Chapter 4: Into the Forest

The sun hung low in the sky as Ryuto and Roland made their way into the darkening forest. The thick canopy overhead cast long shadows on the ground, giving the woods an eerie, almost enchanted feeling. Despite the creeping darkness, Ryuto's heart raced with excitement. This was it, their first real adventure.

"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Roland asked, his voice a mix of nervousness and excitement as he walked beside Ryuto, his hand resting on the hilt of his short sword.

Ryuto shot him a grin, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Of course! You heard the rumors, right? There's something weird going on in these woods, strange noises, animals going missing, the usual prelude to something big."

Roland chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, but we're not exactly official adventurers yet. Shouldn't we wait until we're a bit older, or maybe… more prepared?"

"Where's the fun in that?" Ryuto replied, pushing through the thick brush with a confident stride. "Besides, we can handle whatever's out here. It's probably just a wild animal or something small. We'll deal with it and head back before anyone notices we're gone."

Roland wasn't entirely convinced, but he followed Ryuto deeper into the forest. He knew that once Ryuto had set his mind on something, there was no talking him out of it. Plus, there was a part of Roland that craved the adventure just as much as Ryuto did.

The two boys moved in silence for a while, the forest around them growing darker and quieter as they ventured further in. The usual sounds of birds and rustling leaves had faded, replaced by an unsettling stillness. Even the wind had stopped, leaving the air feeling heavy and thick.

After a few minutes, Roland broke the silence. "So, what's the plan if we actually find something? I mean, you've got magic, but I'm still working on the whole 'not dying' part of combat."

Ryuto smirked, his confidence unwavering. "If we find anything, we'll play it smart. I'll use my magic to keep whatever it is at bay, and you focus on distracting it. We've done plenty of practice fights at the academy, it'll be just like that."

Roland didn't look so sure. "Yeah, except the practice dummies don't bite back."

They trudged on through the forest until they reached a small clearing. The moon was beginning to rise, casting a silvery light over the clearing, making it seem almost otherworldly. Ryuto stopped in his tracks, his senses on high alert.

"There," he whispered, pointing toward the far end of the clearing.

Roland squinted in the dim light. "What? I don't see anything."

Ryuto narrowed his eyes. "Listen."

The two boys fell silent, straining to hear over the sound of their own breathing. After a few moments, they heard it, a faint, low rumbling sound, like the growl of a large animal. It was coming from the trees just beyond the clearing.

"There's something there," Ryuto said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Stay close."

They crept forward, their footsteps light on the soft ground. As they neared the edge of the clearing, the growling grew louder. Ryuto's heart pounded in his chest, his excitement mixing with a growing sense of danger. This was exactly what he had been craving, a real adventure, a real threat.

Suddenly, a massive shape burst from the trees with a feral snarl. Ryuto's eyes widened as he caught sight of the creature, a Forest Boar, its huge body covered in thick, matted fur, its tusks gleaming in the moonlight. The creature's red eyes glowed with a wild, dangerous energy as it stomped toward them, the ground shaking with each step.

"Uh, Ryuto?" Roland said, his voice tight with fear. "That's a little bigger than I thought it would be."

Ryuto swallowed hard, his excitement quickly turning to anxiety. "Stay calm. We've got this."

The Forest Boar let out a deafening roar and charged at them, its tusks aimed directly at Ryuto.

"Move!" Ryuto shouted, diving out of the way just as the boar barreled past him, missing him by inches. The beast's tusks tore through the ground, sending dirt and debris flying in all directions.

Ryuto scrambled to his feet, his heart racing. "Alright, let's see how you like this!"

With a flick of his wrist, Ryuto summoned a bolt of lightning from his fingertips, aiming it at the boar's side. The spell crackled through the air and struck the creature, causing it to let out a pained bellow. But the boar was tougher than it looked. It shook off the attack and turned its glowing red eyes toward Ryuto once more.

"Uh, Ryuto, I don't think it's too happy with you right now," Roland said, raising his sword defensively.

"Yeah, I noticed," Ryuto muttered.

The Forest Boar charged again, faster this time. Ryuto barely had time to dodge, the massive creature barreling past him, kicking up a cloud of dirt and leaves in its wake. The ground trembled with the force of its movement, and Ryuto felt a cold sweat run down his back. This wasn't some harmless wild animal. The boar was strong, much stronger than he had anticipated.

Roland, wide-eyed but still determined, moved in with his sword drawn. "I'll distract it! You hit it with everything you've got!" he yelled, circling around the creature.

"Be careful!" Ryuto warned, his mind racing. He could feel the electric mana buzzing in his fingertips, but his control wasn't perfect. One wrong move, and he could accidentally fry Roland along with the boar.

Roland let out a yell, waving his sword to get the boar's attention. The massive creature snarled and swung its tusks toward him, but Roland managed to dodge to the side, striking at the boar's thick hide. The blade glanced off its tough fur, barely scratching the surface, but it was enough to make the beast turn its attention toward Roland.

