Lucas was still hanging in the sticky web. His breathing was shallow and ragged. His vision blurred. The world around him felt distant, like he was peering through thick fog. But his ears… they could still catch faint sounds—sounds that were beginning to change.
Light, quick, rhythmic footsteps. Not the steps of a spider monster. These were different—more alive, more fluid. Yet still cautious.
Then… silence.
For a moment, all he could hear was the pounding of his own heart.
And then, everything happened at once.
ZRAKK!
The sound of metal slicing through air. A loud crash. A sharp screech from some creature. Inhuman screams echoed off the cavern walls. A large body slammed against the ground. A small explosion—maybe a spell, maybe just a burst of energy. Lucas couldn't tell.
He shut his eyes tightly, trying to brace against the pain searing through his entire body. He couldn't see what was happening, but he could feel it—heat, tremors in the ground, shifts in air pressure with every blast or impact.
One final, drawn-out scream signaled the end of the chaos. Then, silence returned.
Lucas gasped for breath, his eyes fluttering open. Everything was still blurry, but he could sense it—something had changed. The air was calmer now, yet somehow… unfamiliar. Different.
Then, he heard it.
A woman's voice.
Cold. Sharp. Not shouting, not rushed. Just a quiet murmur, clear in the stillness.
"Tch… Pathetic."
Lucas held his breath. Who was that? It didn't sound like an enemy—but it wasn't friendly either.
Light footsteps approached, slow but deliberate.
Then, the sharp sound of a dagger slicing through webbing.
Lucas's body dropped. He hit the ground hard, his back slamming against rough stone. The pain sent stars exploding behind his eyes.
He looked up, trying to see who was there—but the dim cave light offered little help. He could only make out a silhouette: a slim figure, long hair, and… pointed ears. An elf?
"Th-thank… you…" Lucas managed to say, his voice weak. But before he could fully lose consciousness, something unexpected happened—the elf kicked him in the head.
That was the last thing he saw before everything went black.
"Hah… I've wanted to do that for a long time. Stupid bastard." the elf muttered, not entirely sure if saving Lucas had been the right choice… or a terrible mistake.
---
In the quiet darkness, Lucas drifted—lost, weightless. His body felt as if it no longer belonged to the real world. The mocking voices and beastly snarls that had tormented him were gone, replaced by a strange calm—like sinking into the deep, silent sea.
Then, from afar, a gentle green light emerged, piercing through the heavy fog surrounding him. Slowly, the light took shape—a beautiful elf woman with flowing hair, glowing eyes, and a look of deep concern. Though her face wasn't fully clear, Lucas could feel the warmth radiating from her.
She knelt beside him and touched his cheek with a hand that felt warm, yet light—almost like a dream.
"You're going to be alright now," she whispered, her voice soft as the breeze.
Lucas's eyes snapped open.
He stared at a wooden ceiling above him, gasping for breath as if he'd been yanked out of another world. At the same time, he realized the bed beneath him was shaking slightly, as if moving over a bumpy road.
A small child's face came into view, staring at him with wide, curious eyes. Lucas blinked a few times, trying to separate dream from reality.
"What the hell was that dream…?"
The last thing he remembered before passing out was the elf's kick to his head. He vaguely recalled her insulting him, too.
'Why the hell would I dream of her as gentle and kind after that?'
Lucas slowly sat up, examining his body and surroundings. He felt fine. Completely fine. All his wounds were gone. Even the venom that had been eating away at him—gone, without a trace.
'Did that elf… actually heal me? Why?' he wondered, baffled.
He wasn't sure how to feel about receiving kindness from a stranger—especially an elf, a race known for their hostility toward humans.
"Young man, are you alright?"
The voice made him finally notice the others around him. One look was enough—these were just ordinary people. Probably merchants or fellow passengers on a traveling wagon.
The little girl who had been watching him ran over to an old woman sitting in the corner. So it had been her voice just now.
"I think… I'm alright now," Lucas replied hesitantly. He still wasn't sure if this was really happening.
"How did I get here? Did any of you see an elf?" he asked, looking between the old woman and the others.
The old woman didn't answer right away. She just gave a small smile and looked out the window at the trees rolling by.
"You don't know?" a stocky man in his mid-twenties stepped up, surprised.
Lucas shook his head.
"We found you lying in the middle of the road, so we brought you along. At first, we thought you were dead. But when we checked, you were still breathing. What happened to you? Were you attacked? You mentioned an elf earlier—don't tell me she was the one who robbed you? Damn elves—"
The man rattled on, barely giving Lucas a chance to respond.
'So that's what happened,' Lucas thought, sighing to himself.
'But… who is she, really? Why would she go out of her way to save me? And even heal me?'
"Are you even listening?" the man asked, noticing Lucas zoning out.
"Yes. Thank you for explaining," Lucas replied curtly.
"So, what—"
Before the man could finish, Lucas raised his voice to speak to everyone in the wagon.
"Thank you for taking me with you. If it weren't for you, I don't know what would've happened to me."
One by one, the people turned toward him and smiled warmly. Some gave small nods, as if to say they were glad he was alright.
"It's only right to help a fellow human in need," said a middle-aged man sitting near the door. His clothes were simple but neat. "You don't need to thank us. What matters is you're awake and looking better."
"We've all been through hard times," added a young woman, gently patting his shoulder.
"Yeah, if I were in your place, I'd hope someone would help me too," the burly man chimed in again, this time with a friendlier grin.
Lucas looked at each of them. No trace of suspicion or hidden motives in their eyes—just sincerity and warmth. After nearly dying and being left with so many unanswered questions, it felt oddly comforting to be surrounded by ordinary people.
He nodded slowly.
"Then… would it be alright if I traveled with you for a while?"