Cedric's Blunder

Cedric had made a grave mistake.

Unaware that the wolf he attacked was a juvenile, he had provoked one of the deadliest creatures in the northern wilderness: a White Fenrir.

From his hiding spot among the dense foliage, Rest sighed deeply, his hand tightening into a fist. (Seriously… Is he an idiot?)

The White Fenrir was a rare and intelligent predator, feared not only for its power but also for its uncanny reasoning. While it wasn't naturally aggressive unless provoked, Cedric had done exactly what one should never do—harmed its child.

Watching the massive creature stalk forward, its golden eyes fixed on the trembling Rosemary sisters, Rest felt the weight of the moment pressing on him. The situation had gone from foolish to life-threatening.

(If he'd used even a fraction of the caution this place deserves, this could have been avoided. But no… Cedric probably thinks the entire world revolves around him.)

Rest had been keeping an eye on them ever since they entered the forest. He'd witnessed Cedric's pitiful attempts to impress Viola and Primula, his arrogance thinly veiling his desperation. The sisters' cold indifference toward him had been painfully obvious, but Cedric's obliviousness made the display all the more pitiful.

Rest sighed again. (It's exhausting to even watch him. But…)

As the White Fenrir crouched, preparing to pounce on the terrified sisters, Rest knew he couldn't stay hidden any longer.

"[Wind Sphere]!"

The spell shot forward, slamming into the Fenrir's flank with enough force to knock the enormous creature off balance. It let out a sharp yelp as it rolled to the side, claws raking the earth in an attempt to steady itself.

Rest stepped out of the bushes, his expression calm despite the intensity of the moment. "Sorry about that," he said, addressing the sisters with a faint smile. "Looks like my foolish brother has caused trouble again."

"W-Who are you?" Viola stammered, her voice trembling.

Rest placed a hand on his chest, bowing slightly. "Rest Eberun. Cedric's half-brother, though I doubt he's ever mentioned me."

"Half-brother?" Primula asked, her silver eyes narrowing. "Cedric has a sibling?"

Rest's smile turned wry. "Technically, yes. Though, since I'm illegitimate, my existence isn't exactly celebrated."

Before he could elaborate, Primula's eyes widened in horror. "Behind you!"

Rest turned just in time to see the White Fenrir lunging at him, its massive jaws wide open.

"Ah, right. You're still here," he muttered, raising his hand. "[Barrier Shield]."

The beast collided with an invisible wall of magic, its momentum halted abruptly. It stumbled back, shaking its head in frustration as it growled.

"I'm really sorry for disturbing your home," Rest said, his voice calm as he regarded the creature. "And for harming your child."

The Fenrir snarled but hesitated, its golden eyes flicking to the injured pup lying a short distance away.

Rest followed its gaze and nodded. "Let me make amends." He raised his hand again, this time casting a soft green glow toward the massive wolf. "[Healing]."

The Fenrir's ears twitched as the spell took effect, closing the wounds on its flanks and easing its labored breathing.

"What are you doing?" Viola asked, her voice breaking through the tense silence.

Rest glanced at her briefly. "Earning its forgiveness. It's intelligent enough to understand we mean no harm if we show it respect."

Turning back to the pup, he extended the same spell. "[Healing]."

The juvenile White Fenrir whined softly as its wounds disappeared, then staggered to its feet. It blinked at Rest, tilting its head in confusion before scurrying to its mother's side.

"There," Rest said, stepping back. "We're even now, aren't we?"

The White Fenrir growled low in its throat, but its posture softened. It backed away, watching Rest with wary eyes as it nudged its pup closer.

"If you still want to fight," Rest continued, his voice taking on a sharp edge, "then I'll have to make things clear."

He raised his hand once more, and this time, a powerful surge of magical energy erupted from his body. The air around him shimmered, and a visible blue aura coiled upward like steam escaping a boiling pot.

The Fenrir froze, its ears flattening against its head. Even the sisters, who had seen powerful magic before, gasped at the display.

"Yipe!"

The Fenrir let out a pitiful yelp and grabbed its pup by the scruff. With a final wary glance at Rest, it turned and bolted into the forest, its massive frame disappearing into the shadows.

Once the sounds of its retreat faded, Rest exhaled, letting the magical aura around him dissipate.

"Sorry if that scared you," he said, turning back to the sisters with an apologetic smile.

Viola and Primula stared at him, their wide eyes reflecting equal parts awe and confusion.

"Who… who are you?" Viola finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rest scratched the back of his neck, suddenly looking sheepish. "Just a stable boy. Please don't think too much about it."

"That wasn't stable boy magic," Primula said, her tone sharp despite the tremor in her voice. "The power you just displayed… it's stronger than anything we've seen, even from our father."

Rest avoided their questioning gazes. "I'm just good at what I do," he said with a shrug. "Now, let's get out of here before anything else shows up."

He extended a hand to help the sisters to their feet, then glanced at the unconscious bodies of Cedric and his two friends. They lay crumpled nearby, battered but breathing.

"Those three aren't in great shape," he muttered, raising his hand again. "[Floating]."

The boys' limp bodies lifted off the ground, hovering in the air like discarded sacks of grain. Rest guided them forward with a casual wave of his hand.

"You're bringing them with us?" Viola asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

"For your sake, not mine," Rest admitted. "If it were up to me, I'd leave them here as a lesson."

The sisters exchanged a glance but said nothing, silently following Rest as he led the way out of the forest.

As they reached the forest's edge, Viola glanced at Rest once more. "You said not to think too much about it," she said slowly. "But I don't think we can do that. What we saw today…"

Rest interrupted her with a small smile. "Let's just say I'm full of surprises. Now, let's get you back safely."

The sisters fell silent, their thoughts racing as they walked.

For Rest, this was just a fleeting encounter, a minor inconvenience brought about by his brother's foolishness. But for Viola and Primula, it was the beginning of a fascination with the boy who had single-handedly turned the tide against one of the most feared monsters they had ever seen.

And neither of them could shake the feeling that their paths would cross again.