Carmen had been asleep for a while now and I was sitting in the driver's seat of the carriage scanning the area. This was the first time I'd been able to assess my body and senses since breaking out of the dungeon. For starters I was as tall as the carriage itself and my muscles were like chiseled stone. I'd been big before taking Warrior's Might but now it was on another level. And I felt solid, like my flesh far more dense than it had any right to be. All my senses we're better too. It was a partly cloudy night and the moon was waxing and nearly gone but I could see almost as well as I did in daylight. I could hear every leaf rustle in the faint breeze for what seemed like at least a kilometer and feel the individual grains in the wood of the log I was sitting on. It was like nothing I'd ever experienced.

  Unfortunately I could also smell myself like a tracking hound too. Nearly two weeks in a dungeon without a wash and being covered in a fair bit of blood lead to a smell that would make a ghoul dive into a pool of holy water to escape. I'd wiped myself down as best I could with a kerchief and some water I found in the supplies a little while ago but it didn't help as much as I'd hoped.

  I was scanning the woods all around and heard nothing, which is why I was surprised to look down and see a solid white cat sitting on the log next to me. I was startled but managed to keep from shouting while the cat continued to sit and look at me like I was supposed to perform some kind of trick for it. It didn't flinch at all when I'd jerked.

  "Hey there kitty kitty. You're very pretty." I put my hand out for it to sniff. It did so and stood up and rubbed it's side against my hand so I gave the good kitty pets. Now that I was petting it I noticed it wasn't a cat but a kitten, just a very large kitten. It's eyes were a startling sapphire blue and it had oversized paws it hadn't grown into yet. As I ran my hand down its back I felt two little bumps on either side of its spine just behind its shoulders. Odd.

  Suddenly the kitten looked into the woods and jumped down, heading toward a tree. I hadn't noticed anything but the kitten had. It prowled up to a root with a gap under it then pounced onto the hole, sinking one paw inside. I heard a high pitched squeal and the next second the kitten pulled out a barkhide chipmunk. It bit down onto the chipmunk's neck and crunched. I heard it's little neck snap and it went limp. The kitten then turned and trotted back over to me with its prize, sitting about a meter away as it began to eat it's midnight snack.

  "Fierce little hunter aren't you. Where did you come from anyway?" It just sat there eating and ignoring me so I pulled up the notification I'd gotten when I touched the kitten.

  Mimic activated: Choose one of Juvenile Abfelia's skills to target: Stealth, Prowl, Hunting, or Soul Sense.

  Those all sounded useful except Soul Sense. I pulled up the skill to see what it did.

  Soul Sense: Detect souls within one meter of you per level.

  Very useful. I took it immediately and capped it, choosing perks that would be helpful in assessing enemies.

  Threat Assessment: Determine the approximate level of a soul you focus on.

  Threat Assessment: Determine the exact level of a soul you focus on.

  Threat Assessment: Determine the number of skills possessed by a soul you focus on.

  Threat Assessment: Determine the skill names and levels of a soul you focus on.

  Threat Assessment: Determine the full Personal Status of a soul you focus on.

  Incredible. I took the other three skills as well since the kitten was just sitting there. It kept me company after it finished eating and grooming itself. It appeared to be female, though it was hard to tell with young cats sometimes. We kept each other company until dawn, me softly talking to the kitten and her allowing me to provide her with pets and a soft lap to lay in. Pretty soon the sun was rising and Carmen popped open an eye.

  "Where did you find a kitty?" She sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes before coming over to meet my new friend.

  "I don't know, she just showed up not long after you fell asleep. She kept me company all night. She's very sweet." I continued stroking her back just behind her head. She sat up and allowed Carmen to pet her too.

  "She's gorgeous. Have you heard the story of these woods?" She looked at me with an excited smile.

  "Only that it has to do with some spirit I think, I was never that curious."

  "The Abfelia Woods were named after the Abfelia, which means white spirit cat. A family of them supposedly lives in these woods, driving off evil spirits and keeping the heart of the woods sacred. Do you think she could be one? I've never seen a cat like her and she's just a kitten."

