<b>The</b> winds of Ventosca had calmed after their battle with the monster, but Willie and Ghoida’s journey was far from over. The storm-ravaged terrain stretched endlessly before them, with jagged cliffs and floating islands glowing faintly in the twilight.


    Willie walked a few paces ahead, scribbling notes in a battered journal. His mud-splattered coat flapped behind him as he mumbled calculations under his breath. Ghoida followed, her sword resting on her shoulder, a bemused smile playing on her lips.


    "You know, Willie," she said, "for someone so brilliant, you sure have a talent for looking ridiculous."


    He glanced back, pushing his glasses up. "Ridiculous or resourceful? We’re alive because of my ‘ridiculous’ plans, in case you forgot."


    "True, but I think the mud bath was optional," Ghoida teased.


    Willie huffed but didn’t respond, focusing instead on the strange markings etched into the nearby rocks. The carvings resembled the sigil they had encountered earlier, but these were older, worn down by time.


    “Do you think these markings are connected to that monster?” Ghoida asked, leaning closer to inspect them.


    “Absolutely,” Willie replied, his tone serious. “They’re part of something bigger—something ancient. If we can decipher them, we might learn more about why monsters exist in the first place.”


    Ghoida frowned, tracing the symbols with her gloved fingers. “It’s weird, though. These monsters don’t seem like mindless beasts. That one we fought… it felt like it was protecting something.”


    Willie paused, considering her words. “Protecting… or guarding? Either way, we need to figure it out. These sigils are the key.”


    Their conversation was interrupted by a low, rumbling sound. Ghoida immediately drew her sword, her eyes scanning the surroundings. “Tell me that’s just your stomach.”


    “It’s not,” Willie said, his voice tight. He pointed to the cliffs ahead, where a massive shadow was moving through the mist.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    The creature that emerged was smaller than the one they had faced earlier but no less menacing. It had a sleek, serpentine body, its scales shimmering like polished obsidian. Its eyes glowed an eerie green, and its movements were unnervingly fluid.


    “Another one?” Ghoida groaned, stepping into a defensive stance. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”


    Willie’s voice was steady. “Stay focused. This one’s different—faster.”


    The serpent hissed, its body coiling as it prepared to strike. Ghoida charged, her sword flashing in the dim light. She aimed for its head, but the creature moved with blinding speed, dodging her attack and countering with a whip of its tail.


    Ghoida was thrown back, landing hard on the ground. Willie ran to her side, helping her up. “You okay?”


    “Yeah,” she grunted, brushing dirt off her armor. “But this thing’s a lot quicker than the last one.”


    Willie scanned the terrain, his mind racing. The rocky cliffs around them were unstable, and the serpent’s movements were kicking up loose debris. “We can use the environment again,” he said. “If we can lure it into the wrong spot, it might bring itself down.”


    “Great idea,” Ghoida said, wincing as she stood. “But you’re the bait this time.”


    Willie paled. “Wait, what? Why me?”


    “Because you’re the one who keeps tripping over everything,” Ghoida said with a grin.


    Before Willie could argue, the serpent lunged toward them. Ghoida deflected its strike with her sword, buying Willie time to move. He scrambled up a nearby ledge, waving his arms to get the creature’s attention.


    “Hey! Over here!” he shouted, his voice cracking slightly.


    The serpent’s glowing eyes locked onto him, and it slithered toward the ledge. Willie backed away cautiously, his heart pounding. As the creature climbed, loose rocks began to shift beneath its weight.


    “Now, Ghoida!” Willie yelled.


    Ghoida didn’t hesitate. She charged forward, slashing at the rocks supporting the ledge. The serpent roared as the ground gave way, sending it crashing down into the ravine below.


    Willie collapsed onto the ledge, breathing heavily. “Okay… maybe I’m a little ridiculous.”


    Ghoida smirked, helping him up. “A little? You’re a walking disaster. But I’ll admit, you’re a useful one.”


    They stood in silence for a moment, staring down at the fallen serpent. The mist began to clear, revealing more of the strange carvings etched into the cliffs.


    “We’re getting closer,” Willie said softly.


    “To what?” Ghoida asked.


    Willie adjusted his glasses, his gaze steady. “The truth.”


    As they continued their journey, the wind carried faint whispers through the air—whispers of a world shrouded in mystery, waiting to be uncovered.


    <blockquote>


    End of Chapter 4</blockquote>