Ard, Geoffrey, and Irwin watched as Lhoris walked further away, disappearing into the distance without a single backward glance.

"What is his problem, anyway?" Irwin asked.

"No idea, but he was clearly intent on killing Ard and Pyria," Geoffrey replied.

"He's Pyria's childhood friend... he's been fuming since this afternoon because Pyria has been stuck to me like glue," Ard answered.

"Ah... so that's it," Irwin replied.

"But why would he want to kill Pyria? It doesn't make any sense," Geoffrey added.

"That's the part I don't understand," Ard replied.

Suddenly, someone tapped Ard on the shoulder. He spun around to find Eledar standing behind him. Eledar was also watching Lhoris as the young elf continued his descent down the hill.

"I apologize for his behavior. I'll be having a word with him after this. He aimed a bow at my daughter; obviously, I can't just let that slide. I'll handle him—leave it to me," Eledar said.

"Thank you, Headman. I'm not sure why, but he was definitely targeting Pyria," Ard replied.

"Yes, I saw it too," Eledar replied.

Eledar turned and clapped his hands twice. The music began to play again, the festival resumed, and the villagers went back to their own business. Eledar gave the three men a slight nod before walking off in the direction Lhoris had gone. Ard, Geoffrey, and Irwin watched the headman leave without looking back. Suddenly, someone slipped an arm through Ard's. He turned to find Pyria holding onto him, though her eyes were fixed on Eledar. Ard looked at her and asked directly,

"Pyria, why was Lhoris targeting you?"

Pyria fell silent. Her face looked confused, as if she didn't even recognize the Lhoris who had just tried to take her life.

"I don't know myself. Maybe he was offended by something I said earlier... but I know him, he's not usually like that," Pyria answered.

"Hmm... I see," Ard replied.

"Anyway, let's leave it all to my father. Come on, let's go eat with the others. The food is already served," Pyria said, her cheerfulness returning as if nothing had happened.

Ard caught the eyes of Geoffrey and Irwin, who simply shrugged as if to say, "If she's over it, we shouldn't make a big deal out of it." With that, they walked back to join the rest of the group for dinner.

***

The next morning, after saying their goodbyes, Ard, Pyria, Mirea, and Milia set off toward the giant sacred tree located deep in a valley far behind the village. They followed a narrow trail that started from behind the house of the late High Elder, Elidyr. The four of them walked at a relaxed pace but remained alert as the path widened and led them into the heart of the forest.

"Do you think it's a long way out there?" Milia asked.

"Hmm... we should get there by late afternoon. It looks like we'll have to camp overnight and head back tomorrow morning," Pyria answered.

"Wow... so it really is a trek," Milia said, peering ahead.

"I've read that the tree is an absolute titan—it's supposedly larger than a mountain," Mirea murmured.

"That's true. But don't worry, a good part of the trunk is actually submerged. The tree sits in a valley that has since become a lake, so it looks like it's growing right out of the water," Pyria replied.

"Stay sharp, everyone. This is where things start to get dangerous," Ard warned.

"Of course, I'm ready," Milia replied cheerfully, resting her hand on the sword at her hip.

Ard, walking at the lead, glanced toward the brush. He sensed someone trailing them. He looked back at Pyria, Mirea, and Milia, slowing his pace until he was level with them, his eyes scanning the dense wilderness. They pushed on without stopping until they reached a clearing in the middle of the woods with the path still stretching out before them.

"Crack."

The sudden snap of a heavy branch rang out. Ard crossed his arms, signaling the others to stop, and they immediately dropped into a defensive stance. Two massive trees with legs and faces resembling withered old men emerged from the shadows.

As their heavy branches began to lash out in an attack, Pyria instantly summoned her Cerberus, commanding it to unleash a torrent of fire. Simultaneously, Milia summoned her Sea Serpent, freezing both Treants in place to stop them in their tracks. The Cerberus's flames continued to incinerate the monsters while they were trapped inside the blocks of ice.

"Hmm... that was efficient. It's a good thing you came along, Milia," Mirea noted.

