After the battle with the shadowy attackers, it became clear they were Humans dressed in black camouflage. Their movements had reminded Fayde of something out of a ninja movie, though the novelty was lost on him, given they'd been trying to kill him.
None of the bodies were familiar, and whatever gear they'd carried had been rendered useless in the aftermath. Their weapons had shattered, their armor burned or melted. There was no way to determine how they'd concealed themselves so effectively or masked their presence. Magic was the most likely explanation, but the specifics were a mystery now.
They'd clearly come for either Reia or Fayde. He doubted it was him. There was nothing noteworthy about his presence here, not that the public knew of, anyway. He hadn't wronged anyone, hadn't gained fame, and few even knew he wasn't from this world. His powers, rare though they were, could still be mistaken for an uncommon strain of elemental magic. No, if anyone was a target, it had to be Reia.
Maybe they were slavers. Foxkin were still technically protected under La'gun's current laws, but those protections had grown tenuous since the new king's rise. Reia had warned him that it was only a matter of time before those laws were rewritten. She'd already begun moving more cautiously through cities and roads alike.
Reia couldn't come up with a better theory either. In the end, they simply agreed to stay alert going forward.
The Foxkin warriors who had come to their aid had since scattered. Most had gone in pursuit of the survivors, while a few remained nearby, keeping to the treetops as silent sentries. The forest had fallen quiet. Their group, now four, moved deeper into the woods toward Reia's village. Dawn had yet to break, but none of them wanted to linger.
"A more pressing concern are these two," Reia muttered, glancing over her shoulder at Allein and her brother walking behind them.
"We can hear you," Allein said plainly, beating Fayde to the response.
"Then maybe you can explain your role in all this," Reia said, her voice low but sharp.
"Reia, easy," Fayde said. "I get why you're tense, but they did save us. Let's at least hear them out."
"Fine. Explain," she said without looking back.
Before Allein could reply, her brother spoke up instead. "You should be thanking us for saving your lives. If we hadn't shown up, you'd both be dead."
His tone was restrained, but the irritation was clear.
Reia didn't flinch. "I am grateful. But you have to admit your timing was suspicious. You arrived right as the ambush began."
"Tch. You'll regret doubting us." He gripped his spear and took a step forward, but Allein stopped him with a smack to the back of the head.
"OW! What was that for?"
"Because you're an idiot," she said. "Let me handle it. You escalate everything."
Fayde couldn't help a quiet chuckle. She hadn't noticed, but the irony in that statement was obvious. The chuckle earned him a set of glares from all three of them.
"You have a right to be cautious," Allein said more calmly, now addressing Reia directly. "But we're not your enemies. I'm Allein, and this is my… foolish older brother, Nes. I didn't introduce myself properly before. I hope you'll forgive that."
Reia crossed her arms. "Continue."
She was back in warrior mode, her posture rigid and her expression unreadable. Fayde caught himself watching her, something about that steely presence stirring a strange sense of admiration. He imagined her in full military garb, like a fox-eared version of Major Kusanagi.
"Fayde, stop looking at me like that and pay attention," Reia said, cutting into his thoughts.
"Right," he said quickly. "Allein. What were you two doing following us? And do you know anything about the ones who attacked?"
Allein's tone softened. "We were following you, obviously. I told you we'd meet again soon, didn't I? We happened to spot the attackers while keeping our distance."
"If you were following us, I would've known," Reia said. "Why didn't I sense anything until we reached the forest?"
"There's no need to hide it anymore. Your kin already know," Allein said. "My brother and I are Dragonkin. We were flying high overhead to avoid detection. And no, we don't work with Humans. We wouldn't stoop that low."
As she spoke, she stepped closer, stopping directly in front of Reia.
"Do you see these?" Allein turned her head slightly, brushing back her hair. The curved tips of two dark horns peeked through. "These are the horns of a Dragonkin. My brother has them too."
"Impossible," Reia said. "There haven't been Dragonkin for thousands of years. How can there be two standing here now?"
Allein exhaled, then took a step back. "Fine. Then I'll show you."
She glanced around and warned, "Give me some space. My dragon form's a bit larger than this body."
The group stepped away instinctively as Allein began to shift.
She let out a guttural roar. Her limbs contorted, bones shifting beneath her skin. Light gathered around her as her silhouette grew, changing into something much more primal.
Fayde watched, tense but curious.
He was about to see something the world hadn't seen in generations.
Her body twisted and contorted until Allein was no longer visible. In her place stood a young dragon, sleek and fierce. She wasn't massive like the dragons from some tales, but easily larger than a horse, her scaled form rippling with quiet power.
