Alfie and Elijah burst through the front door of their home, their feet thudding against the wooden floor.
"Big brother, where did you and Elijah go?" Marcus asked, rubbing his sleepy eyes as he wandered toward the door.
"Go back inside, Marcus!" Alfie said urgently. "You and Elijah must stay here. Hide under the bed—and take this." He handed Elijah a small knife. "Don't open the door for anyone unless it's Papa, Mama, or me. Got it?"
Marcus looked frightened, but Elijah took the knife with a firm nod. "What are you going to do, big brother?" Elijah asked, his voice trembling.
"I'm going to find Mama. I'm sure she was taken by those darkside spirits. I can't just sit here and wait while she's in danger," Alfie replied, gripping the handle of his sword tightly.
"I'm coming with you!" Elijah said, stepping forward.
"That's impossible. I'm going alone. I can't put either of you in danger. Papa's already missing, now Mama—if something happens to me too, you two need to survive," Alfie said firmly, stepping outside.
"Lock the door behind me," he added. "And stay hidden."
Elijah's eyes filled with tears. "Promise you'll come back. Please… you and Mama, both."
Alfie smiled, trying to sound braver than he felt. "Don't cry, Eli. We'll come back. I promise."
Elijah nodded slowly and locked the door.
Alfie turned and sprinted toward the distant cliffs, his heart pounding harder with every step.
"This will be my first time crossing the cliff," he muttered. "Whatever's out there, I'm ready."
As he approached the rocky edge, a man came stumbling toward him from the opposite direction, bleeding and panicked.
"Kid, where are you going? You don't know what's out there!" the man shouted.
"I know exactly what's out there. My mother. And I'm going to save her," Alfie answered without stopping.
"You fool! Go die with her then!" the man barked, disappearing into the town.
Alfie didn't care. He crossed the narrow pass and came to a halt at the edge of a vast, ominous forest that stretched beyond sight.
"So this is it... The Cliffside Forest."
Drawing his sword, Alfie charged in.
"Mama! Mama, where are you?" he shouted again and again as he ran deeper into the woods.
No answer. Only the rustling of trees and his own frantic breathing. Minutes passed, then hours—he wasn't sure anymore. He didn't even know which way he came from.
"Great... I'm lost," he whispered, chest heaving. "I don't know where I am... I don't know how to find Mama..."
Suddenly, a scream tore through the silence.
A young girl's voice. She was running—straight toward him.
"What's a kid doing out here alone?" Alfie said, rushing toward the sound.
He reached a clearing just as she stumbled into view—a girl about his age, bruised and trembling.
"They're coming! The monsters—they ate my papa and brother! They're coming after me!" she cried, throwing herself into his arms.
"Easy! You're safe now. Follow me," Alfie said, grabbing her hand. Together, they ran into a small cave he had noticed earlier.
Inside, they collapsed to the ground, catching their breath.
"Thanks for the help," the girl said at last. "And stop calling me 'kid.' We're the same age."
"Is that how you thank your savior? You must be a stubborn one," Alfie said, chuckling despite the fear gripping him.
The girl's face twisted in anger. "My father and brother were just eaten by darkside spirits! And you think I'm in a mood to joke?"
Her eyes welled up with tears. "My mother died to them too… Now I'm all alone."
"I'm sorry," Alfie said softly. "I don't know what it's like to lose someone yet… That's why I'm here. To make sure I don't."
He stood up. "Stay in this cave. I'm going to find my mother."
But the girl grabbed his arm. "Wait. I'm coming with you. You saved my life. I owe you."
"You can fight?" Alfie asked, raising an eyebrow.
"A little. I can use Renshi."
Alfie scratched his head. "Uh… well… I don't actually use Renshi. I just forged this sword yesterday. I don't really know how to fight."
The girl blinked in disbelief. "You mean… you came into this forest—alone—against darkside spirits—without knowing how to fight ?"
you should better stop playing hero.
"I'm not playing hero. I'm just trying to get my mother back," Alfie replied, eyes determined. "If you're not going to help, just stay here."
"You're insane," she muttered. Then her lips curved into a small smile. "Insane… but kind of amazing. Alright. I'm coming too."
"Keep up, then. I'm not slowing down," Alfie said as they raced out of the cave.
They plunged deeper into the forest together, side by side.
"Mama! Mama, where are you?!" Alfie called again.
His voice echoed through the trees.
This time, something answered.
But it wasn't human.
A low growl rippled through the forest.
The real battle was about to begin.