The air was calm as we walked down the small dirt road toward the village. The evening sky was orange and soft winds carried the scent of flowers. Lyra walked beside me, quiet, her tail slowly swaying behind her.
She wore my hoodie like it was a treasured cloak, holding it tightly with both hands.
"Are you okay?" I asked gently.
She nodded. "Yes… I'm just nervous. It's been a long time since I went near humans."
> [Note: Forest Dragons were once hunted by humans. Many avoid villages or use magic to hide.]
"Don't worry. You've got me now," I said with a smile.
She looked up at me, eyes glowing faintly. "I'll try to be brave… for you."
---
We reached a small wooden sign by the path. The letters were glowing faintly.
[Welcome to Auralis – Traveler's Haven]
The village was surrounded by tall wooden fences. A few watchtowers stood near the gate. It looked peaceful, not too big, and not too busy. A couple of kids played near the edge of the fields, and an old man was watering glowing plants.
"This is a border village," I said after checking the [World Archive]. "They trade with travelers and are friendly with demi-humans."
Lyra tilted her head. "So they won't be scared of me?"
"Maybe surprised… but not dangerous."
Still, to be safe, she pulled the hood over her horns and used her tail to wrap around her waist like a belt.
"I don't like hiding who I am," she whispered, "but if it helps us blend in…"
---
We walked through the open gate.
A young guard glanced at us but just gave a nod. "Welcome, travelers. If you're looking for a place to stay, check the green-roofed inn in the center."
"Thanks," I replied.
No questions. No inspection. It was surprisingly smooth.
> [Note: Auralis has a "Traveler's Policy" – Newcomers are treated with basic trust unless proven dangerous.]
Lyra looked around, amazed by the buildings, the lamps powered by magic stones, and the mix of humans and beastfolk walking together.
"This place feels… warm."
---
We reached the inn.
It was small, with ivy on the walls and wind chimes hanging at the entrance. A sign above read: [The Whispering Leaf Inn]
Inside, a kind-looking woman with fox ears greeted us.
"Oh! New faces," she said cheerfully. "I'm Mira, the owner. Looking for a room?"
"Yes, just one," I said. "We'll share."
I paused, realizing how that might sound.
Lyra's face turned red. "W-We're not… like that…"
Mira giggled. "Don't worry. I've seen all kinds of pairs pass through here."
She handed me a small wooden key with a leaf symbol.
"Room 3, upstairs. Bath's down the hall. Dinner's served at sunset. You both look tired—rest up."
---
The room was simple but cozy. A large window let moonlight in. Two beds sat side by side with clean white sheets.
Lyra stepped in and sighed with relief. "This is nice…"
She sat on the edge of one bed, then glanced at me shyly.
"…Thank you. For everything today."
"You're welcome," I said, sitting on the other bed. "Today was just the beginning."
She looked down, fingers brushing the soft sheets.
"…I've always been alone. Other dragons… they kept their distance. I'm different because I care about the world around me. I like humans… plants… stories."
I listened quietly. It was the first time she opened up this much.
"You're not alone anymore," I said.
She smiled softly.
Then lay down, pulling the blanket up.
"Goodnight, Minato."
"…Goodnight, Lyra."
---
> [Bond Level: 7% → 12%]
[Trust increasing. A special event may trigger soon.]
That night, I fell asleep with a strange feeling in my chest—not fear, not confusion… but something warm.
A new world, a dragon girl, and a path only we could walk together.
The morning sun peeked through the window, warm and soft.
I stretched slowly in bed, still feeling the comfort of real sleep. After yesterday's chaos—getting sent to another world, saving a dragon girl, and arriving in a peaceful village—it felt like a dream.
But it wasn't.
I looked over and saw Lyra sitting at the window, her hood still on. Her green hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her horns were hidden beneath the cloth.
She turned to me with a smile. "Morning, Minato."
"Morning," I replied. "Sleep okay?"
She nodded. "Yes. I had a dream… but this time, it was a good one."
---
After breakfast, we went downstairs. The inn's main room was full of energy. Travelers, villagers, and beastfolk were talking cheerfully. Bright ribbons and paper lanterns hung from the ceiling.
Mira, the innkeeper, waved to us.
"You two picked a great time to arrive," she said. "Today is the Festival of Stars."
"Festival?" I asked.
She laughed. "You really are new here. Once a year, the people of Auralis celebrate the day when a star fell and blessed our land. It's said that the fallen star brought peace and light magic to the forest."
> [Note: The "star" was actually a rare mana crystal that purified the corrupted forest 200 years ago.]
"There'll be food stalls, music, and sky lanterns at night. And yes, couples can walk together under the lantern sky. It's tradition."
Lyra looked away, her cheeks pink.
"I-It's not like we're a couple or anything," she mumbled.
Mira winked. "Of course not."
---
The village square was beautiful.
Colorful flags danced in the wind. Kids ran with glowing balloons. People in robes and beastfolk in festival clothes walked together, sharing snacks and playing small games.
