As seized her hand, feeling reassured by her presence as she pulled him to his feet. Grishna killed the knight in the chaos with a stab to the neck. Together, they sprinted into the looming forest, leaving their pursuers behind in a blur of foliage and fading echoes.


    Once they hit the forest, thend changed, and the canopy above blocked out most of the sunlight. As looked around while they dashed through the trees but soon noticed Lilith chirping.


    She worriedly nced to the north. ''''Don''t worry, girl, we will only stay here for a while,'''' he reassured the worried honey badger.


    The group ran for another twenty minutes until Grishna called out, urging them to stop running as they reached a small clearing. When As finally stopped, he fell to the grass and breathed heavily.


    Artemis and Amethyst looked at him andughed while Grishna approached with an annoyed expression, ''''Why did you cause trouble, boy? Are you an idiot? We needed to sign you up as an adventurer so we could take some quests.''''


    When Grishna said this, Lilith lunged at her, but As caught the angry honey badger, which shocked the surrounding girls. But he ignored their reactions and quickly spoke to calm the little monster down, ''''Don''t worry about it, Lily. She is right, after all. I was the one who attacked the guards first.''''


    As stood up, catching his breath, before exining what had happened when the two men attempted to rob him and how he had responded by taking their lives—an action that shocked most of the girls present.


    Most nodded in understanding, processing the gravity of the situation. However, Estelle spoke next, her French ent coloring her words. "You did the right thing, As," she affirmed firmly. "They were scum for trying to rob a child. Grishna, you know this is true."


    Grishna turned sharply towards the blonde girl and snapped, "Of course you would think that, Estelle. You Argonians think you''re so righteous and holy."


    "We follow Lady Sol on the Path," Estelle retorted firmly. ''''I admit Father is a zealot when ites to ourdy, but most knights of Argonia just want to help themoners.''''


    The orc girl visibly seethed angrily, but As stepped in before the tension escted. "It seems you two know each other well."


    Estelle nodded in acknowledgment. "I''m close friends with the Bloodfang Princess and Draga''s best friend, who happens to be Grishna''s big sister."


    ''''Yes, you may be friends with them, but that doesn''t change the fact that you''re an uptight bitch who thinks she''s right all the time,'''' Grishna responded.


    "You can continue calling me names, but it was you who failed the Brokentooth Family. Everyone in the academy knows it," Estelle shot back sharply. "Even Draga acknowledges that you let down your siblings."


    As noticed Grishna''s growing anger and stepped forward, speaking with firm resolve, "Don''t insult her, Estelle. She''s a formidable warrior, and I''ve seen it firsthand. I don''t know what standards the orcs have, but if they aren''t satisfied with her, then they don''t deserve to have her."


    Turning to Grishna, who looked at him with wide green eyes, As continued, "I would dly have her by my side during a battle. If you have a problem with that, you''re free to leave. We rescued you from the Everdians, but I won''t tolerate insults toward her."


    Afterward, As strode deeper into the forest, with Lilith trotting faithfully at his heels, leaving the others behind. As he distanced himself enough, he scanned for a secluded spot to unwind.


    Spotting a fallen tree, As climbed atop it and settled in, finding afortable position to rest while scanning the surroundings before checking his status.


    [Level Up: 37→39]


    [Experience: 790/1000]


    [Experience Gained: 2240]


    [Health: 270→274]


    [Mana: 1150→1180]


    [Strength: 242→248]


    [Stamina: 248→260]


    [Charisma: 304→308]


    [Intelligence: 240→246]


    [Core Points: 17200→19200]


    [Core Points Gained: 2000]


    [Void Arrow: 1→2]


    [Dagger Mastery: 1→2]


    As was pleased with his small gains, but a rustle to his left caused him to take out his dagger, only to see Grishna standing there. The orc girl smiled at him, ''''Thank you for defending me, Azhar''Zul.''''


    ''''You''re wee, Grish,'''' he replied as she climbed up the tree and sat beside him.


    The two sat silently as Lilith jumped down, chirping, causing As to reply, ''''Be careful, Lily. We don''t know what monsters are out here.''''


    Lilith''s confident noise elicitedughter from As and Grishna as the honey badger marched into the tree line. Once the spirited creature was out of earshot, As turned to Grishna with a curious expression.