"Come on, you oversized pig!" Roland taunted, dancing just out of range of the boar's tusks. He kept moving, keeping the boar focused on him while Ryuto gathered his mana for another spell.

This time, Ryuto wouldn't make the same mistake. He took a deep breath, feeling the energy build up inside him, but instead of going for another lightning bolt, he opted for something more controlled. He raised his hand, and with a focused effort, conjured a ball of wind magic, the swirling gusts picking up speed as he shaped the spell.

"Now!" Roland shouted, ducking under a swipe from the boar's tusks.

With a swift motion, Ryuto released the wind spell, sending a powerful blast straight at the boar. The swirling wind hit the creature hard, knocking it off balance. The boar stumbled, letting out an enraged roar as it struggled to stay on its feet.

"Keep going!" Roland urged, moving in to strike again.

Ryuto didn't hesitate. He summoned another gust of wind, this time aiming to pin the creature down. The wind howled through the clearing as it crashed into the boar, forcing it back. The creature's massive legs buckled, and it let out a furious bellow, but it couldn't break free from the pressure of Ryuto's magic.

Roland seized the opportunity. He dashed forward, sword raised, and with a well-aimed strike, slashed at the boar's exposed side. The blade cut deep this time, and the boar let out a deafening scream, collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud.

Breathing hard, Roland stepped back, his sword dripping with the boar's blood. "We… we did it," he panted, looking over at Ryuto with a mix of disbelief and relief.

Ryuto, still catching his breath, nodded, his hands trembling slightly from the effort of maintaining the spell. "Yeah… we actually did."

As the adrenaline began to wear off, Ryuto approached the fallen boar cautiously, making sure the creature was truly down. The massive beast lay still, its breathing shallow but steady. They hadn't killed it, but it was no longer a threat.

For a moment, both boys stood there in stunned silence, the reality of what they had just done sinking in. Their first real battle, and they had won.

Roland let out a laugh, a wild, exhilarated sound. "That was insane! I thought we were done for!"

Ryuto grinned, feeling the rush of victory course through him. "Told you we could handle it."

But just as he was about to celebrate, a sudden chime echoed in his head. It wasn't his system this time, it was Roland's.

[Level Up!]

Congratulations, Roland. You have leveled up.

Roland's eyes widened in surprise as the system's voice echoed in his mind. He looked around, confused, until his gaze landed on Ryuto. "Wait… did I just…?"

Ryuto chuckled, slapping him on the back. "Yeah, you did! Your first level up!"

Roland blinked, still processing what had just happened. He'd heard about leveling up from more experienced adventurers, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon. His system interface flickered into view, showing him his new stats and the 5 stat points he had to allocate.

"Whoa… this is awesome," Roland muttered, his excitement growing as he looked over the options.

"What are you going to spend them on?" Ryuto asked, his curiosity piqued.

Roland grinned, his eyes gleaming with newfound energy. "Strength and Agility, of course. I need to be faster and hit harder if we're going to keep doing stuff like this."

Ryuto nodded in approval as Roland allocated his points, watching as his friend's stats increased. "Good choice. You did great out there, by the way."

Roland laughed, still riding the high of the battle. "I couldn't have done it without you. That wind spell was a lifesaver."

Ryuto smiled, feeling a sense of pride swell in his chest. They had faced down a dangerous creature and come out victorious. More importantly, they had worked together as a team, and now Roland had leveled up because of it.

"Alright," Roland said, sheathing his sword and wiping the sweat from his brow. "Let's get back before someone notices we're gone. We don't want to get in trouble for sneaking out."

Ryuto agreed, though part of him was still buzzing with excitement. The thrill of battle, the rush of victory, the satisfaction of seeing Roland level up, it all made him hungry for more. This was just the beginning.

As they made their way back through the forest, Ryuto couldn't help but smile. They were growing stronger, and soon enough, they'd be ready for even greater adventures.

And next time, it might be his turn to level up.

Ryuto and Roland made their way through the dark forest, the quiet rustling of leaves and their soft footsteps the only sounds accompanying them. The thrill of battle still buzzed in Ryuto's veins, but as the adrenaline began to fade, he became more aware of just how close they had come to disaster. The Forest Boar was a low-level monster, but it had been much tougher than either of them had expected.

Roland, on the other hand, seemed completely energized after his level up. He was practically bouncing with excitement as they made their way back toward the edge of the forest, his sword swinging loosely at his side.

"I still can't believe I leveled up!" Roland exclaimed for what had to be the fifth time in the last ten minutes. "That was amazing! I didn't think it would happen so soon. Do you think I'll be able to take on higher-level monsters now?"

Ryuto chuckled, shaking his head. "Slow down, Roland. You're strong, sure, but let's not go chasing after anything bigger just yet. That boar almost wiped us out. We need more practice."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Roland said, waving him off. "But seriously, if I keep leveling up like this, we'll be unstoppable in no time."

"Just remember, leveling up isn't everything," Ryuto said, his tone a bit more cautious. "We got lucky this time. That boar was stronger than we thought, and if we run into something even tougher, we're going to need more than just brute strength to get through it."

