lux did too."
Liorin looked at her seriously. "You took a big risk. But if this is your destiny, you're the only one who can walk it."
"You're right. I won't deny that. If I was chosen for this, then I'll decide how my journey goes."
Clara stood slowly, her eyes still tired, yet glowing with new resolve.
"So, what is this… thing?" Liorin asked seriously.
"Uh…" Clara hesitated, unsure if Liorin would believe her.
He shook his head gently and stepped closer. "If you went this far, surely people will believe what you say."
Clara looked at him with cautious hope. "I… accidentally opened the Gate of a Thousand Worlds," she finally admitted.
Silence fell. The morning breeze rustled the leaves with a calm rhythm.
Liorin was stunned. "You… entered that Gate?"
Clara nodded. "There's a guardian inside. An entity who told me… this world must be destroyed. That everything here is just a cycle of endless mistakes."
Liorin lifted his face, deep in thought for a long moment. Then he spoke softly. The gentle wind from before began to stir with more weight and strength, as if signaling something neither of them could fully understand.
"Could it be that I've seen this before?" he murmured, turning back to Clara.
"What if… this time, you trusted me more? Like a close companion who can keep a secret?"
Clara gave a faint smile. "I'm still new to all this. I don't have much experience. But I can't stay silent when I know the truth. So, I want someone by my side whom I can trust. And that's why… you're someone I choose to trust."
Liorin took a deep breath. "Then… allow me to help you."
Clara smiled a little, though it faded quickly. "I really appreciate your trust."
And then, finally, a wide smile bloomed across her face—one filled with sincerity and warmth. For a moment, even the terrifying memory of the rabbit from last night disappeared from her mind. Her eyes shimmered with emotion. Perhaps it seemed odd to feel joy in such uncertain circumstances, but Liorin understood that Clara was carrying a heavy burden—one that couldn't be seen.
"Then let us continue this difficult journey of yours… and I'll stay with you until you reach your goal."
Clara looked at Liorin, his words sinking deep into her heart.
She turned to Lux, who was now slowly sitting up, gazing at them with softly glowing eyes.
Clara nodded, blinking away the tears of joy that had started to form.
"Alright. Let's face this journey together."
And so, their journey—Clara, Liorin, and Lux—officially began, into a world filled with secrets… and a destiny yet to be revealed.