“This place is absolutely drenched in magic... Are you sure about this, old man?”

The voice came from a young mage walking beside Devon, the leader of the group. In his early twenties, with long hair that gave him the appearance of a bard, he exuded a youthful curiosity that contrasted with his older companion's calm demeanor.

Despite the 20-year age gap, the two had developed a strong camaraderie, an unlikely but genuine friendship.

“You’ve asked that question a dozen times already,” Devon grumbled, shooting the young man—Ivanka—a sharp look.

Though he seemed annoyed, Devon eventually sighed and responded. “It’s simple. Either it’s safe, or we’re walking straight into our deaths. I already explained this before we set out.”

The rest of the group remained silent, their nerves taut as they focused on the path ahead.

They had entered the so-called "Forbidden Zone." Though the environment appeared ordinary, the oppressive silence and the dense magical energy hanging in the air left no doubt that they were in a perilous place.

By now, turning back wasn’t an option. Until they acquired the Purple Spirit Grass, the only way forward was… well, forward.

Tension hung in the air as they pressed on. An hour passed without incident, but the absence of danger felt more unsettling than reassuring.

An older mage in the group, who was roughly Devon’s age, hesitated as he caught his breath. “It’s strange… no creatures at all so far. But we haven’t seen any Purple Spirit Grass either.”

The others nodded in agreement. While their uneventful progress was a relief, the lack of their target plant was beginning to breed impatience.

Devon, however, remained calm and composed. “We’re close,” he said in a steady voice. “The magic concentration back there was slightly weaker. We should find what we’re looking for soon.”

Sure enough, not long after, they stumbled upon a patch of Purple Spirit Grass.

The quantity they saw would set them up for life.

Still, seasoned adventurers as they were, they showed no outward excitement. Instead, their movements slowed as they crept toward their prize, inch by cautious inch.

“Cough.”

The sudden sound froze all five in their tracks. Instantly, they spun toward the source, weapons drawn, hearts racing.

Standing a short distance away was a black-haired girl, her crimson eyes unblinking as she stared at them with an expression of quiet curiosity.

A quick magical scan revealed nothing unusual. She appeared to have no magical energy at all—like an ordinary human.

But none of them were foolish enough to believe that. Whatever this “girl” was, she radiated an unmistakable sense of danger.

The standoff stretched for several tense moments before Devon exchanged a glance with his teammates and stepped forward.

Sheathing his sword, he raised his hands, palms open, in a gesture of peace, and began walking slowly toward the figure.

The “girl” remained still, her scarlet eyes watching his approach, her expression unreadable.

“Greetings. We’re human adventurers exploring this area. We mean no harm,” Devon said, his raspy voice steady and respectful.

The girl’s lips curved into a small smile. When Devon drew closer, she asked, “What year is it?”

“Year 249 of Aestrelia,” he replied without hesitation.

Year 249 of Aestrelia... The name triggered a memory. Aestrelia was the name of a human king. When she had first arrived at the Northern Abyss, it had been Year 221 of the Aestrelian calendar.

The black-haired, crimson-eyed girl was, of course, Aino—the same being who had descended upon the wilderness nearly three decades ago.

The appointed date was less than two years away. Aino’s internal clock seemed to be perfectly aligned with the passage of time.

Over the years, Aino hadn’t spent all her time sleeping. She had occupied herself in the way a black dragon might.

Sometimes, she delved into magical training, losing herself in enlightenment for months or even years. Other times, she found a comfortable spot to nap, waking only to discover how much time had passed.

When boredom struck, she shifted into her smaller, human-like form and roamed regions teeming with monsters, observing the survival of the fittest in action.

Time flew by. Now, with the thirty-year reunion approaching, she decided it was time to reenter the outside world.

Conveniently, a group of humans had wandered into her territory.

She knew this place well. The unusually high concentration of magic, combined with her presence, had long kept away all but the smallest of creatures. No powerful being dared linger here.

The humans who reached this far were clearly not ordinary.

Still… were they perhaps weaker than she expected? Was her aura so diminished that these adventurers didn’t immediately flee in terror?

As Aino pondered, the burly leader approached and initiated conversation.

How fortunate to find someone willing to talk, she thought.

The year was 249. It was time to step out and see how the world had changed. She wondered whether those two had achieved their goals.

Smiling warmly, Aino asked, “What is your purpose here? Would you mind if I accompanied you?”

The adventurers froze, unsure how to respond.

Her tone was polite, but the situation was undeniably tense.

Devon swallowed hard, realizing honesty was their best bet. “We came to collect Purple Spirit Grass. It’s worth a fortune in our town. As for accompanying us… of course, you’re welcome.”

Like we have a choice, he thought grimly.

“That’s excellent,” Aino replied cheerfully, sensing their unease. She knew her presence was intimidating, but there wasn’t much she could do about that. Hopefully, a bit of time traveling with them would prove she meant no harm.

She glanced in the direction they had been sneaking glances at earlier and noticed the patch of Purple Spirit Grass.

Ah, so that’s where it is, she mused.

“Go ahead and take it. Now that you’ve achieved your goal, we can head back together, can’t we? I’d love to see your town,” she said.

The adventurers exchanged uneasy glances. The immense value of the grass was now overshadowed by the unsettling presence of the "girl."

Why did she want to accompany them? Why visit a human town?

Nothing about this feels right, they thought.

But there was no denying her strength. Even if they refused, she could easily find a human town without their help. Cities couldn’t exactly up and disappear.

“Don’t overthink it,” Devon muttered to his companions. “Let’s just do as she says. If trouble’s coming, there’s no escaping it anyway.”

The team silently nodded and began harvesting the Purple Spirit Grass with the tools they had prepared.

As they busied themselves, Aino watched them with an amused smile, her gaze lifting briefly to the bright sky.

There’s so much to learn, so much to see. I can’t wait.