Roland grinned, clearly unfazed by the warning. "That's why I've got you and your magic, right? Besides, I think we make a pretty good team."

Ryuto couldn't argue with that. They had worked well together out there, even if things had gotten a little messy. He was proud of what they'd accomplished, Roland with his quick thinking and sword skills, and Ryuto using his magic to control the battlefield. But he also knew that this was just the beginning. They weren't seasoned adventurers yet, and there was still a lot they had to learn.

As they neared the edge of the forest, the familiar silhouette of the Velclair estate appeared in the distance, its tall towers and walls illuminated by the moonlight. Ryuto felt a pang of relief wash over him. They had managed to sneak out undetected, and if they were lucky, they'd get back in without anyone realizing they'd been gone.

But as they approached the outer wall of the estate, a thought struck Ryuto, and he stopped in his tracks.

"Wait," he said, glancing at Roland. "What if someone saw us leave? We've been gone for a while now. If one of the servants noticed, we could be in serious trouble."

Roland's grin faltered for a moment, but then he shrugged. "Nah, we're fine. We've snuck out before, and no one's ever caught us. We just need to be careful getting back inside."

Ryuto wasn't convinced. His family had been on edge ever since the war started, and with Edwin and Duke Alphonse away on the frontlines, his mother and sister were more protective than ever. If they found out he'd been sneaking out at night, especially to fight monsters, there would be hell to pay.

"Let's go around the back," Ryuto suggested, lowering his voice as they crept closer to the estate. "Less chance of running into anyone that way."

Roland nodded, and the two boys moved quietly along the outer wall, sticking to the shadows as they made their way toward the servants' entrance at the rear of the estate. The air was still, and the only sound was the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze.

They reached the servants' entrance without incident, and Ryuto carefully pushed the door open, peeking inside. The hallway beyond was empty, just as he had hoped. With a quick glance at Roland, he slipped inside, moving silently down the corridor.

They were almost to the main staircase when Ryuto heard a sound that made his heart skip a beat.

Footsteps.

Someone was coming down the hall toward them.

Ryuto's mind raced. If it was one of the servants, they could probably bluff their way out of it. But if it was someone else, like Celeste or his mother, they'd be in deep trouble.

"Quick," Ryuto hissed, pulling Roland into a small alcove behind a heavy tapestry.

They pressed themselves against the wall, holding their breath as the footsteps grew louder. Ryuto's heart pounded in his chest as he peeked out from behind the tapestry, praying that whoever was coming wouldn't see them.

The figure rounded the corner, and Ryuto's stomach dropped.

It was Celeste.

His older sister glided down the hall with her usual graceful, deliberate steps, her eyes scanning the corridor as if searching for something, or someone. Ryuto could feel his palms sweating as she passed by their hiding spot, her soft blue dress trailing behind her like a whisper.

Please don't stop. Please don't stop.

But just as Ryuto thought they were in the clear, Celeste paused. She stood still for a moment, her head tilting slightly as if she sensed something out of place. Ryuto held his breath, his heart hammering in his chest. Not now. Please not now.

After what felt like an eternity, Celeste shook her head and continued walking, disappearing around the corner.

Ryuto let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"Close one," Roland whispered, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Too close," Ryuto muttered, stepping out from their hiding spot. "Come on, let's get to our rooms before anyone else shows up."

They hurried the rest of the way in silence, finally reaching their respective rooms without further incident. As Ryuto slipped into his room and closed the door behind him, he leaned against it, letting out a long sigh of relief.

They had made it.

The excitement of the night had finally begun to wear off, and Ryuto found himself lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling, his mind buzzing with everything that had happened. The battle with the Forest Boar, Roland's level up, sneaking back into the estate, it had been an incredible night. But now, as the adrenaline faded, Ryuto couldn't help but feel a strange sense of restlessness.

What's next? he wondered. They had proven they could handle themselves in a fight, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. There was so much more out there, bigger monsters, greater challenges, real quests, and Ryuto wanted to face them all.

But he also knew they weren't ready for anything too dangerous. Tonight had been a close call, and they had barely scraped by. If they kept pushing themselves like this without proper training or preparation, it wouldn't be long before they found themselves in over their heads.

He glanced over at his smartphone, lying on the bedside table. The system hadn't notified him of a level up tonight, but that didn't bother him. He knew that leveling up wasn't something that happened every time they fought. He'd have to earn it through more experience, more battles.

But still, the thought of getting stronger filled him with excitement. He couldn't wait to feel that rush of power again, the feeling of his magic growing stronger, his body becoming faster and more capable.

Rolling over, Ryuto stared out the window, watching the moonlight filter through the curtains. His thoughts drifted to Edwin and his father, fighting on the frontlines of the war. They were real warriors, strong, brave, experienced. Ryuto wondered if he'd ever be able to live up to their legacy, to become someone they could be proud of.

One day, he promised himself. One day, I'll be as strong as they are. And I'll be ready for whatever comes next.

With that thought, Ryuto closed his eyes, letting the quiet of the night lull him to sleep.