Two silhouettes walked into a forest where the trees rose tall and proud, their branches weaving together to form a green canopy that muted the sunlight.
The air smelled of damp earth and fresh leaves, and the distant calls of birds echoed faintly. Shadows shifted as if alive, making the woods feel both vast and claustrophobic.
One of the figures was a boy who looked no older than five. He wore a sleek black outfit that covered him from head to toe, blending with the undergrowth.
In his small hand, he clutched a short sword that gleamed faintly in the dim light. His eyes betrayed a mix of apprehension and determination, though a hint of fear lingered there as well. After all, he was walking into a place full of danger.
Beside him was Modret, dressed in a dark blue robe. A small dagger rested firmly in his grip as he glanced toward a clearing ahead. His eyes burned with resolve as he whispered, "Time to obtain an ability."
He took a step forward, the dry leaves crunching beneath his feet, and Axel immediately followed, his own eyes scanning the forest for the slightest movement.
Minutes passed as the pair walked deeper into the woods, the silence broken only by the creak of wood and the rustling of unseen creatures. Then a faint sound reached Axel's ears.
He crouched down at once, motioning for Modret to stay still. Not far away, he spotted something unusual.
"Shrubs," he muttered under his breath and quickly hurried toward it. There, hidden beneath the foliage, was a shallow pool of liquid. It was dark, murky, and foul-smelling, the surface covered with floating leaves and grime.
Without hesitation, Axel dipped his hand into the filthy liquid and smeared it across his face. The muck spread in streaks, dripping down his cheek, and he rubbed more onto his clothing until the stench clung to him.
Modret stared, puzzled by the act.
When Axel finished, he turned to him solemnly. "Young master, please rub this on your body. It will mask your scent, preventing wild animals from tracking you. It will also keep insects away."
Modret was amazed by the knowledge, though the idea of covering himself in such filth twisted his expression with disgust. For a moment he hesitated, then gritted his teeth.
'Anything for the chance to become awakened.'
He plunged his hands into the liquid, suppressing the urge to gag, and smeared the foul mixture across his face and robes. The stench clung instantly, bitter and pungent, but he forced himself to endure it.
'Fortunately, I wore a dark robe. If not, I would look like an absolute mess,' Modret thought grimly.
The two children pressed onward, their footsteps silent, swallowed by the forest.
Just as Modret began to worry that they were wandering aimlessly, a sharp crack echoed in the distance. The sound of twigs breaking carried through the air.
Axel crouched low again, this time pulling Modret with him. He leaned close and whispered, his eyes fixed on a nearby cluster of branches. "There is an animal ahead, young master. Stay quiet, or we will scare it away."
Modret nodded quickly. He turned his gaze and spotted a small furry creature nibbling on nuts beneath the trees.
"We do not have arrows or crossbows," Axel whispered carefully. "We must approach slowly. When we are close enough, either lunge at it or throw our weapons. We will only have one chance."
Then Axel added in a hushed tone, "Please wait here, young master. I will attempt to kill it."
He began creeping forward, but Modret stopped him at once. If Axel killed the animal, then his own reason for coming into the woods would be wasted. It had to be his kill.
'I wish I could activate my bloodline at will,' Modret thought bitterly. 'If I could, I would slaughter beasts without restraint.' But he pushed the thought aside.
"You may injure it, but do not deal the final blow," he instructed Axel firmly.
A peculiar look crossed Axel's face. He gave Modret a strange glance but nodded in agreement. With careful movements, he stalked toward the creature, his steps silent as he crawled closer.
The animal, oblivious to danger, continued gnawing on its food. The scent-masking liquid worked perfectly, leaving no warning for the beast.
Finally, Axel lunged at the rabbit. But in a flash, the animal's ears twitched and it darted up the trunk of a nearby tree.
Unwilling to let it go, Axel climbed after it with startling agility. His small frame moved with speed and grace, scaling the tree like an expert climber. Within moments, he was on a high branch.
Modret stared in awe. The boy moved like a serpent, swift and fluid, his body clinging to the bark with ease.
The rabbit leapt desperately from one tree to another, its body a blur of fur as it dodged Axel's short sword. Branch to branch it went, faster and faster, until it vanished into the thick cover of trees.
Axel landed back on the ground with a heavy thud, scattering gravel as he dropped. His face twisted with frustration.
"I apologize for my incompetence, young master," he said, bowing his head.
Modret rubbed his nose awkwardly. If someone with Axel's skill called himself incompetent, then what right did he have to call himself capable? Still, he waved dismissively.
"You do not need to worry. There is still plenty of time to catch other creatures."
"Yes, young master," Axel replied with renewed determination. He quickly led the way again, scanning every direction with sharp focus.
…
The hours slipped by slowly. The sun crept across the sky until its golden light softened, preparing to sink beneath the horizon.
At last, Axel struck again. His reflexes were sharp, his movements quick as lightning. His short sword darted through the air toward a squirrel, the blade slicing into its stomach with a sickening sound.
The creature let out a pitiful wail as blood stained the leaves. It collapsed but was not yet dead, its eyes wide with despair as it twitched on the ground.
Modret rushed forward. With one swift motion, he ended its suffering, the final blow echoing in his ears.
The familiar chime of the system rang in his mind.
[Gained 20 shadow fragments.]
[Shadow fragments: 827/1000]
After more than twelve hours of hard work, his progress had leapt forward. His hands ached, his body felt sore, but his heart pounded with exhilaration. His eyes gleamed with both excitement and hunger.
'So close. Just a few more kills, and I will finally complete the shadow fragments and awaken an ability.'
Beside him, Axel was nearly collapsing. His breath came in short gasps, his limbs trembling from exhaustion. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he dragged his tired body forward.
"Young master, is this not enough? We are not even gathering the beasts for food," he groaned, his voice hoarse. His childlike frame was straining under the weight of hours of effort, and he looked as if he could faint at any moment.
"My father must be worried about me by now," he muttered weakly.
"Be patient. We will return to the manor soon," Modret reassured him, patting his back with a faint smile.
But just as he spoke, the leaves around them rustled. A chill swept through the air. Figures began to step out of the shadows, their presence threatening...
"Well, well, well," a voice drawled mockingly. "What do we have here?"