The Perilous Detour

An hour earlier.

“I’m telling you, this map must be wrong. We’ve been walking for ages; how are we still not there?”

“Don’t fret. According to the map, this should be the right path. You only feel it’s taking a long time because you’re walking too slowly.”

It was nearing midday, yet the sun remained conspicuously absent, its warmth obscured by a thick blanket of clouds. This peculiar weather had persisted for a considerable period, and while the villagers harbored numerous complaints about the perpetual gloom, it proved to be a peculiar convenience for the three young adventurers.

Bathed in the crisp autumn breeze, the three ambled merrily along the muddy track. Everything around them was a source of endless fascination: vibrant flora they had never encountered and unfamiliar small creatures that occasionally darted from the undergrowth, transforming their journey into a delightful adventure.

“Still, it’s quite peculiar… By all accounts, we should have reached our destination by now.”

“This path appears untouched; there isn’t even a single footprint.”

Under normal circumstances, South Creek’s calculations indicated they should have already reached the city. Yet, here they were, still meandering through the dense forest, with no trace of the city in sight.

“No way! What if we’ve taken a wrong turn? Will we be lost forever?”

“…Fool.”

“If we don’t reach it after a bit more walking, then perhaps we should head back.”

Their primary objective for this journey was to mail a letter, but equally crucial was avoiding detection by the adults, which necessitated their return to the village before dusk. With midday now approaching, time was undeniably scarce. However, the notion of being unable to return was absurd; even if they had strayed from the correct path, retracing their steps was always an option.

“I’m just so terribly worried! This mountain is so vast; what if there are wild beasts lurking about?”

“If you were so worried, why did you insist on coming along?”

South Creek found herself momentarily speechless. While she genuinely couldn’t be certain if they were on the correct route, Fanny’s sluggish pace was an undeniable truth. Every short while, she would demand a halt to rest, complain of hunger, and then declare an urgent need for the latrine…

“I’ve dreamt of seeing the city my entire life! No matter the obstacles, nothing will deter me!”

“…”

Rubbing her temples, South Creek felt a familiar headache begin to throb. Fanny, at this moment, was utterly unrecognizable from her usual self. She was, to South Creek’s exasperation, a completely childish imp, chattering incessantly throughout their journey.

“You’re insufferable.”

“Who asked you, you pompous oaf.”

“…Well, I never…”

Tearing her gaze away from the two who were constantly bickering, South Creek was startled to discover that the path ahead had, at some indeterminate point, simply disappeared. All that remained were scattered, broken stones and a few ancient, weathered wooden stakes.

“It appears we truly took a wrong turn.”

“No, this can’t be happening! What are we going to do? My one chance to see the city, finally within reach…”

“But it shouldn’t be! The map explicitly indicated this was the way…”

South Creek considered offering a defense, but ultimately, she could only release a long, resigned sigh. The undeniable reality was that they had, indeed, taken a wrong turn.

“What now? Do we turn back?”

“There’s no other choice. Thankfully, there’s only a single path, so we can simply retrace our steps.”

“How could this happen…? It was such a precious opportunity.”

A collective expression of disappointment settled upon their faces. All three were now plunged into a somber mood, with Jack’s dejection particularly pronounced. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had slipped through their fingers, and who knew when such a chance would present itself again. Despite their profound disappointment, neither chose to lay blame upon South Creek. Witnessing their subdued demeanor, South Creek couldn’t help but feel a pang of self-reproach.

“Wait, listen! Is that a sound coming from the sky?”

“A sound? What do you mean?”

Abruptly, Jack halted, his gaze sweeping the sky with an alert, wary intensity. Fanny, beside him, her face etched with confusion, followed his lead and peered upwards, yet she saw nothing but empty air.

“What is it? I don’t see anything.”

“Something’s there!”

Almost simultaneously, South Creek, too, perceived it. Yet, her awareness stemmed not from her physical sight, but from a deeper sensation.

[Something is disrupting the nearby spiritual energy. It must be in the sky… But where?]

Screech—

Hovering directly overhead, a monstrous red bird had appeared, seemingly from nowhere. It possessed the body of a bird, yet its head resembled that of a grotesque, scowling chicken. Its powerful talons were as thick and robust as a lion’s, and from its throat erupted an unpleasant, duck-like squawk. It circled above the trio, letting out another peculiar cry, as if it had long since marked them as its prey.

“A monster… it’s a monster!”

“Heavens above!”

With a grave expression, South Creek recalled Elise’s teachings: any creature exhibiting spiritual energy fluctuations and an unusual appearance was, without exception, a monster. And now, this bizarre entity before them undeniably fulfilled every criterion.

“Impossible…”

Jack, mumbling in terror, recalled the village elders’ tales: for generations, perhaps even centuries, no monsters had been sighted in these lands. The ancient texts, he remembered, spoke of these terrifying and brutal creatures residing exclusively within the Western Demonic Realm, venturing out only on the rarest of occasions. Furthermore, this very location was said to be impossibly distant from the fabled Demonic Realm; by all logic, such a creature simply could not have reached them here.

Alas, reality had already delivered its harsh lesson. The monstrous bird, merely by circling in the air, exerted a terrifying, oppressive pressure. Its immense form obscured a significant portion of the sky, ceaselessly looming above them. Should such a horrifying mass descend, they would undoubtedly be crushed into a grotesque pulp.

“Run! Head for the densest part of the forest… Quickly!”

Reason, at last, reasserted its dominance. South Creek, shouting a fervent warning to the other two, sprinted towards the thickest part of the woods.

“Alright… alright…”

The other two, instinctively understanding her intent, immediately broke into a desperate sprint. But the monstrous bird, witnessing their flight, would hardly relinquish prey so nearly within its grasp. With a guttural growl, it plummeted towards the fleeing trio.

“Help! Oh, help me! It’s terrifying!”

Fanny, at this juncture, was utterly beside herself with terror. As a young girl who had known only the tranquil confines of the village, she had never in her life witnessed such a horrifying monster. Beholding the creature hurtling directly towards her, her legs buckled and trembled uncontrollably.

“Look out!”

In a moment of sheer peril, Jack lunged forward, tackling Fanny to the ground and narrowly sparing her from the monster’s assault. The bird, however, plunged heedlessly into the dense thicket, snapping several pine trees in its destructive path before finally grinding to a halt.

“Quickly! Keep running, don’t stop!” he hastily urged the two forward, only to witness the monstrous bird, now sprawled amidst the trees, furiously beating its wings. The ensuing gale, in a single powerful blast, swept the prone pair off the ground and sent them flying.

“Aaaaahhhhhhh—”

Watching herself soar through the air, Fanny let out a terrified shriek. Yet, after a moment, the violent impact she anticipated never materialized. Instead, an unseen force arrested their flight, halting them mere inches before they collided with a large tree.

“Focus… just focus…”

South Creek, who had somehow managed to crouch nearby, was now desperately channeling the surrounding spiritual energy, and for the very first time, truly unleashing a spell.