After their harrowing encounter with the Demon King's minions, the trio continued their journey. However, darkness had already enveloped the land, and the next village lay too far ahead. Deciding it was unwise to press on, they veered into the roadside forest to pitch their tent. After a brief exploration of the surroundings, they chose a spot near the sound of rushing water, ensuring they would have a fresh source to replenish their supplies. Before long, they retreated inside to rest.
Though they had initially wanted to stay up and talk, physical exhaustion claimed them completely. They decided to call it a night, crowding into a single tent that felt rather cramped for three people. Fortunately, all three felines were male. Tonight, Puluna felt exceptionally lucky; Lima had allowed him a hug as a reward for standing his ground against the demonic lackeys. Even though Puluna was a Guardian of the World Tree, he was still just a kid in Lima's eyes, and Lima felt a strong duty to act as his protective older brother.
Inside the quiet tent, Betax slept with his back turned to Lima, who lay flat on his back. Clinging to Lima's left side was Puluna, wrapping his arms around the mountain lion with a face full of pure bliss.
When morning arrived, piercing beams of sunlight filtered through the tent's crevices. Lima opened his eyes, the crisp, dewy scent of the morning air striking the mountain lion's nose. He carefully lifted Puluna's arm, placing it gently back down into a resting position, and slipped out of the tent in absolute silence to avoid waking the others.
Wanting them to sleep as soundly as possible, Lima set up a pot outside to prepare a simple morning stew. Once the pot was ready, he strolled toward the water source he had heard the night before.
Along the way, the delicate, melodic strumming of a stringed instrument echoed through the trees. Lima grew slightly tense, wary that it might be another one of the Demon King's minions. He hadn't brought his sword with him, but he wasn't entirely consumed by fear. If it's someone with hypnosis magic, then I'll worry, he thought to himself.
As he drew closer, the music grew louder. Parting the thick bushes, he stepped into a clearing and found a grey wolf. The stranger possessed a soft, pale-yellow undercoat and was gently plucking a lyre—a compact, ancient harp. He wore a flowing cloak and a strangely shaped winged hat.
Sensing Lima's approach, the wolf stopped playing and turned his gaze toward him.
"Oh, I didn't realize anyone else was around," the wolf said warmly, offering a welcoming smile. "If you'd like to hear more, please, feel free to take a seat."
Observing him closely, Lima judged that this person didn't harbor the dark aura of a demonic minion. He stepped forward, dunked his canteen into the water until it was full, and then turned to address the stranger.
"I don't have time to idle away listening to your tunes, minstrel," Lima replied bluntly. "I just came to fetch water and leave... By the way, what are you doing out here? Begging for coins or something?" Although Lima usually ignored the wandering bards frequently seen in cities, curiosity pricked him enough to question the grey wolf.
Looking closer, Lima noticed a distinct yellow stripe stretching from the wolf's forehead right down the bridge of his nose. It gave him an exotic appearance, setting him apart from ordinary wolf beastmen.
"Haha! I am merely a wandering minstrel searching for inspiration across the lands," the wolf laughed heartily, revealing his cheerful disposition. "I intend to travel to the village just up ahead."
Hearing that their destinations aligned caught Lima by surprise.
"What a coincidence," Lima muttered. "I happen to be passing through that village as well. If that's the case, you might as well tag along with us."
At those words, the wolf's eyes lit up with excitement. He leapt forward and vigorously shook Lima's hand. "Thank you so much, kind traveler! I was desperately looking for a traveling companion. It gets dreadfully lonely walking by oneself! I would love to join you!" The wolf chattered on without a pause, as if he hadn't spoken to a living soul in days.
"Hold on," Lima interrupted, pulling his hand back. "I'm not doing this out of charity. You'll have to pay your share. Consider it a hiring fee for safe passage." Lima said this fully expecting the wolf to refuse, which would give him a perfect excuse to chase the annoying canine away.
Instead, the wolf grinned and pulled out a reasonably plump coin pouch. "As it happens, I make a decent living from my music, so you needn't worry about that," he said playfully before slipping the pouch back into his knapsack.
