The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over the forest. The air was filled with the soft rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of a distant bird. In the midst of this peaceful setting, a small figure moved swiftly along the worn path, humming a carefree tune.

Eleo, an 8-year-old bunny kid, bounced with each step. He wore a light blue, short-sleeved shirt adorned with a playful bunny face design on the front, the fluffy white trim around the collar and sleeves giving him an extra cuddly appearance. His pastel green overalls, embroidered with tiny bunny patches on the pockets, added to his playful look, while his soft grey sneakers, complete with bunny ears on the sides, helped him move comfortably through the forest.

As he skipped along, his large, fluffy ears twitched at the sound of something moving in the underbrush. Suddenly, two massive wolf bears, with their shaggy fur and razor-sharp claws, emerged from the shadows, growling as they locked eyes on their prey.

Without missing a beat, Eleo grinned mischievously. "You guys wanna play?" he teased, his bright eyes sparkling with excitement.

The wolf bears lunged at him simultaneously, their powerful bodies crashing through the undergrowth. But Eleo was faster. With a quick, graceful leap, he dodged their attack, flipping effortlessly in the air. Before they could react, he delivered two lightning-fast punches to their stomachs, sending both beasts crashing to the ground with a thud.

Landing softly on his feet, Eleo glanced back at the fallen creatures. "You guys should stick to chasing smaller critters," he said with a smirk, spitting on the ground near them before continuing on his way.

A few moments later, something caught his eye—a bright orange carrot poking out from the earth. "Oh man, I haven't had a good carrot in ages!" Eleo exclaimed, his mouth already watering.

He darted over and pulled the carrot from the ground, taking a big bite. The crisp, sweet flavor was irresistible. But then, as he chewed, he noticed more carrots, scattered all around him like a feast. Without hesitation, Eleo began munching away, stuffing himself with as many carrots as he could find.

In his carrot-eating frenzy, Eleo suddenly bumped into something hard. Startled, he looked up to see a tall, slender skeleton standing before him, dressed in a fancy suit complete with a monocle. The skeleton adjusted his monocle and looked down at the little bunny.

"Oops, sorry!" Eleo said, swallowing the last of his carrot.

The skeleton gave a gentlemanly bow. "Oh, it's quite alright, young one," he replied, his voice both quirky and unorthodox, carrying an air of cool sophistication. "You seem to be in quite the hurry."

"Yeah, I'm heading to town to sign up for a team and fight the strongest!" Eleo said enthusiastically.

The skeleton raised an eyebrow—well, if he had one, it would've raised. "Oh, really? That sounds… interesting, I suppose."

Eleo beamed up at him. "Hey, how about you join me, Mr. Bone Man? We could be a team!"

The skeleton chuckled, a hollow, yet warm sound. "The name's Tony, my lad. And, well, you know what? Why not? I've got nothing better to do."

"That's the spirit!" Eleo cheered, giving Tony a playful punch on his bony leg.

And so, with their unlikely partnership formed, the little bunny boy and the tall, dapper skeleton set off together toward town, the sun casting their long shadows behind them as they walked down the path toward whatever adventures awaited them.