"Hehe, right? I dealt with Treants all the time back in my territory in the Durnhill Kingdom," Milia replied.

"Come to think of it... you really are Velvet's daughter, Pyria. She also had a massive black Cerberus as a familiar," Ard murmured.

"Yeah. I used to be so confused why an elf—who usually masters wind—would have fire magic and a Cerberus. Now I finally know why," Pyria replied, crouching down to pat her familiar's head.

"Besides, normal elves can't use disguises like you do. Only vampires can pull that off," Ard added.

"That's true. Being able to shift into Patricia and back to Pyria is all thanks to Mama Velvet. I'm truly grateful now; I have two amazing mothers," Pyria said with a soft, downward smile.

Ard patted Pyria's head and smiled. He led the way past the frozen, dead Treants, followed by the three girls. However, Ard kept glancing to the side; he still felt like someone was tailing them. After walking for a while, the forest path began to slope downward. They could see the canopy gradually dipping on either side. Finally, after hours of trekking, they reached a river with a bridge and a waterfall cascading from the cliffs above. They decided to take a break for lunch on the large boulders by the riverbank.

"Be careful. Lizardmen sometimes pop up here and attack," Pyria warned.

"Yeah, I know," Ard replied. He purposely sat with his back to the river so he could keep his eyes on the wilderness ahead.

Mirea noticed Ard's focus and looked over her shoulder to see what he was watching. She turned back to him.

"You feel it too, don't you, Ard?" Mirea asked.

"Yeah. Someone has been following us since we left the village," Ard answered.

"Oh... I thought it was just me. So you guys felt it too," Milia chimed in.

"I felt it... and it's definitely not a monster," Pyria added.

"He isn't being aggressive, though. It feels like he's just keeping tabs on us. Pyria, do you think your father sent someone to watch over us?" Ard asked.

"Hmm... I don't know. But I doubt Papa would do that. He knows I'm with you as a guide," Pyria answered.

"What about that guy from last night? Your childhood friend," Milia suggested.

"Hmm... could be him. If it is, just let him be. I don't care why he's following us," Pyria replied, sounding annoyed.

"Regardless, let's stay alert. We'll eat quickly and get back on the move," Ard said.

"Ok," Pyria, Milia, and Mirea replied in unison.

They finished their lunch in a hurried, focused silence. Ard kept his gaze locked on the trees; even as he chewed, his hand moved automatically, bringing his spoon to his mouth. Across from him, Milia and Mirea kept watch over the river behind Ard and Pyria, who sat side-by-side enjoying their meal.

Just as they were getting through it, a blood-curdling scream echoed from deep within the forest: "Gyaaaaah!" The four of them instantly stood up, abandoning their food on the rocks. Ard reached out to the side, pulling Exgrandal from his dimensional storage, while Milia, Mirea, and Pyria gripped the hilts of their swords, ready for whatever was coming.

"Krosak!" "Crack... crack... crack!"

The sound of crashing brush and falling trees neared. Moments later, a King Treant—a massive, ancient creature with a leafless crown that looked like a wooden throne—crawled out on its roots. The face on its trunk looked enraged yet terrified, as if it had just seen a ghost. Thick vines coiled around its branches, writhing like snakes. Then they saw him: Lhoris was dangling upside down, his leg ensnared by a vine, completely helpless.

"Hah... I knew it. It's that guy from last night. He really was following us," Milia said, pointing at Lhoris, who was dangling upside down with his leg ensnared in the Treant's branches.

"A King Treant. That thing isn't even supposed to leave the deep forest... that idiot. He must have provoked it and led it right to us," Pyria muttered, her voice thick with irritation as she glared at Lhoris.

"Well, now we know for sure who our stalker was. So, do we fight or run?" Mirea asked, looking toward Ard.

"We fight. Get ready, everyone. We have to take that Treant down," Ard commanded.

"Yeah!" Pyria, Milia, and Mirea replied in unison.

They immediately summoned their familiars and braced themselves to face the King Treant. It was a massive specimen, far larger and more powerful than a standard Treant, and it still held the seemingly unconscious Lhoris firmly in its grasp.

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