Deep within a vast forest, towering trees stood like silent walls.
Their branches intertwined high above, forming a green canopy that blocked the sky from view.
Shadows slid across the damp earth, curling and turning like hidden ghosts.
The air hung heavy with the scent of soil and wildflowers—
yet beneath it floated a faint trace of wet fur… and the silent weight of danger.
Suddenly, the silence shattered with the creak of wooden wheels.
Thirty wagons advanced along a muddy, winding road.
At the front sat Kalu P. Brownbird—a short-statured dwarf, bald, with a thick brown beard—
leaning into the reins, swaying with every bump in the path.
His eyes constantly darted toward the dense forest; he disliked places that hid more than they revealed.
"How much longer until the lake, Tamer?" he asked, his voice tense.
Beside him, Tamer lifted his gaze from a faded map.
He was a young man with reddish skin, short tapered ears, and amber eyes—each centered with a white four-petaled flower.
He gave a calm smile: "Fifteen minutes, if we keep this pace."
Kalu exhaled sharply and ran a hand through his beard.
"Good… I'm tired of this damn road. It's like these trees are watching us."
Tamer offered a faint smile, his gaze steady:
"Jugesp Forest isn't ordinary—wild, untamable, and the only land route leading to Entdeckt. Most travelers pay for the protected coastal road. As for us… we can't afford that luxury."
Kalu nodded and placed a hand on his bag.
"Every coin matters now. That's why we chose the forest. Dangerous, yes—but at least we won't lose more money."
Tamer stared into the surrounding trees, his voice quiet: "True… the path is overland, but maybe we'll cross it safely. Hope is all we have."
Kalu murmured, "The man who first opened this trail nearly died doing it—and now it's abandoned… makes you wonder if it was worth it."
Tamer didn't answer right away.
He looked ahead as if listening to something beyond this world, then spoke gently:
"Maybe no one remembers him… but in the Creator's eyes, every act has value."
Kalu studied him for a moment, sensing a certainty he hadn't seen in years.
"Maybe… maybe it's enough that God knows—even if everyone else forgets."
From the back of the wagon, a clear and firm voice rose—Imenata's, Kalu's wife:
"Dear! Tamer! Keep the pace steady. Everyone's exhausted, and the horses need rest soon."
Kalu glanced back.
Imenata stood taller than him, her glossy brown hair catching the light, her eyes radiating calm experience.
"I know," he replied. "We'll rest by the lake. It's safer—and most predators are sluggish at this hour."
Tamer added, still scanning the road ahead: "That's true. But the forest never runs out of surprises. We must secure the area before settling."
As they continued, a soft voice rose from behind.
A teenage girl with peach-colored shoulder-length hair—ending in delicate curls—approached.
Her lashes were long and beautiful, and she walked with her eyes naturally closed, as if she could see.
She stepped forward with a gentle smile and said softly:
"It's lovely to be with all of you… I feel truly welcome here."
Imenata smiled warmly and looked at her: "Of course, Dear Zofia. You're part of this group—every hand matters."
Zofia inhaled quietly and steadily, then added with grace and gratitude:
"Thank you so much for taking me with you… I'll do my very best to help."
Kalu gave a slight smile: "That's all we ask. Don't worry—we'll cross this trail safely, together."
Imenata's voice softened as she looked at her: "Also… you helped my daughter when she got lost. We don't forget such things."
Kalu added without turning: "And we don't abandon those who need us."
Zofia's lips curled into a thankful smile—but before she could reply, the forest gradually thinned.
Light poured through widening gaps between the trunks.
Then—the open sky appeared.
Before them stretched Jugesp Lake: a vast expanse of water shimmering like a mirror reflecting the heavens.
White clouds reflected on its surface with perfect clarity,
while distant deer drank at its edge and birds flew silently overhead.
Kalu slowed the wagon, staring as if the sight had awakened a forgotten memory.
"We're here!" he called.
Then he added: "Stop the wagons! Time to rest—and finally, a proper breath."
A cheer rose from the caravan as men and women began to dismount.
The area around the lake was wide and open—perfect for a camp.
No sooner had the wagons stopped than Kalu issued orders:
"Imenata, start preparing food with the women. Have some tend to the horses and donkeys. Tamer—take Jon and Anton and scout the surroundings. The rest of you, set up camp with me. Stay alert."
Everyone moved with practiced efficiency.
Imenata gathered the women, sending some to care for the animals while others stayed with the children.
Zofia stepped beside her: "I'll help you."
Imenata replied: "You don't have to. Stay near the wagon—in case My Little Sofia wakes up."
Zofia shook her head, still smiling gently: "Miss Jumana is with her. I'll come if she needs me—for now, I'm with you."
