The road stretched quietly ahead as Wein continued his journey south. After the encounter with Captain Elisa and the knights earlier that day, the path had grown calm again, leaving him alone with the rustling wind and distant sounds of birds. The forest and fields around him appeared peaceful beneath the afternoon sun, though Wein had already learned that peace in this world could vanish overnight.
After walking for some time, Wein finally noticed something unpleasant about himself. The metallic smell of blood still clung stubbornly to his clothes and skin. Some of it belonged to him, and some belonged to the savages from the raid. Either way, the scent followed him like an unwelcome shadow.
Eventually the road curved gently and revealed a small lake resting beside it. The water was still and clear, reflecting the bright sky like polished glass. Tall grass swayed along the edges, and several trees leaned over the lake, their branches casting cool shadows over the shoreline.
Wein stepped off the road and walked toward the water.
The air felt fresher here. The scent of clean water and damp earth replaced the smell of smoke that had followed him since morning.
He crouched near the edge and looked down at his reflection.
White hair stared back at him, messy and tangled from the journey. Golden eyes glinted beneath the strands. Dirt smudged his face and neck, and dried blood stained the collar of his shirt.
Wein clicked his tongue softly. "I looked like shit."
He scooped water into his hands and splashed it across his face. The cold liquid stung slightly when it touched the healing wound on his throat, but the discomfort faded quickly.
He continued washing himself, scrubbing away dried blood from his neck and arms. The water near the shore slowly clouded as the stains dissolved.
After a few minutes he removed his shirt and rinsed it as best he could, rubbing the cloth against smooth stones near the water's edge. It wasn't perfect, but it was far better than walking around covered in blood.
When he finished, he leaned forward again and examined the wound across his throat.
The cut had closed further since morning.
A faint red scar stretched across his skin where the blade had nearly killed him. Normally a wound like that would take weeks to heal.
Spiritual Essence was clearly accelerating the recovery.
Because his Spiritual Essence quality was extremely high, the energy flowing through his body was far more effective than it would be for most people.
Wein ran his fingers through his hair, washing away dust and grime, then stood and returned to the road once he was satisfied.
The lake soon disappeared behind him.
As the day continued, the surroundings gradually changed. The farmland near the village faded into thicker forests where tall trees crowded together and blocked much of the sunlight. The air grew cooler beneath the canopy, and long shadows stretched across the path as the sun began drifting toward the horizon.
Wein continued walking without stopping.
Hours passed.
Yet something about his condition felt strange. He wasn't tired. Someone who had walked this long should feel exhaustion creeping into their legs. Muscles should ache, breathing should grow heavier, and fatigue should slowly take hold.
But Wein felt none of that. His pace remained steady. His breathing calm. Even the wound on his throat barely bothered him anymore.
Wein frowned slightly as the thought crossed his mind. "Is it because I awakened my Bloodline?"
The explanation seemed reasonable. Spiritual Essence wasn't simply a fuel for abilities; it strengthened the body itself. Perhaps also his awakened bloodlines were quietly reinforcing his endurance.
He rolled his shoulders once and continued walking. His body felt light. "Well," he muttered, "I'm not complaining."
By the time the sun finally slipped below the horizon, darkness had begun spreading through the forest. The trees blocked what little twilight remained, leaving the road swallowed by shadows.
Wein slowed slightly.
Traveling in complete darkness wasn't ideal. Fortunately, he had a simple solution. He raised his right hand and focused. A small warmth gathered in his palm before a flame flickered into existence above his fingers. The fire burned steadily, glowing like a candle and casting gentle light across the path.
"Convenient," Wein said quietly. Thanks to his Fire Bloodline, the flame didn't burn his skin. Natural resistance to heat allowed him to hold it easily while it illuminated the road.
With the small fire lighting his way, he continued walking through the dark forest. The night forest felt different from the daytime one. Insects chirped somewhere deep among the trees, and occasionally wind rustled through the branches above.
For a while the journey remained quiet.Then Wein suddenly stopped. A faint sensation pressed against the edge of his awareness.
hunter Instinct. His Hunter Bloodline had sensed something, it was nearby, watching him.
Wein's golden eyes slowly scanned the darkness between the trees as his senses sharpened. He listened carefully. Soft footsteps in the undergrowth. Heavy breathing. Movement circling him.
Wolves, overgrown wolves.
He recognized them immediately. These beasts were one of the main reasons villagers rarely traveled far from their homes. Larger and stronger than normal wolves, they hunted in organized packs and could easily kill a lone traveler.
A low growl emerged from the darkness. One of the creatures stepped into the faint firelight. The wolf was enormous, nearly the size of a horse. Thick gray fur covered its muscular body, and yellow eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
Another wolf appeared behind it. Then another. Five in total. They spread out slowly, forming a loose circle around him.
Wein watched them quietly. His Hunter Bloodline immediately began analyzing the situation. Weak points appeared instinctively in his mind: the throat, the eyes, the joints of the legs.
But something else caught his attention. He wasn't afraid. Not even slightly. Instead, he felt confindence.
This was the first time in his life he had faced a pack of beasts like this alone. Any normal villager would have panicked or tried to run. Yet his heart remained calm. His breathing steady.
Wein thought about it for a moment before understanding why.
as an awakened, such beast is not a threat. So naturally he felt nothing.
Wein also naturally has a strong heart, he's not weak minded . Being treated like something cursed simply because of his white hair and golden eyes. If he had been mentally weak, he would have broken long ago. Instead he had learned to endure.
Wein exhaled quietly and lowered his hand toward a fallen branch on the ground.
The wood ignited instantly when touched by the flame.
The wolves hesitated slightly. The largest wolf stepped forward, studying him carefully.
Wein met its gaze without moving.
For several seconds neither side attacked.
Then the wolf lunged. Wein shifted sideways instantly. The beast's claws tore through empty air where he had been standing moments earlier. As it passed, Wein swung the burning branch toward its face.
Flames brushed across the wolf's muzzle.
The creature snarled and jumped back.
The rest of the wolves also attacked him. One wolf attempted to circle behind him. Wein turned slightly, keeping the fire between himself and the pack. His instincts remained sharp. Every movement the wolves made felt obvious to him.
One of the wolves stepped too close.
Weakness Sight immediately highlighted the exposed side of its neck.
But it moved faster than Wein could react and managed to sink its fangs into his shoulder. However, instead of feeling pain, Wein only felt a dull pressure. The bite couldn't pierce his skin.
Wein didn't spend time wondering why his body could withstand a wolf's bite.
He moved.
Grabbing the head of the wolf that was biting his shoulder, he drove the sharpened end of the burning branch forward and struck the wolf's throat.
The beast collapsed with a strangled cry. For a moment the forest fell silent.
The remaining wolves stared at the fallen body of their packmate. Their ears flattened. Their posture changed.
Wein noticed it immediately. These creatures weren't mindless. They understood danger.
Slowly, cautiously, the wolves retreated into the darkness. Within seconds they disappeared among the trees. Silence returned to the forest.
Wein remained still for a moment, holding the burning branch. Then he looked down at the single dead wolf lying near his feet.
His breathing remained calm. No exhaustion. No shaking hands. Just quiet awareness.
Wein glanced at the flame dancing at the end of the branch. Then a small smile appeared on his face.
"So this is what awakened bloodlines feel like."
The road to the City of Flower no longer seemed quite as dangerous as it had yesterday.