At Yvlena’s words, the young man allowed himself to release the breath he held anxiously. If anything happened, Yvlena and her summons would e to his aid, of that he was sure.

  His attentio back to the foxes, still cirg them like prey. At any moment one or both would fly straight at them, most likely with the io go for the throat.

  Dyn gripped his sword, nodding grimly at the situation before him. His eyes drifted towards the Foxes’ hostile expressions, snarlih barred at him, ready to snap shut with him caught between their jaws.

  As if tired of their versation, the Foxes lu, they’re no match for Rabbit Knight who attacks with a swift blow to the more daring of the two.

  [Rabbit Knight Cast Ssh (03MP)]

  With just one blow, the Rabbit nded a critical hit, dispatg the fox instantly. With how many bosses he had fought, it would be ughable if forest critters gave him or Sprite any trouble now.

  Dy at the other fox, against Yvlena’s warning. She huffed, growing annoyed with the NPd praying Risel would not act the same way when they ventured into the more dangerous Verdant Woods.

  “Sprite, help him out.” Yvlena ordered urgently. If Dyn wao tackle this himself, she would help him not get hurt in the process.

  The Forest Sprite saluted and rushed at the Fox, bsting it with Stings.

  [Sprite cast Sting (01 MP)]

  Dyn swung his sword in a wide ard with Sprite’s help leaving the Fox distracted, he sshed his bde against its side, wounding it fatally.

  The Fox yowled in pain, nearly retreating before Dyn nded another blow. The Fox disappears in fkes of light allowing Yvlena and her party to collect their rewards.

  “Good job.” Yvlena says more out of relief than any other emotion. At least she knew he could take care of himself with minimal supervision. She watched him pump his fist in the air, cheering at his victory over the harder enemy.

  The elf folded her arms in thought, the only sub quest left in this area would be to kill a boar for Laurent. Level-wise it wouldn’t be a problem the only thing she would have to worry about was...Dyn.

  She focused her attention on him again, now he swung his sword recklessly the way a child would with a toy.

  “I’m not going to get mad at an NPC for having fun in his world.” Yvlena said to herself. She reached for her head and found the ce dress of her summon. “Oh Kuti, I fot you were there.”

  The doll made a rattling hat Yvlena assumed to be ughing. It brought a smile to her face. She could breathe easier in Moon Valley, the rigors of the real world couldn’t get her here aher could the people.

  Yvlena shuddered at the thought of iing with petitive pyers, she had been on the forums enough to see how they spoke to each other.

  “Yvlena what are you thinking about?” Dyn asked, he was done swinging his sword around and now stood beside her, waiting for the both of them to tih the quest.

  “Killing a Boar.” She said turning towards the path that would lead to the old traveler's temple.

  “Oh.” Dyn gasped somberly. Yvlena didn’t uand his rea sidering he might try to lu it.

  “Just be careful alright, the temple is up .” She said.

  ----------

  The statue of Selendriel greeted Yvlena at her arrival at the temple. She smiled wistfully at the face of her mother, now an asset within the game she loved.

  She noticed Dyn perf a gesture and bowing his head to the statue. It made sehese were the gods of Bloom Haven after all.

  “I’ve only heard of this p mom’s stories.” Dyn said.

  [The Departed Request a Prayer]

  The game prompted her.

  Yvlena already knew she would o say some words for Lilian after her discovery.

  “Would you like to go inside? I would like to say a prayer for someone.” Yvlena said already walking towards the battered doors of the temple.

  “O-Of course.” Dyn stammered, following behind her into the stone building. He gasped i the structure left to rot in the forest. He watched Yvlena approach the altar and csp her hands together. He joined her, saying a prayer for the people in his life.

  [You Prayed for Lilian]

  [You Prayer for Rael]

  “Rael.” Yvlena whispered. It sunk in that he was dead when Bavga implied that two Harvest Guardians could currently. “What happeo you?”

  If she hadn’t takele, would Rael still be alive somehow?

  [Your prayers have been heard by the temple]

  [Your prayers bring you peaind, Full Health to party]

  Once again a shimmer rained down upon Yvlena and her party. She wondered if Dyn could see it too, but reasoned an NPC wouldn’t be able to sense a game meic like that. She turned back to the young man who was slowly opening his eyes after the prayer.

  Dyn seemed dazed and Yvlena wao ask him if he was alright, but he was already walking towards another part of the temple to gaze at the statues of Vaelindor and Selendriel.

  While ruihey retaiheir inal beauty and Yvlena was hard pressed to say anything about him expl. It had probably been a long time since he left Bloom Haven, if at all.

  Yvlena followed his line of sight to the faces of the stone carvings that graced the insides of the ruiemple. Her gaze softened as it fell on the goddess. She approached it, her feet g dead leaves as it did.

  Dyn stood beside her in deep ption, he gazed up at the goddess’s face, searg.

  “I found Twy’s locket here actually.” Yvlena told him. Dyn snapped out of thought and turo her with an expression of surprise.

  “So she did make it through.” Dyn whispered so lowly he thought Yvlena couldn’t hear him.

  The elven girl pretended she didn’t hear him. Yvlehe hope in his tone, she wondered if Dyn thought about Twy ing back to Bloom Haven. It was unlikely giveate of her quest but maybe.

  Yvleed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

  “We o head to the Outpost now.” She said softly. Even if this partiPC was a bit of a hassle with his recklessness, she had grown fond of him.

  Her words snapped Dyn out of further thought, he her and followed her out of the temple bato the Forest’s Depths.

  "We have to gh the Outskirts before we reach the outpost." Yvlena informed him already on her way to the area. She stopped herself from going any further until she was sure Dyn was a foot behind her.

  Once she was satisfied with his proximity, she and her summons parted the bushes and emerged at the Bloom Haven Outskirts.

  “Breathe that fresh air.” Dyn said inhaling deeply. Yvlena giggled beside him but uood his excitement.

  Suddenly Dyn ran forward into the wide space of the Outskirts, Yvlena growled, knowing the dahat y ahead, and chased after him.

  “Stop doing such dumb things!”

  Sunghost