After Firefly's failure, Jeanne d'Arc was the second to step forward.
She was far more cautious than Firefly, her footsteps light and her demeanor completely devoid of malice.
The unicorn standing in the grassy plains saw her. The wariness that had filled its sapphire eyes when facing Firefly was gone. It simply cast a tranquil glance her way before lowering its head to graze once more.
This was a good sign.
Jeanne felt a surge of hope. Slowing her breathing, she closed the distance step by step. Yet, just as she reached out—her fingertips mere inches from its snow-white coat—the unicorn threw its head back with a sharp, clear whinny. With a remarkably agile leap backwards, it put several meters of distance between them.
There was no hostility in its eyes, only refusal.
Jeanne offered a helpless smile, understanding that she, too, had been rejected. Shaking her head, she abandoned the attempt and slowly retreated.
Following Jeanne were Daphne and Cassandra.
Unfortunately, their rejections were far more absolute. The unicorn didn't even grant them a passing glance, treating them as little more than moving pockets of air. It simply changed directions and continued to casually graze.
Being so blatantly ignored left both girls returning with sullen expressions. What girl wouldn't want the approval of a unicorn? It was a sacred beast known to only approach pure maidens; earning its favor was an indirect validation of their own flawless purity. This kind of blow was far more depressing than losing a battle.
"My turn," Hyacine said, taking a deep breath.
However, instead of approaching directly like the others, she cleverly opted to summon her partner first.
Little Ica, the diminutive pink pegasus, materialized out of thin air. It flapped its wings joyfully, circled Hyacine once, and then fluttered curiously toward the distant unicorn.
The unicorn was evidently just as intrigued by this sudden arrival. It paused its grazing, tilting its head to inspect Little Ica.
As beings steeped in fantasy and myth, a natural affinity seemed to bridge the gap between them. Showing no fear, Little Ica hovered amicably around the unicorn, letting out bright, cheerful chirps.
Through its friendly exchange with Little Ica, the unicorn's guard gradually lowered.
Seizing the opportunity, Hyacine slowly approached.
This time, when she reached out to pet it, the unicorn did not refuse. It even took the initiative, docilely lowering its noble head and offering its spiraled horn to Hyacine, allowing her soft hands to gently stroke its coat.
"Hello there," Hyacine murmured, her voice gentle enough to melt snow. "My name is Hyacine. I have a friend who is suffering from a terrible, terminal illness. We... we really need your horn to make a special medicine for her. Could you give it to me?"
As if it perfectly understood her words, the unicorn's body went completely rigid.
The docility and warmth in its eyes vanished in a flash, replaced instantly by intense wariness. It backed away slowly, putting distance between itself and Hyacine, its actions an unequivocal rejection of her plea.
Reading the absolute finality in its gaze, Hyacine could only sigh inwardly and turn away in defeat.
"Even Hyacine failed..." Daphne muttered from the low hill, her voice steeped in disappointment.
Aiden's brow furrowed tightly. Every gentle approach had failed, and his mind began drifting toward alternative methods. With his Level 4 strength, what were the odds of forcibly subduing and capturing this unicorn alive? His gaze slowly turned cold and piercing.
As if seeing right through his thoughts, a soft hand suddenly caught his arm.
It was Airmid.
"Do not attack," the top-tier healer warned him, her voice carrying an unprecedented gravity. "Unicorns are noble, sacred beasts. They will never allow themselves to be taken alive. The moment it is captured, it will choose to commit suicide."
Aiden wanted to say that if it committed suicide, then so be it—he only wanted its horn anyway. But looking into Airmid's pure, crystal-clear eyes—eyes brimming with a profound reverence for life—those callous words died in his throat.
Eventually, he nodded, his voice slightly hoarse. "I understand. I promised you I wouldn't hurt it."
As silence fell over the group, Airmid released Aiden's hand. Alone, she began walking step by step toward the unicorn, which was currently staring at them with high alert.
She didn't rush her approach like the others. Instead, while still dozens of meters away, she quietly sat down on the grass. Resting her arms on her knees, her long silver hair caught the gentle breeze. Her pure, tranquil eyes met the unicorn's wary gaze across the distance.
There were no words. No sudden movements. Just an almost transparent, remarkably pure aura radiating from her petite frame.
This aura drew the unicorn in.
Step by step, it slowly closed the distance between them.
Up on the hill, Hyacine and the others held their breath, leaning forward in awe. They watched as the sacred beast reached Airmid's side, docilely bent its front knees, and gently laid its noble head upon the maiden's lap.
Beneath the open sky, a maiden sat in the grassy plains with a sacred beast sleeping peacefully upon her lap. To Aiden, it looked like a masterpiece painstakingly crafted by a world-class painter, or the most serene page plucked directly from an ancient fairy tale.
Airmid gently stroked the unicorn's silky mane, but an agonizing battle was raging within her heart.
The unicorn had warmed up to Hyacine too, but the moment her true intentions were revealed, it became instantly defensive. Airmid knew she would be no exception.
To brew the medicine, the horn was an absolute necessity. But to save one life, did she have to betray the absolute trust of another?
Ultimately, her calling as a healer overpowered her inner turmoil. Resolving herself, she kept one hand soothing the unicorn while her other hand reached behind her back. From her medicinal pouch, she slipped out a razor-sharp dagger designed for harvesting rare herbs.
She was going to cut the horn off in secret.
However, the faint, icy glint of sunlight reflecting off the silver blade could not escape the sacred beast's razor-sharp instincts. The very moment the edge was about to touch the spiraled horn—the unicorn's eyes snapped open.
It bolted upright, violently knocking Airmid away in the process. Letting out a high, mournful cry, it fled into the distance without looking back.
"Airmid! Are you okay?!" Hyacine and the others rushed down the hill, sprinting to the healer's side where she lay in the grass.
Airmid stared blankly at the short sword that had been knocked from her grasp, a look of profound repentance washing over her face. Deceiving it to steal its horn went against everything she stood for, but... they had no other choice.
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