Who the hell are you?

Under the obstruction of these mechanisms, their pursuers gradually slowed down but did not stop. Elwin and the mysterious woman continued to traverse the chilly tunnel, their daggers in hand skillfully handling all potential threats ahead. Their clothes brushed against the cold stone walls, stirring up a rich scent of moss.

Upon reaching a narrow spot, Elwin halted, staring at an almost invisible crack ahead. The mysterious woman followed his gaze, frowning at what she saw. It was a crack in a stone wall that seemed impassable, even for their slim bodies.

"We could try..." Elwin's words were cut short as the mysterious woman shook her head.

"Too dangerous. Look at the texture of these stone walls. If they shatter, we could be buried here," she said, her voice low but carrying an undeniable firmness.

"So what do we do?" Elwin looked back, the roars and vibrations from the darkness growing closer.

Suddenly, the woman's eyes lit up. She pointed to a light-colored stone slab that they had overlooked. "This, Elwin, can you activate this slab?"

Elwin looked down at the slab beneath his feet, his eyes widened in surprise. "Is this... a mechanism?"

"Yes, I believe it's a transfer mechanism, it will teleport us somewhere else." She stared back at him with determined eyes. "Elwin, give it a try. We have no other choice."

Taking a deep breath, Elwin reached out, his dagger slipping into a crevice in the slab and slowly rotating it. Just as he was about to give up, he felt the hidden mechanism beneath the slab. He quickly activated it, and with a soft noise, the slab began to sink. Elwin and the mysterious woman disappeared in a flash of brilliant light.

The light had just faded when the pursuers in the darkness rushed in. They roared in anger, staring at the empty passage in disbelief. They knew they had missed the best opportunity to capture Elwin and the mysterious woman. They looked back in disappointment, left with nothing but a dark tunnel and an echoing silence.

In the chilly tunnel, the sounds of Elwin and the mysterious woman's footsteps echoed off the walls, their figures moving quickly under the dim light. The ancient moss on the stone walls bore the marks of time. They moved quickly and quietly, their goal the exit of the tunnel.

However, just as they were nearing the exit, the stone door in front of them closed tightly, blending seamlessly with the surrounding walls, leaving no trace. The faint light couldn't penetrate the cracks in the stone door, making it impossible to see the mechanism.

Elwin anxiously looked at the mysterious woman. Their pursuers hadn't caught up yet, but they had no time to find another way out.

The mysterious woman calmly met his gaze, then slowly extended her hand. In her palm, a gemstone that resembled a Night Pearl emerged. Light slowly emanated from within the stone, casting a soft glow on the stone door.

Under this light, Elwin was able to see the door's mechanism. He operated it skillfully and quickly unlocked the door. They hurried through, and the door closed slowly behind them.

The mysterious woman put away her gemstone, and the light disappeared, plunging the tunnel back into dimness.

Elwin and the mysterious woman emerged from the cave into an endless forest. Tall trees stood between the earth and the sky, blocking the heavens, allowing only stubborn rays of sunshine to penetrate the canopy and illuminate the vast forest. The presence of the magical gemstone rendered the forest devoid of magical plants, but this took nothing away from its primal and mysterious nature.

As they walked through the forest, the rustling sound broke the silence. Everything around them seemed so alien, yet familiar. Due to the magical gemstone, everything here was pure, a natural face not masked by magic.

The mysterious woman led them deeper into the forest, seeming to know the environment like the back of her hand. She guided them to avoid the dangerous thorns and dark places where wild beasts might hide, acting like a seasoned guide familiar with the land.

Eventually, they stopped by a stream. On a small stony island by the stream, under several flourishing large trees, a peaceful atmosphere prevailed. "Let's rest here for a while, then find our way out of the forest," the mysterious woman said.

Elwin sat on a large rock by the stream, his gaze fixed on the water, questions bubbling in his mind like a spring. "Who exactly are you? Why were you in the arena, and why did you help me?" He looked at the mysterious woman, full of the unknown and mystery.

The mysterious woman smiled lightly, gently pushing her golden hair tied behind her head, and then spoke, "My name is Cassidy Morgan. Cassidy means 'wisdom' in the Rek language, and Morgan signifies 'daughter of the mountain.' I have lived in the mountains of Rek country since I was a child, serving as a warrior there."

