Once he was sure the danger had passed, Arion quickly stepped out from his hiding spot. He approached the veiled woman lying motionless on the ground, a worried look on his face.
"She's... okay, right? Don't tell me you actually killed her with that gentle tap?" he asked hesitantly. "Even a cat might've just been startled—not knocked out..."
Savior shrugged, his tone light, as if nothing serious had happened.
"She's just unconscious. A few hours, tops."
But Arion's curiosity wasn't satisfied yet.
"Who is she? Why did she attack us? Or… was it just you she was after?" His voice began to carry a hint of suspicion.
Savior simply smiled, casting a brief glance at the girl before turning to walk away.
"She's been tailing me for over a month. For some reason… I think she might be a little obsessed with me," he replied nonchalantly, walking ahead and leaving the woman behind.
They agreed to leave her there. Whether she woke up on her own or not—it wasn't their concern. Wasting time waiting around would only cost them something more valuable. After they had walked far enough, Savior finally stopped.
"I'll scout ahead. Keep walking west," he said, before his body vanished into a swirl of dark mist that rose and swallowed him whole.
An hour passed. The forest grew quieter, the air heavier, and Arion's steps slowed with unease. He began to feel… he wasn't alone. Something—or someone—was watching him. But there were no animal sounds, no footprints, no suspicious movements.
Suddenly, he halted. His eyes narrowed on a bush that had rustled ever so slightly. Slowly, he crouched down, picked up a stone, and hurled it swiftly and precisely—SMACK!
A tiny yelp rang out.
From the bushes fluttered out a small winged creature, childlike in size, with a soft glow surrounding her body. She rubbed her now-reddened forehead from Arion's stone—but as soon as she saw the prince, a warm smile spread across her face.
"Hiiii~!" the little creature greeted cheerfully.
But just as the fairy flew closer, a dark mist suddenly bloomed above Arion's head—and from it, Savior reappeared, staff raised as if ready to swat the glowing intruder.
Thankfully, the fairy dodged just in time. She spun around mid-air, muttering and grumbling in a strange, clearly vulgar language.
"Ignore her," Savior said flatly. "Just a worthless speck of dust."
Arion glanced between the two, now even more intrigued.
"You two... know each other?"
"I'm Nari!" the fairy chirped proudly, hovering in front of Arion. "A wind-born fairy! And as for knowing him? That weirdo keeps forcing me to help him find rare plants in the forest!"
She flapped her tiny wings, shooting a smug look at Savior.
"But that means he trusts my abilities~!"
Just as she was enjoying her self-praise, Savior suddenly tapped her head with the end of his staff.
Tonk!
"I. Am. Not. A. Weirdo," he said flatly.
"Ow! Then why do you always dress like some spooky ghost!?" Nari shot back, rubbing her head.
"I have my reasons. And they have nothing to do with you."
Without offering any further explanation, Savior once again vanished into the swirling black mist, leaving Arion and Nari standing alone.