"Ah, right. My name is—" Before the wolf could introduce himself, Lima stood up and turned his back, cutting him off.
"Save the introductions for the rest of my group. And the name's Lima."
The wolf felt a flash of irritation at being interrupted during such a crucial moment, but he kept his smile intact. Swiftly packing his belongings, he rose and followed closely behind the mountain lion. "Sir Lima, who exactly are you traveling with?" he asked, trying to break the ice as the swordsman led the way.
"What's it to you? They're my companions, that's all you need to know," Lima fired back, unwilling to forge a deep bond with a stranger. To him, this wolf was an outsider who required no confidential details.
The minstrel could only offer a dry, helpless laugh. He certainly hadn't expected to encounter such an unapproachable character right off the bat.
When they arrived back at the campsite, they found Betax already stoking the campfire, while Puluna was helping chop vegetables in Lima's absence. Their teamwork had significantly accelerated the breakfast preparations.
"Mmh. Thanks for the help, you two," Lima said, stepping into the clearing. "I'll take over from here. Also, this is a new companion who will be joining us temporarily." Lima gestured toward the wolf standing behind him, presenting him to the two felines.
"Greetings, fellow travelers! My name is Tandal. I am a wandering minstrel," Tandal announced gracefully. "I look forward to journeying alongside you all."
Betax gave a casual wave of acknowledgment, while Puluna stared at the newcomer, a sudden wave of familiarity washing over him. Wait... he looks exactly like Senior Tanda from my old world! Puluna realized in astonishment.
However, he chose not to mention the uncanny resemblance. Remembering how poorly it had gone when he abruptly brought it up with Betax, he didn't want to be perceived as strange. Instead, he flashed a bright smile and greeted him warmly.
"Hello, Mr. Tandal! It's a pleasure to meet you. Ah, you're a minstrel, so that means you can play music, right? I'm Puluna!" Puluna's eyes sparkled; Tandal fit the exact image of the legendary bards he used to read about in fantasy novels, the ones who traveled the world strumming lutes.
"We can worry about the music after breakfast, kid," Betax chimed in, turning his gaze toward the wolf. "The name's Betax. Not that it matters much, since we'll go back to being strangers after this journey anyway."
Tandal offered Betax a friendly, amiable smile before steering himself to sit right next to Puluna, sensing intuitively that the young boy was the most approachable person in the entire party.
"Breakfast is on me today, minstrel. But you're on your own for future meals," Lima stated firmly as he began pouring water into the pot. He added the ingredients—fresh meat, carrots, onions, and various spices purchased from the last city—before slamming the lid shut to let it boil.
"Thank you kindly," Tandal replied, before turning his attention back to the boy. "Say, young Puluna, you seem remarkably interested in music. Do you enjoy listening to it, or do you play an instrument yourself?" Tandal inquired warmly, as it was rare for a wandering bard to find someone who shared his passion along the road.
"Oh, I actually love playing the piano! My mother is a professional pianist, you see, so I've always wanted to follow in her footsteps," Puluna shared enthusiastically.
The moment the word 'piano' left Puluna's mouth, Tandal's eyes widened in sheer disbelief, while Lima's face instantly drained of color. Lima furiously gestured with his eyes, frantically signaling Puluna to shut his mouth.
"Eh?! The piano?!" Tandal gasped, leaning in. "That means you must be from an incredibly noble lineage, Master Puluna! Wow, I suppose I should be addressing you as Young Lord Puluna!" Tandal grabbed Puluna's hands, treating the mention of the instrument as something utterly magnificent.
Sensing the danger, Betax immediately gripped Puluna's shoulder, dragging him away from Tandal to speak with him privately in hushed tones.
"I don't know what kind of world you came from, kid, but don't you realize that pianos are strictly an luxury reserved for the highest nobility in this world? Blabbing about it like that is going to make people mistake you for some high-born aristocrat, just like that fellow Chiron!"
