Chase let out a deep breath as he finished setting up the makeshift mattress on the floor. The inn room was small, but cozy—except for one glaring issue.

  Chase: Alright, you take the bed. I’ll sleep down here.

  Selena, already sitting on the bed, frowned at him.

  Selena: Why? Just sleep here with me. We can still fit in this bed.

  Chase: Selena, first of all, this is a single bed. Second… no.

  Selena: (Huff) Why are you being so difficult?

  Chase: And why are you’re acting like this is normal?

  Selena: It’s not?

  Chase stared at her for a while and responded in a very firm voice.

  Chase: No, It’s not! So, you sleep in the bed while I sleep on the floor. End of discussion.

  Selena gave him a long, unreadable look before finally flopping onto the bed with a sigh.

  Selena: Come to think of it, we never actually sleep closely together after all this time.

  She didn’t argue further, and Chase took that as a small victory. He laid down on his mattress, trying to settle in.

  Yet, as the minutes passed, sleep didn’t come.

  Chase shifted, staring up at the wooden ceiling. No matter how tired he was, his mind refused to quiet down. With a small sigh, he sat up, rubbing his face. His eyes wandered toward the bed, where Selena lay curled up in a fetal position, facing away from him. Her ears flicked slightly, but she remained still.

  For a moment, Chase simply watched her, lost in thought.

  And then—his mind drifted back. Back to the night everything began. Back to the day after he first met her.

  Flashback

  Chase jolted awake, his breath ragged as the memory of cold, merciless eyes lingered in his mind. The crackling embers of his dying campfire barely illuminated the darkened forest around him. Every rustling leaf, every distant howl sent a shiver down his spine. He swallowed hard. Staying here was out of the question.

  He hastily packed his belongings, his hands trembling slightly as he slung his bag over his shoulder. The thought of waiting until dawn was tempting, but every second spent in this forest felt like his last. With a final glance at his abandoned campsite, he took off, pushing himself forward through the dimly lit woods.

  The journey back to the northern town of Windmere stretched unbearably long in the dead of night. Every shadow felt like a pair of watching eyes, every gust of wind a whisper of unseen threats. Eventually, Chase found himself standing before the gates of the town. Safe—at least for now.

  The next morning, after a restless night, Chase made his way to the adventurer’s guild, his mind preoccupied with the previous day’s events. He mulled over the idea of reporting what had happened. A beast attacking an adventurer in the wild? That wasn’t exactly common. But would anyone believe him? And more importantly… should he even mention it?

  As he approached the receptionist’s desk, he hesitated before finally speaking.

  Chase: Hey, uh… have there been any reports of beasts attacking travelers recently?

  The receptionist, a woman with auburn hair tied neatly behind her head, blinked at him before shaking her head.

  Receptionist: No, nothing like that. Why? You heard something?

  Chase: (Shrug) Not exactly. Just heard a rumor that someone might've spotted a beast in the nearby woods. Figured I'd check if there was any truth to it.

  The receptionist chuckled, resting her elbow on the desk.

  Receptionist: "Doubt it. Beasts don’t live alone. They have their own tribes and territories. Even if one was roaming around, as long as they’re not causing trouble, we wouldn’t issue a hunt. We try to avoid unnecessary conflict between our races.

  Chase nodded slowly, processing her words. It made sense. If what she said was true, then… why was the lioness alone in the first place? And why did she let him live?

  With no answers, Chase sighed and turned away.

  Chase (to self): I’ll keep this to myself for now…

  Windmere - Outskirts

  Chase wandered beyond the town’s outskirts, his feet carrying him to an open field bathed in the golden light of the afternoon sun. The gentle breeze rustled through the tall grass, but despite the peaceful scenery, his mind was anything but calm.

  His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword as memories of the previous night surfaced—those sharp, piercing eyes watching him, the effortless way she dodged, the sheer power she wielded with every movement. She had toyed with him. That’s what it felt like. Like he had never stood a chance.

  Chase (to self): Damn it…

  With a sharp exhale, he took his stance. He needed to be better. Stronger. He swung his sword through the air, slicing through imaginary enemies, his movements sharp and precise. But in his mind, he wasn’t fighting some nameless foe.

  He was fighting her.

