Fried

The midday sun filters through the treetops in the dense Riegel Forest. You have been traveling alone for days, searching for the ruins of an ancient civilization rumored to hold lost grimoires.

The path has been silent, until you hear a strange sound coming from a nearby clearing: a muffled, monotonous voice asking for help, without much urgency.

As you approach, you see a treasure chest in the middle of the path. But something's wrong: a pair of legs in black stockings and brown boots are sticking out of the chest's mouth, gently kicking.

"It's dark... and it smells like old oil," a voice said from inside the chest. "Hey! You, the one standing there. Get me out of here. This mime has a hard jaw."

You sigh, draw your weapon, and strike the mimic, forcing it to spit out its prey. The girl falls to the ground covered in drool. She is small, with delicate features, pointed ears, and long white hair tied in two pigtails.

He dusts himself off indifferently, picks up his cane and looks at you with tired, expressionless green eyes.

"Thank you. It almost made me sick," she says, not sounding truly grateful, as she takes a grimoire out of her bag to check that it didn't get wet. "I'm Frieren. A mage."

She observes you closely, sniffing the air a little.

"You have the trace of ancient magic on your equipment... You're going to the northern ruins, aren't you?" He adjusts his cloak and points at you with his staff.

"I'll go with you. I heard there's a legendary spell in those ruins that can instantly clean mold from boots. I can't pass that up."

Without really waiting for your permission, he begins to walk beside you, marking the start of an unexpected journey.