Imenata let out a small laugh: "You're truly stubborn… Alright, come on then."
Imenata walked ahead, while Zofia turned her head toward the lake for a moment—then followed.
***
At the forest's edge, Tamer halted.
He looked at Jon and Anton and gave orders in a confident voice—the tone of an experienced leader:
"Jon, check the left flank—but don't go too deep. Don't want you getting lost in this place."
His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings.
Then he turned to Anton:
"Anton, move ahead on the path—about a hundred meters. Make sure there's no hidden danger."
Anton nodded quickly and set off without a word.
Jon, however, clearly uneasy, raised his eyebrows skeptically and asked mockingly:
"And what will you do, Mr. Leader?"
Without turning, Tamer fixed his gaze on the lake and replied calmly:
"I'll watch the lakeshore… there might be things hiding there, beyond our sight."
Before Jon could respond, Tamer had already walked away with steady steps.
Jon stared at his back, eyes full of resentment, and muttered under his breath:
"I'll take my place back from you, you arrogant bastard."
Jon harbored deep, suppressed resentment toward Tamer.
He'd worked alongside Kalu for a long time—and always saw himself as the undisputed second-in-command.
But just two weeks after Tamer was hired, this newcomer had risen to leadership.
Jon felt Tamer had stolen his rightful position—and that Kalu favored him for no clear reason.
For his part, Tamer was fully aware of these feelings.
As he walked toward the lake, he thought with quiet pain:
*Jon still can't accept me… I don't blame him.*
*If I were in his place, I might feel the same.*
But Tamer held no grudge.
In truth, he admired Jon's wilderness skills and sharp instincts.
Yet one thing he knew for certain—
earning Jon's respect wouldn't be easy.
***
Meanwhile, Jon ventured deeper into the surrounding forest.
His steps were light, his movements precise—clear signs of his experience in such tasks.
His dark clothes were specially designed for this environment, helping him blend into the dense shadows.
He inspected carefully—his eyes catching every flicker of motion,
his ears shifting between surrounding sounds.
As he advanced, he thought:
*The forest is quiet… too quiet. Or maybe I'm just too tense.*
*I'll enhance my sense of smell—and see what I can uncover.*
He closed his eyes for a moment and focused: *Enhance sense of smell.*
His heart pulsed. A faint red flash surged through his veins up to the base of his skull.
His olfactory bulb shuddered sharply as nanocrystals reached it,
then rushed deep into his sensory memory.
He opened his eyes.
The forest's scents exploded in his mind: *Wet fur, old blood, damp fungus…*
He took a deep breath—
feeling the nano-crystals stored in his heart surge to compensate for the strain.
*Using Kora in a mere Free Zone is still exhausting…*
"I'm still stuck at Booster Level… damn it!"
He muttered under his breath, then pushed the thought aside to refocus.
Suddenly, a sharp, pungent smell flooded his nose: *Something's close!*
He advanced slowly, muscles taut.
He bent over a damp patch on the ground and sniffed cautiously.
*Urine… but not ordinary…*
*Saturated with Kora—maybe 300 units.*
*This is bad… and the scent is fresh!*
His thoughts grew increasingly anxious, then he quickly calmed himself.
He knew well that high-Kora animals were called—Bloody Animals.
Their appearance rarely meant good.
*One Bloody Animal is enough to cause trouble… But what if there are more?*
He scanned the ground—and suddenly froze:
*Tracks… many tracks! Bloody Wolves!*
*There must be ten… maybe twenty… no, more.*
His thoughts spiraled in chaos:
*This makes no sense…*
*Even Bloody Wolves only hunt at night or dawn.*
*Why are these tracks fresh?!*
He inhaled again—and suddenly, an intense wave of danger flooded his senses, making his skin crawl.
He spun around quickly—and his eyes widened at what he saw.
His worst fears had come true.
"God be with me…"
he whispered faintly, his grip tightening on his sword's hilt.
Before him, deep in the thick shadows, dozens of eyes glinted.
Fifty Bloody Wolves, all staring at him in deadly silence.
***
At the same time—Tamer was carefully inspecting the area near the lake.
The lake's beauty was so enchanting that, for a moment,
he found himself spellbound.
Then he continued along the shore, checking for anything suspicious or dangerous.
There, he noticed small footprints pressed into the grass and wet mud.
He bent to examine them closely and thought:
*Footprints… small… maybe an animal—a cat or rabbit? But too large for that.*
*Perhaps a larger creature—even a Bloody Animal? But they don't look like a four-legged being…*
*Maybe a bipedal beast? No—maybe a person. Cebuan? A small child?*
He followed the tracks cautiously—
tracing their path along the lakeshore until he reached a nearby spot.
