The sun filtered softly through the canopy as Raizo lay resting on the branch of a tall tree, his steel dagger strapped to his waist. The forest was quiet—too quiet. Trusting his instincts, he activated two of his detection skills:
> Lunar Sense – to detect any movement by night-aligned creatures.
Gravel Sense – to sense vibrations and pressure from the earth.
His sharp eyes studied the sky, painted in a serene light blue, but that peace was short-lived.
Snap!
The distinct sound of a twig breaking made Raizo's ear twitch. He immediately dropped from the tree and rolled into a nearby bush, hand on his dagger. His breath slowed. Every sense sharpened.
Then—
A figure stumbled out from the trees.
A girl—no, a wolf therianthrope—collapsed against the trunk. She had large canine ears, a fluffy gray tail, and striking purple eyes—though they were dulled now by pain and blood loss. Blood poured from a gash on her stomach.
Raizo froze.
He could see she was no monster—just a girl. She was injured. Alone.
Without thinking, Raizo returned his dagger to its sheath, rushed forward, and tore a strip of his own shirt. He pressed it gently against her wound to stop the bleeding, then scooped her up into his arms.
But then—
Footsteps. Multiple.
Raizo ducked behind a large tree just as a group of rough-looking men entered the clearing.
"She couldn't have gone far," one muttered.
"Idiot. I told you to watch her!"
"Tch, not my fault. Besides, with that wound I gave her, she'll bleed out soon enough."
The men laughed. "Let's head back to the village."
Raizo held his breath as they walked past. When the footsteps finally faded, he laid the girl gently down on a patch of grass. He raised his hands.
> "Burst forth and shine! Mend this wound—
Healing Magic: Heal!"
A soft green light enveloped her wound, closing it completely. Her breathing eased, and she fell unconscious again.
Raizo carried her to a nearby cave—one he'd used before for shelter—and made a fire. Then, using herbs he'd gathered earlier, he cooked a rabbit stew in a small pot. The aroma filled the cave.
As the stew simmered, the girl stirred. Her eyes snapped open. She looked around wildly, and when she saw Raizo—her savior—she bared her fangs and leapt, claws outstretched.
Raizo quickly raised his arms to shield himself.
Then—grumble.
Her stomach growled loudly.
There was a long silence. Raizo slowly lowered his arms and smiled.
"I guess you're hungry," he said softly.
He reached to the side, poured the rabbit stew into a wooden bowl he had carved, and gently placed it on the ground in front of her, setting the spoon across the top. "Here. Be careful. It's hot."
She blinked at him, surprised. Her nose twitched as she sniffed the stew. Carefully, cautiously, she scooped a spoonful—and immediately hissed as it burned her tongue.
Raizo laughed. It wasn't mocking—just gentle and genuine.
The girl looked at him with a faint pout... and then, just for a moment, smiled.
They sat in silence, the crackling fire between them, eating quietly. Eventually, the girl whispered, "...Thank you."
Raizo, still finishing his stew, nodded. "No problem."
She blinked again. Did he hear that? I barely whispered...
Raizo looked at her. "I'm Raizo. An adventurer."
The girl hesitated, then spoke.
"My name is... Sarah."
Raizo gave her a gentle smile. "Nice to meet you, Sarah."
Sarah only nodded, her eyes still cautious. The fire between them crackled softly, but a heavy silence hung in the air. Trying to ease the tension, Raizo asked quietly, "So… why were those men after you?"
Sarah's ears twitched. She hesitated. Her fingers tightened around the wooden bowl in her lap. Could she trust him?
Finally, she spoke, voice trembling. "Because… I showed him my village. And he betrayed me in the end."
Raizo stayed silent, listening.
Sarah looked down, her voice softer. "Ever since I was born, everyone said I was cursed. I was the only one with purple eyes and hair. The others in my tribe had white or black hair, eyes of gold or light blue. Because I was different… they started to avoid me."
She clenched the bowl tighter. "They left me in the forest… again and again. Hoping I'd get lost. But I always came back. I thought… maybe if I kept returning, they'd accept me someday."
Raizo's expression darkened with quiet sorrow.
"One day, after they ditched me again… I was captured by a slave trader. They locked me in a cage. I think I was there two… maybe three days. Then a man came. He freed me." She swallowed. "He was kind to me. Earned my trust. He even gave me a name—Sarah."
Raizo's eyes widened slightly.
"I thought he truly cared. One day, he asked me to show him my village. Said he could help them." Her voice cracked. "I believed him. So… I led him there."
She bit her lip, shaking.
