As usual, Kael woke up early for his Satu training. Even though the three suns had yet to rise, Nibsken and Grak'Mar were already waiting in the backyard.
Kael donned his armor, still feeling the soreness in his arms from the weightlifting yesterday, and the faint bruises on his legs throbbed slightly. This is the path I've chosen… then let it be, he thought, tightening the straps.
He greeted Grak'Mar and, as usual, prepared to walk to the shore alongside Grak'Mar and Nibsken. This time, he came more prepared, he brought water, allowed himself to rest when needed, and occasionally took in the view of Kallidorra Town, greeting anyone he passed. A few Realm Protectors patrolling the streets nodded in acknowledgment, a small reminder that he wasn't invisible in this world.
"Another training day, huh? Commander Aeronis student's…"
Kael's attention was drawn to a voice. A tiger female Realm Protector from the Ferrakin race, her white-and-pink armor fitting elegantly over her sleek, tiger frame, smirked at him.
Kael's cheeks heated slightly. "Hehehe… not like that. I'm still far from being his student," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his head.
Grak'Mar and Nibsken exchanged amused glances, their smiles teasing him.
"What's with that human?" Nibsken laughed, hovering in the air with a playful twinkle in her eye.
"What's wrong? She asked me first… then I answered it," Kael replied, defensive but embarrassed.
"Alright, human. No need to be so weird about it." Nibsken reply
The female Tiger Protector smiled briefly at him before continuing her patrol with a companion, leaving Kael flustered yet strangely encouraged.
When they finally reached the shore, the usual crowd of races were already busy with their daily routines. Kael quickly removed his armor, stretching his sore muscles.
"Alright, Ogre. I'm ready. Where are the bars and weights?"
"Ha! Human, we're not doing that today!" Grak'Mar announced proudly.
"Huh? Then what are we doing today?" Kael asked, frowning in confusion.
"Today, we're going to train ya combat skills, human!" Grak'Mar declared. "You can't always rely on your sword in a fight, right?"
'Yeah That's Right Ogre!'
SWOOSH! Kael punching the air to demonstrate. He had always sparred with Elvaereth in their house whenever he got scolded by her, so he had some idea of how to fight, even if he wasn't particularly strong yet.
"Alright, human… relax," Nibsken said, floating easily in the air, his petite goblin frame supported by a swirl of Wind Might.
"We're not going to train here, human," Grak'Mar added firmly, pointing toward the dense forest looming nearby.
"Alright… where will we train, then?" Kael asked, curiosity and a hint of caution in his voice.
Grak'Mar pointed firmly toward the thick forest looming ahead.
Kael looked where Grak'Mar pointed,"Wait… isn't that forest abandoned?" Kael asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Yeah, human… the Ven'Faoreva Forest," Grak'Mar rumbled, his massive form looming beside Kael. "It's the forest where all the races once gathered to collect resources."
He squinted his huge, heavy-lidded eyes, as if recalling a tale too weighty for simple words. "Back then, this forest was a meeting point for many races, gathering fruits, hunting animals, even felling wood for their villages… But now…"
Grak'Mar's voice trailed off, low and ominous, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. The forest seemed darker than it had any right to be under the pale light of the early suns, its shadows swallowing the paths ahead.
Kael felt a shiver run down his spine. Something about Grak'Mar's tone… and the forest itself… told him this training wouldn't be like any other.
"What's wrong, Ogre? You seem… serious," Kael asked, curiosity piqued.
Grak'Mar let out a heavy sigh. "That's a hard story to tell, human."
Nibsken hovered nearby, eyes half-closed. "Yeah… really heavy, Human. Maybe ya shouldn't—"
"I don't care, goblin. I just wanna hear it anyway," Kael interrupted, rolling his eyes.
Grak'Mar's massive shoulders tensed. "Alright… human. I'll tell you."
"Back then…" Grak'Mar began, his voice low and heavy. "This forest was home to a truly remarkable race of tree-dwellers… They called themselves the Trevians. They were good people. I used to be friends with one of them… but—"
"But?" Kael leaned forward, intrigued.
"They vanished," Nibsken said with a relaxed voice, both hands on his head as he floated in the air, eyes closed. he seemed to sense Grak'Mar's pause, the weight of his memories holding him back. "Or… perhaps they went into hiding, human."
Grak'Mar's heavy eyes met Kael's. "Yes… hiding. The Trevians disappeared because of that damned Mishanter!." His fist clenched tightly.
Kael fell silent at the name. He was young, so much about the world was still unknown to him. But even he still could sense the hatred and fear Grak'Mar and Nibsken carried toward this being. So much so that an entire race… their history… had been consumed by it.
Kael swallowed hard, the forest in front of them seeming darker somehow, as if even the shadows mourned the Trevians' fate.
Grak'Mar continued, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder.
"Decades ago… the protective zone around the edge of Kallidorra was breached, just slightly. Just enough for a dying Mishanter to slip in before the Zone Wall sealed again. That Mishanter… it didn't survive long inside the safe zone. It died almost immediately."
Kael frowned, leaning forward. "Then… What happened? I don't get it yet."
Grak'Mar tilted his massive head toward the sky, letting the morning wind brush against his rough face, his two fangs catching the first light of the rising suns.
Sigh… "The Mishanter that died there wasn't ordinary. It was a carrier, spreading a disease when it died. That disease infected some of the Trevians… and turned them into a highly invasive, aggressive species. They weren't as strong as the Mishanter, but in numbers… they were overwhelming. Difficult to deal with."
