Kai watched as Lila and her siblings bundled up together in the small wooden house. The outcasts had it rough, but it seemed Lila had it even harder due to her bloodline. The sight of the family huddled together for warmth and comfort tugged at Kai's heart, reminding him of the stark differences between their worlds.
Giving a little sigh, he decided to go out and find a place to rest. The houses in the settlement were mostly covered with thatched roofs, too fragile for him to lie on. Instead, he made his way to a tall, sturdy tree at the edge of the settlement. As he climbed, he could feel the rough bark under his hands and smell the earthy scent of the forest.
Settling on a wide branch high up in the tree, Kai had a perfect view of the entire settlement. The moon hung low and full in the sky, casting a silvery light over the ramshackle houses and winding paths below. The night air was crisp and cool, filled with the sounds of chirping crickets and the occasional hoot of an owl.
As he was about to close his eyes, something caught his attention. "Hmm?" He spotted a group of people gathering at one point in the settlement. There were about five of them, and from their body structures, Kai could tell there were more males than females. Looking closer, he noticed they were all dressed in fancy clothing, a stark contrast to the worn and patched garments most of the outcasts wore.
What really caught Kai's eye was the old woman with them. She had much bigger horns than anyone he'd seen so far, at least six to seven centimeters long. They curled elegantly from her temples, gleaming in the moonlight. Her presence seemed to command respect from the others in the group.
"Where are they going?" Kai wondered aloud. Curiosity getting the better of him, he willed himself invisible and decided to follow them. He moved silently, his feet barely touching the ground as he trailed behind the group. From the length of their horns, he could tell they were of much purer and finer bloodlines than Lila's.
The group followed a certain path out of the settlement, moving with purpose and urgency. The old woman kept looking left and right, her eyes scanning the shadows as if expecting danger. They ventured deeper into the dense forest, where the trees grew so close together that their branches intertwined overhead, creating a natural ceiling that blocked out most of the moonlight.
A few people with spears followed along, their weapons at the ready, providing protection for the group. The atmosphere was tense, everyone moving with caution and speaking in hushed tones.
"We need to move fast, and remember, you must be here before sunrise," the old woman warned, her voice barely above a whisper. She instructed them to remove their clothes, an odd request that made Kai raise an eyebrow. Then, with practiced movements, she traced her hand on their chests. There was a soft glow, like moonlight trapped beneath their skin, and then a mark appeared - a red symbol depicting a chained dragon.
'Is that the outcast mark?' Kai thought to himself. He had always wondered how the guards in the city could identify outcasts on sight. It seemed this was the reason. The mark was both a brand and a curse, binding these people to their outcast status.
"The mark will fade and reappear by sunrise. You must be careful," the woman warned as the marks slowly disappeared from their chests. The six people behind her exchanged joyous smiles, their eyes shining with hope and excitement.
Kai made a mental note to remember the rune spell. He might not be proficient in rune magic, but he thought he might be able to find a way to replace runes with willpower if he studied enough. Maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to erase the mark permanently from Lila and her siblings, freeing them from their cursed status.
The old woman took one last look around, her eyes sweeping the forest for any signs of unwanted observers. Satisfied they were alone, she hit her foot on the ground in a specific rhythm. There was a soft click, barely audible even in the quiet forest, and suddenly a hidden passage opened before them, revealing a dark tunnel leading into the earth.
"Get in," she urged, ushering the group into the passage. "Remember to be quick. The city is such a large place, you only get this one chance. Do not waste your life there." Her words were filled with both hope and warning, knowing full well that death awaited them if they were discovered.
Kai was tempted to follow them into the city. He wanted to see their advanced technology, curious about the engineering that could create such a seamless hidden passage. But he knew he couldn't. 'I still need to look after those people. I can't leave far from her as I am her summon,' he reminded himself.
With a mixture of curiosity and frustration, Kai headed back to the tree where he had been resting. He stared silently at the stars and dark skies, the moon seeming exceptionally bright tonight. For some reason, he wasn't in the mood to sleep. The revelations of the night had left his mind buzzing with questions and possibilities.
Stretching a bit, he decided to go for his sword practice. At least he needed to sharpen his skills, to be ready for whatever challenges this world might throw at him. As he was about to jump down from the tree, he saw Lila walk out of the house. It was still dark, not even two hours since she had gone to sleep, but she was already up and about.
"Where are you going?" Kai called softly from his perch in the tree.