"And then… he stabbed me. Right here." She pointed to her side, where Raizo had healed the wound. "I watched as my tribe was captured. Those who fought back were killed. I saw the man who saved me… standing with the same slave trader who had once locked me up."
Her voice broke.
"I ran… I ran into the forest. I didn't stop until I collapsed. Then… I woke up. And I saw you."
Tears streamed down her face now. She clenched her fist, her small claws digging into her palm. "Maybe everyone was right. Maybe I really am a curse..."
Raizo leaned forward. "No, Sarah. You're not cursed."
She looked up at him, eyes shining.
"Don't believe what they said about you," Raizo continued. "You know there's an old saying—'Don't judge a book by its cover.'"
Sarah tilted her head. "What… does that mean?"
Raizo smiled gently. "It means people might look at you and assume the worst. But what's inside—that's what truly matters. You survived things that would break most people. You fought, you ran, and you're still here. That makes you strong, Sarah. Not cursed."
Sarah's eyes widened. Her tears continued to fall, but this time… her chest felt lighter.
"Thank you…" she whispered.
Raizo gave her a warm smile, the kind that reached his eyes.
Sarah's heart fluttered—thump, thump, thump. Her cheeks turned red. She looked away, pressing a hand to her chest.
What… what is this feeling? she wondered. This is the first time I've felt this. Is this… kindness? Or… something else?
She looked back at Raizo, who had gone back to quietly tending the fire.
And for the first time in a long while… she didn't feel alone.
Raizo gently fed more sticks into the fire, watching the flames flicker and dance. The silence between him and Sarah was no longer uncomfortable—just heavy, weighed by unspoken thoughts.
Then Raizo spoke, his voice calm but firm.
"Sarah… do you want to rescue your tribe from those hunters?"
Sarah didn't answer right away. Her gaze drifted toward the entrance of the cave. The fire's light reflected in her purple eyes, uncertain and conflicted. Memories flooded her—being shunned, betrayed, stabbed. Her heart ached with confusion.
"They hurt me," she whispered. "They hated me..."
Raizo nodded slowly. "I know. And you don't have to forgive them. But if you walk away now… that choice will stay with you forever. Those hunters won't stop. They'll keep raiding villages, enslaving more people. Maybe even other beastkin like you. Maybe even humans. You'll always wonder if you could've stopped it."
Sarah's hands trembled. She clutched the blanket around her shoulders tightly. "But… why would you help me?"
Raizo looked at her with quiet determination. "Because I've already watched people die. I've lost people I cared about. If I can stop someone else from going through that… then I will."
Sarah lowered her head, the weight of the decision bearing down on her.
"I…" she hesitated, then slowly exhaled. "I want to help them. I don't know if they'll ever accept me… but I won't turn my back when I could save them."
Raizo's expression softened. He smiled, a glint of pride in his eyes.
"Then it's settled."
Sarah looked up. "When?"
Raizo stirred the fire once more. "Tonight. Under cover of darkness."
Her eyes widened. "Tonight? But… the forest will be pitch-black. You won't be able to see."
Raizo chuckled. "They won't be able to see. But I can."
He turned to her, eyes glowing faintly under the moonlight streaming through the cave.
"I have a skill called Dark Sight. I can see through the shadows like it's day. The hunters won't know what hit them."
Sarah blinked in surprise. "You're amazing…"
Raizo shrugged modestly. "I'm just doing what's right."
She smiled quietly and nodded. "Thank you, Raizo… for believing in me."
Raizo stood and offered his hand to her. "We move tonight."
Sarah took it.
For the first time, she felt like someone truly stood by her side.
As the night stretched on, the moon hung high in the sky, its silver light casting an eerie glow across the darkened forest. The hunters continued to torment the therianthrope children, their cruel laughter echoing through the trees. One adult therianthrope, his voice laced with desperation, shouted, "Stop doing that!"
The hunter sneered, kicking the cage violently. "Shut up, mutt!" he growled before stepping forward and delivering a savage blow to the imprisoned therianthrope.
"No! Please, don't hurt him!" a female therianthrope cried, her voice trembling with fear.
One of the hunters, leering, called out, "Why don't we take a stroll through the forest, eh?"
The female therianthrope, wide-eyed with terror, knew what would happen next. She had no choice but to obey.
From the shadows, Raizo and Sarah watched with burning eyes.
Raizo clenched his fists, his entire body tense, ready to rush in. But then he stopped himself. Sarah, too, was ready to spring forward, her claws itching to tear through flesh. But Raizo, with a quiet, urgent gesture, held her back.
"Not yet," he whispered, his voice low and steady. "We wait."
Sarah's gaze was filled with fury, but she nodded, her breathing shallow.
