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They arrived at the edge of the dark forest just before dusk. The eerie silence made Kateku's heart race with excitement and anticipation. Liora, calm and composed as ever, handed him a small dagger.
"Stay close to me," she said softly. "This will be your first real hunt. Watch, learn, and when the time comes, I'll tell you when to act."
Kateku nodded, gripping the dagger tightly. Though he had practiced some magic, the thrill of a real battle against creatures in the wild ignited a fire inside him. As they ventured deeper into the forest, the dense canopy above cast long shadows, making the forest feel darker than it should have been at this time of day. The air was thick with tension.
It wasn't long before they heard rustling in the bushes nearby. Liora signaled Kateku to stay still. Her sharp eyes scanned the surroundings as she readied her weapon.
Suddenly, a wild beast—a large, wolf-like creature with dark fur and glowing red eyes—burst from the underbrush. It snarled, baring its fangs as it leapt towards them.
"Now, Kateku!" Liora shouted, sidestepping the creature effortlessly.
Kateku raised his hand, instinctively summoning the magic he had practiced. A small ball of flame formed in his palm, and he hurled it toward the beast. The fireball struck the creature, and it howled in pain as it was set ablaze. But the wolf didn't die immediately; it struggled for a few moments before collapsing.
Kateku stared at his hands, amazed. His power worked flawlessly in a real fight, but there was something even more satisfying—seeing the effect of his magic in the world around him.
"That was only one," Liora said, her voice calm. "There will be more."
She was right. As soon as the first beast fell, two more emerged from the shadows, circling them. Kateku could feel his heart pounding in his chest, but Liora's cool composure calmed him.
"Let's try a different approach," she said. "You take one, I'll handle the other."
Kateku nodded, stepping forward to face one of the wolves. His mind raced as he tried to recall the various magic he had practiced. With a deep breath, he summoned a surge of energy from within and released it as a powerful ice spell. A jagged spike of ice shot from his hand, striking the wolf directly in its chest. The beast let out a low growl before freezing in place, encased in a prison of ice.
Meanwhile, Liora made quick work of the other creature with a flick of her wrist, sending a blast of wind magic that knocked the wolf back into the trees. With a single, clean strike, she ended its life.
Kateku was panting slightly from the exertion but grinned widely, feeling accomplished.
"Not bad," Liora said with a smile. "You handled yourself well."
Just as they were about to leave, the ground began to shake. A low rumble echoed through the forest. Liora's expression darkened.
"Stay alert," she warned.
From the shadows, a much larger beast emerged—this one twice the size of the others, with thick, armored scales covering its body. Its glowing eyes locked onto Kateku, and a deep, guttural growl escaped its throat.
"This is no ordinary hunt anymore," Liora said, her voice filled with urgency. "This is a Guardian Beast."
Kateku's eyes widened. He had heard stories about Guardian Beasts—legendary creatures that guarded the deeper parts of forests and ruins, far stronger than any ordinary monster.
"We need to be careful," Liora continued. "If we defeat this creature, your reputation will skyrocket… but if we fail…"
She didn't need to finish the sentence. Kateku knew what was at stake. With newfound determination, he readied his magic, focusing on a combination of fire and earth. As the Guardian Beast charged at them, Liora moved like a blur, launching wind spells to distract it while Kateku prepared his strongest attack.
"Now!" she yelled.
Kateku unleashed a powerful surge of magic, combining fire and earth to form a molten rock. It shot forward and struck the Guardian Beast square in the chest. The creature howled, its body engulfed in flames, but it still stood tall.
"Finish it!" Liora shouted, rushing in with her sword.
Kateku summoned another wave of fire, pouring every ounce of strength into the spell. The flames engulfed the beast, and with one final strike from Liora, the creature collapsed to the ground, defeated.
The forest was silent once more.
Liora looked at Kateku, impressed. "That was incredible. You're stronger than I thought."
Kateku, breathing heavily but grinning, felt a surge of pride. This was the first step toward forging his own path in this world, to making his own story as he saw fit.
As they returned to the guild, word of their hunt had already spread. The shattered mana crystal and the defeat of the Guardian Beast became the talk of the town, cementing Kateku's place as a rising figure in the kingdom.
But as they celebrated, a shadow loomed over the horizon. Powerful forces were beginning to take notice of the young boy, a boy who was beginning to carve his own path.
As Kateku and Liora made their way back to the mansion, the evening sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows over the cobblestone streets. The air felt lighter after their successful hunt, but the town was far from quiet. A commotion caught their attention as they approached the town square.
A crowd had gathered, murmuring and whispering amongst themselves. At the center of the crowd stood a tall man with a menacing presence. His clothes were extravagant but worn, his face scruffy and lined with greed. He was a slave trader, and before him, a row of chained men, women, and even children stood with their heads bowed in silence. They were dirty, bruised, and dressed in rags, their eyes hollow as they awaited their fate.
Kateku slowed his pace, his curiosity piqued by the scene. The energy in the air shifted. Some of the onlookers watched with sympathy, while others seemed indifferent, as if this was a common occurrence in the town.
