"You see them?" Terren whispered.
Two hulking shapes moved through the jungle ahead, snorting and stomping… beasts of muscle and bone.
"We've encountered them before," he said, crouching behind the brush. "Grathog Boars."
"Grathogs?" Kael echoed.
Terren nodded. "Their charge can snap a tree in half. No joke."
"…Then why in the hell are we here?" Kael hissed. "We're obviously no match for that!"
But Terren was grinning like a lunatic.
"We're here to get stronger. What!?you planning to back down already?"
Terren's words hit Kael like a slap. Just yesterday, Kael was grieving over being weak and wanting strength like Segeford… and now he was backing down?
Kael clenched his fists. "Alright. What's the plan?"
"Their eyesight," Terren whispered.
"…What about it?", Kael Whispered back.
"It's shit. They can't see far, so They rely on scent and hearing."
"Oh." Kael frowned thinking Terren had some brain after-all. But that did not last long… "Wait—then the wind…"
Suddenly aware, Kael licked his finger and held it up. A soft gust brushed his wet finger… blowing from them toward them.
Kael's stomach dropped. "You stupid fuck…"
Kael turned back while sitting. He sprang his feet, panic rising like fire in his chest. But it was already too late.
A wave of heat passed over the back of Kael neck… thick, damp, and vile. Like blood, shit, and old bandages wrapped in fur. He froze.
It was standing right behind Him. Five quintals of muscles, with four huge sword like tusks.
Kael didn't dare turn. He just could not.
At that moment, Kael discovered Terren's true superpower: cowardice-induced speed.
Before Kael could even trace Terren's movement, he was already gone—legs pumping through the trees like a fleeing deer.
"I forgot to mention!" Terren yelled over his shoulder. "They're carnivorous!"
"WHAT!?" Kael screamed. "And you're telling me now!?"
Kael unable to stop now, took one step… his knees buckled.
Survival? Not likely.
BOOOOM—
A thunderous crash exploded behind Kael. Dust swirled in every direction, rattling the trees. Heat rushed up Kael's spine like hot water spilled across his back.
Something fell… hard—with a bone-snapping thud.
Kael turned.
There, standing beside the dead boar with his sword buried halfway through its skull… Liam.
"Should really be more careful in the wild, boys."
Kael blinked. Tears welled in hiseyes. he didn't even care. "Liam… I've never been so relieved to see you in my entire life."
Liam was confused.
"Huh? What, did Boar hit your head or what?"he spoke. confused.
Kael back was drenched in boar's blood… sticky, warm, and foul.
Liam looked at the boar again… and snapped,
"And what the hell were you doing picking a fight with a Grathog boar?"
"Ahh… training, I guess," Kael mumbled, his voice was barely audible.
"Training? Training for what—dying!?"
Kael hesitated. He should have had an answer. But shame weighed heavy on his tongue.
Then He spoke… quietly, but with purpose.
"After what happened in the ruins… I made a vow. To grow stronger. Strong enough to protect those around me… like Captain Segeford did."
Liam's eyes narrowed. "And what was your brilliant plan to achieve that?"
Kael just looked at Liam, dumbfounded by the question.
He had no answer to that. As the plan was not his but Terren's.
Liam sighed and let the silence hang.
Then, calmly: "Listen, kid. Strength doesn't come from reckless charges at monsters twice your size. It comes from need. From passion. From the fire that refuses to go out….", He continued, " Your reason… It was good. But your method? Suicidal."
Kael lowered his gaze.
"Don't jump for the roof before laying the foundation," Liam continued. "One step at a time. Brick by brick. That's how strength is built."
His words struck deep… like sunlight reaching the roots of a buried seed.
He turned toward Kael. "Tell me, Kael. How well do you know your sword? The basics, at least?"
Kael had no answers. Only a guilty nod.
Liam's gaze shifted behind Kael. "Terren. I know you're a hot-headed beast, but take better care of your people, if you are the one in command."
"Yes, Captain!" Terren called out from behind a tree.
Kael stepped forward, voice steady now. "Then… can you teach me? The way of the sword?"
Liam raised an eyebrow, amused. "I could. But to learn the sword, you'll need one first."
