In the dim and gloomy forest, two girls flew on broomsticks.
“Are we really just flying straight there? Do you know where Xiaohui is?”
“Of course I know. I’ve sneaked in here several times trying to find him. Although I never succeeded, at least I know where his den is.”
Hilxi and Aijie flew at a slow pace on their broomsticks, only slightly faster than walking on foot.
“Ah, it’s too dark! I can’t see anything. How much longer until we arrive?”
Hilxi complained as she dodged a branch blocking her path, continuing their slow flight.
Flying too fast in such a dark forest would be dangerous—it’s easy to crash into trees or get caught on branches, leaving a lifelong scar.
“It’s not far ahead.”
“You said the same thing five minutes ago.”
With a sigh, Hilxi suddenly looked up, sensing something. She glanced toward Aijie nearby and asked with suspicion,
“Miss Aijie, did you hear that?”
From the silent forest ahead came an unclear sound, like something heavy falling to the ground, and then—
A howl!
A loud roar shattered the stillness of the forest.
Aijie was startled:
“That’s Xiaohui’s cry! And it sounds painful. Could he be in danger?”
Anxiously, she ignored Hilxi beside her and suddenly accelerated her broomstick straight toward the source of the howl.
“Hey! Don’t rush, big sister!” Hilxi slapped her head, quickly following.
Being so reckless could get them into trouble!
Deep in the forest, a large clearing where trees had fallen was engulfed in flames, crackling as fire consumed wood and dry grass.
A group of people fought a giant wolf.
“Ice Spear of the Frozen World! Fire!”
An ice spear shot from the magic wand held by their leader.
He wore a vest and trousers; his bronzed skin gleamed under the firelight. This was the male mage who had fought the giant wolf alone during the day.
The ice spear struck the retreating giant wolf without question, and frost crystals began to form on its body, hindering its movements.
“Oh! It hit! Leader Kike’s magic is amazing!”
“With this, it can’t escape!”
Several villagers holding hunting rifles smiled, raising their guns to fire several shots in quick succession.
Bullets sprayed blood splatters, and the giant wolf howled in pain.
Although hurting, it was only a minor wound to the beast.
“Hey! Idiots, aim for the head, aim for the head!”
The male mage scolded a nearby villager sharply, then fired another fireball from his wand, hitting the wolf’s head with a loud explosion of sparks.
He grinned at his handiwork:
“See? This is how you fight!”
“Wow! Kike is mighty! Our leader is strong!”
“Amazing, that monster’s on fire!”
Behind a large tree outside the clearing, Aijie and Hilxi hid and observed.
Just moments ago, when Aijie wanted to enter on her broomstick, Hilxi pressed her down.
The situation was still unclear; showing themselves recklessly was unwise.
Aijie clenched her magic wand tightly, visibly furious.
Her beloved pet, almost a friend, was suffering right before her eyes—how could she not be enraged?
Watching Xiaohui’s fur scorch from the fire, Aijie was briefly silent before suddenly asking,
“Miss Hilxi, you’ll help me, right?”
She seemed a little afraid Hilxi might go back on her word.
“Didn’t we already agree? No need to ask again.”
Hilxi smiled, showing her teeth, then rose into the air on her broomstick, ready to prove herself through action.
The situation was clear.
Even if it wasn’t for Aijie and her beloved pet, Hilxi had to try—after all, there were ten gold coins at stake.
Breaking out of the forest, Hilxi hovered above the trees, scanning the nearby area.
She waved her magic wand with her right hand, radiating colorful lights.
She cast Water Magic.
Puddles on the ground and raindrops on leaves stirred, merging into rising water columns.
Boom!
Several water pillars collided beneath Hilxi’s wand, forming a heavy rain over the hunting ground below.
“Huh? It’s raining?”
“Leader Kike, look, there’s someone in the sky!?”
“I’m not blind, I can see clearly.”
The rain doused the flames, and Kike squinted.
He glanced at the prey—the giant wolf’s fire was being extinguished, and now it glared at him furiously under the rain.
Kike frowned and shouted up at the sky:
“Mage? Why do you stop us from hunting!?”
“Oh dear, sorry to bother you all, but I did it on purpose.”
A cheeky female voice responded.
Hilxi, with orange-white hair and dressed in a black robe, descended beside the giant wolf, her magic wand aimed at its head.
Just as Kike and the villagers thought she was here to steal the prey, a soft white light emanated from her wand and entered the wolf’s body.
The fierce beast’s eyes cleared noticeably.
It was Calming Magic.
Sitting on her broomstick, Hilxi turned to face Kike and his group, declaring confidently:
“This wolf is mine.”
“…”
So she was here to steal the prey after all.
“Leader Kike, what now? Should we attack her?” one villager holding a hunting rifle asked.
While Kike hesitated, suddenly a glow appeared in the grass behind them.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Before they could react, the villagers found themselves bound by magical rings.
Aijie, wearing a red dress, appeared from behind.
“Aijie, so it’s you again, trying to stop my hunt?”
Kike’s face darkened at her appearance.
“Is that mage your backup? Hmph, just a kid.”
Huh?
Hilxi’s forehead twitched.
Is being older a big deal? Looking down on me? Asking for a fight?
“Small or not, she’s a mage. Against two mages, you don’t stand a chance.”
Aijie pointed her wand at him, her tone unexpectedly calm.
Hey, how come you called me small too?
Hilxi pouted, deeply displeased.
She flicked her wand toward Kike with anger in her voice:
“Wanna spar, or better just run?”
Kike remained silent, his pale yellow eyes fixed on the giant wolf behind Hilxi.