"Step forward, ladies and gentlemen!" the slave trader called out, his voice loud and slick with salesmanship. "These fine specimens have been brought from lands far and wide! Strong men for labor, skilled women for service, and even rare young ones for your entertainment! Bid now before they're gone!"
Kateku felt a knot of discomfort in his stomach, but his face remained expressionless. He had grown accustomed to seeing the darker side of the world, yet something about this felt particularly unsettling. He glanced at Liora, who seemed more focused on the crowd than the trader.
"Slavery is still legal in parts of the kingdom, but it's rare to see it so openly displayed like this," Liora said quietly, her eyes scanning the faces of the onlookers.
Kateku's mind raced as he observed the scene. His thoughts briefly wandered to the stories his mother had told him about the other families, how power and wealth often came at the expense of others. He knew that the weak were often trampled upon in this world, and the sight of these slaves was a stark reminder.
A child, no older than eight, caught his eye. The boy was trembling, his small frame barely able to support the weight of the chains that bound him. His eyes, though filled with fear, briefly met Kateku's, and in that fleeting moment, something stirred within Kateku. The boy was like him, once small, vulnerable, and without a story.
Before he could react, a man in the crowd stepped forward, eyeing one of the slaves—a young woman with long, dark hair. He tossed a small pouch of coins toward the trader, who grinned widely and handed over the chains.
"Sold!" the trader declared. The woman was led away, her face devoid of emotion.
Kateku clenched his fists, feeling a strange mix of emotions. Part of him wanted to act, to do something, but the other part of him—his logical side—knew that disrupting a slave trade could cause problems, especially in a town where the law permitted such practices.
Liora, sensing his inner conflict, placed a hand on his shoulder. "You can't save everyone, Kateku. Not yet, at least."
Her words, though true, left a bitter taste in his mouth.
They were about to turn and leave when the slave trader called out again. "Ah! And now, a special treat! A rare specimen from the eastern regions! A young girl, with magical potential beyond her years!"
Kateku froze. The mention of magic piqued his interest. He turned to see the slave trader pull forward a girl, her hands bound in heavy iron cuffs. She had striking white hair and deep, violet eyes, but what stood out most was the faint aura of magic around her—raw, unrefined, but undoubtedly powerful.
The crowd gasped in awe, and the bidding began almost immediately. Wealthy merchants and townspeople eagerly shouted offers, their greed for power evident in their eyes.
Kateku's heart raced. He knew that if this girl fell into the wrong hands, her potential could be exploited or destroyed. He couldn't explain why, but something inside him refused to let that happen.
"Liora," he said firmly, his eyes locked on the girl. "We can't let her be sold."
Liora raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "And what do you propose we do? Outbid everyone here? Or cause a scene?"
Kateku smirked, a glint of determination in his eyes. "Neither. We'll get her out, but not like that."
Without waiting for a response, he pushed through the crowd, making his way to the front. Liora followed closely, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, ready for anything.
As the bidding continued, Kateku calmly approached the slave trader, who noticed him and grinned. "Ah, a young noble, perhaps? Interested in this magical gem, are you?"
Kateku didn't respond to the man's slimy words. Instead, he glanced at the girl, who looked back at him with a mixture of fear and hope.
"I want her," Kateku said, his voice steady.
The trader chuckled, clearly amused. "I'm afraid there are others with deeper pockets than you, boy. If you want her, you'll have to pay a hefty price."
Kateku's expression remained cold. "I don't think you understand. I wasn't asking."
The air around them suddenly grew thick with tension. Liora stepped forward, her presence alone enough to make the crowd take a step back. Her violet eyes glowed faintly as she prepared herself for what was to come.
The slave trader's grin faltered, sensing the danger. "What... what are you—?"
Before he could finish, Kateku raised his hand and muttered a few words under his breath. A surge of magic pulsed through the ground, causing the mana crystal shards from the earlier test to react. The shards, still humming with residual power, shot towards the iron cuffs that bound the girl, shattering them instantly.
The crowd gasped in shock, and the slave trader stumbled back, fear flashing in his eyes.
Kateku stepped forward, his voice low and commanding. "Take your gold, take your slaves, and leave this town. If I ever see you here again, you won't be so lucky."
The slave trader, wide-eyed and trembling, didn't need to be told twice. He gathered what he could, retreating with the remaining slaves and leaving the magical girl standing there, free.
The crowd slowly dispersed, murmuring amongst themselves about the strange boy with the power to break a mana-infused slave chain.
Kateku turned to the girl, offering her a hand. "You're free now."
The girl hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached out and took his hand. Her violet eyes shimmered with gratitude.
As they walked back to the mansion, Liora finally broke the silence. "You took quite the risk back there, Kateku."
He shrugged. "Maybe. But now I have another piece for my story."
Liora smiled faintly. "You certainly are one to watch."
With the magical girl now by their side, the trio made their way back, unaware of the eyes that had been watching from the shadows. Forces far greater than they could imagine were beginning to take notice of the boy with no story.