    "What did she mean by letting down your family?" he asked.


    Grishna''s demeanor shifted slightly as she looked down and sighed before responding, "In the Brokentooth family, we are renowned Warrior Shamans. It''s our birthright. My siblings all inherited spirit affinities, but I was born with earth and metal affinities, which are considered taboo."


    "Why though?" As remarked. "I''ve seen what you can do, and it''s amazing, especially those little metal things you use that screech like an angry woman."


    The orc girl chuckled softly at his question before responding, "There existed a formidable tribe among orcs known as the Earthsong Tribe," she began. They sparked a hundred-year war that reduced our people to mere pawns in the hands of the Thssians and other nations."


    That''s when she looked down and avoided eye contact. ''''Like me, they wielded earth and metal, but their mastery was unparalleled. They could devastate armies and reduce cities to rubble with a single spell.''''


    He felt sorry for Grishna, who would have been shunned due to her affinities in orc society. When As saw the depressed look on her face, he spoke, ''''Well, I think you''re amazing, Grish. Does it matter what anyone thinks? You know your strength and can prove them wrong.''''


    The orc girl looked at him and replied in a quiet voice, ''''You''re not scared I''d cause problems for you?''''


    As chuckled, "The Everdians dubbed me Shaytan al-Kharab, the Devil of Ruin. I imagine other nations have their own versions," he mused. "Then there''s Amethyst and Artemis, who insist on calling me the one who points the way in their own peculiar fashion. It''s always been a bit puzzling to me."


    Grishna burst intoughter and suddenly hugged As, her voice warm and earnest. "There are many legends about you, my Azhar''Zul, but I know you''re not a devil or a demon who brings ruin. You''re just a boy who wants to explore the world and be loved."


    As felt his cheeks flush, but Grishna paid it no mind and pressed on. "I''ve noticed how you look at Amethyst. Even though you''ve only known her for a short time, I can tell you''d do anything for that bird girl."


    His voice trembled with a raw ache as he nodded, his words heavy with the weight of abandonment. "I''ve spent most of my life alone. My mother left me at an orphanage, promising she''de back, but she never did. I think she found a new family and just... forgot about me."


    Every word carried a shattered hope that echoed through the stillness of the forest,ying bare the loneliness etched deep into his soul. Grishna tightened her hug and spoke, ''''You can talk to me, Azhar''Zul.''''


    "I don''t understand why none of the parents adopted me," As mumbled, his voice tinged with lingering hurt. "I was neverzy always helped the other children and adults, but I was always ignored. All I wanted was a family, like the children outside the orphanage I used to see walking to school."


    Grishna released her hold on him and spoke earnestly, "I think maybe the reason you weren''t adopted is because it brought you here. You already have Amethyst, and I''m sure you''ll meet many moredies who will be happy to love you."


    When As heard that, he smiled before teasing her, "Does that include a certain orc girl?"


    Sheughed before gently pushing him away, "You cheeky devil. But who knows what the future holds? I may fall in love with you once you grow up, or we may remainrades. Fate is mysterious, Azhar''Zul."


    After their conversation, Grishna descended from the tree and returned to where the other girls waited. "Come back when you''re ready," she called to As. "Artemis is preparing some meat, and we all need to eat before we travel north."


    As nodded in acknowledgment. "I''ll join you shortly. I''m just going to find Lilith first."


    Grishna smiled warmly before departing, leaving As alone in the clearing. He leaped down from the tree with a soft thud and set off in the direction Lilith had scampered off to, determined to locate the honey badger.


    He held his dagger and readied Void Bullet while stepping through the thick foliage, down trees and bushes bigger than himself. As continued trekking until he heard a battle that caught his interest.


    As As approached, he spotted Lilith in a fight with three Wild Orcs attempting to capture her. Despite their efforts, the badger''s agility prevented them from seizing her. When nearing them, he used Void Sight to scan the monsters.


    [Wild Orc]


    [Rank: E - 200 Exp]


    ''Not too bad,'' he mused with a wicked smile. ''I can surprise them and get the upperhand.''


    With a solid n, As burst out from behind the bush, catching the monsters off guard as his Void Bullets mmed into them, causing the creatures to stagger back in shock at the sudden attack.