The forest was quiet beneath the pale glow of the moon when Aldric stirred awake.
He yawned loudly, stretching his limbs lazily before settling back down, savoring the comfort. Only moments later did reality catch up to him. His eyes widened.
"The forest!" he shouted, bolting upright in panic. "Bel? Bel, where are you?! Why didn't you wake me, you fool?"
He scrambled to his feet, peering through the shadows. The boy was nowhere in sight.
His heart pounded louder as he took a step forward, and something squelched beneath his boot.
Looking down slowly, Aldric's face twisted in disgust and horror. Entrails glistened under his foot, illuminated dimly by the moonlight.
"What the...?!" Aldric screamed, stumbling backward.
His hand flew out to catch his balance and landed on something solid and bristly. His stomach lurched.
Slowly, his gaze fell upon the severed head of a boar, its eyes staring blankly up at him.
Another scream ripped from Aldric's throat, echoing through the trees. He froze immediately afterward, his senses prickling with an unnatural awareness.
From the shadows, two glowing red eyes pierced the darkness, fixed on him with a haunting intensity.
"A Demon?! Here?!" Aldric gasped, drawing his sword hastily.
Panic surged through him, adrenaline pumping furiously. Without time to hesitate, he charged forward, his sword raised.
"Ah, you're finally awake."
The voice stopped Aldric in his tracks. Stunned, he blinked, squinting at the looming figure.
As he drew closer, the intimidating silhouette began to resolve itself. Instead of a demon, it was a massive pile of boar carcasses stacked haphazardly into a grotesque mountain.
Atop this morbid throne sat Bel, grinning cheerfully.
Bel's eyes glittered in the moonlight, his expression oddly serene.
"I was waiting for you, Sir Aldric," he called down pleasantly. "I'm running out of prey here. Could you guide me to another hunting ground?"
Aldric stared open-mouthed, his sword trembling in his grip as disbelief overtook his initial fear.
Later that night, the flickering glow of the campfire cast dancing shadows on the trees surrounding Bel and Aldric.
Aldric poked the fire with a stick, his expression grave and troubled. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Bel," Aldric began slowly, "what you did today... It's not normal. I refuse to believe you were just some stable boy. Beginners don't hunt like that on their first attempt."
Bel shrugged innocently, but couldn't suppress the proud grin spreading across his face.
"Honestly, sir, I don't see what was so special about it. The monsters weren't even that strong, I'm sure you would have done better."
"Not strong?" Aldric exclaimed incredulously, waving his hands around. "You slaughtered all of them like they were nothing!"
Bel chuckled softly, his eyes drifting to the pale moonlight filtering through a delicate spider web hanging from a nearby branch.
"They were the weakest monsters around, right? It's nothing serious... Or maybe... I'm just really strong?"
He silently glanced at the familiar floating screen, confirming his progress:
--------------------------------------------
[ Draconic Evolution System ]
Name: Belzerion
Title: None
Race: Dragon
Class: Lesser Wyrmling
Level: 7
EXP: 12/700
--------------------------------------------
Core Stats:
HP: 110/110
MP: 60/60
Strength: 30
Toughness: 30
Intelligence: 20
Speed: 28
Agility: 28
Stamina: 34
Pressure: 1
Unassigned Stat Points: 10
--------------------------------------------
Draconic Core: 1%
--------------------------------------------
Unlocked Traits:
Wyrm's Resilience
Enhanced endurance and recovery.
The following morning, they made their way back to the Duke's estate in silence. Aldric, still visibly shaken by Bel's remarkable performance, finally broke the quiet.
"Next time," Aldric mumbled anxiously, "you can go alone. You clearly don't need a knight babysitting you."
Bel nodded absently, already engrossed in thoughts about his stats and how he might improve further while stuck in the household.
An idea flashed in his mind, and his eyes widened with sudden realization.
"What if I use stronger training methods now? I'm no longer as weak as I was."
Upon arriving unnoticed at the estate, Bel headed towards the Baron's room to greet him properly.
On his way, his attention shifted to the garden where he spotted Dusteria engaged in animated conversation with a small group around their age.
Later that night, the flickering glow of the campfire cast dancing shadows on the trees surrounding Bel and Aldric.
Aldric poked the fire with a stick, his expression grave and troubled. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Bel," Aldric began slowly, "what you did today... It's not normal. I refuse to believe you were just some stable boy. Beginners don't hunt like that on their first attempt."