Elwin looked at her in surprise, not expecting this outwardly gentle woman to be a Rek warrior. He recalled her ruthless and firm gaze in the arena, it made sense - she truly was a warrior.

"Why did you help me?" Elwin asked curiously.

Cassidy glanced at him, her emerald-green eyes filled with determination. "Your courage, your tenacity, deeply attracted me. Seeing your performance in the arena, I couldn't just let you die. So, I chose to help you, even if it meant losing my freedom and becoming a slave in the arena."

Elwin looked at her in disbelief, for a moment, he didn't know what to say. This female warrior from the mountains, had paid such a price for him.

"What about your family, Cassidy?" Elwin hesitated, then asked. "Will they be implicated because of your choice?"

Cassidy's pace slowed, she turned her head, looking at Elwin. Her emerald-green eyes shimmered with a sad glow in the sunlight. "I'm an orphan," her voice trembled slightly, "I've been alone for as long as I can remember. I have no family that would be affected because of me."

These few short sentences felt like a heavy hammer, striking Elwin's heart. He looked at Cassidy, his eyes full of sympathy and regret. He couldn't imagine, this seemingly strong girl, had such a difficult past.

"I'm sorry, I..." Elwin started to apologize, but Cassidy waved her hand.

"It's okay," she said with a smile, "I've gotten used to it. Since I chose to follow you, I've found a new home, a new sense of belonging. You don't have to worry."

At this, Elwin was somewhat taken aback. He looked at this woman, the resolve in her eyes, the strength in her body, and felt a newfound determination burning in his heart. If this woman was willing to be with him, then he had a responsibility to protect her, to protect their new home.

"So, Cassidy," his voice was firm, his deep eyes looking at her, "let's leave here together and find a safe place. I can't guarantee the safety of the road ahead, we may encounter more difficulties, but I promise, I will not leave you alone."

Cassidy smiled slightly, her smile as warm as the spring sun. "Let's go together, Elwin."

As Cassidy continued with Elwin, the crystal-clear dew sparkled next to them, as if the world was quietly admiring their resolve. After covering some distance, Cassidy turned her head, looking at Elwin, and asked, "So, Elwin, where are we going?"

Elwin paused, looking at the forest ahead, his eyes flashing with determination and resolution, "We are going to a place called 'The Realm of Brilliant.' It is a legendary place, where there is said to be a multicolored lake called 'Tears of Liana.' The lake water reflects a brilliant glow in the sunlight, like a real rainbow."

Cassidy was slightly taken aback, then a look of surprise crossed her face, "That's an ancient legend, I've heard of it since I was a child. But that place should be south of our current position, a very long distance away. And it's said to be full of dangers, inhabited by powerful creatures. Are you sure you want to go there?"

Elwin nodded, "Yes, I must go there. That's the place I'm looking for, and where I need to go." His voice was low, but incredibly firm.

Cassidy looked at him, silent for a moment, then showed a resolute look, "Then let's go together, no matter how many difficulties lie ahead, I will face them with you."

As sunlight filtered through the forest canopy, casting shadows on the ground, adding a touch of vitality to the tranquility of the forest. Elwin and Cassidy continued southward, gradually approaching the edge of the forest.

"Once we leave this forest, we'll no longer be in the territory of Rek. We need to leave before sunset. The forest is extremely dangerous at night, with many beasts appearing," Cassidy suddenly stopped, her eyes serious, looking into the distance.

"Really?" Elwin's eyes were filled with curiosity and astonishment. Everything about this foreign world amazed him. "What do those beasts look like?"

"You wouldn't want to actually encounter them," Cassidy answered, "Their sharp teeth and claws can tear any enemy apart."

As darkness fell, they left the forest, the distant plains glistening with silver in the faint moonlight. As the wind blew, the grass waves rolled, making a gentle rustling sound. Elwin looked back at the dense forest, seeing faint lights flickering in the dark forest, seemingly the torches of pursuers.

"We can't stay here," Cassidy tugged at Elwin's hand, running deeper into the plains together, "The pursuers are faster than we imagined, we must find a place to hide."

As night fell, they arrived at a cave hidden behind a bush. It was in an excellent location, surrounded by sparse bushes, enough for them to safely spend the night on this prairie. Cassidy first looked around to ensure no one was following, then let down her guard.