  "I don't know, maybe? Why would she be out here at the edge of the woods if they live all the way in the heart of the woods though? And a kitten without it's momma all night? Surely not." It didn't make sense to for a kitten to be alone unless the momma had been killed, but I wasn't gonna say that.

  "Who knows, spirits are difficult to understand. An adult is supposedly 4 meters long with wings and stands 1.5 meters at the shoulder. Their beauty is legendary but no one has spotted an adult in over 100 years." She had a wistful look as she said that last bit.

  The kitten suddenly tensed and looked toward the path we'd taken from the road with her fur standing on end. A few seconds later I heard someone running through the woods.

  "Someone's coming." I stood up and placed myself between the sound and Carmen.

  "It may be Caera. She's supposed to be back soon."

  Caera burst out of the woods at a sprint. "Run, they're right behind me!"

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  I picked up the pack we had kept, handed it to Carmen then picked her up and ran knowing she'd be too slow to outpace our pursuers in the woods. The kitten ran with us as I heard what sounded like several men behind us hot and heavy. There was no time to talk as we ran deeper into the woods. I figured the kitten would be heading to safety so I sort of followed it. When it veered one direction, I followed. We ran on and on and I was thankful the woods gave us enough cover so that arrows would be a worry.

  We kept going and I heard Caera stumble beside me. She didn't fall but I could tell she was on her last legs. Shed been running far longer than we had. With no other choice I draped Carmen over my shoulder before grabbing Caera by the back of her shirt and putting her over the other.

  "What... are you... doing?!" She huffed deep breaths as she spoke.

  "Saving us hopefully." I had been running at a full sprint for 10 minutes now and wasn't even breathing hard yet. A Con of 333 was no joke. I ran for another 30 minutes before all sounds of pursuit stopped. I came to a stop breating heavy but not fully winded and set the ladies down.

  "What are you?" Caera asked having caught her breath.

  "Healthy. And apparently fairly fast." I smiled, glad I could help.

  "Fast isn't the word for it. You kept up with me and I have Lightning Speed and Running both early in the third tier.

  "Oh really? I need to take that when we're not being chased."

  "Take it?" She looked confused.

  "I'll tell you later. Carmen are you alright? She was holding the kitten who was still panting from our flight.

  "I'm fine thanks to you. I'm not nearly as fast as the trackers father would've sent and I would've been caught easily. What happened Caera?"

  "They tracked the carriage to the village. I'd made it there and sold the carriage and horse but they came before I could get away. I hopped on one of the horses and ran but they lamed it with arrows and spells just before I made the woods. The rest you saw."

  So we're being pursued by trackers?" I asked.

  "And a full contingent of the royal guard. That's why they were able to keep up as long as they did. High level, highly trained soldiers specializing in tracking and capture."

  "They'll have a healer too. Father would want to make sure we're captured. What we know is too dangerous and they'll be back on their feet by now. We need to move."

  The kitten jumped down and took a few steps before stopping and turning to look at us.

  "I think she wants us to follow her. I sort of followed her lead as we ran and that worked out, plus we don't have a better plan. We don't have to run but if they have trackers then we need to hurry."

  We followed the kitten through the woods as they kept getting thicker. We traveled for two hours like this and we could barely see a meter or two in front of us by the time we reached a break in the trees. We stepped into a large clearing that could have doubled as another world. The trees took on a light blue glow around us, giving the area a mystical feel and made it seem like twilight even in the middle of the day. A huge rocky outcropping stood in the center of the clearing with a cave entrance in it shaped like a scar slanting to the right. In front of this entrance stood a giant white cat with wings and most likely the kitten's momma.

  We stopped, stunned as the kitten walked up to it's mother and rubbed against her leg as the mother leaned down to clean her kitten.

  "I knew it!" Carmen whisper yelled.

  (Hello travelers.)

  "Who said that?" Caera asked as we all looked around.

  (Calm yourselves. My name is Almana, the spirit beast in front of you.)

