Two years flew by—and not gently either. More like slapped me in the face and sprinted off kind of fast.
Now here I was, thriving. Magic? Improving. Swordsmanship? Less embarrassing. Kaelith? Still annoying.
Life was great.
Mostly.
"Eve, Theo," Father began during breakfast, his tone suspiciously calm—the kind that usually leads to chaos. "Given your progress… we'll be going on a hunting trip."
I blinked.
Then blinked again.
"Hunting?" Theo and I said in perfect sync, eyes sparkling like we'd just been handed the keys to the kingdom.
Mother chuckled. "Yes. It's a Whitefall tradition."
"Oh, so that's why we're risking our lives. Tradition. Lovely." I muttered.
Father ignored me. "You'll be supervised. Your instructors will accompany you… including Kaelith."
I froze.
Oh. So we're bringing the walking disaster too. Fantastic.
Mother added, "Three days. Prepare yourselves."
Three days in a forest filled with monsters.
…What could possibly go wrong?
—
Later, I found Kaelith in the library, as expected—lounging like he owned the place, flipping pages like the world bored him.
I tapped his shoulder.
"Brat," he said without looking up. "If you skipped lessons—"
"I didn't," I cut in, dramatically placing a hand on my chest. "Have some faith. I came bearing exciting news."
"Unlikely."
"We're going hunting."
"…I know."
Of course he did.
"Wow. You're so fun. Ever considered smiling? Or is that illegal in your species?"
He flicked my forehead.
Rude.
"Your father already informed me," he said. "I'll be supervising you. Try not to die. It'd be inconvenient."
"How comforting."
We sat in silence after that, reading. Well—he read.
I practiced mana.
Because apparently "break time" doesn't exist in Kaelith's dictionary.
Then suddenly—
"What was your world like?"
I blinked.
That… was unexpected.
"Busy," I said after a moment. "Cities, technology, people constantly rushing. Less magic, more stress."
"…You talk about it in your sleep."
I froze.
"…I WHAT?"
"Mostly complaints," he added. "Your 'professors' sound terrifying."
"Wow. Betrayed by my own subconscious."
He paused.
"If you could go back… would you?"
I hesitated.
"…I don't know."
And for once—
He didn't make a sarcastic comment.
"Whatever you choose," he said, standing up, "make sure it's yours."
Then he left.
…Rude.
And oddly thoughtful.
I didn't like it.
—
Two days later—
Chaos.
"THIS outfit is practical!" Marie argued.
"AND THIS is elegant!" Annie snapped back.
"It's a hunting trip, not a royal ball!"
"It's called presentation, thank you very much!"
I sat there, letting them argue over my fate like I was a decorative object.
Selene just quietly braided my hair like she'd accepted her destiny.
Then—
Flash.
Kaelith.
He looked at the mess, sighed like we personally offended him, and—
Poof.
New outfit.
Black fitted shirt, reinforced shorts, blue vest, boots.
Practical. Stylish. Not ridiculous.
I stared.
"…Marry me."
"Absolutely not."
Worth a shot.
—
The forest was dark.
Not "oh how mysterious" dark.
More like "something is definitely watching you and it's probably hungry" dark.
I gripped my sword.
Rustle.
Something moved.
Then—
A creature lunged.
Not a goblin.
No.
Worse.
A Ravager Imp.
Small, hunched, charcoal skin, glowing red eyes, jagged teeth—and a blade clutched in its clawed hand.
"Oh great," I muttered. "Ugly and armed. Pick a struggle."
It screeched and charged.
I dodged.
Swung.
Missed.
"Focus," Kaelith's voice came lazily from behind.
"Wow, thanks, super helpful."
The imp lunged again—
This time—
Slash.
Clean.
It dropped.
I exhaled.
"Good," Knight Seraphine said. "Ravager Imps hunt in groups."
"…You couldn't have led with that?"
Too late.
More appeared.
"Of course they did," I sighed. "Why wouldn't they?"
I tightened my grip.
"Round two, ugly."
—
We fought.
Again.
And again.
Sword. Magic. Movement.
It wasn't pretty—
But it worked.
By the time we stopped, my clothes were stained, my arms sore, and my pride slightly inflated.
"Break," Seraphine announced.
I collapsed onto a rock, accepting a sandwich like it was treasure.
Kaelith set up a barrier.
Of course he did.
Overachiever.
—
Then—
We found it.
A Ravager Imp nest.
Dozens.
I stared.
"…Oh, we're definitely not doing this quietly."
"Correct," Seraphine said, smiling like a battle maniac.
Kaelith grabbed my shoulder.
"Use magic."
"Bossy."
"Effective."
Fair.
I stepped back.
Raised my hand.
"Fire Arrow."
Boom.
One down.
Then another.
Then—
"Fireball."
Explosion.
"Nice," Kaelith said. "Now don't get cocky."
"Too late."
We cleared them.
Completely.
I stood there, breathing heavily.
"…I feel powerful."
"You're tolerable," Kaelith corrected.
I'll take it.
—
By the time we regrouped—
"SIS!" Theo tackled me in a hug.
"Still alive," I said. "Tragic, I know."
Father looked between us.
"…You found a nest?"
"A whole village," I said proudly.
He looked mildly concerned.
Good.
He should be.
—
Later, we found bandits too.
Because apparently the universe said:
"You're having fun? Not allowed."
This time, Father stepped in.
"Stay back."
I did.
Mostly.
Okay fine—I helped.
From a distance.
With magic.
Efficiently.
Gracefully.
Brilliantly.
Kaelith sighed. "You're showing off."
"I call it talent."
—
By the time we returned—
I was exhausted.
Covered in dirt.
And oddly satisfied.
As I collapsed onto my bed that night, one thought crossed my mind—
This world?
Dangerous.
Chaotic.
Completely unpredictable.
…
Yeah.
I liked it.