"Behold my dragon form," she growled, her voice deeper, resonant with animalistic cadence. Her eyes were narrow and reptilian, filled with intelligence and pride.
She unfurled her wings and let out a deafening roar. The trees trembled with the force of it, and Fayde instinctively clapped his hands over his ears.
"Do you believe me now?" she snarled, lowering her head so close to Reia her breath stirred the fur on the Foxkin's cloak.
Reia flinched but didn't retreat.
Fayde blinked, trying to absorb the sight. "Very cool," he said, half-laughing. "Guess I don't have to walk anymore."
No one laughed with him.
"Tough crowd," he muttered under his breath.
Reia's voice remained steady, though wary. "Now I understand why my kin were willing to speak with you. And maybe you were telling the truth about watching us from above. But it still doesn't explain why you were following us."
"I'd like to know that too," Fayde added. "You've been dropping into my dreams and trailing us through the woods. Why?"
Allein began shifting back into her humanoid form. The process was fast but jarring, bones reshaping, skin stretching. It looked unpleasant, though she didn't seem to feel a thing.
Once fully transformed, she stood before them again, perfectly composed. "We have our reasons," she said simply. "You're important to us, Fayde. Important to me."
The way she said it made him pause. It sounded... intimate. But why?
Reia spoke first, sharp and direct. "And why is he so important to you? What do you even know about him?"
"I know far more than you do," Allein said with a smirk. "I've seen him in dreams. I've seen you, too…"
That drew a twitch from Reia. She glanced sideways at Fayde, brows furrowed, frustration simmering beneath the surface.
"And I know he came from another world," Allein continued. "You think that's coincidence? No. He's here for a reason. He's meant to lead. To save the Beastkin. And I'll be by his side to support him. That's my purpose. You, on the other hand, are not needed."
That was enough.
Reia's sword was in her hand in an instant. Her presence shifted, radiating cold fury.
Fayde stepped in front of her, hands raised in peace. "Reia, calm down. She's trying to rile you up, that's all. Trust me, I've had more than a few rounds with her tongue. She's not as bad as she acts."
He meant it to reassure her, but it clearly didn't land.
Reia glared at him. "Oh? So you've had plenty of time together in your dreams, have you?"
He opened his mouth, but she was already turning away. "I don't have time for this."
With a sharp motion, she sheathed her blade and stormed ahead, giving him no chance to explain.
Fayde sighed heavily and turned toward Allein, frustration bubbling up. "Was that really necessary? You pushed too far."
Allein shrugged with a light smile. "I was being gentle. It's not my fault she's sensitive."
Then she giggled. "Maybe the little fox girl has a crush on you?"
Fayde narrowed his eyes. "Enough, Allein. Let's go before she decides to leave us behind."
"Hmph. Perhaps I should've let you die instead."
The words cut deeper than he expected. She had saved their lives, but right now, her attitude made it hard to feel grateful.
The group quickly moved to catch up. Fayde hung back, keeping a respectful distance behind Reia. Allein and Nes followed behind him, the older brother strangely quiet, though clearly pleased with how things had unfolded.
These two were trouble.
Fayde didn't think Allein had provoked Reia just for fun. There had been purpose in it, some game she was playing. Unfortunately, games involving women weren't exactly his strength.
Most of his experience came from a marriage that had started young and ended badly. By the time he was ready to date again, life hadn't exactly given him the chance. Most of what he knew came from trial, error, and unresolved regrets.
As they walked through the forest, silence reigned. It gave Fayde too much time to think.
Allein's words. Reia's reaction.
Was there really something more behind it?
He'd teased her once, just before falling asleep the night before, and her reaction had been sharp. But now...
Maybe?
He sighed again. Loudly.
That's at least the tenth time today. I'm shaving years off my life, wait.Right.Immortal now.
Eventually, the trees opened up to reveal the outskirts of the Foxkin village.
It was a small settlement, tucked deep within the forest. Modest huts built from hide and timber formed a loose circle, ringed by sharpened wooden stakes and a shallow defensive trench. A few guards stood at the entrance, weapons in hand, ears twitching as they watched the group approach.
One of them nodded to Reia and stepped aside.
They had been expected.
A few Foxkin warriors huddled near a fire pit in the village's center, wrapped in thick fur hides to ward off the night's cold. The fire had been dug directly into the earth and gave off a steady warmth, casting flickering shadows across their faces.
Compared to the human town of Enrain, this village felt like something out of a bygone era, simpler, rawer. It reminded Fayde of primitive tribal societies back on Earth. Most of the villagers were still asleep in their huts, but a small group quickly emerged to greet them.
"Reia, my daughter, you're safe? When I heard word of human invaders in the forest, I feared the worst."