The sky above them darkened as the moon was obscured by clouds, plunging the forest into deeper shadows. At that moment, Raizo and Sarah shared a brief glance, a silent agreement passing between them.
---
Meanwhile, the female therianthrope struggled as the hunter kicked her to the ground. She winced, trying to cover herself as the man loomed over her, preparing to strip away her dignity.
But just as the hunter began to unbutton his shirt, a voice as cold as steel cut through the night air.
"One more move, and you're dead."
The hunter froze, his blood running cold. He spun around, but before he could react, Raizo appeared from the shadows, his dagger gleaming under the dim light. With a quick, precise strike, the hunter crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Raizo turned to the female therianthrope, his expression soft but firm. "Go hide. We'll handle this."
She nodded, fear still clouding her eyes, but she quickly vanished into the shadows of the trees.
---
Sarah stepped forward, her eyes burning with anger. The man who had once earned her trust, now nothing more than a cruel betrayer, stood smirking in front of her.
"Well, well, well," he jeered. "Look who's come crawling back. Are you here to serve me again, little wolf?"
Sarah's eyes flashed violet with fury. She raised a clawed finger at him. "I'll tear you apart."
The hunters laughed, drawing their weapons—swords, shields, spears, and daggers—all gleaming menacingly in the moonlight.
With a growl, the battle began.
Sarah leaped into the fray, claws flashing as she faced off against her old captors. Her strikes were quick and precise, her fury evident in every movement. The hunters who once controlled her now felt the sting of their own cruelty.
Behind them, Raizo moved like a shadow, silently taking down the guards assigned to watch over the therianthropes. One by one, the guards fell unconscious, their weapons clattering to the ground.
Raizo rushed to the cages and unlocked them, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Hide behind the trees. Stay quiet."
The therianthropes, hesitant and unsure, questioned why a human was helping them. But in the end, they obeyed, slipping into the darkness, their eyes filled with gratitude and awe.
---
Back in the center of the chaos, Sarah was slowly being overwhelmed. Trapped against a large boulder, she struggled to defend herself from the hunters' onslaught. One hunter, his face twisted in malice, grinned and raised his sword.
"Any last words, mutt?"
Suddenly, from above, Raizo dropped down, his boots landing with a thud. With a swift kick, he sent the hunter crashing into the ground, knocking the wind out of him.
"You took long enough," Sarah muttered, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Raizo grinned back. "I aim to please."
But then, as the battle raged on, the hunters noticed something. The therianthropes were gone from their cages. Panic spread through the remaining hunters.
"Where are they?" one shouted.
"They're gone! You're all going to pay for this!" another yelled.
The remaining hunters turned their focus back to Sarah and Raizo. They charged, weapons drawn, their faces twisted with fury.
But Raizo and Sarah moved in perfect harmony. Sarah clashed with the shield-bearing hunter, her claws slashing with deadly precision. Raizo fought against another, his sword and dagger moving as one.
They moved like a whirlwind, each anticipating the other's moves, working in perfect sync. One by one, the hunters fell unconscious, their weapons abandoned.
Sarah, her breath coming in ragged gasps, turned to Raizo.
"Why aren't you finishing them off?" she asked, her voice filled with exhaustion.
Raizo wiped the blood from his dagger and shook his head.
"Even if they're bad, I won't finish off my own kind," he said softly. "They're still human."
---
It wasn't long before all the hunters had been defeated. But then, one last hunter, holding a young therianthrope child by the throat, stepped forward.
"Stop!" he shouted, his voice frantic. "Drop your weapons, or the kid dies!"
The young therianthrope boy whimpered through trembling lips, "Mama…"
"Shut up!" the hunter barked, tightening his grip on the boy's collar.
The child immediately froze, eyes wide in terror.
The hunter sneered at Raizo and Sarah. "So… what now? You gonna try something heroic, huh?"
Raizo slowly lowered his weapons to the ground. "Fine. We'll drop them."
Sarah's eyes widened. "Raizo—!" she began, but he turned to her with a firm, unwavering look.
She saw it in his eyes: He has a plan.
Though uncertain, she nodded and followed his lead.
The hunter scoffed. "Now throw the dagger… nice and slow."
Raizo took a deep breath. This is risky… 50% chance of hitting the kid. But if I hesitate… someone dies.
He flicked his wrist, and the dagger spun high into the air, arcing above the hunter.
Time slowed.
With one powerful leap, Raizo twisted midair, spinning like a whirlwind. He unleashed a devastating tornado kick, connecting with the handle of the airborne dagger like a striker kicking a ball. The blade whistled through the air—
—and struck the hunter square in the arm.
