Hoppy's father led her into the small, cramped living space behind the shop and urged her to sit down on a pile of soft blankets. He seemed restless, his hands fluttering as he checked her over.
"Hoppy, how did you get here? Tell me everything. The news from the Guild says outside are crawling with monsters. There are mana distortions popping up everywhere. It's a death trap out there!"
He grabbed her shoulders, his eyes scanning her for wounds or scars. When he saw that her skin was clear—not a single scratch or bruise on her. He let out a sharp, shocked breath.
"You don't have a single injury? How is that possible?"
Hoppy gave him a tired but bright smile, reaching for her notebook.
"I wasn't alone, Papa. There was a woman—a traveler. She saved me from a horrible man who tried to take me. She healed my foot with a special slime and walked with me all the way here. She even made me the best soup I've ever had!"
She turned around, pointing toward where they had been.
