As Ice and Sara walked through the forest on their way back to the village, they heard the rustling of leaves nearby. They both tensed, ready to defend themselves if necessary.
Suddenly, a boy of about their age stepped out from behind a tree, holding a strange glowing orb in his hands.
Ice and Sara regarded the newcomer with caution, not sure if he posed a threat or not. The boy, who introduced himself as Walter, seemed to sense their wariness and held up his hands in a gesture of peace.
"Don't be alarmed," Walter said, keeping his voice low. "I'm not here to harm you. I was just hunting in the forest, same as you."
Ice and Sara relaxed slightly, but still remained on their guard. They studied the boy closely, trying to get a sense of his intentions.
"Hunting in the forest?" Sara said. "Alone?"
Walter nodded, looking sheepish. "Yeah, I know it's kind of stupid, but I really need to get stronger."
Ice and Sara exchanged a glance, curious about the boy's words. They could sense that there was more to this boy than met the eye.
"Get stronger for what?" Ice asked, his tone flat.
Walter looked at them directly, his expression serious. "To become stronger, of course. To become powerful."