They traced the markers on the map, their path leading deeper into a dense, shadowy forest. The trees loomed overhead, their gnarled branches twisting like skeletal fingers. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, and the occasional rustle of unseen creatures sent shivers down their spines. Erin, however, was practically bouncing with excitement. This was his first actual mission as a Vigil member, and his grin was so wide it looked like his face might split.
Lila, on the other hand, was less than thrilled. Her arms were crossed, and her silver eyes narrowed as she glared at Erin. "What in the world are you smiling at?" she snapped. "We're probably going to die out here. Sage made that very clear."
"Captain Sage," a soft, melodic voice chimed in. "He's Captain Sage."
Erin's eyes lit up. "He speaks! So cool!" He turned to Noah, who was trudging ahead with his usual sleepy indifference. "But why do you have a girl's voice?"
Noah ignored him, his eyes half-closed as he shuffled forward, his sandals crunching against the forest floor. His brown hair swayed with each step, and his hands were stuffed into the space of his sleeping bag which is wrapped around him like a mummy.
Lila groaned, swatting at the air dramatically. "We're probably going to get lost—or eaten by wild beasts. I can already feel mosquitoes biting me."
"Huh?! But your clothes cover your whole body," Erin pointed out, tilting his head.
WHAM!
Lila smacked him upside the head. "Don't look at my body, perv!"
"What?! You're the one who complained about mosquitoes even though you're covered head to toe!" Erin protested, rubbing his head. "And what the hell is a perv?!"
"I don't know, not that I care if you look at my body," Lila added, her tone forcibly casual.
"So cool! I can look at your body right?right?" Erin's eyes sparkled with newfound excitement.
WHAM!
Another smack. "Not what I meant! Stupid" Lila yelled.
"Then what did you mean?!" Erin cried, utterly baffled.
"Knock it off, you two. We're here," Garrett's gruff voice cut through the bickering. He stood at the edge of a clearing, his broad shoulders tense as he surveyed the area. His calloused hands twitched, sparks flickering at his fingertips as if he were ready to conjure a weapon at any moment.
A loud thud interrupted them. Noah had face-planted into the dirt, already snoring.
"How the hell is he sleeping?!" Erin exclaimed, his voice dead serious.
"Hey, hey, hey! You must be the ones sent by the Vigil captain to pay his debts, right?" A man's voice echoed from the woods. An elderly figure with pure white hair materialized, leaning on a gnarled cane. His eyes were sharp, and his smile was unsettlingly wide.
"Debts?!" Lila shrieked.
"Yeah, debts," the man replied casually, as if discussing the weather.
They all stared, dumbfounded—except Noah, who continued to snore.
"How exactly does a captain owe you a debt?" Erin asked, scratching his head.
"Well, it's not that big of a deal," the man said, waving a hand. "You see, I won him in a very serious bet."
"A bet?!" Erin yelled.
"Yes. He said if I won, he'd do whatever I wanted. If he won, I'd have to return his undies," the old man explained, as if this were the most normal thing in the world.
"Undies?" Lila muttered, her face twitching.
"And I won again—for the fiftieth time now. So here's what I want him to do." The man gestured for them to follow. "This way."
They arrived at a secluded barn deep in the woods, Noah still snoring like a log. The barn was old and weathered, its wooden planks cracked and splintered. The air around it was heavy, and the faint sound of growling sent chills down their spines.
And then—
GRRAAAHHH!
A deafening growl tore through the air, shaking the trees.
A monster was locked inside the barn, its massive form visible through the cracked wood. Its growls reverberated, but Noah remained undisturbed.
"It's a baby monster," the old man said. "Somehow it escaped the Sentinels today at the wall and ended up here, in my barn."
"Wow! It's so cute!" Erin's eyes sparkled with admiration.
To be fair, Erin wasn't entirely wrong. The monster had big, shiny black eyes and a soft, plushy appearance, unlike the demons Erin had hauled before. But its innocent look was deceiving.
"Well, when it kills you, it won't be so cute anymore," Lila retorted.
"Don't let its looks fool you," the old man warned. "This monster has already killed five people—and it was born today. It might have plushy eyes, but it's a killing machine."
"But how did you manage to lock it in the barn?" Erin asked, curiosity piqued.
"Your captain helped. I never knew he could teleport," the man replied. "Anyway, I only have ten coins, and that's all I can pay you—if you take it down."
"Let's get this over with," Garrett said, tossing iron daggers to Erin and Lila.
Erin examined the dagger edge. "It's sharp. So cool!"
"I crafted it physically from iron. It's not magical," Garrett explained.
"Shouldn't we call the Sentinels?" Erin asked.
"Good luck with that," the old man scoffed. "The Sentinels won't bother with a monster that's not even a lower-tier threat."
"Come on, guys. We can handle this ourselves," Lila said, gripping her dagger.
"At least we should come up with a plan," Erin suggested. "Observe its movements, find its weak spots. Charging in blindly is a death wish."
"oh shut up, Gravedigger," Lila snapped. "what do you know about fighting? It's not like you can do anything except watch us fight."
Erin's expression hardened. "I don't care what you think of me. Call me Gravedigger, call me weak—I don't care. I might not have magic or energy as you do, but I have a brain. Charging in without a plan is suicide."
Lila scoffed. "A dummy calling me a dummy, huh? At least I'm not the one who washed Regina's panties as my first mission."
Erin didn't laugh. His thoughts were clear—"I'll prove it. It's not all about magic or strength. It's about thinking and planning."
And then—
BOOM!
The barn exploded, the monster emerging with a thunderous roar. Its plushy eyes locked onto them, and its growl shook the ground.
"Let's get this over with," Garrett said, readying his dagger.