Volume 43
Writer: Sabbir Ahmed
Chapter 7: First Steps Beyond the Wall
The outpost gates hadn't opened in years.
Lina stood at the threshold, staring out at the narrow mountain path beyond. Cold wind rushed past her, carrying the smell of stone and snow. Her new cloak felt heavier than it should have, stitched with protective runes Mira insisted were necessary.
"This is a test," Mira said firmly. "Not a battle."
Kael adjusted the strap of his blade. "Which means something will definitely try to kill us."
Mira shot him a look. "Encourage her."
Lina took a slow breath. Her hands trembled, but she didn't hide them. "What's the objective?"
Mira's lips curved slightly. "Retrieve a signal shard from an abandoned watchtower. No Hunters. Minimal exposure."
Kael muttered, "That's what they said last time."
They moved quickly along the mountain trail. Lina focused on her breathing, on the steady pulse of the pendant. The world felt sharper now—sounds clearer, distances easier to judge. Training had changed something inside her.
The watchtower appeared just before dusk, a broken silhouette against the sky. As they approached, Lina felt it—a tug in her chest.
"Something's wrong," she said.
Kael stopped instantly. "You're sure?"
She nodded. "I feel… watched."
The door to the tower creaked open on its own.
Inside, the air was cold and stale. A shard of crystal hovered at the center of the room, glowing faint blue. Lina stepped forward—
And the floor shifted.
Dark lines snapped into place, forming a binding circle. Lina gasped as her legs locked, invisible pressure pinning her down.
"Trap!" Kael shouted.
From the shadows above, a Hunter dropped down, landing silently. Its hood stayed up, but its voice was unmistakably calm.
"Your progress is impressive," it said. "But incomplete."
Panic surged—then training cut through it.
Lina centered herself.
Light flared from her pendant, flowing outward instead of exploding. The binding lines flickered.
"Now, Lina!" Kael yelled.
She pushed—not with fear, but intent.
The circle shattered.
The Hunter recoiled, clearly surprised. Lina raised a glowing shield just as dark energy slammed into it. The impact knocked her back, but she stayed standing.
Mira's voice echoed from the entrance. "That's enough."
The Hunter vanished into smoke, retreating.
Silence returned.
Lina stood trembling, then laughed breathlessly. "I didn't freeze."
Kael grinned. "You passed."
As Lina picked up the signal shard, she realized something terrifying and thrilling at once.
The Hunters weren't just chasing her anymore.
They were testing her.
And she had just answered.