3. Strange Celestial

"Do you seek a swift death? Is that what you truly desire?" Aya questioned, her voice filled with concern. "That's the only explanation for your recklessness."

Asuka's frown deepened. "Leave me alone," she ordered, but Aya disregarded her words and moved closer.

"You know I will never let you go on this journey alone," Aya stated firmly.

"I'm aware," Asuka replied with a slight smile. "So just be quiet and follow my lead."

"Yes, sister," Aya reluctantly agreed, and they resumed their ascent up the hill. After about twenty minutes, they reached the summit.

Asuka scanned their surroundings, taking advantage of the elevated vantage point. Aya joined her, saluting the sun and searching for any sign of what they sought.

Suddenly, Asuka gasped, her attention captured by a glimmer in the distance. Aya grew concerned upon witnessing her sister's reaction. "What is it?" she asked anxiously.

"Look over there," Asuka said, pointing in a specific direction.

Aya's eyes widened as she saw it too. Deep within the forbidden territory of the Jinros, exactly what they had been searching for was visible—a whelp's nest. The unmistakable sparkle at its center revealed the presence of whelp eggs, which brilliantly reflected light when exposed. The scorching sun's rays caused the nest to emit a radiant glow that could be spotted from miles away on a typical hot day.

There were no whelps in the vicinity, which was a stroke of luck. It meant they wouldn't have to contend with the protective mother in order to claim the coveted eggs.

While Aya was still wide-eyed, Asuka dashed down the hill, determined to reach the nest as quickly as possible. She was aware of the forbidden territory she was sprinting into, but she believed speed was her safeguard.

"Damn it!" Aya cursed, watching her older sister race toward the nest. It was quite a distance away and would take several minutes to reach, even at their fastest speed.

Without a moment's hesitation, Aya propelled herself forward, matching her sister's pace. With every ounce of strength she possessed, she sprinted until she was side by side with Asuka, who glanced back at her with a lopsided smile.

"Took you long enough," Asuka remarked, increasing her speed, and Aya did the same.

They had been running for almost fifteen minutes now, gradually succumbing to fatigue. However, when they caught sight of the nest, its eggs shimmering brightly in the sunlight just ahead, it seemed as if their weariness vanished. They maintained their speed, driven by their determination to reach their coveted goal.

Neither of them had spared a moment to look back and check if they were being pursued, or to their sides to see if they were being observed. Their focus remained solely on the enticing prize that lay ahead. There was no room for distractions.

They were approximately fifty feet away from the nest when a sudden burst of bright light illuminated the surroundings, followed by a thunderous boom that propelled both sisters backward, causing them to fly several feet through the air. Their ears rang from the deafening noise as they collapsed to the ground, clutching their heads and shaking off the disorienting effects. Gradually, the ringing subsided, and they lowered their hands, brushing off the sand and grass that clung to their clothes, their chests heaving with exertion.

Asuka turned her attention to Aya, rushing toward her younger sister with outstretched arms. "Are you alright?" she inquired, concern etched on her face.

"Never been better," Aya responded, allowing her big sister to help her up.

"What was that?" Asuka asked, her eyes scanning Aya's form to ensure she was unharmed.

"No," Aya replied, feeling that Asuka's focus should be elsewhere as she pointed to the spot where the explosive sound had originated. "What is that?"

It was as if a massive bolt of lightning had struck the area, but not a single cloud could be seen overhead. Yet, something even more peculiar caught their attention amidst the resulting crater.

Nestled within the dusty depression lay a figure that resembled an elf but possessed distinct features. The strange being, unconscious yet alive, differed from them with its small, rounded ears, round face, deeper skin tone, and unwebbed hands and feet. It appeared to be male, sharing similarities with elves while also exhibiting subtle differences. Although fully grown, it stood slightly shorter than an average adult elf.

The two sisters briefly exchanged glances before redirecting their gaze to the enigmatic stranger before them.

"The Jinro don't look anything like this, do they?" Aya questioned, and Asuka shook her head, still catching her breath.

"So, what is it?" Aya pondered.

"I'm just as clueless as you, sister," Asuka replied, taking a deep breath.

Their attention remained fixed as the dissipating smoke revealed the stranger in full view. A mix of curiosity and embarrassment washed over Aya when she realized the individual was unclothed, while Asuka's lips curled into a smile.

Unable to contain herself any longer, Aya averted her eyes, while Asuka swiftly removed her outer cloak and draped it over the exposed form of the mysterious being lying before them.

Aya continued to avert her gaze while Asuka eagerly retrieved the precious egg. With a few swift steps, she finally grasped it, a radiant smile illuminating her face. The long-awaited prize was finally in her hands. This would provide them with enough funds to live comfortably for several months, no longer reliant on meager meals of pheasants and rodents.

Asuka stared at the egg with a mixture of satisfaction and hunger, relishing the triumph of her achievement. She briefly glanced around, savoring the sight of her prized possession, before carefully placing it inside the bag she had brought along. Securing the bag to her shoulders like a backpack, she turned to find Aya still captivated by the mysterious creature.

"Come on, sister, let's go," Asuka urged, ensuring her belongings were secure.

Aya remained fixated on the stranger lying between them. "Are we just going to leave him here?" she questioned.

Surprised, Asuka raised an eyebrow and shook her head. "Why are you suddenly concerned about this stranger? Do you even know who or what it is?"

"He's a he," Aya replied. "He's male."

Asuka frowned, raising her hands in disbelief. "Are you joking, Aya? You don't even know this person, yet you're already attached to him?"

Aya countered, "And yet, you covered him with your clothes. If that doesn't show that you care about him, I don't know what does."

