Jin grabbed Rui's arm just before she stepped further.
"Wait. We should prepare first."
Rui rolled her eyes but stopped. "What more preparation do we need? We follow the tracks, find the creature, I complete my trial, and we return victorious."
The farmer, who had shown them the dead cow, walked over, looking worried.
"Are you going in there?" he asked, his voice shaky.
Jin nodded politely. "We have to find out what's causing these attacks."
The older man shook his head, grumbling softly. He reached into his worn jacket and pulled out an old, folded parchment paper.
"My grandfather drew this," he said as he opened it carefully. "It's been in our family for generations."
The paper was a hand-drawn map, with worn edges and torn corners.
The faded ink showed details of the forest, including twisting paths, small open areas, and a stream running through it.
Deep in the woods, someone had marked what looked like an archway with a faded red symbol.
"There's an old temple there," the farmer said, pointing with a shaking finger at the ruins on the map. "Or what's left of it.
Jin studied the map closely while Rui looked over his shoulder.
"May we borrow this?" Jin asked.
The older man nodded. "Keep it. I've no use for it now.
"Just... be careful in there. The forest has a way of confusing travelers. Even those who think they know the way."
"Thank you for your help," Jin said. "We'll return after we solve this mystery."
"Good luck to both of you," the old man said, stepping back slowly. "You're going to need it."
The forest entrance loomed before them—ancient trees forming a natural archway of intertwined branches.
Rui paused just beneath it, staring up at the gnarled limbs.
"How very ominous. I approve."
They entered the forest together. Sunlight shone through the thick leaves above, creating spots of light and shadow on the ground.
The air felt thick, filled with the smell of damp soil and something metallic, like old blood.
Rui walked behind Jin on the narrow path, checking the map now and then.
She pointed and said, "The ruins should be northeast, past those big rocks. We'll find what we're looking for if we find the arch. It's that simple."
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the trees closed in tightly around them.
Rui examined the map, rotating it in different directions.
"I'm sure we should go this way," she announced confidently, pointing to the left.
Jin looked doubtful.
"We're supposed to head northeast to reach the ruins. That's west."
"No way. The sun is there," Rui pointed vaguely through the canopy, "which means north is... wait."
She spun in a circle, looking increasingly confused.
"Why are there so many directions in this realm?"
Kee Kee poked his head out of her satchel. "You're hopeless. Give the map to the monk.
"I am not lost! I just have a unique sense of direction," Rui replied, striding forward assertively.
Another hour had gone by, and the trio found themselves standing beside the same oddly-shaped rock they'd passed twice.
"Ah, my old friend Boulder," Rui patted the rock. "Fancy meeting you again."
Jin sighed and extended his hand. "Princess, maybe I should guide us."
"Alright! Fine," Rui handed him the map. "But only because I'm tired."
Jin studied the map, checked the sun's position, and pointed confidently.
"This is the way."
Kee Kee chuckled from inside the satchel. "Finally, someone with a brain."
"Traitor," Rui muttered.
As Jin led the group, Rui meandered behind him, frequently stopping to admire interesting plants or colorful mushrooms.
"Don't touch those," Jin called back to her.
Rui poked a large purple mushroom, instantly puffing out a spore cloud.
She stumbled back, sneezing uncontrollably, her face now dusted with glittering purple powder.
"They're sneezeworts," Jin said with a resigned sigh.
"You could have warned me sooner," Rui managed to say between sneezes.
"I did try."
Kee Kee laughed. "Your face is shiny now. Quite fashionable."
After a while, Jin stopped by a small stream to refill their water bottles.
Rui dramatically flopped onto a moss-covered log.
"Are we there yet?" she asked, exasperated.
"My feet weren't made for peasant activities such as walking."
"We're almost there," Jin reassured, rechecking the map.
"Just beyond this next hill."
"You said that three hills ago," Rui protested, but she got up, brushing leaves from her robes.
As they went on, they noticed that the forest was getting quieter.
The chirping birds that welcomed them had stopped; now all they could hear were their footsteps.
Kee Kee, napping in the sling at Rui's side, suddenly woke up.
He lifted his tiny head, his eyes glowing a golden amber, and let out a quiet, steady growl.
"Something doesn't feel right," Jin whispered, reaching for his prayer beads.
"You don't say?" Rui whispered back, her fingers already tingling with faint energy.
They continued along the path until they reached a small clearing.
