Kana stirred awake, her lashes fluttering as she turned her head. The ceiling above her was unfamiliar, plain wood framed by beams, and her heart lurched.

Panic shot through her chest as she pushed herself upright, the blanket falling to her lap.

She was alone. The room carried the faint smell of herbs and smoke, but no voices, no reassuring presence.

Her breath quickened.

'Where are they? Where's Lysera? Irielle? Did Rimeru—'

She threw the blanket aside and stumbled out of bed, her legs wobbling.

The ache running through her limbs screamed of exhaustion, yet her feet carried her toward the door.

"Stop."

The firm voice caught her mid-step, and Kana turned sharply. Lysera leaned against the wall by the window, arms crossed, her eyes narrowed in warning.

"You shouldn't be moving like this. Relax. Your body's in bad shape. You burned too much power recklessly."

Lysera said, pushing away from the wall. She stepped closer and gently pressed Kana's shoulders back.

But Kana shook her head, refusing to heed her words.

"Where's Irielle? Where is she? Did she—"

"I'm here."

The voice, soft but steady, rose from the other side of the room.

Kana turned her head and found Irielle sitting up on another bed, a faint smile curling her lips despite the bandages wrapped around her arms.

"I'm fine. See? Still alive."

Irielle reassured, lifting one hand in a slow wave.

The tension gripping Kana's chest finally unraveled. She sagged back onto the bed with a shaky breath.

Relief warmed her eyes, and for a fleeting moment she wondered if this was nothing but a dream. All of them alive, in the same room, breathing.

"This isn't a dream."

A new voice cut in.

Kana startled and turned toward the doorway. Rose walked in gracefully, her steps deliberate, her gaze calm.

The sight of her, so suddenly here again, sent a flush of heat creeping across Kana's cheeks.

"Rose… why are you here?"

Kana asked, voice faltering.

Rose tilted her head as if the answer was obvious.

"Because I saved you."

Kana blinked. Slowly, fragments of memory returned—the burning grip of the goddess, the golden eyes, the light that had snatched them away. Her heart skipped a beat.

"You… it really was you."

Her voice came out in a whisper.

Rose's lips curved slightly.

"It was."

"But… why? Why would you save me? You made an enemy out of the wolf goddess by doing that."

Kana pressed.

For the first time, Rose's expression shifted, softening into something unreadable. She crossed the floor and set a hand lightly on the foot of Kana's bed.

"You don't need to worry about why right now. I'll tell you soon, but first, you need to focus on the danger in front of us. The wolf goddess has returned, and her presence alone threatens this world. If she's not stopped, everything will be consumed."

Rose said.

Kana lowered her gaze, fists curling into the blanket. The truth of those words sat heavy in her chest.

Rose straightened, her gaze moving between the three girls.

"To combat her, you'll need help. The temple must be involved."

At that, Lysera shook her head quickly.

"That's not going to work."

"Why not?"

Kana asked, looking at her in confusion.

"The temple and the elves…They don't interfere with one another. It's an old agreement. An unspoken law. The temple won't get involved in this. They'll turn us away before we can even explain."

Lysera paused, her lips pressing together before she sighed.

Irielle gave a bitter laugh from her bed.

"She's right. The temple will see this as their problem, not ours. And they'll wash their hands of it."

Rose's expression did not falter. She folded her arms, her voice steady.

"Leave that to me. You only need to reach the temple and find a high priestess. I'll handle the rest."

The trio exchanged uneasy glances, but Rose's tone left no room for argument.

"…Fine. If that's what it takes, then we'll do it."

Kana said finally, her voice quiet but firm.

Lysera sighed and shook her head again, but there was no protest this time. Irielle leaned back into her pillow, closing her eyes, as if conserving her strength.

Rose studied them all one last time before she inclined her head.

"Good. Rest tonight. At dawn, you'll leave."

The next morning, Kana pulled her cloak tight around her shoulders, her body still weak but steadier than the day before.

Lysera moved efficiently, packing their few belongings, while Irielle adjusted her sleeves with slow, careful movements.

None of them spoke much; the weight of their next step pressed too heavily on them.

When the sun's first rays stretched across the horizon, the trio departed the inn quietly. They left behind a pouch of coins on the bedside table—a payment for their stay, and perhaps a small gesture of thanks.

Kana glanced back at the room one last time before pulling the door shut.

"Let's go."

The three of them slipped into the morning streets, their figures swallowed quickly by the awakening town.

Some time later, the innkeeper came upstairs to check on the guests. He rapped lightly on the door before opening it, expecting to find the young women still asleep.

But the room was empty.

The beds were neatly made, the air quiet, as though no one had stayed there at all. His eyes caught on the pouch of coins resting on the table.

He opened it slowly, and his brows rose at the generous amount left inside.

"…They're gone?"

He muttered under his breath, glancing around again.

No trace of the girls remained. No belongings, no signs of their hurried departure. Only the money, gleaming faintly in the morning light.

The innkeeper sighed and shook his head, pocketing the pouch.

"Strange travelers these days…"

He shut the door softly, unaware that Rose, too, had left earlier that dawn, vanishing on her own path before the trio had even stepped out into the streets.

By the time he checked, every last one of them was already gone.

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