  He envisioned the lioness, imagined her lunging at him. He struck toward where she had been, then quickly turned his blade, predicting her next movement. But no matter how many times he tried, in his mind, she was always faster. Always a step ahead.

  Chase: Tch…

  His frustration mounted. He swung harder, faster, his grip tightening with every strike. He could almost see her grin, taunting him. It didn’t matter if it was real or just his imagination—he hated that it felt real.

  Then, in his impatience, he overextended. His footing slipped, and he staggered before crashing onto the soft grass below. He let out a breath, staring up at the sky as the adrenaline faded.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  For a long moment, he lay there letting the wind cool the frustration burning inside him. Then, finally, he let out a low sigh.

  Chase: This is no use… I’ll just go take on a mission.

  With that, he sat up, dusted himself off, and headed back toward town—his mind still haunted by the lioness who had bested him.

  Adventurer’s Guild

  Chase made his way back to the adventurer’s guild, his mind still replaying the events of the previous night. He had barely managed to get any rest—every time he closed his eyes, he saw golden fur moving too fast for him to react. Even now, the feeling of powerlessness gnawed at him. He needed to do something about it.

  Standing before the mission board, he scanned the available requests. His eyes settled on a monster hunt—something dangerous but not classified as a beast hunt. He plucked the notice from the board and approached the receptionist's desk.

  Chase: I’d like to take this one.

  The receptionist took the notice and glanced at it.

  Receptionist: Ah, this one’s above your rank. You know the guild’s policy, right? Adventurers can only take missions based on their classification.

  Chase sighed, expecting that response.

  Chase: Yeah, I thought so.

  He tapped his fingers against the counter, considering his options. The thought of waiting a whole week for the reevaluation session left a bitter taste in his mouth.

  Chase: The next session is in a week, right?

  Receptionist: Yes. If you want to take missions of a higher difficulty, you’ll have to wait until then.

  Chase: Got it. I’ll let this one go for now.

  He returned the mission notice to the board, but not before taking a longer look at the details. He memorized the location and the creature's description before picking another, more suitable request. After all, he didn’t want to draw suspicion.

  With his accepted mission in hand, Chase exited the guild. But instead of heading to his new objective, he took a different path—one that led him toward the monster’s last reported sighting.

  If the guild wouldn’t let him take the mission officially, then he’d just have to handle it his own way.

  The Monster’s Location

  Chase reached he monster’s location and carefully approached the cave, scanning the area. As he steps inside, the shadows within made it difficult to see anything clearly. He drew a breath, steeling himself for whatever lay ahead.

  The details of the monster hunt mentioned a small cave, and now that he was here, it seemed like the perfect hiding spot for the beast. His footsteps were quiet as he ventured deeper into the cave. But after searching for a few minutes, he realized something—there was nothing inside.

  Chase (to self): Guess it's not home.

  He turned and headed back toward the entrance, only to freeze in his tracks when something caught his eye. Blocking the mouth of the cave was the monster—the creature he had read about, its hulking form now fully visible in the daylight.

  A giant bear-like beast, its massive claws gleaming in the sunlight, the creature's fur was thick and dark, almost blending with the surroundings. Its eyes, wild and ferocious, locked onto him, and a chill crawled up his spine.

  Chase (to self): That's bigger than I thought!

  Before he could react, the monster lunged forward, its claws slashing through the air. Chase jumped backward, barely managing to avoid the swipe. His heart raced as he quickly assessed his surroundings. The cave offered no room to draw his sword and fight properly, and running back would just corner him.

  He had no choice but to move fast.

  The monster made another strike, swiping with its claws in a horizontal arc. Chase saw his chance—slipping past the creature, he darted toward the entrance, his mind set on escape.

  But just as he reached further outside from the entrance, his steps faltered.

  Chase (to self): Wait… this is what I did back then. When I saw that lioness.

  His body hesitated, his instincts fighting against him. The fear surged again, but this time, he forced himself to turn back.

  Chase (to self): W-what am I doing? I should run! I can’t defeat this thing! Not yet!

  The moment he turns his head back to the cave, the monster was already upon him. Its hulking form moved faster than he expected, and Chase barely dodged its massive claws by inches. His heart pounded in his chest, but he managed to keep his distance.