Kael's eyes widened. "Then… why didn't the Realm Protectors just destroy them or just clear the forest?"
"Good question, human," Nibsken said, shrugging lightly as he hovered in the air. "The Realm Protectors already have a hard time fighting Mishanter outside the Zone. Some are busy patrolling the city, others serve as paid guardians for nobles of different races. In the end… they abandoned the mission to clear the forest."
Nibsken tilted his head. "Besides, the infected Trevians don't leave the Ven'Faoreva Forest. They have unlimited resources there. Why would they go out anyway?"
He raised his shoulders. "But yeah… who knows?"
Kael frowned.
"I'm… sorry, Grak'Mar. Nibsken. I don't really know much about your pasts."
He reached out and lightly tapped Grak'Mar's massive forearm.
"I-"
"It's okay, human," Nibsken said, relaxing his posture.
"It's not ya fault."
"Yah," Grak'Mar added calmly.
"No need to carry responsibility for things you cannot control, human."
Kael nodded slowly.
"Yeah… you're right, ogre."
Then his expression hardened slightly.
"But… isn't this dangerous? If so, why are you asking me to train there?"
Kael asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.
Grak'Mar smiled quietly. The memories of his past friends no longer weighed on his expression. What mattered now was the human standing in front of him. I won't lose another friend, he thought. That's why I'll make him strong.
"Well, human," Grak'Mar said calmly, "like I told you earlier, these infected races aren't as strong as true Mishanter. Even I can kill ten of them with a single swing of my axe. The only real problem… is their numbers."
Nibsken nodded and added, "There are even paid hunters who come here just for money. Kill a hundred infected Trevians, and you'll earn a single silver coin."
That alone showed how overwhelming their numbers truly were.
"But it's not about the money I want you here for," Grak'Mar continued.
Kael smirked. "Let me guess… you want me to use them as punching bags for my Satu training, don't you?"
"Hahaha! Clever human!" Nibsken laughed, clapping his hands midair.
Kael clenched his fist, his spirit surging. "I hate hurting others… but if they're bad guys…"
His eyes hardened.
"…who cares."
Grak'Mar's smile widened. He had accepted the past, and now, he could see the future standing right in front of him.
Without wasting any time, Grak'Mar and Nibsken led Kael toward the Ven'Foreva Forest.
Kael put his armor back on as they moved forward, walking not far from the shoreline until the dense woodland finally came into view.
At last, they arrived.
Surprisingly, there was nothing extraordinary, only endless trees. The forest was filled with the echo of insects, the chirping of birds, and the faint movements of unseen animals. After a brief pause, they stepped deeper inside.
"Yeah… it's definitely abandoned," Kael said in a reassuring tone, though his eyes continued to scan their surroundings.
Grak'Mar suddenly slammed his foot into the ground.
Grak'Mar then formed seven crystal pillars, erupting from the earth and arranging themselves into a perfect circle.
"GRRRKR!"
The sound of crystal grinding against stone echoed through the forest as the seven crystal pillars finished rising.
"What's this for, Grak'Mar?" Kael asked curiously and a bit surprised.
Grak'Mar tapped one of the crystals with a thick finger.
"This?" Grak'Mar asked Kael again.
"Yeah, Ogre, what's that?" Kael added.
"This is for your own safety, human," Grak'Mar said proudly. "These crystals will prevent too many Infected Trevian races from entering."
He gestured around the circle.
"These crystals, combined with Nibsken's Wind Might swirling around them, will create a simple barrier. It limits how many Infected Trevians can enter this area."
The ogre's voice grew more serious.
"Infected Trevians were once beings who possessed Might," Grak'Mar said. "They still retain fragments of that power, but it is weak."
He placed his massive hand against one of the crystal pillars. A faint pressure spread through the air, subtle, yet undeniable.
"These pillars carry their own Might influence," he continued. "Anything created with Might leaves a mark. And stronger influence naturally suppresses the weaker."
The crystals hummed softly.
"Only a controlled number of infected, those whose Might is barely clinging to them, will be able to pass through."
As more of the invasive race entered the barrier, the Might influence within it began to increase. Their presence caused the Might Influence to rise, strengthening the barrier from the inside and preventing any additional infected Trevians that have lower Might Influence from entering.
Grak'Mar motioned toward the towering crystal pillars.
"And…The higher the pillar, the stronger its Might influence."
He then lowered his gaze to Kael, his expression firm.
"When you grow stronger, human, I will lower the height of these crystal pillars. More Trevians will be allowed to enter…"
A brief pause.
"And you will fight more of them."
"But for now, we wait for them to enter," Grak'Mar said to Kael as he pulled out his huge axe from his back.
"Alright then," Kael said, steadying himself. "What do I need to do? How do I fight them?"
"Well for that, human!" Nibsken said proudly, placing a hand on his chest. "I'm going to teach ya!"
"Yah, for that Goblin will teach ya how to fight."
"Okay…" Kael replied uncertainly.
He glanced down at the short figure.
"What are you going to teach me, short goblin? Another one of your racial techniques? Or another round of suffering training?"
Nibsken grinned.
"Great guess, human. But this ain't just our racial technique."
"Hm?" Kael narrowed his eyes.
"This method," Grak'Mar continued, "is a way of fighting without weapons."
He crossed his arms.
"It is a technique all five main races are required to learn. Since you are the only human left in this realm, I doubt you've ever heard of it."
Kael straightened.
"…Then what's this method called, Grak'Mar?"
— End of Chapter 29 —