CHAPTER 59: MISSION LOCATION

The darkness of the night passed, giving way to the soft light of a new dawn.

The shadow of Astrid, motionless like a statue beside the bed, watched attentively the eyelids of Aziz, which trembled slightly — a sign that he would soon awaken from his deep sleep.

Without waiting another second, and with the same subtlety and mastery with which she had appeared there, she slowly merged back into his shadow, projected on the floor by the gentle magical light coming from an enchanted crystal placed near the bed.

Soon after, Aziz opened his eyes.

His awakening was slow, as if reality itself was still trying to break through the fog of sleep enveloping his mind. His blurry vision blinked softly while he yawned. Lazily, he leaned back against the headboard, still feeling the residual warmth of the blankets, although the room was empty and silent.

Instinctively, his eyes turned to the sides — right, left, as he always did upon waking. Only then did the memory strike him with a slight discomfort: it was the first time he had slept alone since he reincarnated into this world.

The absence of the soft, warm bodies of his mother and Isis, always cuddled close to him like guardians of an eternal dream, was strangely painful. Those delicate arms, those full breasts pressing against him naturally, the mature fragrance they exuded... all of this was part of his daily awakening. It was such an intimate comfort, so deeply rooted in his new being, that their absence made him feel incomplete.

And indeed he was.

"Haaaam..." — a long, lazy yawn escaped his lips. His eyes wandered over the bed, as if searching for traces of that familiar warmth that used to envelop him.

"Now that I’m awake, I won’t stay in bed like before..." — he murmured to himself, recognizing that if he remained there lying down, he would only increase his longing for his family.

With a resigned sigh, he got up.

Using a basic cleansing magic — one of the first his mother had taught him — he removed sweat, oiliness, and the weight of the night with a simple wave of his hand. Then, he carefully put on his armor, adjusting each piece with a familiarity that only time and training could bring.

He walked toward the living area, and as he passed by the compartment where Agnes and Liora were sleeping, he cast a brief glance inside.

The two were still asleep, hugging each other like sisters. Their tousled hair partially covered their faces and spread over the sheets, giving them an almost childlike tranquility. The scene brought a small smile to Aziz’s face.

Shaking his head slightly, he proceeded to the makeshift kitchen and took out the food his mother had prepared. He carefully prepared coffee, juice, and tea — not knowing exactly the preferences of his traveling companions, he decided to offer options.

Shortly after, while arranging the table for breakfast, he heard soft footsteps behind him.

"Good morning," he said without turning completely around, recognizing the light, wavering sounds of those still carrying the weight of sleep.

"Morning..." — Liora and Agnes responded in unison, their voices soft and sleepy.

Turning, Aziz smiled at them.

"Let’s eat now, so we can leave soon for our missions," he suggested, sitting down.

They both nodded and sat as well. Their sensitive noses sniffed the aromas of coffee, fruit, and herbal tea with evident satisfaction.

Breakfast proceeded quietly, with an almost familiar atmosphere. Between light comments and small smiles, the trio savored the food in respectful silence.

Soon after, they left the tent. Aziz activated his storage ability and efficiently put away the equipment.

They started walking down the road, exchanging discreet glances. The path was calm, without setbacks. They encountered only a few merchants, solitary adventurers, and small groups moving — nothing noteworthy.

Over time, their conversation turned to random topics: comments about monsters, speculation about upcoming system updates, jokes about Liora’s sleep, and some memories of intense training. It was just an attempt to pass the time — and it worked.

Then Aziz slowed his steps until he stopped completely.

The two, noticing, stopped as well.

He took the mission scroll from his storage space and carefully examined the map and instructions. He looked ahead, at a fork in the road — a path to the left and one to the right. After confirming the reference points, he nodded to himself and put the scroll away.

"What path are you taking? Mine is the one on the left. And yours?" he asked, looking at them.

Both opened their own scrolls. Liora was the first to respond:

"Ours is the path to the right," she said in a lower tone, as if processing that this was the point of separation.

