Chapter 4

Rian sprinted through the undergrowth, ignoring the dry branches snapping beneath his expensive shoes, which were beginning to tear apart, while his eyes remained fixed on the flashes of crimson and gold moving between the trees ahead of him.

"Wait! Damn it, wait!" he shouted, his breathing growing increasingly ragged.

The bird flew low, moving at a moderate speed as though deliberately keeping its distance so Rian could continue following it. Every time he thought he was about to catch it, the creature would dart a little farther away before landing on a low branch, tilting its head, and staring at him with unusually intelligent black eyes.

"Are you mocking me?" Rian muttered, wiping the sweat trickling down his forehead.

His expensive clothes were now in tatters from the exhausting pursuit. The silk shirt that had made him look like a prince only a few hours earlier was torn in several places after getting caught on thorny branches, while his trousers were covered in mud and his usually well-gelled hair had become a disheveled mess, with tiny leaves caught between the strands.

Although exhaustion was beginning to take its toll, Rian refused to abandon the chase because something inside him would not allow him to give up. Perhaps it was because he had already lost so much in his life and needed something to prove that he could still control his circumstances, or perhaps it was the strange feeling he had experienced from the very beginning, as though the bird was deliberately luring him deeper into the forest.

The creature eventually landed on a large, moss-covered boulder and remained there, staring at Rian with an expression he could not quite interpret. Its gaze reminded him of someone testing another person's abilities, as though the bird were deliberately giving him an opportunity to approach.

"Okay, okay, I've almost got you," Rian whispered as he crept forward, carefully placing each step to avoid startling the bird into flying away again.

When only a few meters separated them, Rian could finally examine the bird's extraordinary plumage in greater detail. The crimson and gold covering its body was unlike any ordinary combination of colors, as each feather seemed to emit light from within, resembling living flames, while strange patterns across its wings formed ancient symbols he had never encountered before.

Yet what fascinated him most were the bird's eyes, which possessed a depth and intelligence far beyond what he would have expected from an animal. Something about its gaze made Rian feel as though he were facing a creature with its own consciousness rather than an ordinary wild bird that had somehow wandered into the forest.

"What kind of bird are you?" he whispered when his hand was only a few centimeters away from its body.

The bird opened its beak and produced a sound unlike any ordinary birdsong. It resembled the delicate ringing of tiny bells intertwined with the whisper of the wind and the gentle trickling of water, creating an eerie melody that sounded so ancient it was almost impossible to describe.

Strangely enough, for a brief moment, Rian felt as though he understood the meaning behind that sound, as if the bird were communicating something that only he could comprehend. However, before he could make sense of the peculiar sensation, the creature spread its wings and shot into the air at a speed far greater than before.

"Hey!" Rian shouted in frustration. "Get back here!"

Ignoring his cries, the bird flew farther into the deepest part of the forest, an area Rian had never explored. The region was known to be disputed land that had never been developed because of its steep terrain and numerous ravines, prompting most people to avoid it rather than risk getting lost in its depths.

Rian hesitated when he noticed the trees growing denser and the light filtering through the leaves gradually fading, while the air against his skin felt colder than before. The distant sounds of vehicles and the usual bustle of the city had completely disappeared, leaving only the rustling wind and the beating of the red bird's wings, which seemed to call him onward.

But I've already come this far. If I stop now, all my efforts will have been wasted. I have to catch that bird and get something valuable out of this, Rian thought before continuing forward with his jaw clenched.

---

The farther he ventured into the forest, the more difficult the journey became, as enormous trees grew so densely together that their thick canopy blocked out the afternoon sunlight. Rian had to push branches aside with his hands, avoid protruding tree roots, and leap over slippery, moss-covered rocks to keep himself from falling.

The red bird continued flying ahead of him, always within sight but never close enough to catch. Its movements were so graceful that it seemed to dance between the trees, while the crimson and golden shimmer of its feathers remained the only thing he could easily distinguish as the surrounding forest grew darker.

"Where exactly are you taking me?" Rian asked hoarsely after spending nearly all his energy running.

Of course, the bird offered no answer that a human could understand, but it continued in the same direction, occasionally landing on a branch or a rock before taking flight again whenever Rian came close.