The sun continued its slow descent, casting long shadows over the winding path as Eleo and Tony walked side by side. The bunny kid, still brimming with energy, skipped along, his large ears flopping with each hop. Tony, on the other hand, moved with a dignified grace, his bony limbs clicking softly with each step."Hey, Tony," Eleo began, a hint of hesitation in his voice.Tony glanced down at him. "Come on, kid, spit it out. What do you want?""Can I… uh… can I ride on your head?" Eleo asked, his eyes wide with hope.Tony let out a hearty laugh, the sound echoing through the forest. "Sure, why not? Hop on."With a delighted squeal, Eleo leaped onto Tony's shoulders, settling comfortably on the skeleton's head. He rubbed Tony's smooth skull, chuckling to himself. "Dang, you have no hair!"Tony laughed again, a dry, rattling sound. "Of course I have no hair, you silly rabbit! I'm a skeleton. Hair's a luxury I left behind long ago.""Don't worry," Eleo said, trying to reassure him. "I don't have any hair either!"Tony glanced up—or as much as a skeleton could—and responded, "Uh, you do, kid. You've got plenty of fur."Eleo laughed, his giggles ringing through the trees. The pair continued on their way, Eleo riding high on Tony's shoulders, the bunny kid's small paws resting comfortably on Tony's skull.A few minutes passed in comfortable silence before Eleo, ever curious, started up again. "So, Tony, can you, like, poop? Or eat? Or pee? Or drink? Or… kiss?"Tony chuckled, though it came out as more of a raspy clatter. "Lots of questions, aren't there?" He paused for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts, then began to explain. "Ah, little one," Tony's voice was a dry rasp, yet filled with the wisdom of ages. "You see, my kind—skeletons—are quite different from beings like yourself. We don't need to eat or drink, nor do we experience the urges to relieve ourselves. Our bodies, if you can call them that, are merely bones held together by ancient magic, a relic of the life we once lived. There's no flesh to nourish, no organs to maintain. We're sustained by a force beyond physical needs."He paused again, the faint glow in his eye sockets flickering as if recalling memories from a time long past. "We don't feel hunger, nor do we thirst. Our existence is simpler, in a way. Without the distractions of bodily needs, we focus on other things—like guarding secrets, upholding ancient pacts, or, in my case, enjoying a good conversation.""As for kissing…" Tony's grin widened, though it was more a shadow of mirth than anything else. "That's a bit tricky without lips, wouldn't you say? But our race finds other ways to express affection, camaraderie, and loyalty. A clasp of bones, a shared tale, or simply standing watch through the night. These things bind us together."He lowered his voice to a near whisper, "You might think our existence is lonely or cold, but in truth, we cherish the connections we make, even if they're different from those in the living world. Our bonds are not of the body, but of the spirit, and that… is something far deeper."Eleo nodded thoughtfully, absorbing Tony's words. "Yep, that helps a lot. Thanks, Tony."Tony let out a satisfied clink as he settled back into his stride. "Glad to hear it, Eleo."As they continued walking, the sun now dipping closer to the horizon, the peaceful silence was suddenly broken by the sound of hurried footsteps. Ahead of them, a young girl, no older than Eleo, came into view. She was running at full speed, her face a mixture of fear and determination. Her dark skin glistened with sweat, and her eyes were wide with urgency as she sprinted down the path.Eleo and Tony froze, watching the girl rush toward them