Lyra stayed close to me. She was clearly amazed.
"I've never seen so many different races together," she whispered. "They're not fighting… just living."
"Looks like this village is different," I said. "They actually respect each other."
> [Note: Auralis is protected by an old peace treaty between humans and demi-humans. Any violence inside the village results in instant banishment.]
We tried some festival food: grilled fish on sticks, honey fruits, and sweet rice buns.
Lyra especially liked the fruit.
Her tail swayed happily behind her as she ate, though she quickly stopped when people looked.
"You can be yourself here," I said.
She smiled. "I'll try… but I'm still shy."
---
As the sun began to set, a gentle bell rang from the village center. Everyone slowly gathered in the open square.
A large elder with a long white beard and deer-like antlers stepped forward. He wore a silver robe with glowing blue threads.
"Welcome, friends, family, and travelers," he said in a calm voice. "Tonight, we remember the star that fell and gave us peace. And we send our wishes to the sky, hoping for another year of harmony."
The sky dimmed, and villagers lit small paper lanterns with mana flames—tiny magical lights that floated.
One by one, the lanterns rose into the air.
Hundreds of soft lights drifted up, glowing gently against the dark sky.
"Wow…" Lyra whispered.
She held a lantern, her hands careful.
"Do you want to make a wish?" I asked.
She nodded slowly.
We stood side by side, holding our lanterns. I thought for a moment, then whispered, "I wish to learn more about this world… and protect the ones I care about."
Lyra looked at me, her eyes wide. Then she turned back to her lantern and whispered softly,
"I wish… to stay with him."
The lanterns floated up, joining the others in the sky.
> [Bond Level: 12% → 22%]
[Hidden Event Triggered: "First Shared Wish"]
[You have gained the passive skill: Shared Spirit Link (Lv. 1)]
You and Lyra can now sense each other's emotions at a faint level.
---
Later, as we walked back to the inn, Lyra held onto my sleeve.
"…Minato?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. I think I'm starting to like this world. Even if I have to hide sometimes… I'm glad you're here."
I smiled.
"You're not alone anymore, Lyra. We'll explore this world—together."
The next morning, sunlight poured through the window. I sat at the small wooden table in our room, looking at the map the inn gave us.
Lyra stood nearby, brushing her long green hair. Her horns poked out a little, but she kept her hood low.
"We can't stay in this village forever," I said. "If we want to learn more about this world… we have to start exploring."
Lyra nodded. "But… is it safe out there?"
"That's what we'll ask Mira."
---
Downstairs, Mira was cleaning tables. She looked up and smiled.
"Good morning, you two. Did you enjoy the festival?"
"It was amazing," I said.
Lyra nodded shyly. "Thank you… for everything."
Mira grinned. "You're welcome. So, what brings you down so early?"
"I was wondering… is there a place near here we can explore? Somewhere not too dangerous. I want to learn about this world. But I don't want to put Lyra in danger either."
Mira thought for a moment, then walked over to the counter and pulled out a rolled-up map.
She spread it across the table.
> [Note: The map is a local region chart. It shows nearby forests, ruins, rivers, and monster zones.]
"This village, Auralis, is here," Mira said, pointing at the center. "If you want to explore without facing strong monsters, I suggest going northwest, toward the Glade of Whispers."
"Glade of Whispers?" I asked.
She nodded. "It's a quiet forest area with lots of rare herbs, glowing plants, and friendly spirits. The monsters there are weak—mostly slimes, forest rabbits, and mana bugs. They won't attack unless provoked."
Lyra looked interested. "What about the land itself? Any danger?"
"None," Mira said. "It's flat and open. Perfect for beginners. Some guilds even use it to train new members. But watch out near the riverside—sometimes, a sneaky water sprite might try to steal food."
"Good to know," I said, noting it on the map.
> [New Area Discovered: Glade of Whispers]
[Difficulty: Low]
[Recommended for: Beginners, Gatherers, Healers]
"There's also an old spirit stone in the center of the glade," Mira added. "Some say it's a forgotten relic. You might want to take a look."
I raised an eyebrow. "A relic?"
"No one's ever activated it. But it reacts to high mana… maybe someone special could unlock it."
Lyra glanced at me, then quickly looked away.
---
We packed our things lightly: water, bread, dried meat, and a few potions Mira gave us for free.
"I'll prepare a room for when you come back," Mira said with a smile. "And be careful. The forest may be calm, but it still belongs to nature."
We thanked her, then set off.
---
The path to the glade was peaceful. Birds chirped in the trees. Soft wind brushed the grass. Even Lyra, who was usually nervous, looked more relaxed.
"Minato," she said, walking beside me, "thank you… for bringing me."
I smiled. "We're partners now, right?"
She blushed slightly. "…Right."
We followed the trail deeper into the green.
> [Quest Activated: First Exploration]
Objective: Explore the Glade of Whispers
Optional: Investigate the Spirit Stone
And so, our first journey began.
Not to fight monsters…
But to understand this world.