Falling into the Lake

A dim yellow flame stubbornly pierced the heavy darkness, swaying forward in the night breeze. Though faint, it was enough to serve as a striking beacon in the ink-black night.

"Awooo—"

Several mournful wolf howls echoed around them, surging in overlapping waves from all directions.

"Buzz—"

Answering them was a sudden, blinding burst of blue light in the darkness. Countless ice spikes shot out of the ground like spring bamboo shoots, instantly reshaping the surrounding terrain into a thorny jungle forged of solid ice.

Under the eerie, pale moonlight, the ice spikes gleamed with a piercing chill. Warm blood froze before it even had a chance to hit the ground.

A thick scent of blood slowly began to permeate the air.

"Whimper—"

The wolves' howls changed their tune. Their previous ferocity was replaced by terrified and pained whimpers, sounding rather listless and pitiful.

Aina slowly lowered her staff.

Liyana blinked and asked, "Aina, when we were in the snowfield, you used ice magic because the ice elements were more active and it was hard to start a fire... but now that we're back, why aren't you using the fire magic you're best at?"

Aina shot Liyana a glance, too lazy to answer such a stupid question.

"Hey! We're surrounded by a jungle, and the weather is so dry and hot right now. If a fire starts, it'd be deadly," Moke explained to Liyana, unable to stand her ignorance.

Liyana tilted her head in thought. "Oh! Then if a fire starts, couldn't she just put it out with ice magic?"

"Are you an idiot? That's why it's better to just deal with the enemies using ice magic from the very beginning!" Moke's mouth twitched. Trying to communicate with this brainless fool was truly maddening.

"Oh!" Liyana looked as if she had just experienced a great revelation. "That makes sense."

Xia Lun handed a bulging leather waterskin to Aina.

"I don't want water." Aina shook her head.

"It's sweet fruit wine, want a taste?" Xia Lun shook the waterskin, the soft sloshing of liquid sounding from within.

Only then did Aina take the waterskin from Xia Lun's hands. "Thank you."

"No need to be so polite between us," Xia Lun chuckled softly.

Aina popped open the rubber stopper with a pleasant, soft pop.

She lifted her gracefully contoured swan-like neck and carefully took a sip. She frowned slightly at first, but her brow quickly relaxed.

"How is it?" Xia Lun asked attentively.

"It's good, though it's a bit strong." Aina wiped the corner of her mouth and handed the fruit wine back. Her aloof little face showed no change whatsoever.

"Fruit wine? Where did that come from? I want some too!" Hearing their conversation, Liyana immediately leaned in.

"It's a gift Mr. Sander sent over after we completed his merchant guild escort commission last time," Xia Lun replied.

After helping Mr. Sander catch the phantom thief who had been harassing his daughter, they had collaborated with the Wings of Dawn several more times.

He was generous and trusted them, so their relationship had naturally grown closer over time.

"Be careful, don't drink too much. This wine is different; it's very easy to get drunk on," Xia Lun warned Liyana.

"Hah, are you looking down on me? I've never been afraid of anyone at the tavern!" Xia Lun's words only provoked Liyana's competitive spirit. She raised the leather wineskin and guzzled down several large mouthfuls.

It was true that Liyana had never feared anyone at the tavern... Mostly because she spent the majority of her time bragging. She could boast all night and still barely finish a few glasses of alcohol.

Moreover, what she usually drank was just weak, low-alcohol beer.

"Hah! It's sweet, so good!" Liyana praised. "How could anyone get drunk on wine this sweet... hehe! Hic~"

It didn't take long for a layer of red to quickly creep up Liyana's face, and her head began to sway unsteadily.

"Xia... Xia Lun, stop moving around. All this swaying is making me dizzy..."

Xia Lun: ...

"What a troublemaker." Moke sighed helplessly. Grabbing Liyana by the back of her collar, he dragged her over and tossed her into the carriage.

"Ehehe, Moke, you've turned into a whole bunch of people too! When did you learn the cloning technique..." Liyana babbled drunkenly.

"None of your business," Moke replied irritably.

"So mean, Moke, learning a cloning technique without me... Ehehe! I know, is it because you think you can't handle a little bunny by yourself, so you plan to use your clones to take turns..." Liyana seemed even more inappropriate than usual when she was drunk.

"Bastard..." Veins bulged on Moke's forehead, and his fists cracked as he clenched them, fighting back the urge to drag the drunkard out and beat her to a pulp.

He would deal with this idiot once she sobered up.

With Liyana in this state and the hour growing quite late, the group decided to find a place to rest for the night.

There was a lake up ahead with a flat patch of land beside it, so the members of the Wings of Dawn settled down there.

The cool evening breeze swept across the lake, rippling the reflected river of stars. The fragmented light on the water looked as if it had been sprinkled with crushed crystal powder. Countless fireflies danced leisurely in the humid air, their specks of faint green light decorating the lakeside night like disturbed stardust.

After tidying up a bit, Xia Lun leaned against a sturdy ancient tree, his longsword resting within arm's reach.

After setting up a magic array to repel mosquitoes and bugs, Aina quietly walked over and sat closely beside Xia Lun, their shoulders almost touching.

Liyana was already fast asleep in the carriage. Musen found a dry patch of grass nearby and lay down, while Moke leaned against a large boulder with his arms crossed, resting his eyes.

"Do you want to drink some blood?" Xia Lun turned his head slightly.

Aina remained silent for a short while, but eventually, her little head leaned in, and she bit gently into Xia Lun's neck. Although it hadn't been seven days yet, since Xia Lun offered, she wasn't going to refuse.

The beautiful scenery before them truly needed some sweet blood as an embellishment... at least, as far as Aina was concerned.

"Ah! Little beauty... wait for me!"

A strange cry suddenly rang out from the lakeside, ruining the picturesque atmosphere.

Aina looked up in a bit of a panic, and Xia Lun nervously tugged at the clothes on his chest, seemingly terrified that their companions might see what they were doing. They looked exactly like a couple of sneaking, illicit lovers.

"Was that voice just now... Liyana?" Aina asked Xia Lun softly.

"Probably." Xia Lun nodded.

"Splash—"

The sound of someone falling into the water came from the direction of the lake.

Xia Lun's expression changed, and he immediately got up and rushed toward the lake.

"What happened?"

Moke and Musen also noticed the commotion and hurried over.

Without a moment's hesitation, Xia Lun dove straight into the lake.

A moment later, Xia Lun swam back to shore, hauling an unconscious Liyana.

An innocent fish fell out from Liyana's collar, landing on the ground and flopping about wildly, looking very lively.