Kael woke with a groan, his neck stiff and his back sore from spending the night perched awkwardly in the branches of the massive tree. The cold of the night had seeped into his bones, and despite his efforts to stay still, sleep had come in short, restless intervals. His muscles felt tight, his arm throbbed from the wound, and his stomach growled in protest, reminding him of the meager and foul meal he'd eaten the day before.
He blinked groggily, the early morning light filtering through the leaves above, casting soft rays of light over the forest floor below. The tree had offered some protection, but it was far from the refuge he needed. He had to find something better, something more permanent.
Kael glanced down at his bandaged arm and decided to take a closer look at the injury. Slowly, he unwound the rough cloth, wincing as the fabric pulled away from the dried blood. He expected to see an angry, festering wound, but instead, his eyes widened in surprise.
The gash was still there, but it had already begun to heal. The flesh around the wound was knitting itself together, the skin looking raw but noticeably mended. It wasn't fully healed, but the speed at which it had closed was far beyond what Kael expected.
"That's… not normal," he muttered to himself, staring at his arm in disbelief.
He rubbed at the skin around the wound, feeling the slight warmth of the healing flesh. He thought back to the beast, to the pain of its claws digging into him. This wasn't what he remembered about wounds. They were supposed to take longer to heal, weren't they?
He wasn't sure if it was the Tower's doing or something else, but whatever it was, he was grateful. Still, the injury needed care, and after cleaning as best as he could, he carefully re-wrapped the bandage with the strip of cloth he had torn from his pants.
Kael flexed his fingers, testing the strength in his arm. It wasn't perfect, but it was usable. And for now, that was good enough.
With a grunt, he pushed himself up, his muscles protesting the movement. He winced as his sore legs wobbled beneath him, but he forced himself to move. The lake had been a temporary goal, but now he needed something else—shelter, a place where he could actually sleep without worrying about being ripped apart by some monstrous beast in the middle of the night.
And for that, he'd need to explore.
He climbed carefully down the tree, his eyes constantly scanning the forest floor for any signs of movement. The forest, as always, was thick with shadows and the distant rustling of creatures hidden in the underbrush, but for now, the area around the lake seemed calm.
Kael set off, following the edge of the lake, his eyes darting between the water and the trees around him. The occasional splash of a fish broke the stillness of the lake's surface, but otherwise, it was eerily quiet. The reflection of the sky shimmered on the water, a soft ripple passing over its surface with each gentle breeze.
He walked for what felt like an hour, his body still aching from the rough night in the tree. The area around the lake was vast, and while the water was a blessing, he knew it was also a dangerous place. Beasts needed water too. At any moment, something could emerge from the trees or the lake itself, ready to tear him apart.
Kael's thoughts drifted to survival. He had no idea how long this trial would last. A couple days? A week? Longer? There was no telling what the Tower had planned for him, and the uncertainty gnawed at him. He was used to having answers, but this place kept its secrets buried deep. And he was just scratching the surface.
After a while, Kael stumbled across a few fruits hanging from low-hanging branches near the water's edge. They were strange—vibrant red, speckled with black, and hanging in clusters. He hesitated for a moment, frowning. The fruits didn't look particularly appetizing, and there was something vaguely ominous about the way they glistened in the light.
He picked one of the fruits, rolling it in his hands, and decided to keep a few of them. Better safe than sorry. He wasn't going to eat them—he wasn't that desperate yet—but they might come in handy later. Poisonous or not, he tucked a few into his pouch and pressed on.
As he continued his trek, Kael spotted something through the trees that made him stop in his tracks—a waterfall, cascading gently over the rocks into a deeper section of the lake. The hill it poured from had been hidden from view earlier, but now, as the mist had thinned, Kael could see it clearly.
The sight was… beautiful.
He stared for a long moment, captivated by the sheer tranquility of it. The way the water tumbled down the rocks, splashing softly into the pool below, was almost hypnotic. For the first time since entering this hellish trial, Kael felt a strange sense of calm wash over him.
"Maybe I can relax. Just for a bit."
Kael approached the waterfall, kneeling by the water's edge. He cupped his hands in the cool, clear water and took a long drink. The water was fresh, refreshing, and helped wash away the lingering taste of the foul meat he'd eaten the night before.
His stomach rumbled again, reminding him that he still had a small piece of that same disgusting meat left. Grimacing, he pulled it from his pouch, giving it a long, reluctant look before biting into it. It was just as vile as he remembered, the taste of rot and leather filling his mouth. But it was all he had.
After forcing down a few bites, Kael wiped his mouth and leaned back, his gaze drifting to the waterfall once more. His mind wandered for a moment, the soothing sound of rushing water easing some of his tension.
And then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something odd.
There, just behind the waterfall, was a shadow—a dark spot that seemed out of place against the glistening backdrop of the water. Kael squinted, leaning forward slightly to get a better look. The more he looked, the more certain he was. There was something behind the waterfall, an opening of some kind.
Curiosity piqued, Kael got to his feet and approached the waterfall cautiously. The closer he got, the more certain he became. The waterfall concealed a small cave, its entrance tucked away behind the curtain of water.
He stepped through the falling water, his clothes instantly soaked through, and peered inside. The cave wasn't large, but it was sheltered, hidden from view. It was perfect.
For the first time in what felt like forever, a genuine smile tugged at the corners of Kael's lips.
"This could work."
The cave was dry and sheltered from the elements, and more importantly, it was difficult to spot from outside. It would serve as an excellent place to hole up for the night—or longer if needed. And unlike the tree, he wouldn't have to worry about falling out of it while he slept.
Kael took a deep breath, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. Between finding the cave and the strange boon the Tower had granted him, his luck seemed to be turning. It was a rare feeling, and he wasn't about to take it for granted.
"Alright," Kael muttered, looking around the cave.
"Time to set up camp."
Kael spent the next few hours gathering supplies. He scavenged the area around the lake, picking up sticks, stones, and anything else he could find that might be useful. The forest provided plenty of wood, and he managed to find a few stones that would work well for a makeshift fireplace. He also stumbled across some fibrous plants, which he carefully stripped and twisted into crude string.
With his newfound supplies in hand, Kael returned to the cave and set about crafting a crude spear. He attached the spike from the demonic leopard's tail to the end of a long stick, using the plant fibers to lash it together tightly. It wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing.
Once his spear was finished, Kael set about organizing the rest of his supplies. He arranged the wood and stones into a small circle, preparing to light a fire.
That, however, was where things began to go wrong.
Kael crouched beside the fireplace, holding a piece of flint-like stone in one hand and his sword in the other. He struck the blade against the stone, hoping to spark a fire, but all he managed to do was scrape the metal and chip the stone.
He tried again. And again.
Nothing.
Frustration boiled inside him as he tried for the fifth time, gritting his teeth as he slammed the stone against the blade. He could feel his patience wearing thin, his knuckles white from the effort.
"Come on!" he growled, striking the stone again.
"Light, damn you!"
But the stone didn't spark, and the fire refused to catch.
Kael sat back, staring at the failed fire pit with a look of utter defeat. He wasn't exactly skilled in survival, but this… this was embarrassing. He couldn't even light a fire.
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.
"Looks like I'll be sleeping cold again tonight."
With nothing else to do, Kael lay back against the wall of the cave, the crude spear resting by his side. The thought of failure gnawed at him, but he forced it aside. For now, he had shelter. He had water. And he had not one but two weapons at that.
That would have to be enough.