  The large cat, Almana, was looking straight at us while her kitten laid down lazily at her feet.

  "You are the Abfelia who rules these woods?" Carmen asked with respect and reverence in her voice.

  (I am a protector, not a ruler although I am the strongest being in these woods. As these wood's protector I see all that happens within it. The soldiers still hunt you though they will not be allowed in this clearing.)

  "We thank you for that Lady Almana. We are fleeing my father the king and he has sent men to retrieve us. Do you know of a way we could shake their pursuit?" Carmen sounded like the princess she was, regal and powerful.

  (To lose those sent after you by the king? Only one. Inside this cave is what you call a Challenge Realm. Once entered and cleared fully you may choose to exit from any Challenge Realm entrance in any of the human lands.)

  "Cleared fully? All ten sections? I've never heard of a team clearing past the eigth section. Is this the only way?" Carmen looked pale, lime she was staring death in the face.

  (I'm afraid so. Even now more and more soldiers flood these woods. I sense one among them that shares your noble blood. He's heading straight here as if he can sense you. I can delay him but not stop him.) Almana looked off behind us, as if she could see those after who were coming.

  "My brother, prince Ferdin. He'll be able to track you Cid. Me as well. Anyone with a trace of soul magic in them he'll feel if he's looking for it. We have no choice, we'll have to defeat the Challenge Realm." She held her chin up, as if deciding that since it had to be done we would obviously succeed.

  "What's the problem with clearing a Challenge Realm. Don't teams clear them all the time?" At least I'd always heard they did.

  "Not even close. Usually they only clear up to the fifth section then return the way they came. They get progressively tougher as you go along."

  "Oh. We'll just have to do better than them then. I'm pretty capable now and you ladies are not slouches either. We can do it." And I was fairly confident we could. I was super strong and tough. I could just plow through most things. Probably.

  "You're right. We can do this. Lady Almana we thank you for your protection and guidance. Could you show us to the entrance?"

  (Certainly. You have good hearts, that's why Luna was drawn to you.) Almana looked down at her kitten.

  "Her name is Luna? Can she speak as you do?" Carmen asked.

  (She is still too young. Perhaps in another month or so. She understands you perfectly though. She likes that the big one called her pretty and fierce.)

  I laughed. "I only spoke the truth. She'll be very mighty once she's grown."

  (... She says she wishes to join you.) Almana let out a low rumble I could feel in my chest.

  "Isn't she too young to be away from you yet"

  (Normally I'd agree but she wishes to bond with you. Bonding with a spirit beast is a rare thing few get to experience. She's already adopted you as her own and will not be swayed. If harm comes to her because of you however I will rend your soul from your flesh.)

  I swallowed hard. "Understood. If harm comes to her it will only be because I am already dead."

  (Good. She will go into the Challenge Realm with you then. She will not be able to iniate the bond until she is able to speak with you. When she does simply follow her instructions. You will both gain greatly from bonding. Treat each other well.)

  Almana turned and went into the cave with Luna at her heel and we all followed. Thirty meters into the cave there was a shimmering blue portal, the same color as Luna's eyes. We stopped in front of it and turned to Almana.

  "Thank you for guiding us and for entrusting us with your kitten." Carmen said with a bow of her head.

  (She chose this herself. I would have liked for her to stay with me for a time yet but she's made her choice and she's weaned. Take as much as you can from the trial before you. There is danger but also much you could gain.) Having said her piece Almana turned and walked out of the cave as we turned to look at the portal.

  "We're going to die in there." Caera added helpfully.

  "Don't be so negative. We are capable and we can do this." Carmen admonished her friend.

  "Cid is capable, maybe, but we are far too weak to get past the second section."

  "Well then Cid can protect us. Let's go." Carmen walked into the portal without another word and I was right behind her.

  Caera looked down at Luna. "They're overconfident to the extreme, you know that right?"

  Luna hissed at her and stepped through.

  "I'm the only realistic one here then? Fine. Let's follow the crazy people." With that she stepped through.