Kaiden rode his horse quietly under the moonlight. The only sound was the rhythm of hooves thudding softly against the dirt road. The night air was cool and calm, brushing lightly against his face as he pulled his cloak tighter around him.
He had been traveling for hours now, and so far, it had been peaceful. No bandits. No beasts. Nothing but the sound of crickets and the occasional rustle from the trees.
He knew he was lucky.
In these parts, wild beasts rarely appeared. Most of them lived deeper into the mountains, far away from human settlements. Bandits, though—that was another story. They were everywhere. Small groups, scavenging whatever they could find. But most didn't bother with someone who looked young and armed. They liked easy prey—old travelers, weak merchants, or drunk nobles.
Still, Kaiden didn't let his guard down.
He glanced up at the sky. The moon hung beautifully, glowing with a silver shine that spilled over the land. He smiled a little.
He would never get tired of looking at that.
For most people in this world, it was something they saw every night. But for him, this was only the second time he had actually seen a moon in all its glory. The first was the night he woke up in this strange world.
He remembered how his mother used to tell him stories about the old Earth—how people used to stare at the night sky and dream. He could still hear her voice in his head, soft and warm, like she was right there beside him.
"I actually wish you guys were here," he murmured quietly. "Mom, my brothers, all of you… you should see this. The moon, the stars, the owls, the bats, the crickets…"
His voice faded.
For a few seconds, it almost felt peaceful again.
Until—
Whoosh!
A blade sliced past him, close enough that he felt the air cut across his cheek.
He didn't even think. He jumped off the horse instantly, landing in a low crouch. His hand reached for the horse's reins, steadying the frightened animal. But he didn't run. He stayed calm. His eyes scanned the woods, sharp and focused.
"Nice reflex, lil bro."
The voice came from behind one of the trees.
A tall man stepped out from the shadows, holding another throwing knife lazily in his hand. Three more figures followed behind him, each carrying swords.
All four of them looked rough, dressed in worn leather armor. From a distance, they could've passed for regular bandits. But Kaiden already knew better.
He didn't panic. In fact, he smiled. A soft, mocking smile that stretched slowly across his face. Then, to everyone's surprise, he actually laughed.
"I knew my siblings would make another move," he said, wiping the tear that rolled down from his laughter. "I just didn't think it'd be this early."
The four men exchanged confused looks.
"What the hell is he talking about?" one of them asked, looking at the leader.
Kaiden didn't care. He just shook his head and chuckled again, walking slowly toward a tree near his horse.
"Don't bother lying," he said calmly, untying the small rope from the saddle and looping it around the tree to keep the horse still. "If you were real bandits, you wouldn't start with a killing throw like that. You'd try to rob me first. And some of you would be carrying bags or ropes instead of just swords."
The leader frowned, tightening his grip on his weapon. "It doesn't matter what we are, kid," he said, his tone turning cold. "You're not leaving this place alive."
Kaiden looked over his shoulder and met his gaze. There was no fear in his eyes. Just a calmness that made the leader's men hesitate a bit.
He walked back toward them, slow and deliberate, his boots crunching softly on the dirt.
"Do you even know who sent you?" Kaiden asked quietly.
The men didn't answer. One of them smirked, spitting to the side. "All we know is you're a prince, and dead men don't talk."
Kaiden nodded like he expected that. "Right. Figures."
He stood still, the wind brushing his hair gently. His eyes flicked to the leader, then to the others. He noticed how they spread out slightly, forming a loose circle around him.
Typical ambush formation. They were trained, at least a little.
But not trained enough.
"Four of you," Kaiden said under his breath, more to himself than to them. "And not a single one of you thought of what happens if I fight back."
The man to his left snorted. "Fight back? You don't even have a weapon, kid."
Kaiden's lips twitched.
"Don't need one," he muttered.
"Stop talking and finish him!" the leader barked.
Two of the men moved in instantly, swords raised, but Kaiden didn't flinch. His eyes locked onto their movements, calm and patient.
He didn't even move yet.
The moonlight caught his face just right, revealing that same faint smile again—the same one that terrified Maraya not long ago.
The two men stopped a few feet from him, confused by the look in his eyes.
Then Kaiden spoke softly, almost in a whisper.
"You really shouldn't have come."