"I see... So this is where we part ways, huh?" Aziz commented, trying to smile.

"Yes. It was nice fighting by your side. See you around," Liora replied, and before any more elaborate farewell could happen, she turned her back and started walking.

Aziz blinked, a little confused. Had he said something wrong?

"Don’t worry. She’s just not very good with goodbyes. But she definitely enjoyed fighting by your side. Just like I did," Agnes said softly, trying to calm him.

Aziz scratched his head, smiling with some embarrassment.

"It was a pleasure to meet you two and fight alongside you. Maybe next time we can go on a mission together. What do you think?" he said, extending his hand for a cordial handshake.

"The pleasure is ours. And yes, it would be great to do another mission together," Agnes replied, gently shaking his hand.

They stood like that for a few seconds. Their eyes silently met. Their hands almost intertwined. A suspended moment in the air.

Suddenly, Liora’s impatient voice broke the moment:

"COME ON, AGNES! DON’T BE LATE!"

Agnes blushed slightly and quickly withdrew her hand.

"So... goodbye. Be careful on your mission, Aziz. See you at the guild."

"You too. Good luck, and take care," he replied with a gentle smile.

Both nodded. Agnes ran to catch up with Liora, who waited with her arms crossed and a somewhat sulky expression.

Aziz watched the wolfkin’s silhouette disappear down the road. He took a deep breath.

Then, with calm steps, he turned and followed the left trail — the one leading to his mission’s destination.

The further he went, the more he noticed that this secondary road was little used. The grass grew along the edges, and the silence of the trees weighed heavily in the air.

After a while, he spotted a large wooden sign with symbols and inscriptions that exactly matched the information on the scroll.

An excited smile appeared on his lips.

He passed the sign, entering a trail lined with tall, ancient trees, forming a tunnel of shadows and filtered light. A magical forest, with leaves dancing in the air and soft sounds of creatures hidden among the branches.

However, what Aziz didn’t see — nor feel — was what activated the instant he crossed that mark.

Deep within that forest, inside an almost completely dark cave, illuminated only by colored crystals shimmering on the walls like sleeping eyes... two wild red eyes opened abruptly.

The creature growled.

"Grrrrhhhaaa..."

Its massive body rose on all fours, stretching like a feline after a long rest. Its joints cracked. Muscles rippled beneath its scaly skin.

The creature sniffed the air. It sensed a new invader. A new prey. Fresh meat.

With slow movements, it began to walk through the cave, with silent, firm steps. This was its home. Its territory. And no one passed there unnoticed.

No one.

---

The rhythmic sound of his own footsteps was Aziz’s only companion on that narrow, silent path. The trail, flanked by ancient trees, seemed to stretch endlessly, as if testing him — not physically, but internally.

The light filtering through the treetops created soft patterns on the ground. The scent of damp leaves, moss, and living earth filled his lungs with each deep breath. It was a primitive, wild aroma that seemed to whisper ancient forgotten stories.

He felt alone. Not lonely, but fully alone — not counting the presence of the system, of course.

And somehow, that was good.

Without the voices of Agnes or Liora filling the space, without the comfort of the familiar presence of his mother or Isis, Aziz now heard something he had almost forgotten: the sound of himself.

He felt the weight of the armor on his shoulders. The soft clinking of his equipment with each step. The steady beating of his heart — strong, determined.

His eyes scanned the edges of the road, now barely distinguishable from the forest floor. In some places, the grass rose high, as if trying to swallow the forgotten trail. There, nature reigned. And he was just another intruder.

He stopped for a moment.

Closed his eyes.

Breathed deeply.

And a smile bloomed again on his face.

Not out of arrogance or blind confidence.

But for being exactly where he should be from the start of the mission.

Alone.

At the beginning of something greater.

In the distance, a branch snapped.

Aziz did not move.

He simply opened his eyes and continued walking — one step at a time, as if answering a silent call from the forest.

Unaware that, in the shadows ahead, something ancient had already awakened.

And waited like a predator ready to finish its prey.