In the deepest part of the Jut Forest, which bordered Logas and the Yahju River flowing through Wize, a medium-sized boat moved upstream, venturing deeper into the heart of the forest. The Jut Forest was a dense, forbidding expanse that stretched far beyond the river in Wize. One of its many concealed paths led to the city of Logas in Omi.
The forest was infamous across the continent as one of the most dangerous places imaginable. It teemed with life—deadly life. Hundreds of thousands of beasts roamed its depths, including more than a thousand highly coveted magical beasts. Yet, the forest wasn't just dangerous because of its inhabitants. It was a hostile, untamed wilderness, laden with ancient dangers that even the bravest dared not face. The deep forest seemed alive, as though it carried a malevolent will of its own. Travelers who ventured in seldom returned, and those who did spoke of poisoned winds, shifting trails, and shadows that moved as if they had eyes of their own.
Even the forest's inhabitants—those beasts and magical creatures—were not spared its wrath. The Jut Forest was as cruel to them as it was to outsiders. It was a place where nature's laws ruled absolutely, leaving no room for mercy. No one had ever successfully navigated its entirety, and few even dared to dream of doing so.
On the boat moving steadily towards this treacherous domain, a young man sat cross-legged, meditating quietly on one side of the deck. His eyes were shut, his expression calm but taut with an undercurrent of unease. The occasional murmur of the river and the gentle creaking of the boat were the only sounds that accompanied him.
From the cabin, a man emerged and approached the young man.
"Your Majesty, the boat will be stopping soon," Commander Lei said, his voice low but firm. "We'll have to walk the rest of the way."
Kin opened his eyes and glanced at the commander. "Thank you, Commander Lei," he replied, his tone polite but distant.
It had been a month since Farouk had died, and Kin was still beating himself up over it. The old dog had been with Kin since his childhood, raising him while his father was too preoccupied with the affairs of the court. To Kin, Farouk was more than just a general—he was a father figure, a mentor, and the only one who had never given up on him.
The memory stung, and Kin sighed deeply. He was certain that if he had fought alongside Farouk during their final battle, they could have defeated Jai. Farouk would still be alive.
But now...
Kin's hands curled into fists at the thought.
"You shouldn't dwell on things too much," Commander Lei said, his voice softer this time.
Kin looked at him but said nothing.
"General Farouk would have gladly given himself to save any of his men," Commander Lei continued. "He was as upright as he was kind. I don't think he'd want you brooding over his death for this long. A full month has passed, Your Majesty."
Kin exhaled, forcing himself to unclench his fists. He looked out at the river, where the dense trees of the Jut Forest loomed closer.
"I know," Kin muttered, his voice barely audible. "But it doesn't make it any easier."
The boat creaked as it slowed, nearing the edge of the forest. Commander Lei watched Kin for a moment longer, then placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"We'll make it through," Lei said. "For Farouk's sake, if nothing else."
Kin nodded, though his gaze remained fixed on the forest. Deep down, he knew that the path ahead wouldn't just test his strength—it would test his very soul. He wasn't sure if he could overcome what was coming next, but Kin knew he had to fight.
Even if it meant Jai would kill him.
There was no way Kin would allow Jai to plunge the entire continent into war. Everyone had hoped for peace after the war in Wize, but Jai had shocked the world when he attacked Eru only days after the war had ended. The manner in which he attacked was even more astonishing.
When Kin and his allies met with their supposed allies to discuss Jai's newfound powers, no one truly believed the stories—until Jai acted. Though the full extent of Jai's power remained unknown, his terrifying display in Conet had left both allies and enemies wary of the King of Wize.
Jai's attack on Eru had robbed Kin of the reinforcements he desperately needed. What had once seemed like a glimmer of hope now felt like an impossible dream. Victory seemed hopeless—until Kin spoke to her.
Kin thought back to a month ago in Dura. At the time, preparations were being made to move forward. With the arrival of Kin and his allies, Lady Ri had been forced to alter her plans. Normally, she would have focused on taking her city back from her uncle. But with the news of Jai's victory, reclaiming Dura became insignificant in the larger scheme.
Ri's mission shifted from avenging her father and reclaiming her city to liberating the entire kingdom of Wize from Jai. But before that could happen, Kin had something he needed to do. The group claiming to be part of the resistance, who were attacking outlying villages, had to be dealt with first.
By coordinating with Ri and her men, they narrowed down the attackers' next possible targets. Lady Ri's cousin Jim had been monitoring the villages, ensuring their movements didn't go unnoticed.
Not long ago, Lady Ri had led her men to defend a village under attack, only to find themselves ambushed by The Sulten's soldiers. If not for her curse, she would have lost more men. Since then, Ri had been hesitant to engage in similar defenses.
This time, however, the plan was different. Kin volunteered to confront the attackers himself. Although he would have preferred to hunt them down before they struck, they had little information on their exact location.
When the attackers struck again, it was in one of the largest villages around Dura. Jai's forces claimed they were attacking because Lady Ri needed the village's resources to feed her troops. By destroying the village, the Sulten could justify his claim to the seat of Sulten, tarnish the resistance's reputation, and seize the farmlands of the dead farmers.
Kin, accompanied by Commander Lei and Sanjay, moved quickly to intercept the attackers. Unlike Ri's men—mainly farmers and loyalists—Commander Lei and Sanjay were members of Dire, the King's Guard. Both were skilled warriors, and Kin's presence made their team even more formidable.
With Ri's help, they identified the target and prepared to fight. They wouldn't let Jai's forces destroy another village in the name of the resistance. For Kin, this battle wasn't just about saving the village. It was about hope, vengeance, and reclaiming what had been lost.