Asuka chuckled. "So, what's your plan? Are you suggesting we bring him along with us?"

"Of course," Aya affirmed, her gaze still fixed on the stranger now cloaked by Asuka's outer garment. "We can't just abandon him out here, can we?"

Shaking her head, Asuka exclaimed, "What are you talking about? Have you lost your mind? Let's get out of here! We need to go, N—"

Mid-sentence, Asuka froze in her tracks, causing Aya to glance at her with curiosity. Then, following her sister's gaze, Aya turned to discover the source of the sudden interruption.

Before them stood one of the creatures they had been desperately avoiding, a male Jinro. The sudden commotion had likely caught his attention, drawing him to their location. If not for that unforeseen event, they might have escaped unnoticed.

The creature possessed the typical characteristics of a Jinro—a muscular body covered in fur, four sharp claws adorning each limb. His fur enveloped his entire body, except for his neck and frontal torso. His face resembled that of a wolf, with wide, upright ears and bright yellow eyes. Standing tall on two powerful legs, he towered over them, measuring more than nine feet in height.

The Jinro held a significant physical advantage over elves, making it foolish for even two elves to confront one. A squad of five might stand a chance, but the odds were still uncertain. Aware that attempting to flee back to elven territory would only result in the Jinro catching up with them, the sisters chose to stay put. Besides, even if they managed to evade capture, they had already violated a crucial agreement between the elves and the Jinro, leading to grave consequences for their kind. All three of them understood the gravity of the situation.

The Jinro took notice of the unconscious stranger lying on the ground but paid him little attention. Perhaps he would investigate once he had dealt with the elves.

"Well, well," the Jinro spoke, taking a deep breath. "You've just broken the contract your people made with us. You know what that means, don't you?"

Realizing resistance was futile, the sisters unsheathed their swords and armed themselves with shields, their breaths heavy with anticipation.

"I love you, Aya," Asuka whispered, accepting the near-inevitability of their impending demise in this confrontation.

"I love you too, Asuka," Aya whispered back, each of them assuming their fighting stance. This only elicited a harder laugh from the Jinro.

"How noble of you. No wonder my brother found your race so fascinating," he mocked, lowering himself to all four limbs. The fur on his back stood on end, and his eyes widened. Opening his mouth, he growled, revealing his razor-sharp teeth.

His muscular mass seemed to increase, bulking up his already imposing figure. Now standing over six feet tall on all fours, saliva dripped from his mouth as he growled at them. The blue glow of his eyes intensified.

It was clear that this creature thirsted for blood. Despite knowing their slim chances of survival, the elves took a deep breath, determined to face their fate with noble resolve.

Both sisters let out a resounding battle cry as they charged towards their enemy, the Jinro advancing upon them like a predator ready to tear its prey to shreds.

In a clash that seemed destined for their demise, an unexpected turn of events unfolded. Just as the Jinro lunged with its jaws wide open, ready to sever a limb upon contact, a foot swung from behind, striking his head with tremendous force, sending him hurtling several feet away.

The Jinro spun through the air several times before crashing to the ground, still bewildered by the unexpected blow he had received.

With their intended target vanishing into thin air, the two elves found themselves sprawled on the ground, struggling to regain their footing and comprehend what had just transpired. As they looked up, their frowns turned into surprise at the sight before them. Standing there was the enigmatic stranger, donning Asuka's cloak, which somehow brought a faint smile to her face.

Concern etched on his face, the stranger extended a helping hand towards the sisters. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine worry.

Before they could respond, their attention was diverted by the growl emanating from the injured Jinro. To their astonishment, the creature was struggling to rise several feet away, blood trickling from its mouth. The unexpected kick had evidently broken its jaw, leaving its face slightly disfigured.

Without hesitation, the wounded Jinro rose to all fours, hurtling towards the stranger with relentless determination. Its gaping mouth poised to tear him apart in one bite. Seizing Asuka's sword without seeking permission, the stranger swiftly thrust it into the beast's upper jaw. Utilizing the momentum, he spun the creature around, pinning it down by the sword piercing its head and into the ground.

And that was it.

The Jinro lay motionless on the ground, wriggling for a few seconds before succumbing to death, its blood pooling around it.

The stranger turned back to the sisters, his breaths heavy and labored. "Are you all right?" he inquired, his voice tinged with exhaustion.

Aya and Asuka briefly exchanged glances before nodding in response. They observed the stranger, now slumping to the ground, his hands supporting his weight from behind, clearly spent.

Once again, the two sisters locked eyes before redirecting their attention towards him. "Still no idea who this person is?" Aya asked, curiosity lacing her voice.

"As I said before, I'm just as clueless as you are," Asuka replied, a note of intrigue in her words.

Aya noticed the stranger's breathing growing even more strained, each inhalation accompanied by a groan. Moments later, he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

"Is he alright?" Aya voiced her concern.

"Is that even a question? He just lost consciousness, and you're asking if he's okay?" Asuka retorted, promptly rising from the ground to assist him. "That brief fight must have taken a toll on him. Come on, lend me a hand."

To Aya's surprise, Asuka approached the stranger, supporting him by the shoulder and draping one of his arms over her own.

"Come on," Asuka beckoned. "Why are you just standing there, staring at me?"

"I thought you didn't care about him," Aya teased, a playful grin appearing on her face.

"If it weren't for him, we would have been torn to shreds by now. I can't just abandon him here, and we need to depart before another Jinro discovers us," Asuka replied firmly. "Now, are you going to help me or not?"

"I'm just messing with you", Aya replied, and Asuka arched a brow wondering how she could be so sarcastic at a time like this.

Aya draped the stranger's other arm on her shoulder. "Let's get out of here."