After the breakfast earthquake and Alan's voice that scared the birds and made a squirrel pray for the first time, the camp finally settled... relatively.
Alan lay on his back, struggling to breathe after the wave of vomiting, internal explosions, and the undeniable truth etched into his memory.
But... he hadn't learned his lesson.
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Alan (crawling toward Kira like a cursed turtle):
"Kira… my lovely, fuzzy, deadly kitten…"
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Kira (warning him with a glance):
"Stay. Back."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Alan (ignoring her, continuing):
"Every time I see your ears twitch, I feel butterflies, earthquakes, and fireworks inside my chest!"
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Kira (slowly stepping back, gripping her knife):
"I'm holding a knife."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Alan (smiling):
"Use it… carve your name on my heart."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Gargroth (from afar, grilling something):
"He's getting worse. Should we throw a rock at him?"
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Lythia (laughing as she watches):
"No, no… let him cook."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Alan (crawling until he stands before Kira, placing his hand on his chest):
"If your ears had a fan club, I'd be the president, secretary, and treasurer!"
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Kira (blinking twice, then standing to deliver a full Arsenal kick):
"OUT!"
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Alan flew off his spot, crashing into a tree, then tumbled until his face landed in the mud, but he raised his hand and smiled proudly.
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Alan (hoarse voice):
"Totally… worth it."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Gargroth (laughing, shaking his head):
"I think his brain melted this morning."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Lythia (approaching Kira, winking):
"He really likes you. Or maybe he just wants to pet you until he dies."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Kira (exhaling as she walks away):
"If he touches my tail, I'll make sure he doesn't regenerate with dignity."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
And so... Alan finished his day with some threats, bruises, and deadly glares, but he was very happy because—according to him—he "got kicked by the girl of his dreams."
He considered that major progress.
After Alan's emotional/idiotic episode, while Kira sat on a rock, trying to breathe slowly so she wouldn't kill anyone, Gargroth prepared weapons, and Lythia sang a strange devilish song as she sprinkled spices over the upcoming dinner, as if preparing a feast to celebrate the end of the world.
But the calm atmosphere... didn't last.
In the middle of the forest, behind dense trees, something was moving.
Something silent.
Something that had been watching for a while.
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Lythia (suddenly stopping her song):
"...Did anyone else feel that chill?"
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Kira (staring toward the forest):
"I've been feeling it since last night… something's following us."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Alan (still on the ground, muddy):
"Maybe it's a giant squirrel with emotional issues?"
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Gargroth (raising his hammer):
"Whatever it is… it's getting closer."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Suddenly, soft footsteps emerged from the forest... but not human.
Not even animal.
They were "imitated" steps, pretending to be natural... but clearly weren't.
Everyone in the camp froze, taking ready stances.
From the trees… emerged a tall figure, cloaked entirely in black, with no visible face, no sound.
It just stood there... staring.
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Alan (shivering slightly):
"Okay, that's definitely not a squirrel."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Kira (drawing her sword):
"Formations! Lythia, behind me!"
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Gargroth (stepping forward):
"What are you?! Speak!"
But the figure didn't respond... it slowly raised a hand and pointed at Alan.
Then vanished.
Yes... vanished as if it never existed.
A heavy silence fell over the place... then suddenly...
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Alan (terrified voice):
"...Why me? I didn't even do anything… this time!"
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Lythia (smiling darkly):
"Maybe it liked how you looked… all muddy and defeated."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Gargroth (deep voice):
"It didn't attack. It was a warning."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Kira (staring into the darkness):
"Whatever it is… it knows us now. And it's hunting."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
And so… the night ended with deadly silence.
No more laughter.
No flirtation.
Not even cake.
Just long shadows, a new fear... and an unknown entity wanting something from Alan.
But why?
A full week passed...
A week of endless trekking through cursed forests, crawling hills, suspicious swamps, and monsters that understood nothing but biting and tearing, or in some cases... cursing in strange languages before self-detonating.
And despite everything...
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Gargroth (holding the map, staring at it):
"...We've covered only forty percent?"
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Kira (angrily walking):
"My feet are bleeding, Alan keeps flirting with every living thing, and we're not even halfway there?!"
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Alan (walking behind, singing gloomily):
"Hey, in my defense… even that mushroom winked at me."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Lythia (floating on a magical cushion):
"I'm still impressed you all haven't gone insane yet. I mean… I have, but that was before the journey."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Throughout the week, they faced:
Three monsters with four heads and half a tail.
A tribe of genies obsessed with "shoe swapping."
A talking river... that said nothing useful.
And over fifty moments where Alan tried to hug Kira, each ending with screams, a punch to the nose, or a minor rib fracture.
But despite all that...
The path grew clearer.
The goal was still far, but the first borders of the map started to reveal themselves.
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Gargroth (looking to the horizon):
"The terrain is shifting. We're entering the next phase."
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Kira (raising her ears cautiously):
"I hear... music?"
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Alan (cheerfully):
"Maybe it's a welcome party? With cakes? And cats?"
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
But Gargroth immediately drew his weapon, Kira gripped her sword tightly, and Lythia shut her mouth for the first time in days.
The music was strange, sad, and disturbingly beautiful...
It came from ahead...
From ancient ruins, beneath a gray sun.
And here...
The second phase of the journey began.
A phase that would be no less insane...
But perhaps... far more terrifying.
To be continued...