Cedric, the Rosemary sisters, and the two young Barons pushed deeper and deeper into the forest.
The deeper they went, the more the trees crowded together, casting the woods into a growing darkness.
At this depth, neither woodcutters nor hunters dared to tread, leaving the vegetation to grow wild and unchecked.
"Hey, shouldn't we head back soon? I think we've had enough of monster hunting, don't you?"
It was Viola, the elder of the Rosemary twins, who finally spoke up, sensing the mounting danger.
"There are dangerous monsters in the heart of these woods. It'll be dark soon, so let's turn back."
"No... just a little further. Let's keep going just a bit more."
"Cedric, enough already..."
"Just a little more! Only one more monster—that's all I ask! Let me fight just one more!"
Cedric's voice was desperate as he doubled down.
He hadn't managed to make the Rosemary sisters fall for him yet.
If he could just slay a more powerful monster and prove his magical prowess... surely, they would have to love him then.
Having been lauded for his magical talent since he was a child—and having spent those years tormenting his half-brother—Cedric’s innate arrogance left him certain of his success.
"Sigh..."
"..."
In truth, the looks the sisters gave him were cold, their eyes increasingly filled with contempt for his overbearing and selfish behavior.
But Cedric, who had never known a moment of rejection in his entire life, remained blissfully unaware.
Ignoring the sisters' warnings, he continued to stomp deeper into the dark forest.
"Wait, Cedric! Hold on!"
"Don't leave us behind!"
His two sycophants scrambled after him as he marched off alone.
The three boys continued into the depths, followed by the sisters' icy glares.
"Wait..."
"Bi-Big sister...!"
The sisters had no choice but to follow.
They had considered abandoning the boys and heading back on their own, but they had waited too long to act.
Now that they were so deep inside, it was too dangerous for the girls to attempt the journey back alone.
The Rosemary sisters should have made their stand much sooner, while they still had the chance to leave on their own.
"Look! A wolf monster!"
A wolf, roughly the size of a large dog, emerged before them.
Its coat was a brilliant, shimmering silver—a creature of rare and striking beauty.
"Wait, is that...?"
Viola’s eyes widened. She recognized the silver-furred beast.
"Haha! There you are, you beast! I'll slaughter you!"
"Wait... stop! That monster is—!"
"Wind Cutter!"
A pained yelp rang out.
Before Viola could intervene, Cedric unleashed a blade of magical wind.
The silver wolf's side was slashed open, and it collapsed in a pool of blood.
"Kyu... kyuu..."
"Alright, time to finish it! I'm taking this one home to have it stuffed!"
"Stop it! You can't kill that monster! It's—!"
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"—!"
A bone-childing roar tore through the forest.
The trees shuddered, and the ground groaned under the weight of a massive impact.
"Hie?! What was that?!"
The sudden upheaval sent Cedric tumbling onto his backside just as he was about to deliver the killing blow.
His two friends collapsed beside him, paralyzed with shock.
"Big sister!"
"Primula! Get over here, quickly...!"
Viola grabbed Primula, desperate to flee the area.
But before they could move, the trees were mowed down, and it arrived.
"Grrrrrrrrrr...!"
"Ah...!"
The creature was a wolf draped in a coat of shimmering silver-white fur.
It was incomparably larger than the one Cedric had struck, standing as tall as an elephant.
Its golden eyes, glowing like full moons, locked onto the sisters and froze them where they stood.
"A... White Fenrir...!"
Viola’s voice was a mere whisper of terror.
This was a creature that belonged in the frozen northern reaches.
Known for its ferocious intelligence, it was a high-threat monster that required a team of Royal Guards, Court Mages, or veteran Adventurer Parties to take down.
The creature Cedric had attacked was a White Fenrir cub.
Because even a cub was the size of a grown wolf, Cedric hadn't realized he was attacking a child.
"U... UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"Cedric!"
"H-Help... HIIIIIIIIIIEEEE!"
Confronted by the monstrous beast, Cedric fell into a blind panic and tried to bolt.
It was a fatal lapse in judgment.
The White Fenrir lunged with blurring speed, swatting Cedric aside with a massive forepaw.
"Guheh...!"
Cedric was sent flying like a ball, slamming into a thick tree trunk.
He slumped to the ground, unconscious.
"C-Cedric!"
"Uwaaaaaaaaaah!"
The two boys screamed, and the beast swung its paw again as if batting away annoying gnats.
Two dull thuds echoed as the boys were slammed into the forest floor.
"Big sister... what do we do? We're next...!"
"S-Stay calm, Primula. It's alright...!"
A White Fenrir should have been hundreds of miles to the north.
Looking closer, Viola noticed the beast was dragging a hind leg, its body covered in wounds of varying sizes.
They had likely been defeated in a territory dispute in the north and fled south to recover.
"I read that White Fenrirs are intelligent enough to understand human speech. Since it’s injured, maybe... maybe it will show mercy."
"Grrrrrrrrrr...!"
The White Fenrir glared at them with its golden eyes.
It growled a warning, though it didn't pounce immediately.
"W-We're sorry for hurting your child. We didn't mean any harm."
"Grrrr..."
"We'll leave right now. We won't hurt you or the little one. So... please... let us go."
Viola spoke with trembling lips, searching the monster's face for a sign.
"..."
The White Fenrir studied the sisters for a long moment... before tilting its massive head back.
"GUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!"
"Hie!"
The sisters huddled together, collapsing to the ground.
The thought of escape vanished instantly.
Pinned by the predator's overwhelming aura, they felt as though their shadows were nailed to the earth.
"Primula..."
"Sister..."
The two girls called out to each other, embracing in fear.
Paralyzed by terror, they could neither fight nor run.
The White Fenrir crept closer, its maw opening wide to crush them both.
It was the end. Their world faded into the monochrome of despair.
"Windball."
"Gyan!"
"Eh...?"
A sudden, powerful blast slammed into the side of the White Fenrir's head, sending the massive creature rolling.
Startled, the sisters looked toward the source of the spell.
"Good grief... he really is hopeless. My foolish brother never learns..."
A boy about their age emerged from the undergrowth.
He had black hair and dark eyes. His clothes were somewhat tattered, but his features were refined and handsome.
"I'm sorry for the mess Cedric made. You don't have to worry anymore. You're safe."
The boy—Rest—offered the sisters a gentle, reassuring smile.