The moment the wolf moved—
Everything broke.
Its body blurred forward, claws tearing through the space where Kael had stood just an instant before.
He twisted aside—but not cleanly.
A sharp pain tore across his side.
"—!"
Kael staggered, his breath catching as heat spread along his ribs. His shirt tore slightly, a thin line of blood forming where the claw had grazed him.
Fast.
Too fast.
He barely had time to recover before it came again.
The wolf lunged a second time, lower, more precise.
Kael raised his wooden sword—
Clack!
The impact slammed into him.
This time, he couldn't hold his ground.
His feet slid back across the dirt, his arms trembling from the force.
This wasn't training.
This wasn't controlled.
This was—
Real.
"Kael!" Rynel shouted.
"Stay back!" Kael snapped, forcing his voice steady despite the pain.
The wolf circled.
Slow.
Patient.
Its glowing eyes locked onto him, studying, waiting.
It wasn't rushing anymore.
It was hunting.
Kael adjusted his stance, ignoring the sting in his side.
Think.
If he misstepped—
That would be it.
Behind him, he could hear uneven breathing.
Tovin.
Liora.
Rynel.
They were scared.
Good.
They should be.
"Move back," Kael said quietly. "Slowly."
They listened.
Carefully.
But fear made movements clumsy.
A single misstep—
A snapped twig.
The wolf reacted instantly.
It vanished from Kael's sight.
"No—!"
Kael turned—
Too late.
The wolf burst toward them.
Rynel stepped forward instinctively to block—
But the creature's claw struck first.
Rynel was thrown back, crashing hard into the ground with a pained grunt.
"Rynel!" Tovin shouted.
The wolf didn't stop.
It turned again.
This time—
Toward Tovin.
He froze.
Completely.
His mind refused to move his body.
Liora grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back—
But her footing slipped.
They fell.
The wolf closed in.
Jaws opening.
Everything slowed.
Kael's vision narrowed.
The world shrank.
Sound dulled.
The only thing that remained—
Was the distance between them.
Too far.
Too slow.
He pushed forward.
Pain shot through his side.
But something else—
Something deeper—
Responded.
A sudden heat flared in his chest.
Sharp.
Burning.
Kael's breath hitched.
"What—"
The sensation spread rapidly, like fire beneath his skin.
Then—
It formed.
A faint pattern across his chest.
Invisible to others beneath his torn shirt—
But to him—
It burned.
A symbol.
Ancient.
Unfamiliar.
Glowing faintly.
And in the next instant—
Everything changed.
His body moved.
Not forced.
Not strained.
Effortless.
His foot struck the ground—
And he was there.
Faster than before.
Faster than thought.
The wolf's jaws were inches from Tovin—
When Kael's strike landed.
A heavy crack echoed.
The blow forced the creature sideways, its body skidding across the forest floor.
Silence followed.
Kael stood there.
Breathing steady.
Too steady.
The pain in his side—
Gone.
The weight in his limbs—
Gone.
Everything felt… clear.
Behind him, Rynel groaned, pushing himself up slightly, clutching his shoulder.
Liora sat up slowly, her arm scraped and dirt-stained.
Tovin remained frozen.
None of them spoke.
Because what they were seeing—
Didn't make sense.
The wolf rose again.
But this time—
It hesitated.
Its instincts screamed at it.
Something had changed.
Kael stepped forward.
His movements were smooth.
Controlled.
Perfect.
The wolf lunged—
Kael met it.
Clack!
This time—
He didn't move.
The impact stopped.
Dead.
The wolf faltered.
Just for a moment.
Kael turned his body slightly, redirecting the force, his counterstrike already in motion.
Faster.
Sharper.
The blow landed cleanly.
The wolf staggered.
A low growl escaped it—
But it wasn't the same.
Not confident.
Not dominant.
Wary.
Kael advanced.
Step by step.
The faint glow beneath his skin pulsed once more.
Guiding.
Enhancing.
The wolf tried to retreat—
But Kael was already there.
His final strike came down—
Decisive.
The impact sent the creature crashing to the ground.
This time—
It didn't rise.
Silence.
Heavy.
Unmoving.
Kael stood still.
The glow on his chest flickered—
Then faded.
The heat disappeared.
The strength vanished.
And reality came rushing back.
Pain returned first.
Sharp.
Immediate.
His legs trembled.
His breathing broke.
Kael dropped to one knee.
"…What…"
His voice was faint.
Uncertain.
Behind him—
Rynel stared.
Tovin stared.
Liora—
Watched.
Not just at what happened.
But at him.
"…Kael," she said softly.
But Kael didn't respond.
His gaze remained fixed on the fallen wolf.
His thoughts scattered.
That power—
That feeling—
It wasn't his.
Or at least—
It didn't feel like it belonged to him.
And deep within his chest—
Where the mark had burned—
Something lingered.
Faint.
Dormant.
Waiting.
As if—
This was only the beginning.