Chapter 10: Saved

The man's eyes in front of 24 soften and caressed the child's head as if to reassure the child from it's worries. The group of these hunters were compose of six people. John as the leader and a stage 6 warrior, Lea the stage 5 fire mage, Frank the vice leader and a stage 5 warrior spear user, Sefro the stage 3 healer and two other more members who are at level 2 warrior makes up the group.

The group was originally in the forest to complete a mission when they heard a huge explosion coming from the inner 4th circle. At first they thought that some beast were fighting inside the said circle so they ignored it. But then, another explosion occurred. Lea a stage 5 mage used her magic to detected any nearby human lifeforms near their area. Using the vision magic, Lea detected two heat signature belong to a human in the inner 4th circle.

One of the heat signature was very weak. It is like a candle lighted fire meaning it is either gravely injured or nearing its death. While the other one was of campfire size which indicated that it is in a weak state condition. After confirming signatures' location, the said group run as fast they could to rescue the people in the forest. The group were quite confident to go in the inner circle because of their fighting power that could combat a stage 6 beast.

Expecting to fight a beast to save the individuals who were unlucky to be in the inner 4th circle, the group were shocked on what they've found.

A seven-year-old child whose clothes where tattered and ripped barely covering her private areas and covered with dust, cuts and bruises. While the other kid who seemed like 10-year-old or so, is in a weakened state. His face is as white as chalk. His body were also covered with bruises, cuts and scratches. A blood trail could be seen in its mouth. His clothes were in the state same with the girl standing beside him in a fighting stance.

The child looked worried not just for her well-being but for her friend also. She is not in a state to fight but with the given situation, she will be leave out of the choices and fight until she dies to protect her seemingly dying friend. Her arms is shaking and covered with black linings.

John, who is a warrior and also a father, kneeled in front of the fragile and scared child.

"Are you alright?", asked John. The child shake her head and her delicate eyes started to water. This sight made not only John but also his team members to pity the child and her friend's condition.

"Its alright now. I am John and this is my team members. We will get you out of here alright?", said John with a gentle tone. The nodded her head. "What is your name little ones?"

"I am 24", said the child.

"24? What I meant is your real name little miss", John asked again.

"24 is my name Sir John", said the child. Her pure innocent looking face makes John to scratch his head in confusion. Who would want to name their child a number? Even he, as a father, will name his child something that fits his/her name. Or is it the child's parents naming sense that bad?

Neither of thought were right as 24 doesn't remember her name given by her parents. It's been what? 4 or 5 years since heard her name being called by her father. And that memory is something she does not want to remember anymore. For it is the day were her parents desperately stops the institution's personnel from kidnapping her and her brother. It is also the day where 24's parents died. This reason gave her enough courage to just forget her past life along with her name.

"Ok so 24, what happened here?", asked Lea who is also kneeling beside 18's body while wrapping up some bandages on his wounds.

"A bear attacked us"

"A bear?", confirmed Lea towards 24 who nodded her head in response.

"By any chance, does this bear have a cub?", Sefro asked.

"Yes, Why?", said 24. Upon hearing this information, the group froze from the shock. After a while the group regain their senses and started to carry 18's body and 24 and run as fast as they could outside the 4th circle.

24 who sensed their urgency to run and hearing her confirmation just remained silent. The group's faces shows their determination to quickly escape the bear's territory.

In the whole Darvian Forest, there are five beasts who are ranked as the most dangerous individuals who resided in the area. And one of those beasts is the Red-Eyed Bear aka Dark Claws. It is widely known that the said beast have the peak of stage 6 and have wind and dark attributes. Its claws were deadly and its eyes emitting dark and shivering coldness which could produce illusion.

The group led by John run through the forest to escape from incident of meeting such a beast. After all, it is like committing suicide upon facing the monster. The group might be strong to go head-to-head combat with stage 6 beasts but not the Red-Eyed Bear.

Also the said beast is intelligent and does not fight with bare fist. The Bear uses its brain to take down stronger opponents than him. Therefore, fighting such intelligent being is kind of tricky and risky. The best move would be get as far away as possible, unless you are far stronger and witty than the bear, one could fight it toe-to-toe.

After running for a while, the group halted and decided to rest for a bit. Currently they are in the outskirts of the 3rd circle. John went on to scout with Frank while Lea and the other two members of the party went ahead to find some clean water and food. Leaving Sefro and the two children on the spot.

Sefro went beside the sleeping 18. He put his hands on the top of 18's chest and began to heal him. The color of his face is starting to turn into normal color. While his breathing is becoming steady. 24 is just sitting on the other side of 18. Watching him recover some of his lost strength.

"*cough* 24 right?", the child nodded her head without taking her eyes off 18.

"What happened? I mean, I don't want to pry in your situation but I am just curious. What is a child doing in the inner part of the 4th circle? Moreover, there are two children gravely injured in that dangerous part of the area. The place where we found you guys seemed like there was a big fight between you and the bear that you said attacked you earlier", inquired Sefro.

There was a moment of awkward silence issued between 24 and Sefro. 24 does not know whether she could trust the man. After all, he and his party saved both her and 18 from that place.

"I... Me and my friends just came out of that hellish place. After getting here, we planned on getting to the nearby town to you know get ourselves be familiar of the surroundings. And maybe to start our lives again. I never expected to meet the bear with her cub in the forest while traveling", 24 stated while looking through the trees.

"Then.. how many of you are in there?"

"About five", said 24. Sefro's eyes widen from what she said. 'There are more kids in that part?! Then we must rescue them before they die!', is what Sefro is thinking.

"Ar-are they fine?", Sefro nervously asked. "I think so", said 24.

"Listen kid. Don't you go near this forest if you want to die", said Sefro with concerned voice. He pulled his hands away after healing 18 and making sure that his is in stable condition. "Why?", asked 24 while looking at Sefro with expectant eyes.

"Well because...", And Sefro told 24 everything he knew from Darvian Forest. He explained about the circles, the beasts residing in, and what to avoid during inside the forest.

After listening to Sefro, 24 just nodded her head and leaned onto the tree for support. Her strength was depleted because of the fight and healing 18.

Sefro's team came back with the necessary things for survival such as food, clean water and campfire for cooking. They did not bring many things for they have to get out of the area as quickly as possible. They needed to enter the town and go to the church to heal the two children then decide on what to do on them afterwards.

The team continue to travel the forest from the outskirts of 3rd circle to the safest part which is out of the forest.

As they got close to the said town, 24 saw a long line of people trying to get in of the town. The town is called Elaivis. The town is surrounded by tall wall. On each side of the gate, lookout towers where located. It is built made to watch over the forest entrance as well as for its surroundings.

24 can't help but to think about the upcoming event that is about to happen into her life.

'This where I will start', she thought.