The man dropped instantly, paralyzed from the force of impact. But a small red line appeared on the child's cheek.
Raizo landed roughly, staggering as his legs gave out. His body trembled. It was the first time… the first time he came that close to killing someone.
He had no time to think.
"Raizo! The kid!" Sarah shouted.
Raizo and Sarah rushed to the boy, now reunited with his tearful mother. Raizo dropped to his knees. "Hold still, I'll heal you."
But the boy flinched and backed away, eyes full of fear. "No… you're a human…"
Sarah stepped forward gently. "It's okay. He healed me, too. You can trust him."
The boy hesitated. His mother knelt beside him. "Sweetheart… please."
Finally, the child nodded.
Raizo raised his hand and began to chant:
"Burst forth and shine! Mend this wound,
Healing magic—Heal!"
Soft green light enveloped Raizo's hands. As he placed them over the scratch, the wound vanished like it had never been there.
Silence.
The boy blinked. His eyes filled with wonder.
Raizo, however, remained still—his gaze locked on the fallen hunter. He wasn't moving.
Raizo's heart pounded. I… I did that?
Sarah noticed the look in his eyes. Quietly, she placed a hand on his shoulder.
Raizo looked up.
She said nothing. She didn't need to.
He understood. He nodded.
The therianthrope villagers slowly emerged from the shadows. Their eyes weren't fearful anymore—they were full of guilt, awe, and shame. One by one, they approached Sarah and bowed their heads.
"Sarah… please… forgive us," one said.
"We were wrong," another muttered. "We abandoned you… We feared you… because of your eyes."
An elderly therianthrope stepped forward, a long cloak trailing behind him. The village elder, the tribe's king.
He bowed low. "We've agreed—if you will have us, please become our new leader."
Sarah's eyes widened. She turned to look at Raizo.
He just smiled.
She turned back and spoke clearly, "I forgive you. But… you must promise me something."
They looked up.
"If a child is born with different hair… or eyes like mine… don't judge them. Don't cast them away. Someone once told me… never judge a book by its cover."
She smiled at Raizo.
The old man nodded. "Then… do you accept the role of chieftain?"
Sarah hesitated. "Can you wait? I haven't made my decision yet."
That night, the therianthrope tribe celebrated with music and a warm fire. Food was shared. Children laughed. Freedom had returned.
Raizo sat quietly, sipping tea under the stars.
Sarah joined him. "So… what's your plan tomorrow?"
Raizo sighed. "I have to continue my journey. If I don't take a quest soon, the Guild will demote me to G-Rank. That's starting from the bottom again."
Sarah's smile faded. "So… you're not staying?"
Raizo shook his head. "I can't."
Later that night, when Raizo was fast asleep under the moonlit ceiling of a wooden hut, Sarah stood before the elder.
"I have an answer now," she said.
The old man looked up. "And what is it?"
Sarah clenched her fists. "I… refuse."
The elder's brows furrowed. "Why?"
Sarah looked out toward the stars. "Because I want to follow Raizo. I want to become an adventurer. To protect him like he protected me. Without him, I wouldn't have survived. I couldn't have saved anyone."
The old man was quiet for a moment. Then he smiled gently. "Are you sure? You'll be leaving the safety of your people… and entering human lands."
Sarah nodded. "I'm sure."
"Then go. And may your new path be brighter than the one behind you."
Morning.
Raizo strapped on his gear and took a deep breath, ready to leave.
But just as he stepped outside—
"Raizo! Wait up!"
He turned, surprised.
Sara, was running toward him.
She stopped, panting. "I've decided. I'm going with you."
Raizo blinked. "Are you sure?"
She nodded with a wide smile. "Yes."
He glanced past her—dozens of therianthropes were waving goodbye with smiles and tears.
Raizo grinned. "Then… shall we go?"
"Wait." Sarah—Feran—paused and knelt down before him, lowering her head.
Raizo flinched. "W-What are you doing?!"
"Please," she said quietly. "Give me a new name. The hunters gave me the name 'Sarah.' I don't want to carry that anymore."
Raizo was silent. Then he placed a hand on her head, thinking deeply.
"I shall call you… Feran. How about that?"
She looked up. "Feran…?"
Raizo nodded. "Yeah. It sounds strong. Like the wind that never bows to anyone."
Feran smiled brightly, her eyes misty. "Feran… I love it. Then from now on—I am Feran."
As the morning sun bathed the forest in golden light, Raizo turned, Feran at his side.
And so began a new chapter—
Raizo, the adventurer with Gluttony.
Feran, the wolf who was once cast out.
Now traveling the world—together.