The forest path grew darker as a young girl sprinted toward Eleo and Tony. Her appearance was striking: large, almond-shaped eyes with bright golden-yellow irises that glowed faintly, revealing her demonic heritage. Her rich, dark brown skin exuded an exotic and regal air, while her dark purple hair, styled in playful high ponytails adorned with ornate hairpins, added to her royal look. She wore a dark, velvety dress that shifted between deep purple and black, with gold embroidery shaped like ancient demonic symbols. Her long, bell-shaped sleeves glowed faintly red, and her knee-high boots had silver buckles shaped like demon wings. A faint aura of dark purple and red surrounded her, hinting at her demonic nature. For now, her bat-like wings and slender tail were retracted."Please, can you help me?" she cried out, her voice laced with urgency.Eleo, still perched on Tony's shoulders, looked down at her. "Uh, we would, but we are—"Tony cut him off with a hurried tone, "Yeah, very, very in a hurry.""I'm a princess," the girl added desperately.Tony raised an eyebrow. "A demon princess, I see.""What's a demon?" Eleo asked, curiosity piqued.Tony's voice took on a more serious tone as he explained, "Demons are ancient beings, much like us skeletons, but their nature is more complex. They are tied to the darker, primal forces of the world, originating from realms where shadows are deep and the laws of our world bend or break. They can embody madness, slaughter, destruction, and savagery, existing in various layers of The Abyss. They don't have a unified hierarchy, but their goals often lean towards destruction."He paused, choosing his words carefully. "A demon is not just a creature of malevolence, though many are. They possess immense power, forged in chaos and darkness. Some seek to corrupt, others to control, and a few wander between worlds out of curiosity or exile. But they're not all evil. Like any race, they have societies, rules, and hierarchies. Some serve powerful lords or kings, while others live solitary lives. There are those who seek redemption or a different path."Tony's bones creaked slightly as he shifted. "So, little one, be cautious. Demons can be unpredictable. Trust must be earned, not given freely."The girl, catching her breath, introduced herself. "I'm Lilith Corson. I'm being chased by goblins."As if on cue, nine goblins emerged from behind the trees, grinning maliciously. Goblin 1 sneered, "Look, boys! We have a big one!"Goblin 2 added eagerly, "Bunny kid, me eat yes yes yes!"Goblin 3 jeered, "Bunny kid weak, we beat his butt!"Eleo dropped to the ground in front of the goblins, his face set with determination. "Alright, let's make this interesting."He activated his Ink Projectiles, but the goblins were not easily deterred. As they charged, Eleo realized that these goblins were not just mindless brutes—they were organized and vicious. They used crude but effective tactics, attacking in waves and coordinating their strikes. Eleo's ink projectiles struck three of them, but the remaining goblins pressed forward, their numbers and aggression posing a real threat.Eleo swiftly used Ink Mirage to create illusions of himself, but the goblins quickly adapted, focusing their attacks on the illusions to flush him out. Eleo had to dodge and weave through a flurry of poorly aimed but dangerous attacks, making every moment of the battle tense and fraught with risk. The fight extended into the underbrush, where Eleo used his environment to his advantage, setting traps with ink and using the terrain to avoid being overwhelmed.Just as Eleo began to gain the upper hand, one particularly cunning goblin managed to land a blow, forcing Eleo to retreat momentarily and reassess his strategy. The battle reached a critical point as Eleo had to outthink the goblins, using a combination of his ink abilities and quick reflexes to outmaneuver them. The conflict felt grueling and close, making Eleo's victory feel earned and significant.Within moments, Eleo had finally defeated all the goblins, leaving them sprawled on the forest floor. He landed gracefully and turned to Lilith, who looked at him with wide, admiring eyes. "Done!"Lilith beamed with gratitude. "You did it! Thank you so much."Eleo, still catching his breath, asked, "No problem. Oh, do you have any carrots?"Lilith nodded. "Yes, I've been picking a lot of them. But you have to promise you'll marry me one day."Eleo, taken aback, tried to process the request. "Uh, sure. I don't know what that means, but sure."Lilith's eyes softened. "It's a tradition in my culture to offer a token of thanks in the form of a promise. It's not something to be taken lightly. But I also truly appreciate what you did for me."Eleo took the carrots from her, instantly devouring them with a contented smile. Tony, however, remained cautious. "So, why is a princess like you out here, especially at your age? And why were you being chased by goblins?"Lilith hesitated for a moment before responding, "Well, I wanted to train my aura, and I thought the goblins would be easy. But there were too many of them."Eleo's ears perked up at the mention of "aura." "Aura?" he asked, intrigued.Tony extended his arm, and a faint glow began to emanate from it. The aura coated his forearm and hand, the light extending slightly beyond the physical outline of his bones. It had a vivid, glowing quality with a somewhat fluid, almost flame-like appearance, radiating energy. The edges of the aura seemed to flicker and move, giving it a dynamic, energetic feel. "Aura is a manifestation of one's spirit and energy," Tony explained. "It's the essence that strengthens and protects, a power cultivated through training and experience."Tony then turned to Lilith, a glint of curiosity in his eye sockets. "Miss Lilith, would you be so kind as to show my friend—and your future husband—your aura?"Lilith nodded, extending her hands in front of her. As she focused, a brilliant aura flared to life around her fists and forearms, glowing bright and concentrated. The energy pulsed with power, radiating a mix of dark purple and red, much like her natural aura, but intensified. The aura seemed to resonate with her emotions, flickering and shifting in response to her will.Eleo watched in awe as Lilith demonstrated her power, her aura casting an eerie yet mesmerizing glow around her. "Wow… That's so cool!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide with admiration.Lilith smiled warmly at him, her aura slowly fading as she relaxed. "Thank you. I've been working on it for a while."Tony nodded approvingly. "Impressive, young princess. But remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Use your aura wisely, and it will serve you well."As the sun dipped below the horizon, the three of them stood together on the forest path, united by the challenges they had faced and the bonds they had begun to forge. Though their journey had only just begun, the encounter with Lilith and the goblins hinted at the many adventures—and dangers—that awaited them