Realizing his blunder, Puluna instantly clapped a hand over his mouth. He genuinely hadn't anticipated that a casual comment could cause such a misunderstanding. In his original world, pianos were expensive, but not exclusively tied to royalty. In this world, however, he was supposed to be a mere Druid; there was no logical way he could ever afford or even gain access to such an elite instrument.
"What should I do then? I'm a terrible liar," Puluna whispered anxiously to Betax.
Betax sighed heavily. "Fine, just say this..." he whispered an excuse directly into Puluna's ear.
The young mountain lion nodded in understanding. But when he turned back to face Tandal, who was still staring at him with starry, expectant eyes, the lie caught in Puluna's throat. He couldn't bring himself to say it. Sighing defeatedly, he turned and bowed his head to Betax, silently apologizing for failing to execute the plan.
"That's none of your business anyway. Quit asking so many questions," Lima intervened sharply, having watched the entire ordeal play out. He cut off the conversation before Tandal could pry any further into Puluna's background.
"Haha, my apologies," Tandal chuckled nervously, immediately reeling in his excitement under Lima's stern glare.
Puluna then took his seat beside Tandal once more. "You really don't have to call me 'Young Lord' or anything like that, sir. Just Puluna is fine. As for the piano... well, that was many years ago, long before I became a Druid, Mr. Tandal," Puluna lied softly, blending a bit of truth into it. He truly did miss playing the piano and the keyboard; it had been his passion since childhood up until the very day he was summoned to this world.
"To be honest, I still really want to play it again," Puluna murmured, gazing up at the morning sky as he envisioned himself standing on a grand stage, just like his mother.
Puluna's mother was a world-renowned, prestigious pianist. Ever since he was a young boy, Poon had chased that dream, treasuring every single moment they spent playing duets together. Now, trapped in this unfamiliar world, the best he could do was press his fingers against an imaginary air keyboard in his mind.
"You really miss it, don't you? You possess the true soul of a musician, Puluna," Tandal said softly, his voice full of genuine empathy. "I'm certain that the day will come very soon when you'll get to play the piano again. I believe in you."
Hearing Tandal's comforting words, Puluna felt a blush creep onto his cheeks. Tandal's cheerful and uplifting demeanor brought a genuine, radiant smile back to the boy's face.
Watching them from across the fire, Betax leaned toward Lima and muttered, "Those two sure get along fast."
Lima glanced at them briefly before ladling the freshly cooked stew into their portable wooden bowls. He handed one to Betax. "Let them be. Take this, finish your food quickly, and we'll hit the road immediately."
Betax took the bowls and distributed them to Puluna and Tandal. After a hearty breakfast, the four of them packed up their camp and returned to the main dirt road to resume their trek.
"Our next destination is a small village. We'll rest there, drop this wandering mutt off, and then press onward to the city of Rosso," Lima explained, consulting his map to outline the path ahead.
Upon hearing that he was going to be left behind, Tandal muttered a faint, dramatic "How cruel..." under his breath, causing Puluna to burst into a quiet fit of giggles.
"We don't have a carriage, so we're traveling on foot. I assume that won't be an issue for a bard like you?" Lima asked, looking back over his shoulder as he maintained the lead.
"Haha! I have absolutely no problem with walking," Tandal replied cheerfully. "Besides, even if my legs give out, if a carriage passes by, I can just ask them for a lift."
Betax raised an eyebrow skeptically. "And who in their right mind would willingly give us a ride? Out here, people only look out for themselves."
In response, the wolf slickly drew a lute from his bag and struck a beautiful, enchanting chord for the three of them to hear. "With the magic of music, anything is possible~"
As he spoke, their journey became accompanied by a soft, melodic soundtrack drifting through the wilderness. Although Lima initially snapped at Tandal to stop because it was distracting, Puluna pleaded to let him keep playing, so Lima eventually relented and let the music flow.
Puluna happily hummed along to Tandal's tunes. Suddenly remembering something, he jogged up beside Lima and whispered, "Hey, Brother Lima, did you know that in my world, you actually know how to play the guitar too?"
