Kai stood in the clearing, his breath still heavy from the fight. The night air was cool on his skin, carrying the scent of pine and something else - something not quite right. He looked down at the small, round object in his hand. It was smooth and cool to the touch, glowing with a soft, pulsing light that seemed to match his heartbeat.
"I wonder why so many weak predators are showing up," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. The words hung in the air, unanswered.
Eva and Jessica stood nearby, both looking as tired as Kai felt. Eva's blonde hair was messy, sticking to her forehead with sweat. Jessica's face was as unreadable as ever, but even she couldn't hide the slump in her shoulders.
"Let's head to the Black Castle," Kai said, louder this time. The others nodded, too tired to speak.
Just as they were about to move, a rustle came from the bushes to their right. The sound was like a shot in the quiet forest. All three jumped, bodies tensing for another fight.
Kai's hand flew to his sword, the familiar grip giving him a small comfort. "Who's there?" he shouted, his voice echoing through the trees. His eyes darted around, searching for movement in the shadows.
Jessica's wyvern, a creature that looked like a mix between a dragon and a lizard, flapped its huge wings. The sudden gust made leaves and twigs fly everywhere, adding to the tension.
"It's just a rabbit," Jessica said after a moment. Her voice was calm as always, but Kai noticed her hand was still on her weapon.
Eva let out a big breath, the sound turning into a nervous laugh. "Phew! That scared me half to death," she said, her hand on her chest. She looked up at Jessica, her eyes big and pleading. "Can we fly back? I don't think my legs can take another step."
Jessica's face, usually hard and cold, softened a bit. She seemed to be having an internal debate. Finally, she said, "Just this once." She didn't usually let others ride her wyvern - it was a point of pride for her.
The wyvern, sensing its rider's decision, lowered itself to the ground. Its scales shimmered in the moonlight, a beautiful but alien sight. Eva climbed on behind Jessica, her movements slow and clumsy with exhaustion.
"Hey, what about me?" Kai asked, trying to keep the whine out of his voice. He knew he sounded childish, but the thought of walking all the way back made his feet ache.
Jessica just gave him a look that clearly said, "Really?" Then she patted her wyvern's neck, and with a powerful leap, they were in the air. Kai watched them go, feeling a mix of annoyance and loneliness.
With a sigh, he started walking. The forest was different at night. Shadows seemed to move, and every sound made him jump. He tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other, but his mind kept wandering.
He thought about the academy and how hard it had been to get in. Running through forests like this one, climbing mountains so tall he thought he'd never see the ground again, fighting beasts that haunted his nightmares for months afterward. It had all been part of the test to join the academy.
"It's been four whole years," he said to himself, his voice sounding strange in the quiet forest. Four years since he'd left home, since he'd seen his family. Sometimes, it felt like a lifetime ago.
As he walked, Kai's thoughts turned to the secrets he'd learned at the academy. Their world, he now knew, was like a giant mirror. On one side, there were people with amazing magic powers. That was where Kai's home was. But on the other side, where Kai was now, people had no powers at all. They were just... normal, and this was the people the academy had to protect.
The academy sat right in the middle, in a place called the wild lands. It was a dangerous place, full of creatures and plants that could kill you if you weren't careful. But it was also beautiful, in a harsh sort of way.
Deep in the heart of the wild lands was a special ocean. Kai had seen it, it was where he crossed to this world. This ocean, was like a door between the two worlds. The academy's job was to protect it, to make sure nothing bad came through. Up there, his home, they were people who could keep it safe, but here, none, and the 'Predators'? They were beings he even didn't know existed before the academy, making him wonder where they were from, why he never heard of them, and why the academy seems to know things others don't
Kai shuddered, remembering the one they'd fought earlier. Its eyes had been full of hate and hunger.
Lost in thought, Kai almost missed seeing his house. It was a simple wooden building, not very big, but it was home. The sight of it made him realize just how tired he was. Every part of his body ached.
Inside, he put his sword on the table by the door. The familiar weight leaving his hand made him feel strangely vulnerable. He peeled off his dirty clothes, wrinkling his nose at the smell. Fighting predators was messy work.
The hot water of the shower felt amazing on his sore muscles. Kai stood there for a long time, letting the water wash away the dirt and some of the tension. As the steam filled the small bathroom, he could almost pretend he was somewhere else, somewhere safe and normal.
But when he stepped out and wiped the fog from the mirror, reality came rushing back. There, on his chest, was a big, ugly scar. He'd gotten it fighting a predator on his own, about a year ago. The wound had healed, thanks to the academy's healers, but the scar remained.
Kai traced the scar with his finger. It was a reminder of how dangerous their job was. Predators weren't like normal animals. Their attacks could do more than just hurt you - they could change you, if you weren't careful. Only special healing magic could help, and even then, it wasn't perfect.
"I should see a healer soon," Kai thought, not for the first time. The scar didn't hurt, but sometimes it felt cold, even when the rest of him was warm. He didn't like to think about what that might mean.
Pulling on clean clothes felt like a luxury after the long day. Kai was about to fall into bed when he heard it - a knock at the door.
The sound was like a bucket of cold water. Kai froze, suddenly wide awake. Who could be visiting so late? Eva and Jessica should have been home by now. None of the other Black Corps members lived nearby.
For a moment, Kai considered pretending he wasn't home. But then the knock came again, louder this time. Whatever it was, it wasn't going away.
Slowly, carefully, Kai walked to the door. He picked up his sword on the way, the weight of it reassuring in his hand. At the door, he paused, listening. He couldn't hear anything except his own heart pounding.
Taking a deep breath, Kai opened the door.