[You have defeated a Growing Yeti!]
[You have earned 50 Experience Points!]
"50? That's it?"
[Experience Points are calculated based on the difference between your Rank and that of the Defeated.]
"Ha! So that's how it works now, huh?"
Mark looked at the Growing Yeti for a bit.
"I don't hate it." He whispered, before lowing his body towards it.
With a touch, the Monster's body was turned into a sphere of blue energy.
'I'm guessing the color has to do something with the Magic Type used by the Monster, right?'
[Your Title "Devourer" nods.]
Gulp-
Mark swallowed the sphere.
The next second, he felt his body temperature dropping.
[You have acquired the Magic Skill "Freezing Mist[D-]".]
'That's what I'm talking about.'
[Your Title "Evolving Monster" chuckles.]
Mark looked around for a second.
'What was it again...? Oh.'
He walked towards the spike of bones he had planted into the ground earlier.
'Should be facing the right way.'
Mark took a step in their direction before stopping.
He dropped to the ground and lay his hands on the cold snow.
'That was a good fight. But not good enough... Not after...'
Mark thought about Zephyr.
The image of Raven passed through his mind, immediately making him shiver.
'Tsk. That kind of strength... I don't even know how to describe it. Felt like just being in his presence was enough to stop me from breathing. Like a look could be enough to kill me...'
Mark scratched his head.
'I have to grow stronger. Much stronger...'
[Your Title "Evolving Monster" nods.]
[Your Title "Devourer" nods.]
'I spilled a whole lot of blood to get here...' He slowly stood up. 'And I'll have to spill much, much more.'
Mark grabbed the spike of bone.
'But I won't let my path full of blood...' He pulled it out of the ground. 'Dirty your white fur, or her ashen hair any longer.'
Once again, there was no sound, except that of the wind.
'I couldn't leave you back then. I was prepared to do so. I was about to, but...'
Once again, he walked through the blizzard.
'You cried. When I left you in that hole, your howls made me come back for you. Because you didn't simply join me to survive. I was ready to let you be free. But your cries brought me back... Your cries... Though... That's over now. You don't and won't cry anymore, because she will be there for you. And I'll be free to...'
Some time later,
"Finally. You almost had us worried." Elisa said without standing up.
She was seated, her back against the same tree she had slept below.
"The..." Mark whispered.
"The what?"
"The Elven Forest. That's where you're going, right?"
Elisa was taken aback by the subject being brought up suddenly.
"Yes...?"
"What kind of place is it?" Mark asked as he walked closer.
"Mm. It's a forest, obviously. A beautiful forest different from any-" Elisa was interrupted by the sudden headache.
"Is it safe there?"
"Safe?" Elisa massaged her forehead. "Yes... I guess."
Once he was about ten steps away, Mark collapsed on the ground.
"Huh... Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Just... Need to rest a bit."
'Mmm...' Elisa thought silently for a bit.
"What brought this on?"
"This?"
"The Elven Forest."
"That's where we're going, isn't it?"
"Huh? It is?"
"Yeah."
"Oh... Alright... I mean, good. Okay. Would've been tough getting there alone, I guess."
"Where is it?"
"In the Rift. Between Pride and Lust. Well, outside the two. So outside the... Separation? Yeah."
"We can't keep going through."
"Would be better not to. The Rift changes a lot depending on where you are. Blizzards, Deserts, lands covered by lava-"
"How do you know that?"
"I don't know exactly. I just know."
"Ever been there?" To those other places of the Rift?"
"I-" She massaged her forehead. "No. Haven't been. Just heard about them."
Mark nodded.
He lay for a couple more seconds before pushing himself off the ground and taking five steps to his left.
He sat down on the snow, and reached forward with both hands.
Purr-
Elisa was surprised.
'First time I've seen him go to her, and not the opposite...'
Mark held the Moonlit Feline with both hands.
He let himself fall back on the snow.
'To a peaceful place... A place where she's called Princess. Where she's recognized and treated as such... I'll do my best to get her there. And then-'
"So you're going through with my Request."
"Yeah."
"Well, I can't promise that I'll do the same with yours, but I'll hear you out."
Mark stared at the Moonlit Feline's crystal clear eyes for a bit.
"No..."
"No?"
"I'll tell you about it... Once we get there."
"Mm... Suit yourself."
'She's the only one I can count on to do it, so...' Mark stood up while keeping the Moonlit Feline in his hands.
He walked towards Elisa.
Closer.
Closer.
"What?" The seated Elisa asked as she moved her body back.
She hated having anyone towering above her.
"Take care of her." Mark said as he handed her the Moonlit Feline.
"Uh... Sure... Didn't you just come back though?"
"Mm." Mark nodded. He stepped back.
'To a place where she's a Princess... Yeah. I'll help her get there. She likes you a lot. So I'm sure she won't say no... When I ask her...'
Both Elisa and Krista stared at him.
He stood, unmoving, while looking at them.
"You seem... More cheerful than usual?"
"Do I?"
Slender arms were wrapped around Mark's neck.
Her chin lay on his shoulder.
No one could see her.
No one could sense her presence there.
Not even Mark.
But she was definitely there, with her arms around his neck, her chin on his shoulder, and a smile on her face.
"Yes? I think so?"
"I guess I just... Have a clearer vision for the future."
"Glad you find being my Knight a suitable future." Krista lay a hand on Elisa's chin. "What? Our Knight? Bfahahaha!"
'The two of you together... In a place where she is Princess...'
The arms wrapped around his neck faded.
'That's what I want for you...'
She faded away.
'For the two of you...' Mark's body fell backward.
"HEY! ARE YOU...?"
Elisa was about to stand up when,
"Oh."
Zzzz-
Elisa and Krista exchanged looks.
"He's asleep."
