"The Dark Woods? You mean the dangerous area far north of here?" asked Adlet, recalling what he had learned at school.
"Exactly. To be admitted to the Academy, one must have assimilated a beast and be able to declare its nature. Since this is normally only possible in dangerous zones, we'll need to go there to complete the necessary steps for any new Protector. But that's only part of the reason we're heading there. Now that you understand how your powers work, you're what we call a Rank 1 Protector—because that's the level of your Aura. And as such, there's no better way to progress than to face as many Apexes as possible," explained Lathandre.
"When do we leave?" asked Adlet, visibly eager to leave the region of his small village.
"Usually, aspiring Protectors train for years in various forms of combat before managing to defeat and assimilate a creature. Even though you're already a Protector, it would be far too dangerous to enter the Dark Woods before mastering your abilities further—especially since I won't be able to accompany you there. The rules require that an aspiring Protector handle the assimilation of their Aura alone. We'll leave in three months—if I deem you ready by then. That should give us just enough time to register you as a Protector and secure your place at the Darwin Academy," explained the master.
"I'll be ready, Master," declared his student, his eyes burning with determination.
–
Adlet continued his training under his master's supervision every day, alternating between exhausting use of his power and periods of rest to recover his stamina. Each day, he could feel his endurance and strength increasing.
The boy also took the opportunity to reveal to his parents that he had become a Protector. Convincing them was easy this time—he simply lifted the heavy oak dining table with his bare hands to show them his newfound power. Convincing them to let him leave home to join the Darwin Academy, however, was much harder. But faced with their son's relentless determination and Lathandre's presence, they eventually agreed to let him go.
The weeks passed quickly until the day of departure for the Dark Woods arrived.
–
Adlet joined Lathandre at their usual rendezvous point on the outskirts of Eos—pack secured, excitement burning behind determined eyes.
Lathandre scanned him briefly, as if measuring his resolve.
"Once we leave, there is no turning back," he warned.
Adlet tightened his grip on his straps.
"I have no intention of turning back."
He wasn't just wandering into the woods anymore.
He was leaving to become someone stronger.
Their path led them northwest, toward the borders of the Dark Woods—hundreds of kilometers away. The journey itself would become part of his training.
Lathandre glanced at him once they were far from any familiar landmark.
"Your body has changed," he observed. "Now you must learn to use it properly."
That became the rule of the road.
Each day, Adlet learned control the hard way.
Without warning—
CRACK
A round, sharp sting hit Adlet on the cheek.
"What the—?!"
A second acorn flew.
Then a third.
And a fourth.
Lathandre flicked them from his fingers with terrifying accuracy, each one striking a nerve point, jolting muscles into action.
"You sense danger," the master said calmly, loading another acorn. "But sensing is useless if you cannot react."
Adlet gritted his teeth and focused.
Soon, his hands moved before thought — slapping one projectile aside, then two at once, then dodging with a twist of his torso.
But the ones he failed to stop?
They really hurt.
When Lathandre began running, Adlet had no choice but to follow.
No pacing.
No breaks.
No mercy.
The master sprinted as if the world were flat and endless.
Each time Adlet's lungs screamed, each time his legs shook, Lathandre would only say:
"Protector work does not pause because you are tired."
And Adlet forced his body to keep up.
At mealtime, Adlet expected rest.
He was wrong.
Lathandre rolled a smooth boulder — not massive, but heavy enough to crush a skull.
"You may eat," he said, "as long as you hold this above your head with one arm."
"What?! While eating—"
Adlet's complaint died under his master's stare.
He lifted.
His arms trembled.
He swapped sides when one began to fail.
Soup splashed down his elbow as he tried not to drop the rock on his own skull.
"You have power now," Lathandre said as he ate calmly.
"Strength is useless without stability."
Stars glimmered faintly on the cavern ceiling overhead. While traveling, Adlet cleaned cuts and bruises from the day's harsh lessons — but Lathandre didn't let his mind rest either.
"What did you learn today?"
"What mistake nearly killed you?"
"What fear slowed you down?"
Every answer mattered.
Every silence mattered more.
Day by day, Adlet noticed the difference:
Fewer acorns hit him.
His breathing steadied faster.
His shoulders held the boulder longer.
Doubt in his gaze slowly vanished.
He wasn't just stronger.
He was becoming precise.
He was becoming efficient.
He was becoming a Protector.
After weeks of this brutal regimen, villages began appearing more often.
Signs of civilization.
Signs they were approaching the border.
Adlet finally caught sight of the tops of tall pines rising above a massive wooden wall, several meters high, that seemed to surround the entire forest.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
Anticipation.
Following his master, the boy realized they were heading toward a fortified settlement near the wall.
"Aren't we going directly into the woods?" asked Adlet.
"We must first stop in this village to obtain permission to enter. You see, this is one of many outposts that serve as residences for Protectors who patrol this region or watch over the wall," replied the old man.
"So only Protectors live there?"
"No, Protectors are far too rare for that. The village probably counts about a hundred inhabitants—only a few of whom are Protectors," explained Lathandre.
The two travelers entered the small village, which was surrounded by fortifications similar to the wall enclosing the Dark Woods and filled with small houses reminiscent of Adlet's home village. They followed a dirt path toward the village square until they reached one of the few stone buildings, marked with a three-branched spiral symbol carved above the door.
In front of the entrance stood a man wearing a metal medallion engraved with the same symbol.
"I'd like to register my student as an aspiring Protector to grant him access to the Dark Woods," said Lathandre, presenting a golden insignia he had just pulled from his satchel.
The man, who had seemed relaxed at first, suddenly became serious. "My master is definitely not an ordinary man," thought Adlet, watching the scene.
"Of course, sir. I'll personally escort you both to the woods. But before that, may I have your student's name?" asked the man.
