The trio chatted lightly as they carried their spoils, relieved after a hard-fought hunt. But Shadow walked a few paces behind, silent, every sense focused outward. The faint trail of disturbed mana still lingered, almost invisible, but enough for someone trained in perception to notice.
He slowed his steps, letting the others drift ahead.
"Shadow?" Sera glanced back.
"Go on," he said simply. "I'll catch up."
Before they could argue, he had already slipped sideways into the trees. His movements melted into the dim light, not a sound betraying his presence.
---
The forest grew quieter the deeper he went. Birds hushed, leaves barely stirred. Shadow crouched, fingers brushing the ground. The mana traces bent in a thin arc—someone had circled them, keeping just out of range.
Professional. Careful.
The gauntlets pulsed faintly against his skin, almost as if urging caution.
Shadow didn't listen.
He pressed forward, threading between roots and brush, following the trail until the trees broke into a small clearing.
And there—
A figure stood. Cloaked head to toe in dark fabric, face hidden behind a mask etched with faint runes. They were tall, slender, but carried themselves with the weight of someone accustomed to killing.
The figure's head turned. Even through the mask, Shadow felt the weight of their gaze.
"You noticed me," the stranger said, voice smooth, distorted slightly by magic. "Impressive."
Shadow didn't answer. He slid into stance, gauntlets shifting—one blade extending, the other condensing into a buckler-like shield.
The masked figure tilted their head. "Relax. If I wanted you dead, your friends would already be corpses."
"Then why follow us?" Shadow's voice was cold.
A chuckle slipped from behind the mask. "Because you're interesting. An unknown mercenary wielding a weapon that doesn't belong in this age… Tell me, where did you get those gauntlets?"
The gauntlets vibrated sharply, almost growling at the question.
Shadow narrowed his eyes. "…That's none of your concern."
"Pity." The masked figure sighed. "Still, you should be careful. This city has eyes everywhere. And not all of them are as polite as I am."
Before Shadow could respond, the figure raised a hand. A sudden surge of mana enveloped them, shadows twisting around their body. In the blink of an eye, they dissolved into darkness and vanished, leaving behind only silence.
---
Shadow remained still, blade drawn, senses spread wide. But there was nothing. No trace, no presence—like the figure had never existed at all.
Slowly, he retracted the blade, the tension in his shoulders easing.
"…That wasn't a random observer."
The gauntlets thrummed softly in agreement, though unease lingered between them. Whoever that was, they not only knew of the gauntlets, but recognized them for what they truly were.
Shadow turned back toward the path. The trio was waiting. He had no intention of telling them—yet.
As the sun dipped fully behind the horizon, Shadow walked back into the light of the city.
But in the depths of his mind, a single thought remained:
The real hunt has just begun.