  Observing the creature, Chase noted that its attacks were slower than the lioness’s strikes, but the raw strength behind each blow was enough to crush him with a single hit. He had to be careful.

  For a while, he danced around the beast, narrowly dodging each swipe of its claws, his breath sharp with adrenaline. But then, when he thought he had a grasp of the monster’s movement, the unexpected happen.

  The monster’s claws came down again, and this time, it followed up with a second strike. The attack clipped his left arm, leaving a deep gash that sent a shock of pain through his body and sending him tumbling on the ground.

  Chase: (Grit) Damn it!

  Before he could fully react, the monster lunged at him pinning him down. Its jaws snapping open wide as it aimed for his throat. In that split second, instinct took over and Chase raised his left arm to block the bite. The monster’s teeth sank deep into his arm and the pain was intense, but at least it didn’t rip his arm off.

  Chase (to self): I need to end this!

  With his left arm pinned by the monster’s jaws, he used the moment to draw his sword. With a grunt, he stabbed it deep into the creature’s stomach right through its heart, the blade sinking into the soft flesh with a sickening squelch.

  The monster let out a roar of agony, its grip loosening as it staggered back. But it was too late. The monster fell to the ground, defeated.

  Chase stood up before collapsing to his knees, clutching his arm and panting heavily. Blood dripped from his wound, but he was alive. His mind raced with thoughts of the fight—he had survived, but only just.

  Chase (to self): That... that was too close.

  He stood slowly, wiping the sweat from his brow. And for a moment, he let himself process what had just happened. He had survived a battle with a monster, but the thought of facing something like the lioness again stirred a fear that wouldn't go away.

  Back at the Guild

  Chase stepped back into Windmere’s adventurer’s guild, his movements steady despite the faint sting in his left arm. He had already patched himself up after the fight, but the dull ache remained—a reminder of his reckless decision. Approaching the counter, he placed two things before the receptionist: the required proof for the official mission he had taken… and the severed head of the monster he had defeated.

  The receptionist’s eyes widened in shock.

  Receptionist: Wait… this is-!

  Before she could finish, Chase raised a hand dismissively, his voice carrying no pride, only exhaustion.

  Chase: Yeah, I know. Unauthorized operation…

  The receptionist’s shock quickly turned into a scolding glare.

  Receptionist: Do you even realize how reckless this was? There’s a reason why policies are in place! You were lucky to make it back in one piece! Regardless of the outcome, the guild cannot give you any reward for this mission.

  Chase sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

  Chase: It’s fine. I’ll just take the payment for the official mission I completed… I just delivered the head to let you know the monster’s been dealt with.

  There was a pause. Despite his words, there was something in his tone—something heavy. It wasn’t frustration, nor anger. Just… a quiet disappointment in himself.

  Chase exhaled, glancing to the side.

  Chase: ...And I won’t do it again.

  The receptionist softened, her frustration shifting into concern. She could see it—he wasn’t just being reckless. Something was weighing on him. Without another word, she pulled out a small voucher and placed it on the counter.

  Receptionist: Here… This will cover your medicinal supplies at the local shop. You’re going to need them if you keep making stupid decisions.

  Chase blinked at the unexpected gesture. He looked at her, then at the voucher, then back at her again.

  Chase: ...Thanks.

  He slips the voucher into his pouch. Without another word, he turned and left the guild, his mind elsewhere.

  The Present Time

  The memories faded, leaving Chase staring at the sleeping figure before him. The soft glow of the lantern cast gentle shadows across Selena’s face, her expression peaceful, unguarded. It was a stark contrast to the fierce huntress he had once feared.

  A quiet breath escaped him as he shifted on the floor, pulling his blanket over himself. His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Chase: Despite how everything started, I... appreciate your company, Selena.

  He instinctively reached out to pet Selena’s head. But realization struck him, and he quickly pulled his hand back.

  Chase: You’re quite a handful, you know? But it was fun having you around.

  With that he closed his eyes, exhaustion finally pulling him into rest.

  Chase: Good night, Selena…

  Across the room, Selena’s ears twitched. Though her body remained still, her lips curled ever so slightly into a faint smile. She had heard him. And for now, that was enough.