The tavern was quieter than most ports Hunnt had seen, but the tension in the air made up for it. Hunters filled the tables, their armor dulled by sea salt and sleepless nights. The city of Vaelstorm might have been a trade capital once, but now it felt tired — the kind of tired that crept into the bones of everyone living there.
Hunnt sat at the counter, nursing a cup of water while listening to the hunters talk.
"Did the people of the city find a solution for the food shortage?" he asked at last, his voice steady, casual.
One of the men at the bar laughed dryly.
"Yeah, if you call waiting a solution. The merchants will come eventually… maybe. But there's nothing for them to buy here — no fish, no goods, just coral and empty nets."
Another hunter leaned forward, his elbows scraping the counter. "With monsters roaming the sea, even the boats don't leave port. No one's risking it."
Hunnt nodded slightly. "And the guild?"
"Guild's still here," the man muttered. "But the hunters they've got are low rank — D's, maybe a few C's. We can't take on anything big. Small monsters, weak ones, sure. Beyond that…" He shook his head. "It's suicide."
A younger hunter sighed beside him. "We're trapped. No hunts, no food, no trade. The guild doesn't care — they're too busy protecting their own supply lines inland."
Hunnt didn't reply right away. His eyes drifted toward the window, where the harbor lights flickered through the fog. "I see," he said softly.
Just then, a loud crash echoed from outside — wood splintering, followed by angry shouting.
The hunters turned, groaning in unison.
"He's at it again," someone said.
"How many times is that this week?" another asked.
"Three," a voice replied. "Three damn times."
"Well," someone else muttered, "if he's that stubborn, I might as well join the noise."
Hunnt straightened. "What happened?"
One of the hunters answered, clearly annoyed but half amused.
"Guy's name's Will. He's been furious ever since the guild failed him. He was taking his final exam to qualify as a hunter — they told him to clear the coastal serpents."
Another chimed in. "The exam's impossible. The coast isn't just serpents anymore — it's crawling with monsters. Whole migration came early this year."
"Yeah," a third added. "Will tried warning the guild before the test even started. Told them the numbers were off, that something was stirring the sea. But they didn't believe him. Said he was exaggerating. After two days, they failed him outright."
Hunnt's eyes narrowed slightly. "And now?"
"They made it official. Failed, one-year ban before retesting."
The first hunter shrugged. "Rules are rules, they say. Doesn't matter if the coast really is overrun now — they still won't give him another chance. That's the guild for you."
Hunnt finished his drink quietly, set the cup down, and stood.
"Thank you," he said simply.
He walked out into the street, following the sound of shouting.
---
Outside, the night was humid with sea mist. The smell of salt and rust hung thick over the cobblestones. Down by the corner near the docks, a young man with a bow slung across his back was pacing furiously, kicking at barrels, his voice echoing off the walls.
"I warned them! I told them! But no — they just failed me instead!"
Hunnt leaned against a lamppost and watched for a moment. The man's movements were sharp, restless — the kind of anger that came from being right but unheard.
When Will noticed him, he snapped, "What do you want?"
Hunnt's expression didn't change. "Just answers."
"Answers?" Will scoffed. "Then go ask the guild. They've got all the answers you want."
"I did," Hunnt said evenly. "They only gave excuses. You warned them before your exam, didn't you?"
Will's jaw tightened. "Yeah. And they said I was making things up."
"Why?" Hunnt asked. "Why didn't they believe you?"
Will turned away. "Because I'm new. Because I don't have a name yet." He started walking. "It's none of your business, stranger. Don't follow me."
But Hunnt followed anyway — silent, steady, his steps light but deliberate.
Will took turn after turn through the city's narrow streets, trying to shake him off. Every time he glanced over his shoulder, the man was still there — calm, distant, unreadable.
Finally, Will stopped near an open courtyard. He spun around.
"Enough! What do you want from me?"
Hunnt's tone stayed calm. "To know why you were right."
"What—?" Will blinked, caught off guard.
But before he could answer, the front door of a nearby house opened.
A young woman stepped out, her features almost identical to his — the same dark eyes, same sharp jawline — though her hair was shorter, and a sword and shield hung at her back.
"Will?" she asked, frowning. "What's going on?"
Hunnt's gaze shifted between them. "Twins," he murmured.
Will groaned. "Willa, not now."
She ignored him, turning to Hunnt. "Who are you?"
"Just a traveler," Hunnt said. "One who listens."
Willa's expression softened slightly. "Then listen to this — the guild's useless. They won't send reinforcements, even though the coast's turning into a deathtrap."
Will nodded. "We tried warning them. They called it migration season, said it's normal. But this isn't normal."
Hunnt folded his arms. "You two have seen the coast yourselves?"
Willa nodded grimly. "Every inch of it. The serpents, the eels, even something bigger — something glowing under the water. It's driving everything closer to shore."
Hunnt's eyes narrowed. "Bigger?"
Will exhaled sharply. "We don't know what it is. We only saw the water boil — red light under the surface, like magma moving."
Hunnt said nothing for a long moment, his gaze drifting toward the faint outline of the sea beyond the rooftops. The waves seemed calm, but the calm felt wrong.
He turned back to them. "You both know the coastline. I need a guide."
Willa blinked. "You're serious?"
Hunnt nodded once. "If what you said is true, then something's coming. And I don't plan to wait for it."
Will frowned. "You're not from here, are you?"
"No," Hunnt replied. "But monsters don't care where I'm from."
The twins exchanged a quick look — half disbelief, half curiosity.
"Fine," Willa said at last. "But if you get eaten, I'm not saving you."
Hunnt's mouth twitched — almost a smile. "Fair enough."