“Leader Kike, maybe we should surrender?”
“Yeah, there are two mages. We can’t win.”
The villagers, bound and disarmed, had no choice but to surrender.
But Kike was unmoved. As a hunter, how could he let the prey be taken by others?
He spoke with unyielding resolve:
“Even if you have two…”
“Wind Blade!”
Hilxi struck immediately.
“!?”
Startled, Kike hurriedly raised his wand to defend, creating a magical shield.
Invisible wind blades carrying fierce gusts tore through his shield in an instant!
Thuds echoed repeatedly as the relentless wind blades pushed Kike backward until his back hit a tree.
Swish!
A wind blade sliced a branch behind him, which Hilxi controlled with magic to curve and stab at his back.
Kike rolled to avoid it and before he could get up, dazzling attacks rained down.
Wind Blades, Fireballs, Ice Spears, Lightning Strikes—all flashed before his eyes, their magical light instantly banishing the forest’s darkness.
Faced with this flood of attacks, he was dumbfounded.
“…This is cheating!!”
“Ahhh! Leader Kike, save us!” Villager A screamed in terror.
“I’m gonna die! I’m not married yet!” Villager B shouted fearfully as well.
“Ay! I’m still in the attack range, Miss Hilxi! You did this on purpose, ahhh!” Aijie joined the chaos.
Meanwhile, sitting on her broomstick, Hilxi raised an eyebrow:
“Oh dear, so careless, slipped my hand.”
Though her attacks looked terrifying and formidable, the actual power was mediocre due to divided magic—unlikely to be fatal.
Well, most of these spells were her first time using them.
After a few seconds, darkness reclaimed the area.
Hilxi flicked her wand, and a glowing golden orb appeared atop it, serving as a light source.
She cast several of these light orbs, brightening the surroundings gradually.
The light revealed the disheveled state of Kike and the villagers—their clothes torn, hair frizzed from electricity, looking pitiful.
“Phew…” Kike exhaled a puff of gray smoke, his eyes dull and lifeless.
Only now did he realize that pride as a hunter and the stubbornness that prey must never be stolen meant nothing compared to life itself.
Cough cough.
Accompanied by coughing, an unrecognizable woman with disheveled hair riding a singed broomstick flew over.
Hilxi pretended not to notice Aijie’s exhausted look, glanced back at the trembling giant wolf, and waved her hand:
“Miss Aijie, you can start now.”
“…Okay.”
Giving Hilxi a resentful glance, Aijie flew her broomstick beside the giant wolf.
Xiaohui’s eyes lit up with a human-like joy upon seeing his owner; his tail wagged.
Truly, a beloved pet can recognize its master.
“Don’t move. You’ll recover soon.”
Aijie smiled gently, stroking Xiaohui’s big dog head while holding her wand in the other hand, beginning to dispel the magic.
A faint light sparkled like stars.
During this, Hilxi remained seated on her broomstick, quietly watching Kike and the others, making them sweat in embarrassment.
With a few moonbeams piercing the dark sky, half an hour passed quickly.
In the forest,
the giant wolf that once stood there was gone.
In its place was a normal large dog.
Its appearance was much like a Labrador, but with gray fur that shimmered silver under the moonlight.
“Sorry it took so long to restore you.”
Half-crouched, Aijie petted her beloved pet’s head, showing a heartfelt gentle smile.
“It’s really just a dog…”
In contrast, Kike’s expression was gloomy, as if mourning.
All his bitterness vanished at that moment.
As a brave hunter, he naturally scorned hunting a common dog.
“What a waste of effort.” a villager sighed helplessly.
“All right, all right, everything’s settled. Let’s all be happy, hahaha!”
Thinking of the ten gold coins soon to be theirs, Hilxi’s voice was tinged with pride, her shoulders bouncing with excitement, almost wanting to laugh out loud.
But that wouldn’t be ladylike.
This naturally drew cold stares from the villagers and Kike.
All your fault.
With that, Kike and the villagers gave up opposing Hilxi and her group.
After all, a dog wasn’t worth it, and silently left.
Before leaving, Hilxi waved at them.
“Let’s go too.”
After treating her pet’s wounds, Aijie stood beside Hilxi and softly spoke.
Xiaohui happily barked.
“Oh, Miss Aijie, you’re in a good mood.”
“Of course, Xiaohui’s recovered, thanks to you.”
Aijie turned her head, her face inexplicably flushed.
“Considering how hard I worked, can you pay me more?”
Hilxi tilted her head, looking at her side profile with expectant eyes.
But her deep blue eyes had completely transformed into coins.
“…If you pay me more, I won’t be able to afford meals.”
Aijie shook her head with a sigh, then grabbed Hilxi’s hand, ignoring her awkward expression, and smiled:
“By the way, we haven’t eaten dinner yet. Can I cook for you when we get back?”
“Mm, sure.”
“Since it’s so late, let’s leave tomorrow. I have a spare room at home.”
“Okay,” Hilxi nodded again.
“No money? How about that?” Aijie teased with a sly smile.
“Uh… No! Absolutely not!”
“That’s so sad. Is our relationship only built on money?”
“That’s a different matter. Anyway, no way.”
“Ha ha~ I’m just kidding.”
Miss Aijie covered her mouth to laugh, her long hair fluttering in the cold forest breeze, looking beautiful.
After laughing, she looked up at the moonlight, tightened her grip on Hilxi’s hand, and said,
“Thank you.”
“…You’re welcome.”
it’s good, though near the end here i think some words were mixed up and it was hard telling who was talking at moments.