The fortress rose imposingly among the mountains, wrapped in luxury, technology, and controlled silence.
Elion remained outside. Only those enrolled in the Military Science and Magic Academy were allowed to enter the forest—and he was no longer part of that group. Still, he watched Seraphina and Asher head into the trees without interfering.
The two walked between the towering trees when the conversation turned more personal.
"Asher…" Seraphina began, breaking the silence. "Why do you act like this so often?"
He sighed, not stopping his pace.
"If this is about those rumors involving Angelo and Tocri, spare me. I don't want to talk about it."
"It's not just about them," she insisted. "You act this way with almost everyone."
Asher stopped abruptly.
"What way?" he asked sharply. "I act this way because I protect what's mine. When someone doesn't protect what they have, others come and take it. Simple as that."
He resumed walking.
"You need to stop being nice to everyone, Seraphina. The world doesn't reward that. It only teaches you to suffer."
Before she could respond, a sudden movement tore through the forest's silence.
Seven figures emerged between the trees.
The Crimson Fang Clan.
Asher reacted instinctively. He positioned himself in front of his sister, assuming a defensive stance.
"Step back," he said firmly. "I don't want to hurt anyone."
One of the youths laughed.
"There are seven of us. You're two. You're not in a position to give warnings."
Asher clenched his fists.
"Then watch closely."
The ground exploded beneath his feet.
He moved like a projectile, striking the first opponent with a brutal punch that sent them crashing into a tree trunk. He spun, landing a roundhouse kick on another before the first even hit the ground. Flames ignited around his arms, shaped by the motion and released in short, precise bursts.
Asher fought with controlled fury.
He used the terrain, leaping over roots, sliding between trees, attacking with no room for counterattack. His eyes burned with a living fire.
He wasn't fighting just for himself.
He fought for Seraphina.
But the numerical advantage began to weigh heavily.
Four of the attackers advanced together—water specialists.
They surrounded Asher, positioning themselves at the four corners. Pressurized jets struck him simultaneously. The flames reacted, evaporating the water… but each burst drained more energy.
The more Asher attacked, the stronger the jets became.
Steam filled the clearing.
The flames weakened.
Asher staggered.
He fell to his knees.
Seraphina ran to him, trying to hold him, but it was useless. He couldn't fight. Couldn't react.
They were captured.
Dragged deeper into the forest.
Along the way, Asher awoke, still weak but furious.
"Where are you taking us?" he growled. "What do you want?"
No answer.
When the vegetation opened, he saw it.
A camp.
"What is this?" he asked, with disdain.
"You're good at fighting," one of the youths said, "but it seems you don't recognize a camp."
"I know what a camp is, idiots," Asher replied. "I want to know what you're doing here."
"We are the Crimson Fang Clan," another spoke. "And like all clans, we protect what's ours."
Asher frowned.
"Clan?"
"Don't you know?" they mocked. "Seems like you were born yesterday."
Seraphina intervened:
"We don't know anything about clans."
They explained.
In the forest, there were five clans. Each conquered territory, recruited powerful youths, and offered protection, shelter, and survival. The stronger the members, the more prosperous the clan.
Asher let out a dry laugh.
"So that's how it works…"
He looked around, assessing the people, the makeshift structures, the sentries.
"And who's the leader?" he asked.
"You'll meet him," one replied. "But not now. He's on a mission."
Asher sat down, still exhausted.
"Clans…" he muttered. "What nonsense."
But his eyes remained sharp.
On the other side of the forest, the wind blew differently.
Far from any camp, Tokri and Angelo faced each other.
The fight was pure technique.
Angelo moved like the wind itself, dodging with almost invisible fluidity. Tokri attacked with surgical precision, anticipating moves, using trees, rocks, and uneven terrain as extensions of his own body.
Neither dominated.
Neither gave in.
It was absolute balance.
Finally, they stepped back.
Silence.
Then… auras appeared.
Blue, alive, and vibrant around Angelo.
Purple and black around Tokri, deep like a pulsing shadow.
Even under the sun, both glowed.
Neither attacked.
The power was new.
Unknown.
Instinctively, they understood: advancing now would be risky.
Angelo took a deep breath.
"Truce is truce."
Tokri nodded.
The forest, for the first time, seemed to watch.
The sun began to sink on the horizon, painting Orb Valley in golden and orange hues.
Angelo and Tokri climbed to one of the highest platforms of the camp, sitting side by side, observing the natural spectacle. The silence between them was comfortable, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves and the distant call of forest creatures.
Angelo broke the silence:
"You know, Tokri… sometimes, even surrounded by so many people, by so many things, I feel like I don't belong here."
He sighed, watching the sun set between the giant trees.
"It's a strange feeling. I feel alone… and here in the forest, it feels even stronger."
Tokri thought for a moment.
"I know what you mean," he said calmly.
"I feel it too sometimes. I don't want to complain, Uncle Esmond is amazing, but… it's different for me. I never knew my mother, never knew my father. I always wonder what happened. Did he fight? Does he see me? Does he still expect something from me somehow?"
Angelo looked at his cousin and nodded slightly, acknowledging a shared silent truth:
"Yeah… I feel that too. Sometimes I feel someone is watching me, expecting me to do something, to make them proud… but I never know who. Or what those feelings are."
The two remained silent, absorbing the warm glow of the sunset and the beauty of the surrounding forest. The giant trees cast long, elegant shadows, and tiny shimmering animals leapt among the branches. The scene was breathtaking, almost magical.
"But, you know…" Angelo continued, with a half-smile, "I think it's better not to let ourselves get carried away by emotions. When we get too carried away, we lose focus."
Tokri nodded, understanding.
"Yeah… it's strange, but it's also beautiful to feel it."
The sun finally touched the horizon, painting the leaves a deep red.
Angelo and Tokri remained seated, enjoying the calm, feeling the fresh forest air.
When they finally descended from the platform, the camp was already enveloped in the shadows of dusk.
They climbed the improvised stairs connecting the giant trees, blending once again into camp life. Each platform, each rope, each tree became a small part of a suspended, living, and pulsating city.
And so ended another day in Orb Valley—a day of reflection, growth, and the silent beauty that only an ancient forest could offer.
Farther away, in the Crimson Fang Clan clearing, the atmosphere was completely different.
The chaos of training and challenges gave way to lightheartedness. Young people shared stories, laughed, and even the most serious found moments of fun.
Asher, still irritated from being captured, remained serious, observing everything with sharp eyes. Seraphina, on the other hand, smiled, taking in every detail.
A young girl approached Asher, sitting calmly beside him.
"Hi, my name is Selena Sora," she said with a friendly smile.
"My name is Asher," he replied, serious.
"You're very serious," Selena continued. "I've never seen you around here."
"I'm new," Asher said. "I'm always passing through."
"Do you think you'll stay with us in this camp?" she asked.
"No. I'm just waiting to talk to the leader. Then I'll leave," Asher said.
However, as they spoke, something changed. For the first time since being captured, Asher relaxed. The hatred and anger he felt gave way to curiosity and lightness.
They talked about the clan's stories, daily life in the forest, and funny moments that happened around the camp.
Night fell, and the atmosphere grew calm. Among contained laughter and watchful eyes, Asher realized that even in a place he hadn't planned to be, it was possible to find something resembling friendship… and perhaps, a home.