The morning light slipped gently through the wooden window, falling across the quiet room. A soft warmth filled the air as the world outside slowly came to life.
Aragorn opened his eyes. For a brief moment, he remained still, his mind adjusting, his senses returning. Then he realised his hand was holding someone else's.
Jessy ….
She stood close, her fingers caught in his grip, her face slightly flushed. Their eyes met, and for a second, neither spoke. Then, slowly, both of them smiled.
"Oh… it's you," Aragorn said, releasing her hand.
Jessy pulled her hand back, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "You sleep like a child," she said lightly, her tone playful.
"I tried to wake you, but you didn't even move "
Aragorn gave a faint smile, "It's been a while since I slept properly "
Jessy turned, pointing towards the table, "I brought some things from the market. Vegetables, meat… proper food. If you don't mind, I thought I'd cook for both of us."
She paused, then added with a teasing smile, "You can't survive on bread forever, you know."
Aragorn let out a soft chuckle, "When you're travelling with little coin, bread becomes your best friend. It's kept me alive since I left a place… where I was welcome."
For a moment, his voice softened.
Images of Duskmire surfaced in his mind the villagers, their kindness, their smiles. A place that, for a short time, felt like home. Jessy noticed the change but didn't press further.
Then Aragorn straightened, "Alright, You cook. I'll step out for a bit and get fresh air. Don't wander too far."
Jessy nodded, "I'll be here "
With that, Aragorn stepped outside.
From a distance, three figures watched him. Kai stood at the front, his sharp eyes fixed on Aragorn's back. Beside him were two of his friends, both tense, both uncertain.
"He's leaving the village," one of them whispered.
Kai nodded, "We follow "
"Are you sure?" the other asked quietly.
"That man… he's not normal "
Kai didn't respond immediately. His gaze remained steady.
"That's exactly why we need to know."
And so, they followed.
As Aragorn left, Jessy looked around the small kitchen. It was simple but usable. She placed all the items she had bought on the table.
Carrots…Potatoes….Onions…..Cabbage…..Peppers...
Rabbit meat…..Chicken….Fish...
She folded her arms and looked at everything,
"…What should I cook?"
For a moment, she stood still, thinking.
Then she smiled to herself.
"Alright… let's do this properly."
She rolled up her sleeves and began preparing.
Cutting vegetables…..Cleaning meat….Lighting the fire....
The quiet room slowly filled with the soft sounds of cooking.
For the first time in days,
She wasn't running…..
She wasn't hiding...
She was just… living….
A small smile appeared on her face as she worked.
The forest welcomed Aragorn with silence. Not the peaceful kind but something deeper. The air felt heavier. The wind barely moved. Even the leaves seemed still, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
Aragorn slowed his steps.
His senses expanded outward.
Nothing… and yet something.
Then a shift…..a flicker of killing intent.
Sharp...Sudden.....
Aragorn stopped,
Behind him, Kai and his friends froze as well,
"What… what is he doing?" one of them whispered nervously.
Kai raised his hand, signalling silence.
Aragorn stood completely still, his eyes slightly narrowed.
The killing intent grew stronger…
Closer...
Then...CRASH!
The bushes exploded open. A massive creature burst forth. It had the head of a buffalo large horns curving outward and the body of a towering beast, muscles thick and heavy. In its hand, it carried a brutal axe, its blade stained and chipped.
An A-rank monster...
It roared, charging straight at Aragorn.
But Aragorn had already moved.
In a blink he vanished. The creature halted abruptly, confused, its eyes darting around wildly.
Then a shadow appeared above it.
Aragorn,
"Too slow…..."
Before the beast could react, dark energy surged outward,
"Shadow Bind "
From beneath the ground, black tendrils erupted, wrapping tightly around the creature's limbs, body, and neck. It struggled violently, roaring with fury, but the bindings did not break.
Not anymore...
Aragorn's power had grown. Far beyond what it once was. The beast roared louder, its strength pushing against the shadows but it was useless.
Aragorn raised his hand. A ripple of dark energy formed around his ring.
From it, a blade emerged,
A black sword…..
S-rank…..
Silent...Sharp…..Absolute...
Without hesitation he moved. One clean strike. The blade cut through the air and through the creature's neck.
For a moment, everything went still.
Then the head fell. The massive body collapsed with a heavy thud.
Silence returned....
The entire fight had lasted less than ten seconds. Behind the trees, Kai and his friends stood frozen. Their faces pale,
"What… what was that…" one of them whispered, his voice shaking.
Kai said nothing.
But even he strong, composed felt a chill run down his spine.
An A-rank monster...
Defeated...
Like it was nothing...
"Who… is he?" the other muttered.
Kai's gaze remained fixed on Aragorn
"…Not someone we can take lightly."
Aragorn, however, paid them no attention.
He looked down at the corpse briefly,
"That was unexpected "
He wiped the blade clean before letting it dissolve back into the ring. But his expression didn't relax. Instead, it grew more serious,
"…This wasn't it…."
He closed his eyes for a moment. The presence he felt last night it was different. This creature… was just a random beast.
Not the source...
"Then what was it…?"
His eyes slowly opened.
And then he sensed it,
Faint....
Distant.....
But real...….
Aragorn turned his head slightly.
Towards the deeper part of the forest.
Far away....
Deep inside the forest...
Where sunlight barely reached.
There stood something forgotten.
A cave...
Ancient....
Its entrance carved into stone, worn by time. Roots twisted around it. Moss covered most of its surface.
It looked… abandoned.
But not empty....
At the top of the entrance something was carved.
Faded....
But still visible covered slightly in dark red stains almost like dried blood,
M5
The wind passed silently the darkness inside the cave remained still….
Waiting...…..