There, he found a small tent and a cold, extinguished fire.
Around it lay remnants of a fish meal and several personal items:
*survival gear, neatly folded clothes, and tall leather boots.*
*Also, two sheathed knives.*
*And something else resembling a handle—tightly wrapped in cloth strips.*
*There were also small pouches and a large, neatly arranged backpack.*
Tamer crouched, inspecting the site carefully:
*Gear, weapons, clothes… and this? A broken weapon? Someone was here—maybe more than one?*
His thoughts raced through possibilities:
*Bandits? A passing adventurer? But the tracks don't match an adult's…*
*The place was left in haste—maybe they saw us and fled…*
Tamer froze and glanced sideways: *I feel… someone's watching me…*
Slowly, he stood.
His right hand settled on a dagger nearly as long as his forearm.
The blade glowed, emitting symbols that wrapped around his hand and bound it to the weapon.
His eyes scanned the surrounding bushes:
*Whoever passed through here… isn't far.*
Tamer had no drop of Cebuan blood or anything similar—
so he possessed no Kora.
But he did have Kona—
the energy capable of influencing the environment through a unique form of language.
Here, he start Chanting Natwo.
He whispered the Chant in a very soft voice:
"Waiata Na Aier…. Orbe Tahi…. Peilifeilei Baobaketon"
Thin droplets of blue, water-like energy seeped from the pores of his left palm.
A thinner stream followed, rising from his skin—
floating in the air as if defying gravity.
It split into two parts—
one formed an ornate circle before him—
the other circled around him, then surged outward in a ring before dissipating.
It was accompanied by a soft, fluid whisper, like the murmur of a flowing stream.
Beneath it, harmonious sound waves pulsed gently through the air, resonating with each flicker.
A short-range wave of sensation swept through his body—only ten meters.
*Enough.*
No need to waste energy.
Kona automatically formed a simplified image of his surroundings, translating it directly into his mind.
*Something's in those bushes… and it has Kora.*
He thought, tightening his grip on the dagger.
He advanced with measured steps.
Kona had revealed only the presence—not the shape or size.
He'd have to close in himself.
When only one meter remained, the bushes rustled.
Tamer tightened his grip on the dagger.
"If you don't want me to attack and treat you as an enemy—you'd better show yourself now!"
he commanded in a loud, firm voice, hoping to avoid violence.
Despite the warning, the rustling continued— growing clearer. No one emerged.
The tense moment lasted several seconds—until something finally emerged from the undergrowth.
It was a black Cebuan rabbit girl—no older than ten.
Her black fur covered her entire body, her eyes were pink, and her dark gray hair fell just below her shoulders.
Innocent, childlike rabbit features—her long ears trembling with fear.
She stood trembling before him, shocked by the knife pointed at her.
A tear rolled down her left cheek as she looked at him with fearful confusion.
"A little girl?"
Though he'd considered this possibility—he was still surprised.
"Um… ah… hm…"
The girl let out a soft whimper, then sniffed—and more tears flowed.
"No, I didn't mean—"
Tamer was stunned, trying to calm her—
but his apology seemed unheard.
It was too late.
"Waaaah! 'Brother Boris'!"
The Cebuan girl burst into tears and screamed a name—
*Onitha language? What?!*
Tamer barely processed the thought—
when an unimaginable blow struck the side of his head.
It felt as if a hammer had hit him.
He knew instantly he'd suffered a concussion.
He didn't fully understand what had happened.
Suddenly, he was flying sideways—
crashing hard eight meters away, feeling his shoulder pop on impact.
"Ah… ah…"
Tamer gasped, struggling for breath, slowly realizing:
*If I hadn't moved—if I hadn't been holding my knife… I'd have lost consciousness. If I'd resisted the blow… my skull would've shattered.*
He leaned on his right hand—
trying to lift his left to his head to regain balance and stop the ringing in his ears.
But his left hand screamed in pain—
he couldn't use it.
His left arm was dislocated, but not broken.
Tamer was experienced; he reattached the joint in one swift motion—*it will back normal in one day*.
He'd fought in the wild for many years.
He'd never been caught off guard like this in his memory.
With great effort, he turned toward the spot where he'd stood seconds earlier.
The world spun around him, desperate to see who—or what—had struck him.
There stood a boy no older than twelve, half-naked, water dripping from his scarred skin.
His left hand wore a black fingerless glove.
The Cebuan girl hid behind him, clutching his side.
The boy's face held elven lineage beauty, yet he had human ears.
Soft copper hair, wet and neck-length, framed his face.
But what stole Tamer's breath wasn't the scars or the hair—
it was the eyes.
Both iris and pupil were molten silver.
Like droplets of mercury, staring directly through him.
*Those eyes…*