Running was all I could do. I had failed. I couldn't return to the Sanctuary after I had failed the mission, dooming Umbra Forest.

With a laugh, Aryth the Malevolent felled the last of my party pets. My face contorted in a mixture of shock and aguish. Jinxie, on the other hand, looked at me, eyes filled with dread and fear.

"You were brave, I'll give you that. So, I now offer a new proposal," the remaining two Aryths said in unison.

"What?" I questioned. I was more focused on my pets than Aryth. I was trying my best to help my first party pet, a blue Sylvorpa named Elisia. I had her mouth open and was pouring into it a revival drought.

Aryth smirked as he began to answer, "I will revive your pets, and give you whatever supplies you might need in the future. You in turn, will leave the Umbra Forest and never return. You will also give me all your other pets to be my loyal servants. If you don't agree, you die."

Against all instincts, I had agreed. I had no more life as a hero. I was a failure of a soldier. I was slowly falling through a spiral of doom.


So, I was running. Out of shame, fear, and disappointment. Jinxie had left me after telling me I had shamed myself and my pets.

I knew I'd be letting my pets free soon. I truly had nothing to live for. My few possessions meant nothing. My pets were helping me survive only for a week. It breaks my heart to have to let them go.

But maybe once set free, they can remember all the good things they've done. It was not their fault I was a failure, and maybe one day, when my name is long forgotten, they will find peace and forgiveness from my sins. For I had brought them into a spiral of doom.