In the middle stood an ancient stone archway. It was covered in moss and old carvings.
Suddenly, something moved in the trees to their left. The trees bent in an odd way as something big moved through them.
It was too fast to see clearly, but they caught brief glimpses: reddish-brown fur, shiny claws, and red eyes glowed like burning coals in the forest's darkness.
"This is it—the beast for the next Trial!" Rui shouted.
Her hands moved quickly, creating patterns of sigils in the air.
Pink-gold energy sparked between her fingers, casting odd shadows on her focused face.
"Step back, Jin. This is my moment!"
Jin stood firmly beside her. His prayer beads emitted a gentle blue glow as he set up a protective barrier.
"I'm not leaving you," he declared, drawing symbols that expanded into a clear shield around them both.
"We'll face this together."
Kee Kee leaped off Rui's shoulder. As he landed, he grew larger, his fur standing on end to make him look twice his size.
The cute look in his eyes turned sharp and fierce.
"At last! Something to bite!" the demon pet growled, displaying an unsettling number of sharp teeth for his small mouth.
The rustling in the bushes grew louder. Branches snapped like old bones as something enormous moved around them.
Red eyes flickered in the trees, appearing and disappearing like evil fireflies.
"On your left!" Jin warned.
The creature shot forward from the shadows—a quick blur of reddish fur and strong muscles. It flew at them with its mouth open wide and claws outstretched.
A golden collar with blood-red gems wrapped around its neck, each rune on it glowing with dark energy.
"Take that!" Rui yelled, thrusting her hands forward.
A flash of pink-gold energy shot from her hands and struck the beast mid-jump.
The forest lit up as if it were a festival night, with shadows moving wildly as the creature screamed.
Instead of burning the beast, the chaotic energy enveloped it like a sparkling shell, spinning like a crazed pinwheel.
The beast crashed through several trees, bounced off a large rock, and landed in a heap, its legs flailing awkwardly.
"Ha! Nailed it first time!" Rui shouted with excitement, pumping her fist.
She stumbled slightly as the chaotic energy drained her strength.
"Wow, that was much stronger than I expected."
The smoke began to clear slowly, twisting in the air like ghostly snakes.
Jin stood firm, maintaining his protective barrier, and squinted through the haze.
Rui remained with her hands stretched out.
"Did I hit it?" she asked eagerly.
A sorrowful moan replied to her question. It wasn't the roar of a fierce beast but somewhat similar to the cry of a child.
The large creature they had prepared to face collapsed heavily onto the forest floor, its legs and arms stretched out in all four directions.
"That... doesn't sound like a threatening demon beast," Jin whispered.
Rui and Jin cautiously approached the creature lying in a shallow crater. It was still, but its large chest moved slowly as it breathed heavily.
The beast looked like a fox the size of a big horse. It had nine tails, each ending in small flames.
"Is it dead?" Rui asked quietly, leaning in.
"I don't think so," replied Jin.
Kee Kee scrambled towards the beast.
"Let me bite it," he declared, mouth opening to reveal rows of impossibly sharp teeth.
"One good chomp will tell us if it's faking."
"Kee Kee, no!" Rui said urgently, but the little demon pet swiftly ran towards the creature's large paw on his stumpy legs.
Just as Kee Kee bit the creature, its eyes shot open, revealing deep, swirling gold eyes.
In one swift motion, the creature stood up, its nine flaming tails spreading out behind it like a fiery halo.
Jin quickly pulled Rui back and created a protective barrier.
"Get back!" he urged.
Kee Kee scrambled back toward Rui, fur standing on end.
"That's not a normal demon beast!"
Rui's hands blazed with chaotic energy as she settled into a defensive stance.
"Neither am I."
The creature transformed before their eyes. Its reddish-brown fur disappeared, revealing smooth skin.
What had been frightening features now softened, and its claws retracted.
The large, beastly body shrank down. In place of the terrifying creature was a man, or more accurately, a demon in the form of a man.
"Is he... sparkling?" Jin asked, bewildered.
The figure lying on the ground was stunningly, unbelievably handsome.
His long orange hair spread across the forest floor like flowing fire. His face was a work of art—high cheekbones, a straight nose, and lips always hinting at mischief.
Behind him, nine fluffy fox tails spread out. The golden collar around his neck looked like expensive jewelry.
Rui stared in surprised. "No way.."