The village square bustled with restless voices. The youths gathered in clusters, their eyes darting toward the forest where the hunt would soon begin. Some boasted of their new strength, others shifted nervously, clutching crude weapons.
Haron stood at the center, calm but firm. His voice carried over the crowd, silencing the chatter.
"Awakening is only the beginning. What you carry now is a Totem Seed. Like a seed buried in soil, it can wither or it can grow. Each of you stands at the very first step of the path."
The youths leaned closer, caught between fear and anticipation. Dagan smirked at Kael from across the circle, his arms crossed with arrogance.
Haron raised a carved stone, its surface etched with intricate runes. "The seed grows through three stages. The Flicker is the faintest spark, barely a shadow. The Ember glows stronger, giving you sharper instincts. The Glow is the brightest, marking those destined to stand above their peers." He lowered the stone and let his eyes sweep across the gathering. "Do not think the seed will save you. It is fragile. A careless step, a poorly chosen fight, and your gift may never bloom."
Whispers rippled through the youths. Some stole proud glances at the phantom beasts they had glimpsed in their awakenings. Others clenched their fists, unwilling to admit how weak their shadows had been.
Kael listened quietly. Outwardly, his face remained calm, but inside his thoughts moved quickly. He had felt the darkness coil around him during his awakening, a presence too vast to name. If this was merely a seed, then his was something that had bitten through the soil already, hungering for more. He would not show it yet. Power revealed too early drew blades as surely as meat drew wolves.
The chief stepped forward, his presence sharp. "The hunt will test you. Work together, or the Vale will claim you. The Stagheart tribe has no use for those who stumble alone." His gaze lingered on Kael longer than the others, a silent warning.
Dagan caught that look and grinned. "Don't worry, Chief. Some of us were born to lead." His words drew laughter from the youths loyal to him.
Kael let the insult hang. His eyes moved over the gathering, noting who laughed the loudest, who avoided meeting Dagan's eyes, who lingered near the edge of the group with doubt. Each detail was another stone in the wall he was quietly building. When the hunt began, those stones would matter.
Later, as the group prepared at the edge of Astwood Vale, Haron walked close to Kael. His voice was low, meant for him alone. "Your awakening was not ordinary. Do not waste it. You may find allies in places you least expect."
Kael inclined his head, hiding the spark of thought in his eyes. Allies could be useful. Pawns even more so.
When the horns finally sounded, the youths entered the forest. Some charged ahead with reckless eagerness, testing the fresh strength of their seeds. Dagan led a cluster of followers, their shouts brash and unguarded. Kael held his group back, guiding them with calm words. He marked the terrain, the slope of the land, the cover of the trees, and steered them into a position where others would serve as bait.
The hunt had begun, but for Kael, it was already more than a contest for meat. It was the first game of many, and he intended to win long before the first beast fell.