The forge of Korvan had gone quiet.
Only the faint smell of cooled metal lingered in the air — a memory of the flames that had once lit the entire village. For the first time in weeks, Hunnt wasn't hammering, shaping, or smelting. He was writing.
He sat at his workbench, a quill in hand, the faint scratching of ink against parchment filling the silence. The paper before him was new — clean, precise — but the words he wrote were old, ancient even, passed down through hands of will and endurance.
He wasn't writing for himself. He was writing for the future.
Pages filled with diagrams — body movements, breathing patterns, step formations. Descriptions of six techniques, meticulously explained in plain terms:
Soru, Tekkai, Kami-e, Geppo, Rankyaku, and Shigan.
Alongside them were paragraphs outlining the two fundamental Haki disciplines — Armament and Observation — not their stages, only their roots: focus, flow, and control.
He added a final note at the bottom of the page, written in smaller, sharper handwriting:
> "Power isn't in the technique. It's in the reason you choose to master it."
— iAmElder, Founder of the Eternal Wanderer
When the last line dried, Hunnt closed the leather-bound book. Its cover was identical to the one he once carried — the same title carefully inscribed on the front:
One Piece
(Rokushiki & Haki: The Basics of the Path)
He stared at it for a moment, his hand resting lightly on the surface. Then he smiled.
"This one," he murmured, "isn't for warriors. It's for builders."
---
Later that afternoon, Hunnt and the others walked through Korvan's main square toward Maerin's longhouse. The air was calm, the village lively again after weeks of silence and tension. Children ran between the houses, laughter echoing faintly through the hills.
Kael walked slightly ahead, his new armor glinting faintly in the sunlight. Seren followed beside him, her lance strapped across her back, while Alder trailed behind, adjusting the strap on his great sword with a lazy grin.
"You sure she'll read it?" Alder asked, glancing at the book in Hunnt's hand.
Hunnt chuckled. "She's Maerin. She'll probably finish it before sunset."
Kael smirked. "And then call you crazy."
"Wouldn't be the first time," Hunnt said.
They reached the longhouse. Maerin was already outside, seated on the porch with a carved wooden cup of tea in her hand. When she saw them, she rose, her expression a mix of curiosity and fatigue.
"Well," she said, "if it isn't my four troublemakers. You've been too quiet — that's never a good sign."
Hunnt stepped forward and handed her the book. "Then here's something to make noise again."
She blinked, taking it carefully. "A book?"
"More than that," Hunnt replied. "It's a guide — the foundation of the Eternal Wanderer's way. Rokushiki, the two Haki basics, and endurance methods. Keep it hidden. Keep it safe."
Maerin raised an eyebrow and flipped it open. The neat lines of text and diagrams filled her eyes with confusion and curiosity. Her finger traced the first heading: "The Six Forms."
As she read on, her eyes widened slightly. She didn't speak for several minutes. The others waited in silence, watching as the expression on her face shifted from disbelief to something resembling awe — and maybe a little fear.
When she finally closed the book, she looked at Hunnt.
Her voice was quiet, almost reverent. "You're… a monster to monsters."
Hunnt's lips curved faintly. "You wouldn't believe how many times I've heard that."
Kael snorted softly, hiding a smirk behind his hand. Seren smiled too, but her eyes were serious. Maerin set the book down on the table beside her and sighed deeply.
"So," she said, "I'm guessing this isn't just a gift. What do you want from me?"
Hunnt folded his arms. "Korvan Village will become the first training ground for the Eternal Wanderers. That book is your guide. I need you to keep it hidden — and to train anyone who comes here seeking the Path."
Maerin's eyes softened, but her shoulders slumped slightly. "You're asking me to train new members? Hunnt… I'm getting old. My arms aren't what they used to be."
Kael stepped forward, his tone light but firm. "You won't be alone. I'll stay here for a while — a few months, at least. I want Seren to master all the Rokushiki forms, and while she trains, I'll assist you with the teaching."
Seren nodded immediately. "Don't worry, Chief. I'm staying too — not just to learn, but to protect the village. If new members come, I'll handle their trials."
Maerin's lips parted slightly, surprise giving way to pride. "You mean you'll… stay here for good?"
Seren smiled. "This is home now."
Hunnt nodded. "Then Korvan will stand as the first branch of the Eternal Wanderers — and you, Maerin, will be its Elder guide."
The old chief chuckled softly. "Elder guide, huh? You make it sound like I'm running a guild."
Kael smirked. "You're better than the guild."
That drew a small laugh from everyone, even Maerin, who rolled her eyes but didn't argue. Then Alder stepped forward, scratching the back of his head.
"I guess that leaves me," he said. "I'll be heading out soon — maybe travel between villages, take a few contracts, see what's out there. If I find someone with potential, I'll send them here for trials."
Hunnt's gaze sharpened slightly. "Good. You're the most suited for it. You still have ties in the Guild, right?"
Alder frowned. "Yeah, but—wait, don't tell me—"
Hunnt smirked. "You'll go back to them. Act as one of their own. But your loyalty stays here. You'll be our eyes and ears inside their ranks."
Alder's jaw dropped. "You want me to be a spy?"
Kael grinned. "Not a spy. A 'double agent.' Sounds fancier."
Alder groaned. "And here I thought I was getting a break."
Seren chuckled, leaning her lance against the porch rail. "You knew the job was dangerous when you took it."
Everyone laughed — even Maerin, whose laughter was warm, if tired. It was a rare, quiet moment of peace — something they hadn't felt in months.
When the laughter faded, Hunnt looked at each of them in turn. His tone softened.
"You all have your paths now. Follow them. Teach, protect, gather, guide. Whatever happens — keep walking forward."
Kael gave a slow nod. "And you?"
Hunnt looked toward the horizon. The clouds above the mountains glowed faintly orange, the sky stretching endlessly beyond. "I'll keep moving. There's another continent across the sea. If monsters exist there, so does purpose."
Kael folded his arms. "You sure you'll find what you're looking for?"
Hunnt smiled faintly. "I always do."
---
They spent the rest of the day together — one last evening as four Drifters bound by the same fire. When night came, they shared a simple meal by the forge. No grand speeches, no ceremony. Just quiet warmth, laughter, and the hum of burning embers.
As the stars stretched across the night sky, Hunnt stood and looked once more at his companions — Kael, Alder, Seren, and Maerin.
He bowed his head slightly. "Keep the fire burning."
Kael raised his cup. "We will."
Seren smiled. "Good luck, founder."
Hunnt chuckled, shaking his head. "Still not used to that title."
Alder grinned. "You better get used to it, boss."
The laughter faded slowly as Hunnt turned toward the village gate. The night wind brushed against his cloak, carrying with it the faint scent of ash and metal. He didn't look back. He didn't need to.
The Eternal Wanderers were no longer a dream.
They were alive — rooted in Korvan, spreading into the world.
And somewhere beyond the horizon, Hunnt's next journey waited — unknown, untamed, and calling his name.