Kaiden arrived at the gate and saw six soldiers lined up. He recognized some of them, but the two standing at the front were strangers to him.
The commander of the expedition called out in a firm voice:
— "Kaiden! Hurry, don't fall behind!"
Kaiden answered as he ran toward them:
— "Yes, sir… My apologies for the delay."
He quickly pulled on a brown woolen jacket over his light black armor, then mounted his horse. The dawn's light glinted off his white hair and golden eyes as he rode forward to join the group.
From atop the castle walls, Kadis watched the expedition depart. His gaze lingered on Kaiden—his illegitimate son—before he muttered under his breath:
— "If your journey serves the North, I will not object… but return safely, boy."
The horses set off, the echo of their hooves fading into the distance as they headed toward Starleaf Village.
━━━
Kaiden kept glancing left and right as they pressed deeper into the forest. The trees were draped in snow, and a heavy silence blanketed everything. He heard nothing but the faint whisper of the wind, and the quiet seemed to grow heavier with every step they took.
Suddenly, the commander raised his hand and commanded in a booming voice:
— "Halt!"
The soldiers stopped at once. The commander dismounted, approaching the trunk of a tree where he bent down to inspect faint markings etched into the bark. Running his hand over them, he spoke thoughtfully:
— "Claw marks…"
One of the soldiers stepped forward hesitantly and said:
— "Sir, they might be from a bear… or perhaps a wolf."
The commander rose slowly, turned to him with a piercing stare, and said coldly:
— "Perhaps… but I don't like this."
Silence fell once more. Even the crunch of snow beneath the horses' hooves sounded unnervingly loud. Kaiden tightened his grip on his sword, his golden eyes gleaming with caution, as if expecting something to burst from the forest's shadows at any moment.
The soldiers shivered at their commander's words, yet pressed on with cautious steps. Kaiden, as always, scanned his surroundings with sharp focus, until his golden eyes caught a faint movement among the trees. He opened his mouth to warn the commander, but the latter spoke first in a sharp voice:
— "Something's moving… prepare yourselves!"
In an instant, swords were drawn and bows raised. Even Kaiden unsheathed his own blade—medium in length, with a black hilt. His golden eyes gleamed as he fixed his gaze ahead, waiting in silence. Suddenly, three massive, feral wolves burst from the undergrowth.
The first lunged straight at the commander, while the other two charged the soldiers. The battle ignited fiercely, the air filled with roars and cries. The commander held his ground, fighting with unyielding resolve, until at last he drove his sword deep into the beast's maw. The snow turned crimson as he wrenched the blade free, ready to aid his men.
Elsewhere, Kaiden fought alongside a swordsman against a second wolf. The soldier's strike slashed its leg, sending the creature stumbling. Kaiden wasted no time—stepping forward swiftly, he brought his blade down in a clean arc, severing the head from its body. Meanwhile, an archer loosed an arrow that struck the third wolf, weakening it just enough for another soldier to finish it with a killing blow.
The clash was over. None of the soldiers were harmed. They all paused to catch their breath, while Kaiden stood transfixed, staring at the blood spreading across the snow—astonished at the soldiers' seamless coordination, as though such battles were second nature to them.
The commander stepped forward calmly, surveying the carcasses. His expression tightened with surprise as he said:
— "Strange… Great Wolves aren't supposed to appear in this part of the forest."
Kaiden raised his voice, questioning:
— "Captain Martin, didn't you say this forest lies far from their territory?"
The commander gave a faint smile and replied:
— "Indeed. This is bear country. Normally, Great Wolves wouldn't dare venture here. Something must have disturbed the balance."
Then, with a firm wave of his hand, he added:
— "But pondering it now won't help us… onward."
The soldiers sheathed their swords, mounted their horses once more, and pressed deeper into the forest toward Starleaf Village.
━━━
Meanwhile, far away in Starleaf Village…
Silence hung over the place like a shroud. Houses stood like empty husks, with no women, no children, not even livestock. The village resembled a ghost town—bereft of all life.
Yet… in the shadows, faint movements stirred. Shapes flitted silently from one house to another, searching swiftly before vanishing as if they had never been there.
Then, one of the shadows stopped. Its form coalesced into that of a tall man. Long, jet-black hair fell to his shoulders, and his eyes glowed a deep, burning red in the gloom. He wore dark attire, and a jagged scar across his lips twisted his features into something both mocking and cruel.
He stood still, inhaling the air as though catching a scent. A faint, sinister smile curved his lips as he murmured in a low, mocking tone:
— "I smell new animals on the horizon.… unwanted guests."