"My name is Adlet," the boy answered, eager to make himself known.
The man nodded, then disappeared inside the building for a moment to fill out the entry form.
"Don't forget what we discussed; if you want to pass your test, you'll need to defeat at least three Apexes of different species—no matter how long it takes," reminded Lathandre as they waited alone.
"Don't worry, Master. I never planned to run away at the first sign of trouble," replied Adlet, who had spent months preparing for this moment.
The man soon returned and led them out of the village toward the Dark Woods. The closer they got, the more Adlet realized how massive the wooden wall truly was—built from logs nearly fifteen meters high, each sharpened to a deadly point at the top.
They stopped before a small, barricaded gate, which the village Protector unlocked.
"You don't have a weapon?" the man asked the young Protector.
"No, my master trained me in unarmed combat," replied Adlet.
"It's rare to see aspirants take their test without equipment. But your master's decision is wise—Protectors usually find weapons useless since they can't channel the Aura," explained the man, unaware that Adlet already possessed such a power.
Adlet stepped through the gate alongside the Protector. "Remember—once you cross this wall, you're on your own. If you succeed in assimilating a beast, or if you wish to abandon the trial, reach one of these gates and ring the bell," the man added, pointing to a small bell fixed beside the door.
"Understood," said the boy simply.
"Good. Then best of luck to you," announced the man before heading back to the other side of the wall.
The door closed behind him, leaving Adlet alone—ready to begin his trial.
The young boy felt a faint sense of unease as he approached the forest's edge, barely twenty meters away. It was unlike any forest he had known. The towering pines let through only a dim glow, even at midday, casting the woods in a somber, almost oppressive darkness.
Adlet began his descent into the Dark Woods. The cold and silence were absolute, amplifying the eerie atmosphere that clung to the place. Relying on his experience as a hunter, he moved as silently as possible. Occasionally, he encountered animals like foxes, rabbits, or deer—but none that matched the description of an Apex. Two hours passed without success.
Then a strange cracking sound caught his attention. He moved toward it, weaving through thick thorns that concealed the source. The noise grew louder and sharper as he approached, forcing him to circle around to find a passable route.
At last, he reached a small clearing and froze. Before him stood a gigantic boar, its jet-black fur gleaming, as tall as he was, and weighing easily over five hundred kilograms. The beast hadn't noticed him—too busy devouring what looked like one of its own kind. The awful sound he had heard came from the creature's powerful jaws crushing the bones of its prey.
Though startled, Adlet remained calm. He had prepared himself for this moment, imagining terrifying creatures during his months of training. But the true reason for his composure was simpler—he didn't sense any overwhelming danger from the beast.
He recalled one of his master's lessons: "A Protector's best survival tool is instinct. Sharpen it, trust it, but never let it turn into recklessness."
His instinct told him this fight was within reach. So he decided against a surprise attack. This was training, after all—he wanted a real confrontation.
He grabbed a nearby stone and threw it with just enough force to catch the boar's attention. The creature finally lifted its head, revealing two enormous tusks protruding from its jaws. Spotting the boy before it, it charged, letting out an earth-shaking roar.
Adlet could have easily dodged, but he didn't. He still felt no real threat. "A contest of pure strength? Sounds like my kind of fight," he thought, smiling faintly. "I just need to watch out for those tusks and that jaw," he told himself.
The boar charged, its tusks aiming for his torso. Adlet braced himself, gripping the tusks with both hands. The force of the impact pushed him back nearly ten meters, his feet sliding in the dirt, struggling for traction. He gritted his teeth, fighting against the weight and power of the boar. His arms ached, the boar's tusks scraped against his ribs, leaving a shallow, stinging cut. It wasn't deep, but it hurt—sharp and sudden.
But he wasn't overpowered. Planting one hand on the boar's head, he pushed down with all his might, forcing it off balance. The creature's skull slammed into the ground with such force that it collapsed, momentarily stunned.
Before it could recover, Adlet grabbed it by the neck, lifted it off the ground, and smashed it repeatedly against a nearby tree. When the beast finally went limp, he released his grip, letting its shattered body fall heavily to the ground.
It was over. Adlet felt the creature's vital stamina flow into him—a warm, empowering sensation marking his first victory as a Protector. But the boar's body didn't vanish. He hadn't assimilated it. Not one to kill without reason, he decided to honor his fallen opponent the way hunters did—by sharing a meal. He pulled a knife and his small camp kit from his pack, quickly building a fire to cook some of the meat.
As he ate, he wondered when night would fall. The Dark Woods were so dense that no Stars pierced the canopy. He had no choice but to stay the night. He decided to sleep in the trees, uneasy about resting on the ground in such a hostile place. Climbing was easy now with his Protector's strength. He chose a branch about four meters up, adjusting it into a stable, somewhat comfortable perch before returning to his campfire.
While waiting for darkness to fully settle, he trained in one of the few exercises he had devised himself: trying to contact Pami at will. He knew it required strengthening his mind—but he still didn't know what that truly meant. He usually tried closing his eyes, visualizing the meadow where they had last met, but without success.
He continued for a while until a chilling sensation prompted him to stand.
Two faint glowing Stars appeared ahead—two eyes of a lone wolf. Suddenly, a flash of movement—a wolf lunged from behind him, its fangs slashing through the air. Adlet, caught off guard, reacted purely on instinct. He twisted to the side just in time, but the wolf's claws grazed his shoulder, leaving a thin, burning wound. He stumbled but regained his footing, the adrenaline surging through him. Two more wolves had emerged from the shadows, flanking him from either side. He was surrounded—trapped by a pack of three Apex wolves.
Adlet felt the weight of the Dark Woods pressing down on his shoulders—but instead of fear, a fire ignited within him. Tonight, he would prove that he was no ordinary boy.