Chapter 68: lovers' Quarrel
Chapter 68: lovers' Quarrel
Elfie, however, was a different story.
While the others were caught up in their own dramas, she took the opportunity to soak in her surroundings, her sharp eyes scanning the landscape with a sense of curiosity.
Despite her familiarity with forests back in her world, there was something exhilarating about exploring a new area.
Back then, she had always been a part of her master's hunting party, traversing the wilderness with a keen eye and steady hand.
But here, in this strange land, she was like a child in a candy store, drinking in every sight and sound with a sense of wonder.
The rustle of the leaves, the chirping of the birds—it was all music to her ears.
To nock an arrow, to hold her breath as she drew it back, her keen eyes locked on the target's beating heart—that was what made Elfie feel truly alive.
She was an archer, and not just any archer, but the best of the best.
Hunting prey that ran on four legs was challenging, sure, but it never quite gave her the thrill she craved.
No, the real thrill came from hunting prey that ran on two legs, the ones that could think and fear, that sent adrenaline surging through her veins.
Her bow hung from her shoulder, always ready for action.
The quiver at her hip was full of arrows, each one carefully crafted for the hunt.
She couldn't wait for her next target.
In her mind, she envisioned her prey dashing through the green fields, screaming and stumbling in a desperate attempt to escape.
She could almost feel the smooth shaft of an arrow between her fingers, nocking it with practiced ease.
Her aim was flawless, the arrowhead pointed at the legs of her prey.
She imagined the satisfying thud as the arrow found its mark, the prey collapsing to the ground, shrieking as blood gushed from the wound.
Even then, they would try to crawl away, driven by a fierce will to survive.
Their resilience only made the hunt more thrilling for her.
The sight of her prey struggling, their spirit unbroken despite the pain, was a scene she very much liked.
And then, a sudden idea lit up in her mind like a spark.
What if the prey was on horseback?
Now that would be a real challenge.
Even if she managed to wound them, the added element of the horse would keep things interesting.
A wounded rider could still fight back, could still push their mount to speed away.
The thought of tracking a fleeing rider, aiming for just the right moment to bring them down, sent a thrill of excitement through her.
'Yes, a rider would be the ultimate prey.'
"How long do you think it will take us to reach Night Shade's Labyrinth, Sable-san?"
Alwyn called out as he nudged his horse forward, trying to catch up to Sable.
But his path was immediately blocked by her fiancé, Maximus, who rolled his eyes at the question, clearly unimpressed.
Maximus's presence was like a brick wall, and Alwyn couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration as he reined in his horse, forced to keep his distance.
"We're at the entrance of the Evershade Forest, Alwyn-kun. It's said that the Night Shade—or Night Shades—are hiding at the center of the forest."
Sable replied cheerfully, glancing back over her shoulder.
As she did, Kaisen took the opportunity to steal a long, lingering look at her bouncing breasts.
The sight sent a rush of heat through him, fueling his fantasies.
He imagined the day he would ravage her, making her scream and beg for more.
'Soon...very soon...'
"We still don't know what we're dealing with, do we?"
This time it was Lloyd who spoke up.
He was genuinely interested in their enemy, knowing that the information they had was vague at best.
There wasn't a scrap of record about the beast anywhere, and that uncertainty gnawed at him.
Plus, there was the added complication of not even knowing which version of the game they were in.
If it was the version from their world, then Night Shade was definitely a villain.
But if this was one of the other versions... well, in that case, they might just be the enemies themselves.
"Nope, that's about all we've got. All we know is that whatever we're dealing with poses a grave threat to our kingdom. And it's directly tied to the eclipse cycle."
As the wind tousled her hair, causing it to sway seductively, Kaisen couldn't tear his eyes away.
The sight of her, framed by the swirling breeze, sent a jolt of desire straight to his cock, making it twitch like a worm.
"We're not entirely sure about that part, though. It's all just speculation from the Queen."
Maximus chimed in.
Glancing back, Kaisen noticed an unusual expression on the knight's face, a hint of discomfort or perhaps even disapproval.
It seemed like Maximus wasn't too thrilled about the mission after all.
Sable shot a quick glance back at her fiancé, her brow furrowing with concern, before turning her attention forward again.
Sable glanced back at her fiancé for a moment, her eyes filled with strain, before she shouted back at him.
"If the Queen says whatever entity is hiding in the forest is dangerous, then it is dangerous. There's no room for doubt. Doubt will get you killed!"
With a swift motion, she whipped her head forward again, pulling hard on the reins to urge her stallion into a gallop, leaving Maximus behind in a cloud of dust.
'What the fuck was that?'
Kaisen's eyes lingered on Sable's swaying ass for a moment before he shifted his gaze back to the knight.
The guy looked downright lost, like he'd rather be anywhere else than on this damn mission.
He had this look, you know?
Like he was questioning everything, like he didn't buy into this whole Night Shade business.
It was written all over his face, clear as day.
'Don't fuck it up now, man. This is a perfect plan to eliminate a vermin and you wanna do this now? Fucking right now?'