Bel shrugged innocently, but couldn't suppress the proud grin spreading across his face.
"Honestly, sir, I don't see what was so special about it. The monsters weren't even that strong, I'm sure you would have done better."
"Not strong?" Aldric exclaimed incredulously, waving his hands around. "You slaughtered all of them like they were nothing!"
Bel chuckled softly, his eyes drifting to the pale moonlight filtering through a delicate spider web hanging from a nearby branch.
"They were the weakest monsters around, right? It's nothing serious... Or maybe... I'm just really strong?"
He silently glanced at the familiar floating screen, confirming his progress:
[ Draconic Evolution System ]
Name: Belzerion
Title: None
Race: Dragon
Class: Lesser Wyrmling
Level: 7
EXP: 12/700
--------------------------------------------
Core Stats:
HP: 110/110
MP: 60/60
Strength: 30
Toughness: 30
Intelligence: 20
Speed: 28
Agility: 28
Stamina: 34
Pressure: 1
Unassigned Stat Points: 10
--------------------------------------------
Draconic Core: 1%
--------------------------------------------
Unlocked Traits:
- Wyrm's Resilience: Enhanced endurance and recovery.
The following morning, they made their way back to the Duke's estate in silence. Aldric, still visibly shaken by Bel's remarkable performance, finally broke the quiet.
"Next time," Aldric mumbled anxiously, "you can go alone. You clearly don't need a knight babysitting you."
Bel nodded absently, already engrossed in thoughts about his stats and how he might improve further while stuck in the household.
An idea flashed in his mind, and his eyes widened with sudden realization.
"What if I use stronger training methods now? I'm no longer as weak as I was."
Upon arriving unnoticed at the estate, Bel headed towards the Baron's room to greet him properly.
On his way, his attention shifted to the garden where he spotted Dusteria engaged in animated conversation with a small group around their age.
A as the family's knight, he felt it was only proper to greet Dusteria.
Without a second thought, he strode toward her and the small group gathered in the garden. As he drew closer, their lively chatter faded into silence, replaced by wary, curious glances.
Bel began lowering himself into a respectful bow, but a sudden, exaggerated voice halted him mid-motion.
"Hold it right there!" Will stepped forward dramatically, blocking Bel's path with an expression full of suspicion. "Who exactly are you, and why are you creeping up on us?"
Dusteria groaned audibly, slapping a hand over her face in embarrassment.
Crest shifted uncomfortably, glancing between Dusteria and the newcomer, uncertain of what was happening. Sienna bit her lip nervously, eyes darting around as though expecting trouble.
"Will, calm down..." Crest began, attempting to mediate.
"No, no," Will insisted, holding up a hand to silence Crest. "I don't like the look of this guy. It's suspicious, right? A random nobody strolling up to nobles without even an introduction!"
Bel stood quietly, surprised by Will's melodramatic interrogation, though he maintained a neutral expression.
Crest, turning cautiously to Dusteria, asked softly.
"Dusteria, do you know this man?"
Her expression hardened immediately, and she abruptly stood, cutting off any further questions.
"You, follow me. Now," she ordered sharply.
She led Bel quickly away from the group, finding a secluded spot hidden behind tall hedges. Dusteria turned sharply, arms crossed and eyes narrowed.
"Listen carefully," she said coldly, her voice filled with irritation. "I don't need you following me around acting like some noble knight. I know my father put you up to this nonsense, but I refuse to be permanently associated with you. Plus, I know what you're doing. You're just pretending to be a knight, it's in your eyes, and it's embarrassing."
Bel remained silent, watching her with calm, observant eyes.
"So do us both a favor," she continued firmly, "stop pretending around me and stay away from my friends. We don't need your fake chivalry or whatever it is you're trying to prove."
Bel studied her for a moment, then broke into a subtle, genuine smile. Her request would free him from unnecessary social obligations, giving him more time for what really mattered: hunting and leveling up.
"Alright," he replied simply, his voice calm and agreeable. "If that's what you want, I'm more than happy to comply."
Dusteria visibly relaxed, let out a long breath of relief.
"Good. Let's keep it that way."
Without another word, she turned and walked briskly back to her friends, leaving Bel standing alone, his smile widening slightly as he thought for the first time about something he had lost long ago without realizing it, his freedom.