Kyle walked ahead, dragging the boar by one of its legs.
Lein followed close behind, pushing the carcass and occasionally stumbling over stones hidden beneath the snow.
The wind bit into their faces, sharp and cold, making them shiver to the bone.
After a few minutes of walking through darkness and uncertainty, Lein realized they had reached the place Kyle had mentioned.
The wind had eased, and the snow was thinning beneath their feet.
"Phew, finally made it," Kyle said, exhaling tiredly.
"The wind's almost gone... Why?" Lein asked with curiosity.
"We're surrounded by massive stones — they block the cold drafts," Kyle replied.
Lein remembered the plain where he thought Kyle's hideout was — huge boulders jutted from the ground, covered in snow, shielding them from the wind and even blocking the sky.
Kyle dropped his backpack and began clearing snow.
Once he'd cleared a patch for a fire, he walked off, leaving Lein alone.
«How's he going to light a fire? Rubbing sticks together? Banging rocks?» — Lein wondered.
Soon, there were footsteps — then the dull thud of firewood.
"Found the firewood. I stashed it nearby just in case," Kyle said, returning.
Lein gave a nod.
"I see. Now I'm curious how you'll actually light it," he added with a hint of skepticism.
"Heh, you're underestimating me," Kyle replied proudly, beginning to arrange the fire.
Lein listened in silence: the clack of wood, then the sound of small stones being placed around the logs.
Then came a deep breath from Kyle.
Looking over at Lein, he said:
"Maybe you think learning the second level of the Leit language is pointless. It's not. Just listen… or rather, try to hear."
Silence fell.
Lein stood still, waiting.
Kyle cleared his throat and spoke a single word:
"Flame."
At once, warmth spread before Lein — real, living warmth.
He knew Kyle had just said something, but the word itself… was already gone.
He couldn't recall its tone, its meaning — not even the sound.
It had slipped past his thoughts, leaving only a strange emptiness behind.
«What was that!? Kyle… knows the second level of the Leit language? Isn't he too young for that?»
Kyle noticed his stunned expression and smiled:
"Relax… I only know a handful of words from the second level. They're what I use to make potions — the kind that warm you up, heal you, even make you stronger."
Lein noticed Kyle's voice had gone hoarse.
"What's with your voice?" he asked.
Kyle cleared his throat:
"Saying words like that takes energy — your own energy."
Lein frowned slightly.
«Makes sense… Even the first level must need some kind of energy to work — something mystical.»
"And what kind of energy is it?" Lein asked.
Kyle smirked.
"Remember the ether shards?"
"Yeah, I remember," Lein replied evenly.
«The ones you didn't want to talk about. Said they were hard to find, and dropped the subject. Of course I remember. That was suspicious.»
"They're hard to get because they're part of special monsters' souls. But they don't call them ether for nothing…"
Lein let out a breath.
"So the energy's called Ether?"
Kyle nodded.
«Strange how you're only now telling me something this important.»
"Every soul holds a bit of ether. And anyone can grow their soul — if they follow the path of ascension," Kyle said, tossing more wood on the fire.
Then he stood and went over to the carcass.
"There's more than one path a person can take," he added as he drew a knife and started butchering the boar.
"I've only heard of two. The connection with the other worlds has been unstable ever since our god vanished."
«Vanished... your god? What does that mean? Who was he? What's his link to the Story?» — Lein tensed.
"What are the paths?" he asked aloud.
"There's the path of Darkness… and the path of the Story. I don't really know what the Story is, but they say it's tied to our god's power."
The moment Kyle said that, pain surged through Lein's head.
He grabbed his temples and said nothing.
Kyle kept working, slicing away fat and separating meat from bone.
He glanced at Lein and smirked.
"I get it. Your head hurts. Know why?"
Lein, remembering his thoughts and the Story's whisper, murmured:
"Because every piece of knowledge holds power… and every thought — information."
Kyle looked at him in surprise.
"Couldn't have put it better," he said respectfully.
«If even this level of knowledge causes pain… what happens when I learn their true secrets? Story… you're my only guide.»
Kyle came back to the fire, stuck a leg of boar on a spit, and began roasting.
"Lein... Now do you see? That's why I don't tell you everything. Especially... my secret."
He paused.
"But if you want, I can tell you."
Lein hesitated.
«His secret… It can't be that dangerous. He's just a kid. And if he can carry it — then so can I.»
He opened his mouth to reply — but then heard a familiar whisper.
And in the dark, the glowing window of the Story appeared:
[Hint: you are not yet ready to hear the child's secret.]
Lein froze.
Mentally, he asked:
«Then when will I be ready?»
A moment later, the window shifted:
[Additional hint: you will be able to learn the child's secrets when you know at least five mystical words of the second level.]
Lein gave a crooked smile.
«So... he is tied to the gods.»
"Better not tell me. I trust you," he said, smiling toward where Kyle sat.
A soft sigh came in reply.
"Wise choice..."
Lein sighed too.
"Yeah..."
«How wise is it, really — to remain in the dark about your ally's secrets…»
"By the way… You've changed," Lein said suddenly.
Kyle blinked.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I don't know. You feel… different."
"Different how?"
"Smarter. Or maybe… older."
Kyle went quiet.
Then said:
"Well… I'm actually thirty."
Lein smiled.
"Nice joke."
Kyle didn't reply — just chuckled softly.
«That was a joke… right? I hope so.»
Kyle turned the spit and passed Lein a roasted leg.
"Here, try this. I added a special ingredient — you'll love it."
Lein bit in.
The taste…
Was incredible.
«Slightly sweet. Fragrant. Like grilled chicken thighs...»
He inhaled deeply.
«But the texture… like lamb. No, beef. Maybe something in between. Tender, juicy...»
Lein took another bite.
The crispy crust cracked under his teeth. He couldn't help but smile.
«Delicious.»
Before long, he was gnawing the bone.
"You… you're definitely not fourteen. What kid knows how to do all this!?"
Kyle, roasting more legs, just grinned.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Clearly, he enjoyed the praise.
«And yet... he is just a child. I hope.»