The next morning, sunlight spilled gently over the village, but Lina had already left for work, leaving the house quiet behind her. With a small sigh, Kael stepped outside and made his way down the familiar streets, the sounds of people starting their day filling the air.
"Yo, Kael! Over here!" one of his friends called out, waving from across the street.
Kael glanced up and walked toward them. "Morning… you guys are up early."
"Of course we are," one of them grinned. "We found something way better than sleeping."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "That already sounds suspicious."
"Relax," another laughed, tossing him a small wooden stick. "We're just messing around. Come on."
Before he could refuse, they pulled him along toward an open patch of land just outside the street. One of them drew a rough circle on the ground.
"Simple game," he said. "Last one standing wins."
Kael let out a small breath, a faint smile forming despite himself. "You guys never change."
"Stop talking and get in!"
Moments later, laughter echoed through the area as they pushed, dodged, and stumbled around the circle, each trying to knock the others out. It wasn't serious, just chaotic and full of energy—but for once, Kael didn't think about mana, or weakness, or anything else.
For a short while, he was just another kid, laughing under the open sky.Among the group, two stood out the most to Kael—not just for their personalities, but for where they came from.
Ryn was the son of a merchant family, growing up surrounded by noise, people, and constant movement. Maybe that was why he was always so full of energy, never able to stay still for long. To him, everything was a game waiting to happen.
"Oi, Kael! Don't just stand there—move!" Ryn shouted, grinning as he rushed in without a plan.
Daren, on the other hand, came from a family of former guards. Discipline and awareness had been drilled into him since he was young, shaping the way he carried himself—calm, controlled, and always thinking a step ahead.
"You're too slow," Daren said evenly, sidestepping and pushing another boy out of the circle with precise timing.
Kael was different from both of them. No strong background, no special upbringing—just a quiet home and a life built on effort rather than talent.
And yet, despite their differences, they stood in the same circle, laughing and competing like nothing else mattered.After what felt like hours of laughter and chaos, the game finally came to an end, leaving all of them tired and catching their breath. The sun had risen higher, casting warm light over the village as the noise slowly faded.
"Alright, that's enough messing around," Ryn said, stretching his arms. "I'm starving."
Daren glanced toward the outskirts of the village. "Then let's go get something instead of complaining."
Kael looked at them. "You mean… hunting?"
Ryn grinned. "What else? Unless you want to eat air."
Not long after, the three of them made their way beyond the village gates, following a narrow path that led toward the nearby mountain. The further they walked, the quieter it became, the sounds of the village replaced by rustling leaves and distant calls of wild creatures.
"Don't slow us down, Kael," Ryn called out, walking ahead.
Kael sighed lightly. "I'm right behind you."
Daren glanced back briefly. "Stay alert. This isn't like playing around back there."
Step by step, they moved closer to the mountain, where the trees grew thicker and the air felt heavier—entering a place where survival mattered more than fun. The deeper they moved into the mountain's edge, the more the atmosphere changed. The air grew still, and even Ryn's usual chatter faded as instinct took over. Every step became quieter, more careful.
Daren suddenly raised a hand. "Stop."
Ryn froze mid-step. "What?"
Daren lowered his voice. "Listen."
For a moment, there was nothing. Then—
A faint rustling.
Soft. Rhythmic.
Close.
Kael narrowed his eyes, focusing. "Something's moving… ahead."
Ryn grinned, excitement returning. "Finally."
Daren crouched slightly, his gaze fixed forward. "Don't rush. We do this properly."
Through the bushes, a small creature came into view—a horned rabbit, its ears twitching as it grazed cautiously near a patch of grass. It looked harmless, but its sharp movements showed it was ready to bolt at any second.
"That's our target," Daren whispered.
Ryn smirked. "Easy enough."
Kael stayed quiet, his eyes locked onto the creature, his body tense.
For a brief moment, everything stood still.
The hunt had begun. The horned rabbit didn't stand a chance.
With a quick signal from Daren, Ryn rushed in from the side, forcing the creature to panic—right into Kael's direction. Startled but focused, Kael reacted just in time, striking clumsily but effectively. The rabbit fell still.
"Nice one!" Ryn laughed, clapping Kael on the back. "Told you it'd be easy."
Kael let out a small breath. "Yeah… barely."
Daren nodded once. "It worked. That's what matters."
Not long after, they gathered dry wood and started a small fire at a safe spot near the mountain. The faint crackling of flames soon filled the quiet air as the rabbit was prepared and set over the fire.
"Now this is the best part," Ryn said, crouching near the fire, watching the meat cook with eager eyes.
Kael sat beside him, the warmth of the flames brushing against his face. "You're only here for the food."
"Obviously," Ryn replied without shame.
Daren shook his head slightly. "At least wait until it's fully cooked."
As the scent of roasted meat slowly filled the air, the tension from earlier faded, replaced by a quiet sense of satisfaction.
Under the open sky, with nothing but the crackling fire and the mountain around them, the three of them sat together—sharing a simple meal they had earned themselves.
After finishing their meal, the three didn't stop.
"We should take some back," Daren said, standing as he glanced at the forest ahead. "It's a waste to head back with just one."
Ryn stretched and grinned. "Finally, something smart comes out of you."
Kael stood up as well, brushing the dirt off his clothes. "Then let's keep going."
And so, they moved deeper along the mountain's edge once more.
Time passed without them noticing. One hunt turned into another—small creatures, careful tracking, quiet coordination. With each attempt, Kael grew more accustomed to the rhythm, his movements still rough, but improving little by little.
"Left side," Daren whispered.
"Got it," Ryn replied, already moving.
Kael followed, his focus sharper than before.
By the time they stopped, their small bags were no longer empty.
The sky above had darkened completely.
The forest was now lit only by faint moonlight filtering through the trees.
Ryn let out a long breath. "Alright… I think that's enough."
Kael looked up, slightly surprised. "Already?"
Daren shook his head. "Look around."
Only then did Kael realize how quiet everything had become.
Too quiet.
"…It's midnight," Kael muttered.
Ryn laughed nervously. "Okay, yeah… maybe we stayed a bit too long."
With their catch secured, the three quickly began making their way back, their earlier excitement replaced with a quiet urgency as the dark forest seemed far less forgiving than it had during the day.
The path back felt different.
Quieter. Heavier.
Each step echoed just a little too loudly in the stillness of the night.
Then—
A faint sound.
Not from ahead.
From behind.
Daren suddenly stopped. "Wait."
Ryn nearly bumped into him. "What now?"
Daren's voice lowered. "…We're not alone."
Kael's grip tightened around the small bag he was carrying. "You hear it too?"
A soft crunch.Leaves shifting.Slow. Careful.
Following them.
Ryn forced a grin, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Probably just some small animal."
Daren didn't move. "No… it's been keeping distance."
Another step.
Closer this time.
Kael slowly turned his head, trying to look into the darkness behind them—but the forest swallowed everything beyond a few steps.
"…It's following us," he said quietly.
The air grew tense.
The weight of the night pressed down on them.
And whatever it was—
It wasn't leaving.**