Exhaustion gradually overwhelmed Rian's body, leaving his legs aching and his breathing increasingly labored, while the distance he had traveled made him uncertain whether he could find his way home without difficulty. Even so, he continued following the creature because an inexplicable urge made it difficult for him to stop, as though the pursuit had become something far more significant than simply capturing an exotic bird.

After nearly an hour of running, although Rian had already lost track of time, the bird finally stopped at the edge of a small clearing surrounded by ancient trees. At the center stood an old stone structure, its weathered appearance making it difficult to determine how long it had been there.

Rian slowed his pace and tried to catch his breath before examining the structure a few meters ahead of him, only to realize that it was an old well.

The well was constructed from large stones arranged in a circle, rising approximately one meter above the ground. Moss covered most of its surface, while several stones had cracked with age and exposure to the elements. There was no roof, rope, or bucket to suggest that the well was still in use, only a dark opening at its center that seemed to swallow the surrounding light.

The red bird perched on the edge of the well and stared at Rian with the same peculiar gaze, strengthening his suspicion that it was no ordinary creature. He approached the structure cautiously, sensing a change in the surrounding air, which had suddenly grown colder and heavier, as though something invisible were stirring within the well.

"Why did you bring me here?" Rian asked, turning toward the bird.

The creature offered no answer, instead flapping its wings once before circling the well in a smooth, deliberate motion. Its flight resembled a dance, as though it were performing some kind of ritual connected to the dark opening at the center of the ancient stone structure.

Curiosity eventually overcame his hesitation, and Rian moved closer until he stood directly at the edge of the well before leaning forward to peer inside. However, the darkness within was so absolute that he could not see the bottom, even after allowing his eyes several moments to adjust.

Although he saw nothing, Rian sensed something inexplicable coming from the depths, like a subtle force drawing his attention while a faint whisper called to him from somewhere beyond the reach of his vision.

"Come down..." A voice sounded inside his mind, so faint yet clear enough to make him freeze. "Come down, and you will find what you seek."

Rian immediately stepped back, his heart pounding as he struggled to determine whether the voice had genuinely come from the well or whether exhaustion was beginning to play tricks on his mind.

This is insane. I need to go home before something terrible happens, he thought, glancing toward the trees he had passed through earlier.

However, his determination to leave gradually weakened when his attention returned to the red bird, which was still circling the well, its shimmering feathers resembling tiny flames dancing in the darkness of the forest.

A thought suddenly crossed his mind, overpowering the fear he had been trying to ignore. If the exotic bird lived somewhere around the well, perhaps its nest was hidden inside the opening, along with eggs that could fetch an enormous price on the black market.

The prospect of making a substantial amount of money made Rian forget the strange occurrences he had just experienced. The greed and materialism that had dominated his life for so long resurfaced, driving him to pursue profit without considering the dangers that might await him.

"I have to get that bird," he muttered, staring into the dark opening. "Whatever is down there, it can all be mine."

Without giving the risks any further thought, Rian began climbing down the well's stone wall, using the gaps between the circular stones to support his weight. The surface was slippery with moss, but he managed to find several sturdy places to grip before slowly lowering one leg into the opening, searching for a foothold that could support him.

"Just wait, you damn bird," he grumbled, gripping a stone above his head.

He continued lowering himself little by little, relying on the strength of his hands to keep him from falling while his feet searched for footholds along the narrowing stone wall. The well was far deeper than he had anticipated, and the farther he descended, the thicker the darkness became, accompanied by damp air that smelled of wet earth.

Rian began struggling to see the next foothold, but he continued anyway because he felt he had already come too far to return to the surface empty-handed. He only realized his mistake when the stone supporting his hand suddenly shifted, causing his grip to weaken.

"Ah!"

Rian's scream echoed through the well as his hand failed to find another hold and his foot slipped from its foothold. In an instant, he lost his balance and fell away from the stone wall, unable to do anything to save himself.

He plunged into the seemingly bottomless darkness as the well's walls slipped beyond his reach and his screams continued echoing among the stones.

Rian kept falling, farther and farther from the surface as it gradually disappeared from view, until nothing remained before his eyes except the darkness swallowing him whole.

And then—