"Water..." That was the first thing that came out of Kael's mouth.
"Yes, here," Liam said, handing him a water pouch.
Kael grabbed it and drank greedily, emptying it in one go. His throat burned. Who knew how long he'd been in that stone chamber?
"How long has it been?" Kael asked, panting.
"Around twenty-three days..." Liam answered.
"Twenty-three!?" Kael blinked. "And you waited? I'm not Segeford, you know. I might've never come back... ha." He gave a weak chuckle.
"No... the Old Man made us stay."
"What do you mean?"
"He said you'd entered some kind of meditative state, and you wouldn't be waking up anytime soon. Then he blocked the entrance. Told us no one was allowed to disturb the tomb until you came out yourself."
"Really...? I thought I died. He was mumbling something over me... something about me achieving my purpose and all that. Like… who even talks like that when someone's dying?" Kael grinned, trying to make light of it.
He glanced at Liam, expecting a laugh. But Liam was silent. His gaze lingered, cold and strange. Judging, almost.
As if he knew someone who did speak like that when dying.
Liam narrowed his eyes. And asked "You survived in there for over three weeks. No food. No water. How?"
Kael scratched his head, genuinely confused. "I don't know. I only found out how long it had been after you told me."
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"It's... hard to explain. When the Old Man placed his thumb on my temple, everything went black. No vision. No sound. Then... I felt like I was somewhere else. Two voices were speaking. Talking about a teacher of all, and how no one should walk the path without first meeting their teacher. I couldn't catch most of it... but one line—one line was clear as crystal."
Liam leaned closer. "What did it say?"
Kael closed his eyes, trying to recall the exact words. His voice grew quieter.
"'O Teacher of All, who has taught everyone and who is the beginning… I have no teacher. But I want to walk your path. So, please... be my Master, and show me the way.' Something like that."
Liam stared at him, eyes unblinking. "And... what path is that?"
"I wish I knew," Kael muttered. "But after hearing those words… or maybe saying them in my mind—something happened. Like a jolt of lightning through my spine. My whole body buzzed. Every hair stood up."
He shivered at the memory. "It was... surreal. Then, when I opened my eyes, I was back. Except... what felt like five minutes was over twenty days."
"This is... strange," Liam said softly. "But do you feel okay?"
Kael looked down at himself. His limbs were thinner, sunken. "I look like a dried root, sure. Lost a ton of weight... but I feel alive. More than ever. Like I can feel the world breathing around me. Like I've... connected to something."
He exhaled, half in awe.
"Though," he added with a strained chuckle, "the base of my spine's still buzzing. It's been vibrating since that burst of energy. Feels... weird."
Everything went quiet for a moment.
Liam was still staring at Kael… not with suspicion now, but with quiet relief. His eyes said it all: he was glad Kael came back alive.
"Oh… Segeford!" Kael suddenly snapped upright, remembering the most important piece. "What happened to him? I came back alive, and… according to the deal, I was supposed to die. So did Segeford…?"
His voice dropped off near the end, a heaviness creeping in.
"He's fine," Liam nodded. "Still unconscious… but breathing."
"Ohh… that's great," Kael exhaled, his shoulders finally relaxing. He looked down at the earth and smiled to himself… deeply fulfilled.
"Let's head back then… or do you want to stay here forever?" Liam asked, grinning.
"Haha, no. This much is enough… for now. But I might return," Kael said, brushing dust from his legs as he stood.
Liam glanced sideways at him. "You know… you've changed."
"Well, I've lost like fifteen kilos," Kael chuckled.
"Yeah, but I meant your demeanor. You seem… steadier. More grounded. Stable. Maybe death isn't such a bad thing."
"You feel that too?" Kael smiled faintly. "I feel strangely calm and… centered. Like I am more connected to the nature now. Except for the ringing in my spine."
They walked a little further as Kael asked another question.
"Where is that Old Man anyway?" Kael asked, scanning the treeline.
"Hmm… After locking you inside the chamber, he amputated the Captain's arm, applied some herbal paste to the wounds, muttered something in a strange tongue, and disappeared into the jungle. Told us not to disturb either of you until you came out yourselves," Liam said.
"Huh. So he was a good guy, after all." Kael smirked.
"And the Captain… he's in Valemire?"
"Yeah. The Old Man wrapped him head-to-toe in white cloth and said not to even touch him. So he's still lying in the same bull cart. Miya's been caring for him. I ended up buying the cart and the bull from that merchant.", Liam replied.
Kael nodded, opening his mouth to ask something else… then stopped.
Liam noticed. "What is it?"
Kael's eyes narrowed as he turned toward the jungle.
He spoke calmly.
"Wild beasts. Eight of them. A pack."
"What?" Liam blinked. "How the hell do you know that? I've been an adventurer for fifteen years and I only just sensed movement."
"I don't know exactly how," Kael replied, lowering himself slightly. "But I can feel it. The ground's trembling through my feet. Subtle… but growing stronger. They're coming this way."
"Yeah, that much I got, dumbass," Liam muttered. "So, fight or flight?"
"I don't think they're a match for you," Kael said, stepping aside.
Liam grinned. "I knew that too."
He unsheathed his sword in one clean motion and stepped forward.
Then they appeared… shadows slinking through the foliage, slipping out from the thickets like ghosts.
Eight wild dogs. A full pack. Mangy fur, hollow ribs, teeth bared.
As soon as the pack saw them, they growled and lunged.
Liam moved first… his body loose and precise. One dog darted low, aiming for his leg.
Liam leapt, shifting mid-air, and brought his blade down with lethal grace.
Thud—
The dog split clean in half, body collapsing in a heap of torn fur and blood.
Two more rushed from the side, teeth flashing.
Liam spun, already reacting. His sword moved like wind.
Swish—
Two heads flew, thudding into the ground.
Liam stood tall now. He was looking like the death to Dogs.
Dogs sensed that, they were no match for their prey… As the prey turned out to be, 'The Hunter'.
The remaining dogs faltered.
Then they turned… yelping… and fled into the forest.
Kael exhaled, arms crossed. "Easy. Didn't I say so?"
Liam wiped the blood from his blade on the dead dog's fur, then looked up at Kael with a half-smile.
"Yes," he said, sheathing his sword. "They call me The Hunter for a reason, boy"