"Oh—I have one. It's just a short sword, but I think it'll do.", Kael replied hurriedly as Kael pulled his short sword out.
"Hmm… That'll do just fine," he nodded.
"Tighten up the boar and pull you untamed beast…", Liam barked order at Terren, "This is your punishment for not thinking about the consequences".
they all headed towards the guard post pulling that beast with them.
…
Kael had never trained with a blade. He was born to a father who believed in peace, in the power of knowledge. Kael walked in his footsteps…reading, thinking, observing. A scholar of behavior and mind.
But stories… stories always stirred something in him.
The Epic of Scarface and The war of Chains. The tale of the rebels who ignited the War of Chains. The Flame-Bearer's March… they made Kael's blood hum. They made him feel alive.
Kael always longed to wander… to chase myths through forgotten ruins and dance with danger under unfamiliar stars. As if something has always pulled him towards that… as if it was the purpose of his life.
And That's why he left. A scholar chasing ruins, dreaming of legends.
But dreams don't build muscle.
"Harder, boy!" Liam barked.
Kael grunted in response, sweat pouring down his face. his arms, back, thighs… everything burned. Every breath stung.
They were deep in training. Liam had taken Terren and Kael under his wing.
They began with the basics—stances, footwork, form.
"Straight blade, straight slash!" Liam shouted. "Your goal today—one thousand clean slashes!"
"One thousa—" Kael's voice drowned under my own sweat.
He wanted to collapse. To stop. To quit.
But as he looked beside me.
Terren was still slashing. Gritting his teeth, powering through the pain. Even after pulling half a ton weight for more than an hour… he was still grinding…
As Kael kept looking at Terren… He realized something…
Terren was better built than he'd realized… hardened hands, a sun-kissed complexion, muscle from years of work. Maybe swordplay. Maybe the plough. But He looked rough… yet capable. Reliable.
And beside him, Kael felt small.
So, Kael kept going. Grinding even more… just some more…
Kael was focused on the blade, as he had started to find a rhythm in slashes. Just then he saw a silhouette over the blade. he noticed her.
Miya.
Sitting quietly at the edge of the hallway, watching us from the shadows of the outpost wall. Just beyond the training ground. She looked calmer now… recovering, maybe. Healing.
Kael kept the slashing on. Focusing on the blade again.
And just like that, the sun dipped beneath the trees.
Training was over.
"Freshen up, kids," Liam called. "Good work today."
Terren and Kael dragged themselves toward the river just beyond the outpost… barely a hundred meters away. The water was cold, but it pulled the pain from our muscles like balm. The moon shimmered above them, silver and serene. Stars danced in the night sky, insects buzzed in the grass, and the sweet scent of night jasmine filled the air.
For the first time in days… Kael felt at peace as he closed his eyes.
…
Later that night, They all gathered in the dining hall. The boar they'd killed in the afternoon now crackled over fire. A feast.
The scent of roasted meat and spices filled the air. Laughter rose. Even the outpost walls seemed warmer.
There weren't many of them… just Liam, Kael, Terren, three stationed soldiers, and a group of five of merchant's. Liam shared the kill for a modest fee… fifty shards a mouth. It was a feast.
They couldn't just give meat for free. They are adventurers, doing that is like biting the same hand that feeds them.
They earned three scrips that night. A fortune for Kindlings like Terren, who might earn five scrips per mission on a good day.
And after selling the remaining boar meat and remains… Liam made 20 scrips that day.
At last, Miya joined them at the long wooden table as they were joking around.
"Liam," she said, her voice quiet. "I wanted to apologize."
Her eyes were heavy with guilt.
But Liam just smiled. "There's no need, Miya. I understand how you felt. So, Let's leave it behind. and focus on how to rescue Captain.."
Miya looked at Liam… Her eyes were tearing up as she heard those words, and finally her lips curled up a little.
After days of solitude… she finally smiled.
And just like that the tension that had clung to the outpost for days melted away.
Miya smiled. After a long time They saw her catching a smile.
The atmosphere suddenly went beautiful and warm.
They ate, as they discussed about the plan to rescue their Captain.
As they had no idea… What tomorrow was bringing them…