The moment he finished speaking, Lima delivered a swift, gentle flick to the boy's forehead.
"I am nothing like that 'brother' of yours from your world," Lima grunted, a hint of annoyance clipping his tone. "The only thing I know how to do is fight. So don't go expecting me to have any interest in whatever a 'guitar' is."
Lima's irritation stemmed from being constantly compared to Puluna's real brother. Even though he knew there was no biological relation, these comparisons sparked a bizarre, uncharacteristic frustration within him. He vigorously shook his head to clear his mind and steady his temper.
Tandal simply chuckled at their dynamic, finding their brotherly bickering quite endearing. Shifting his attention, Betax turned to talk to the wolf instead.
"So, why exactly are you heading to the village ahead anyway?" Betax asked, figuring it was better to converse with the stranger since the duo upfront were wrapped up in their own world.
Tandal was more than happy to answer. "Ah, so you guys don't know yet? The village we are heading to is called Vtáčí. It is known far and wide as the Village of Music! Every nook and cranny of that place is filled with people singing and playing instruments together. A legendary composer once resided there. For any bard, visiting Vtáčí at least once in their lifetime makes the entire journey worthwhile."
Hearing this, Betax nodded absentmindedly. "So it's like the ultimate dream for musicians, huh?"
Tandal nodded enthusiastically. "What about you, Mr. Betax? What is your dream?"
The question caught the cheetah off guard. He blinked, a faint, distant memory flashing across his mind. "My dream... well, I suppose... Hey! Who in their right mind would blab their dream to a stranger?!" Betax suddenly barked, snapping at Tandal.
The wolf burst into a massive fit of laughter, finding the cheetah's defensive reaction absolutely hilarious. "My apologies, haha!" Tandal laughed so hard he clutched his stomach, causing Lima and Puluna to look back. Soon, the entire pathway was filled with the echoing sound of their collective laughter.
After walking for several hours, a sprawling settlement finally materialized in the distance. It was large enough that calling it a town wouldn't be an understatement. As they crossed the threshold, they observed wooden houses featuring vermilion-tiled roofs that had faded over time due to weathering. Other dwellings were thatched with muted yellow straw, worn down by prolonged exposure to the sun and wind.
Standing prominently at the center of the village square was a magnificent fountain, adorned with numerous bird sculptures—fitting for a village whose name literally translates to 'Bird'.
Along the streets, merchants and townspeople were conducting their daily business as usual. However, Tandal suddenly stopped, his expression shifting into something unusually grave.
"Something is wrong..." the wolf murmured.
The party surveyed their surroundings. Betax quickly caught onto the anomaly. "You said this place was supposed to be filled with singing and music, but it's completely silent. It's way too quiet."
Tandal nodded grimly, confirming Betax's suspicion. Driven by curiosity, Tandal walked up to a nearby merchant stall. "Excuse me, sir, I heard this was the village of melo—"
The moment Tandal stepped into the light, the merchant's eyes widened in horror. He pointed a trembling finger at the wolf and shrieked at the top of his lungs.
"Aaaagh!!! A musician! There's a musician right here!"
His piercing cry instantly drew the hostile glares of the entire village toward Tandal.
"My, if it's an autograph you want..." Tandal began, but before he could finish his sentence, the townspeople began hoisting pitchforks and wooden rakes, brandishing them menacingly at the wolf.
Sensing immediate danger, the three felines reacted. Lima swiftly scooped Puluna up into his arms and barked an order to Betax, pointing toward the stunned wolf. Understanding the cue perfectly, Betax dashed forward, slammed a white smoke bomb onto the cobblestone floor, and grabbed Tandal.
"Move it, wolf!" Betax hoisted the bewildered bard over his shoulder and bolted before anyone could react.
The angry mob roared, pursuing Betax as he carried Tandal through the twisting, labyrinthine alleys filled with various crates and obstacles. Fortunately, both Betax and Lima were highly experienced in evading pursuers, making it easy for them to navigate the clutter. Yet, the villagers pursued them relentlessly, refusing to lose their trail.
