The soldiers barely allowed Kai a moment to say goodbye. "You have just enough time while the horses drink and rest," one of them said in a dry, clipped voice. "After that, we move out immediately."
The farewell with his father was cold and brief. It seemed as though the leather pouch full of gold coins the soldier had tossed him had absorbed every ounce of sorrow the man might have felt. There was no hug, no word of comfort—only a clumsy pat on the shoulder.
With his mother, it was different. Tears streamed from her eyes, tracing endless paths down her cheeks. When the moment to depart arrived, she clung to Kai with all her strength, as if letting go meant losing him to the void forever. The soldiers had to intervene, forcibly prying them apart and pushing her back when she tried to embrace him one last time.
The departure was delayed slightly when Hector stepped in. He entered the house with Kai's mother to speak in private. Kai never knew what words were exchanged behind those walls, but when the priest emerged, his mother no longer resisted. She stood by the door, motionless, her gaze vacant and her face hollowed out, watching them take him away without uttering a single word.
That silence was what hurt Kai the most.
The journey began shortly after. Kai sat behind Hector on one of the horses, while the two soldiers marched ahead. Brann was a burly man with broad shoulders and a thick neck, sporting a neglected dark beard and armor scarred by old blows. He had the expression of someone long accustomed to violence. Edric, by contrast, was younger and leaner, with twitchy movements and a scar crossing his left cheek. His eyes never stopped scanning the path, alert to every shifting shadow.
The trail toward the capital cut through an immense forest, so ancient it seemed to have no beginning or end. The trees rose like titanic columns, their trunks twisted and roots tearing through the earth like claws. Their canopy formed a natural ceiling so high that sunlight barely managed to filter through, creating golden beams that gave the place a solemn, melancholic beauty. Yet, the profound silence, the scent of damp moss, and the nagging sensation of being watched made the woods unsettling—as if the forest possessed a will of its own.
As the sky began to turn shades of orange and violet, Hector raised his hand. "We camp here," he announced. "It is not safe to travel at night." "We can push on a bit further," Brann grunted. "This forest isn't that dangerous." "Not tonight," Hector replied firmly.
Reluctantly, they set up camp. They lit a bonfire and tethered the horses. The second priest, younger and quieter, kept his distance from the start, avoiding the darkness between the trees.
Brann and Edric sat by the fire. "I don't like this place," Edric whispered. "The woods are too quiet." "You always exaggerate," Brann replied with a dry laugh. "Nothing is going to happen."
A deep, bone-chilling crack interrupted them. The ground vibrated.
From between the trees emerged a gigantic bear. When it rose on its hind legs, it stood over five meters tall. Its dark fur was matted with scars, and its eyes reflected the firelight with a primal, savage glint.
"Back!" Brann shouted.
The soldiers struck first, casting weak spells and lunging with their weapons. Their magic barely singed the monster's hide. The bear responded with sheer brutality. With a single swipe of its claws, it sent Edric flying against a tree. The impact was sickeningly blunt—and final.
Brann charged with a roar, but the bear caught him, crushing him against the ground with inhuman strength.
The second priest retreated in horror, hiding behind a tree, paralyzed.
Kai felt fear tightening his chest… and then, something stirred deep within him. An intense heat surged through his veins. Sparks of fire began to manifest around him, floating in the air like living embers.
The sparks coalesced and erupted into a roaring blast of flame that tore through the bear's chest. The creature slumped to the ground, shrouded in smoke, motionless.
The forest fell silent. Kai looked at his hand… and collapsed into unconsciousness.