Mystical Fantasy : The Analogi

The air thundered with howls and roars.

Trees trembled as a horde of beasts stormed from the darkness like a flood. Dozens of bloodthirsty monsters, their eyes glowing crimson, surged from every direction—some with six legs and double jaws, others like serpentine creatures with metallic scales slithering in frenzy.

Amidst the siege stood five scattered figures—an A-ranked adventurer party, now trapped in the black heart of the Forbidden Forest. Their bodies were battered, breaths ragged, and mana almost depleted.

They were on the brink of collapse.

"This isn't a Level B threat! It's Level A!!" Jovan gritted his teeth as he parried a beast with his cracked sword.

"Behind us!!" Marsha yelled, her hand ablaze. "Fire Column!"

A pillar of fire incinerated two beasts—but one slipped past from the side, slashing across her arm.

"ARGH!!"

Alice twisted her body. "Earth Shield!"

A wall of soil rose instantly, blocking the follow-up strike. But her breathing was shallow. Her Entra reserves were nearly gone.

"...There's too many of them..." she muttered. Her small hands trembled.

Standing in the rear, Erik clutched a heavy pack filled with cores and artifacts, panic all over his face. "Alice! Your Entra—?!"

"I can still fight! Just keep your distance!" Alice snapped, raising one hand.

"Earth Golem!"

The ground shook. A golem emerged—half its usual size, fragile and unstable. But still enough to knock aside two charging beasts.

"Where's our support?!" Derek barked, blood trailing from his side. "If we don't get this under control, we're all dead!"

"Derek, shut up!" Jovan shot back. "Look around! We're surrounded. Now's not the time to blame each other!"

Alice's golem crumbled.

Marsha collapsed, her breathing erratic, her arms twitching from overcasting fire spells.

Alice herself nearly fell. "I… need… to recharge…"

But time had run out.

More beasts approached. Five. Seven. Nine. The ground trembled beneath their steps.

"At this rate—we're all…" Jovan's eyes sharpened, turning to Erik. "You still got those cores?!"

"I've got plenty!" Erik replied.

"How many teleport scrolls are left?!"

"All destroyed! The beasts' attacks were too vicious!"

"We need to retreat!" Marsha shouted, panic in her eyes.

"…We're falling back," Jovan said. "I'll create a blast to distract them. Then run—full speed."

Everyone fell silent. Then nodded.

"Fire Magic: Flare Burst."

Marsha released a minor explosion, drawing the beasts' attention.

And with that—they ran.

But two lagged behind. Marsha and Alice.

Both were completely drained from overusing Entra—and being magicians, they lacked physical endurance. Jovan didn't hesitate and picked Marsha up. Derek, on the other hand, carried Erik—the gear carrier.

Erik knew the terrain and held crucial equipment. As a potter-class support, he was no fighter. Derek prioritized him.

"Wait! What about Alice?! You're supposed to save her!" Erik protested, thrashing in Derek's grip.

"Shut it. She's a strong mage. Just pray that the girl you like survives," Derek snapped.

Far behind, Alice dropped to her knees—her energy utterly spent. She stared at her fading party and clenched her teeth in despair. They left her. Her heart sank, but she didn't have time to feel it. The beasts were closing in. She had to act.

"Sorry, Alice! Tactical decision!!" Jovan yelled as he disappeared into the trees, carrying Marsha.

Derek paused—then ran after them.

"Erik!!" Alice cried out, looking at the friend she trusted most.

Erik froze. Guilt tore across his face.

She was alone now.

The beasts drew near. Their breath heavy. Jaws wide.

No golems. No shields.

"Is this… the end?" she whispered, her body shaking.

A roar split the air. Claws slashed.

Alice raised a trembling hand—her Entra almost gone. She closed her eyes.

Far away, Erik's scream echoed.

"Aliceeeeeee!!"

CRAASSHH!!

Something smashed into the earth. A beast was sent flying—its blood spraying midair.

Alice opened her eyes.

A silver-haired girl stood before her, eyes cold, her ears twitching in the wind. Her presence was not ordinary. Her steps were assured.

Ravyn.

The beasts charged again. But in mere seconds—each one was slain. Precise. Brutal. Silent. Without chants. Without mercy.

Alice could only watch, breathless. One thought echoed in her mind:

Who is this woman...?

Ravyn remained calm, blood dripping from her blades. She raised her head.

Above—on the tallest branch—stood a figure in black.

Zeo.

He exhaled slowly.

"I told you… don't play around when you fight."

---

Alice's body collapsed.

Her wounds and exhaustion dragged her into unconsciousness. Blood soaked the ground beneath her. Her breathing… faint.

Ravyn stood atop the corpse of a bisected beast. Her gaze still sharp, scanning for threats.

"They really left her behind," she muttered.

Zeo landed beside her.

He looked at Alice's face—and froze.

His eyes widened slightly.

That face...

The jawline. Small nose. Subtle brows and lips...

Kaira?

No... Not her.

But the resemblance was haunting. Alice looked like a younger version of Kaira. Her body was smaller, doll-like… but her features—

Identical.

Zeo stood still. Conflict clouded his eyes.

He reached out, gently lifting the girl in his arms. Her messy hair fell over her face—he brushed it away with care.

Ravyn scowled from the side.

"Master. Are you bringing her with us?"

Zeo said nothing.

Ravyn huffed, turning away. "Hmph… Do as you please."

They leapt into the trees. Leaves rustled as they vanished through the forest—heading back toward the shrouded mist that guarded their hidden sanctuary.

Zeo's eyes never left Alice's sleeping face. Not a word left his lips.

---

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the forest…

The remaining four—Jovan, Derek, Marsha, and Erik—finally reached safe ground. A highland ridge, free from beasts and dark energy.

Jovan collapsed, panting. "We made it…"

Marsha sat beside him, trembling. Her clothes torn. Jovan immediately took off his cloak and draped it over her shoulders with care.

"You did great, Marsha," he said softly, admiring her. "Without you, we wouldn't have survived."

Marsha smiled weakly. "Thanks… I was just lucky."

Derek stumbled over, leaning on a rock. He rubbed his bleeding shoulder. "One casualty. Not bad for a mission this level."

Erik glared at him. "You're talking about Alice like she doesn't matter."

Derek shrugged. "Death's part of adventuring. Don't be a crybaby. Just pray she's still breathing."

Jovan nodded slowly. "She's strong. Maybe… she made it."

Then he turned back to Marsha, wiping dirt from her cheek. "You must be exhausted… Rest now."

Erik watched from afar. His eyes narrowed.

No one was thinking about Alice.

Even after everything… she was left behind.

He clenched his fists.

He knew how hard she fought for them all. And yet, in the end…

She was abandoned.

And it hurt.

Erik turned his gaze toward the forest—the deep, monstrous black swallowing everything like a nightmare. In silence, he whispered to himself:

I'm sorry, Alice…

---

Elsewhere, beneath the golden glow of the setting sun peeking through the mist…

Zeo walked slowly. He reached the boundary of the magical fog, where the air grew so thick it blurred vision.

Alice still slept in his arms. Her breathing was slow—but steady.

Ravyn moved ahead, clearing a path through the fog. Her ears twitched. Her mouth curled downward.

"I thought this place was just for the two of us, Master."

Zeo didn't reply.

But his gaze never left Alice's face. His eyes... like he was watching a ghost from his past. His chest heavy.

How could this be…?

He kept walking—carrying Alice deep into a world that should not have let her in so easily.