The speaker was an older Foxkin male wearing a fur cap that left his silver ears exposed. His hair was the same pale platinum as Reia's, and they shared a few sharp features around the eyes and jaw. He looked exhausted, eyes sunken, skin creased with stress, but relief lit up his face the moment he saw her.
"I'm fine, Father. Our kin arrived in time." Reia stepped forward and embraced him.
Two younger Foxkin girls darted out and hugged Reia tightly, their chatter tumbling out in excitement. An older Foxkin woman stood quietly beside them, unmoving. Fayde watched her, puzzled. At first he thought she might be Reia's mother, but there was no sign of affection or familiarity. Now that he thought about it, Reia had never mentioned her mother at all.
Dead? Or something else?
The chief's attention shifted, his eyes widening as he spotted the Dragonkin standing just behind Fayde.
"These two… they must be the Dragonkin!" His voice brimmed with excitement. He walked forward quickly, eyes full of wonder. "When I first heard the reports, I could hardly believe it. But now, seeing you with my own eyes, it must be fate."
He studied Allein and Nes closely, like one might inspect a sacred artifact.
"And this must be the human friend," he added, finally acknowledging Fayde. "Come, all of you. We'll speak inside. The night is too cold for these old bones."
"Don't be ridiculous," Allein said, surprisingly polite. "You're still young for a Beastkin. But you're right, it is cold."
The chief let out a delighted laugh. "Ho ho! This one has a way with words!"
He led them to his hut, a larger, well-kept structure of fur and timber. Inside, a central fire pit gave off a gentle heat and bathed the room in a soft glow. Various tools, trinkets, and family items lined the walls. More Foxkin were inside, likely wives, children, or close relatives. Fayde remembered what Reia had told him: tribal leaders like Khans or chiefs often had large families, multiple wives, and many children. It was expected, even necessary, to strengthen the tribe.
They were given a place to sit around the fire, and soon tea was passed around, along with a simple meal of soup and flatbread. Fayde wasn't particularly hungry, but it would've been rude to refuse, so he accepted it quietly.
After everyone settled, Reia's father began the conversation. "You have no idea how lucky you were tonight. Lately, we've seen roving bands of monsters in the forest. Our warriors have been hunting them, which is the only reason they were able to help you so quickly."
"Roving bands?" Fayde asked, curious. "I thought monsters usually didn't work together."
"Normally they don't," the chief said, stirring his tea. "But it's different when a dungeon is involved. My daughter told me about your... circumstances. You may not know this, but when a dungeon becomes too full, it starts sending patrols outward, scouts, raiding parties. We think it may be building toward an invasion."
Fayde blinked. "An invasion? You think they'll attack the village?"
The chief shook his head. "No. Not unless we draw attention. Our warriors have been keeping the patrols away. But I believe their target is Enrain."
Reia frowned. "They're planning to attack the town?"
He nodded. "It happens every few years. The monsters grow restless. This time, though… they're smarter. They've been using the forest for cover, avoiding open roads. They've learned from past failures."
Fayde felt a chill run through him, not from the cold, but from the implications. "We have to warn them," he said. "Enrain's full of innocent people. Do they even know what's coming?"
"They likely don't," the chief replied. "The Kingdom's scouts patrol the area, but they're limited. We've only just discovered the monster activity ourselves."
Reia leaned forward. "Have your scouts seen any larger groups yet?"
"Not yet. Just scattered scouts and small raiding bands. But if they're sending scouts, the main force won't be far behind. I've already sent more patrols north to investigate. We should know more by morning."
As Fayde processed the information, Nes suddenly spoke. "I was the one who led the warriors to them, by the way. Found them on patrol from the sky. So you can thank me later."
Reia rolled her eyes. Clearly, she hadn't forgotten his behavior earlier.
Fayde turned back to the chief. "If there's even a chance they'll attack Enrain, we can't just stand by. We have to warn the town."
"They'll be hard to convince without proof," the chief said. "But you're right. They deserve to know."
Then Allein's voice cut in, cold and sharp. "Let them die. I say let the monsters deal with the humans."
Fayde stared at her. "Allein. They're innocent people."
"Innocent?" she scoffed. "These are the same people who enslave and kill Beastkin. That's your definition of innocence?"
Fayde clenched his fists. "Not all of them. We can't just abandon them."
He met her eyes, and something in his resolve made her finally back down.
"Fine," she muttered. "Do what you want."
"That's enough for tonight," the chief said, raising his hands. "Let's all get some rest. We'll speak more in the morning."
Everyone stood. As they filed toward the sleeping area, Allein leaned in close to Fayde and gave him a wink.
"I'll see you later," she said with a smirk, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Fayde let out a long, weary sigh.
Again.