The fresh air after the rain brought clarity to the mind of anyone who breathed it in. The man in the dark brown cloak was nearing the end of his journey that evening. Through the gaps in the forest canopy, the golden rays of the setting sun pierced the trees, revealing a settlement not far ahead—one that seemed to be waiting for him.
He let out a quiet sigh of relief. So far, the journey had gone smoothly. His weary body, worn down from a full day of travel, would soon have a chance to rest. He needed to stay in the best condition possible if he hoped to reach his final destination—a place he had never been, yet felt deeply connected to. A place tied to the events of his past.
Flickers of oil lamp light began to appear one by one from the houses in the distant village, slowly pushing back the encroaching darkness of night. He guessed it would take him no more than five minutes to reach the village gate.
Snap!
"Who's there?" a startled female voice called out from behind the trees. The cloaked man had stepped on a dry branch, but instinctively ducked into the underbrush. To his surprise, it wasn't him the girl had seen.
From the shadows surrounding her, a group of men emerged. They wore deep indigo-black clothing and approached with heavy footsteps, encircling the girl.
"Hey now, are you lost, little lady?" asked the largest of them, his voice gruff and booming. He towered over the girl, almost twice her height.
"I-I'm not lost, sir," she replied softly, mustering her courage. A crimson hood concealed much of her face.
"Then what are you doing out here alone in the woods at dusk?" the man asked, stepping closer with a rising tone of suspicion.
"I-I was just picking wildflowers," she explained, showing him a woven basket filled with vibrant blooms. Her hands trembled as she took in his appearance—most notably, the burn scar stretching across the left side of his face.
"I-I should head home now, sir. Please excuse me," she said, voice shaking as she turned to leave.
"Not so fast," said the large man. At his signal, two of his men moved to block her path. Her fear deepened.
"Don't you recognize us?" he asked. She shook her head.
"We're the Night Shark Gang—bandits who raid traders passing through this forest," the man announced, his voice thick with menace. Though it was her first time encountering bandits, she imagined that was just how they introduced themselves—ominous and theatrical.
The others closed in, but halted the moment the large man raised his left hand.
"And I am Galodon, the leader of the Night Shark Gang. They call me the Cold Fang," he added, brushing his fingers over his scar. "And I despise the rulers of the Three Kingdoms."
By now, the sun had dipped below the horizon, and dusk faded into true night.
***
The forest grew darker, quieter. Most animals had returned to their nests. And just like them, the girl wanted nothing more than to go home.
"E-excuse me, may I go now? It's getting late," she asked, adjusting the hood over her head. She had stood frozen for some time, unnerved by Galodon's presence. Though inwardly she thought "Cold Eyes" might be a more fitting name, she managed to find her voice again.
"Of course. We're not in the business of damaging our own reputation," Galodon said coolly.
"We only target large traders protected by royal guards. We're not the kind of bandits who harass commoners," he added with a relaxed tone that still carried the weight of authority.
"T-thank you… you're very kind, sir," the girl stammered, surprised by his words.
"Call me Galodon, the Cold Fang."
"Oh—sorry. Thank you, Uncle Galodon. You're very kind," she repeated more calmly, bowing slightly. Though this was her first time meeting a bandit, she never imagined they could be… like this.
"Wait a minute," Galodon said suddenly, pointing at the pendant around her neck. It was a thick, multicolored glass circle, suspended from a thin chain.
"That? It's just a regular necklace," she replied. "It has the symbol of the Rainbow Ring Kingdom. It was a gift from my father."
Galodon shook his head slowly. His face hardened.
"I've seen that before. That's no ordinary pendant. It's a royal insignia of the Rainbow Ring Kingdom," he said.
She stared down at the pendant in confusion.
"Only the rulers and high-ranking officials are allowed to carry those," Galodon added, his voice tense.
"I… I don't understand what you mean. You don't like them? Aren't you also from the Rainbow Ring Kingdom?" she asked, now both confused and afraid. She remembered him saying something like that earlier, but still didn't grasp the full meaning.
Galodon didn't respond. Instead, he yanked the necklace from her neck, snapping the chain.
"I despise them—all those rulers and nobles. Just seeing this thing makes me want to smash it," he growled, clutching the pendant.
"Hey! That was a gift from my father! Give it back!" she cried, reaching for it.
Thud!
She never got close. With one swing of his left arm, Galodon knocked her to the ground. Her basket spilled, scattering flowers across the forest floor.
Galodon ignored her. He dropped the pendant on the ground and raised his boot.
"Don't break it, please!"
Whoosh!Crack!
Suddenly, Galodon's body was thrown backward as if struck by an invisible force. He crashed into a tree, leaving a dent in the trunk with a loud thud.
"A-are you alright, boss?" one of his men called out, rushing to his side.
Galodon clutched his head, eyes shut, trying to shake off the impact. The forest had fallen completely silent.
"Looks like I went a bit too far, didn't I, dear bandit?" came a voice—calm, yet heavy with intent. Galodon opened his eyes and staggered to his feet.
"Who the hell are you?!" he shouted.
The man in the dark brown cloak stepped into view beside the flower girl. He said nothing, only offering a calm smile.
"Trying to play the hero, huh?!" Galodon snarled, drawing a large knife from his waist. His men followed suit, pulling smaller blades from their sleeves.
"I'm afraid you're mistaken, Mr. Bandit," the man said, his smile narrowing.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Galodon barked, pointing the blade at him.
"I don't want to be a hero…"
He paused.
"…I just want to stay be a human."
Night had fully claimed the forest.