As they burst out of a narrow alleyway, a woman spotted them, pointed directly at the group, and screamed, "Over there! It's that wicked musician! We must capture him at all costs!"
The phrase 'wicked musician' echoed uncomfortably in the minds of the four fugitives.
Pantingly, Betax managed to gasp out a question while sprinting with Tandal on his back. "Hey! Did you commit some kind of heinous crime here?! Why are they chasing us like this? Are you some kind of outlaw?!"
Tandal yelled back instantly, "Never! This is my very first time setting foot in this village, and I don't have a single bounty on my head!"
Betax knew that much was true. Having deep ties to the underground bandit networks, he was well aware of the prominent bounties in the region, and Tandal's face had never appeared on any wanted posters.
"What on earth is wrong with these villagers?!" Puluna cried out from Lima's arms.
"Save the questions for later! Right now, we need to find a place to hide before we're surrounded. Betax, head down that way!" Lima commanded, steering them into another corridor.
They darted into an exceptionally deep alley, only to realize too late that it led to a dead end. High stone walls loomed on their left and right. Behind them, the heavy, chaotic thudding of the villagers' footsteps drew terrifyingly close. Just as they seemed entirely out of options, a muffled voice echoed from beneath their feet.
"Down here, quickly!"
Looking down, they saw a trapdoor swung open, revealing a black-furred cat beastman. She frantically gestured for them to climb inside. With no other alternative, Lima and Betax quickly ushered Puluna and Tandal down into the hidden passage. Betax swiftly reached up, pulling the trapdoor shut and locking it just in time.
They found themselves in a dimly lit basement filled with piled crates and various supplies. Tandal and Puluna were finally set down, and the four of them turned their attention to their mysterious savior.
The young feline female was dressed like a pink forest hunter. Upon closer inspection, her distinct features revealed her to be a black panther. She immediately pressed a single index finger to her lips, signaling them to remain absolutely silent.
They held their breath as the muffled shouts and heavy footsteps of the angry mob vibrated through the ceiling above. After two to three agonizing minutes, the noise finally faded into the distance.
Once she was certain the coast was clear, the panther girl turned around to face the group. "Alright, they're gone. You can speak freely now."
The party let out a massive, collective sigh of relief, as if they had been holding their breath for an eternity.
"Thanks for the save," Betax breathed out, shaking off the tension. He examined the female, noting the purple-brown leather armor she wore and the recurve bow slung across her back—a classic marksman setup. "Who are you, anyway? And what the hell is going on out there?"
"My name is Io," she introduced herself calmly. "I'm an explorer surveying different regions, but I ended up trapped in this village, just like you guys."
"I'll guide you out of this sector first. Let's head to our primary safehouse," Io added, gesturing toward a tunnel branching forward.
They followed her through the subterranean pathway until they reached a hidden mechanical door that opened upward. Io pushed it open and led the way out. As they climbed out after her, they realized they were standing behind a wooden counter inside what appeared to be an amulet and charm shop.
There, sitting behind the counter, was a face that Puluna recognized instantly.
"Hmm? Ah, you're back, Io. And welcome, Guardians of the World Tree," a middle-aged man spoke up. He possessed a peculiar, mystical aura and offered a knowing smile, leaving Lima and Betax utterly bewildered by how he knew their secret titles.
"Mr. Epsilon!" Puluna cried out in shock.
He could never forget this man; Epsilon was the very person who had bestowed the Guardian of the World Tree necklaces upon them.
"Haha! It is wonderful to see you again. The moment I laid eyes on those sacred necklaces, I knew it was you," Epsilon chuckled warmly. His gaze then shifted past the felines, locking onto the grey wolf standing at the back. "And that goes for you as well... Tandal, the legendary bard of the Singing Raven."
He pointed a finger at Tandal, plunging the entire room into absolute astonishment. How could such bizarre coincidences occur? What dark secrets plagued this village, and how would this mystery unfold?