Lila, already aware of his presence, looked in the direction of his voice and smiled, waving at him. "You're awake this late?" she asked, her voice carrying a mix of surprise and curiosity.
"Mhmm, I couldn't sleep," Kai replied, watching as Lila began to climb the tree. Despite her fragile appearance, she moved with surprising agility, her bare feet finding purchase on the rough bark.
"That's impressive for someone with such a fragile body," Kai praised as she reached his level.
"Thanks?" Lila responded, a hint of uncertainty in her voice as she settled on a nearby branch. The branches were so wide that they could easily accommodate two people lying side by side, but Lila chose to keep some distance between them, still not entirely comfortable with this strange newcomer.
"Is there anything on your mind?" Kai asked, noticing the faraway look in her eyes. Though he didn't fully understand her plight, having no similar experiences of his own, he felt compelled to offer some consolation.
"It's nothing," Lila said, her gaze fixed on the dark sky above. The wind blew gently, rustling the leaves and causing her pink hair to dance slightly. In the moonlight, Kai could see a deep loneliness in her eyes, a weight that seemed too heavy for someone so young to bear.
Hoping to lighten her mood, Kai decided to share his discovery. "You know, I found something out today, a secret passage to the city," he said, watching her reaction carefully.
To his surprise, Lila didn't seem shocked or excited. "I knew of it," she replied, her voice tinged with resignation. "I always knew, but I can't get rid of the mark on me." She gave him a sad, appreciative smile, recognizing his attempt to cheer her up.
"You're worried about your siblings?" Kai asked, realizing that her troubles ran deeper than he had initially thought.
"Yes," Lila sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Tomorrow is going to be a new day. I have to find something for them to eat, and I also have to give some to the chief. It's tiring." The helplessness in her voice was palpable, revealing the daily struggles she faced.
Seeing that this was just one of her many troubles, Kai felt a surge of protectiveness. "I'm here now," he said, his voice firm and reassuring. "You can leave the food hunting to me."
"Thank you," Lila replied, a genuine smile brightening her face for a moment. But the sadness in her eyes remained, a constant reminder of the hardships she had endured.
Kai, determined to distract her from her worries, had an idea. "You know, I was about to practice. Aren't you interested in magic?" he asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Magic? You mean runes?" Lila asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"No, magic. It's different from runes, and you would love its wonders," Kai explained. Though he didn't use magic himself, he planned to teach her a bit for protection. "Come," he said, holding out his hand.
Before Lila could react, Kai had scooped her up in his arms, holding her like a princess. There was a crackling sound of lightning around them, and in the blink of an eye, they vanished from their spot.
When Lila opened her eyes, they were standing in an empty field, about four miles from the settlement. The sudden change of scenery left her breathless and disoriented.
"By the runes, how fast was that?" Lila exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock and wonder. Though she had never been to this part of the forest, she had heard of it - a place she had never dreamed of visiting due to the dangerous creatures that roamed the area.
The field they stood in was vast and open, a stark contrast to the dense forest of the settlement. Tall grass swayed gently in the night breeze, creating waves of silver in the moonlight. In the distance, Lila could see the silhouettes of ancient trees, their gnarled branches reaching towards the star-filled sky.
The air here felt different - cleaner, crisper, filled with the scent of wild flowers and fresh earth. Lila took a deep breath, savoring the feeling of open space after so long in the cramped confines of the settlement.
Kai set Lila down gently, watching as she took in their new surroundings with awe. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of fear and excitement, emotions Kai hadn't seen in her before. It made her look younger, more alive.
"Are you ready to learn some magic?" Kai asked, a smile playing on his lips. He was eager to show her something new, something that might give her hope for a better future.
Lila nodded, her earlier sadness momentarily forgotten in the face of this new adventure. "What do I need to do?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly with anticipation.
Kai began to explain the basics of magic, how it differed from the runes she was familiar with. As he spoke, he demonstrated simple tricks - creating small balls of light that danced around them, manipulating the grass to grow and form shapes, even calling a gentle breeze that carried the scent of far-off places.
Lila watched in wonder, her eyes growing wider with each demonstration. For the first time since Kai had met her, she looked truly happy, truly free. In this moment, under the vast sky and surrounded by magic, she wasn't an outcast or a girl with a corrupt bloodline. She was simply Lila, a young woman discovering the wonders of the world.
As the night wore on, Kai guided Lila through her first attempts at magic. Her initial tries were clumsy and weak, but she approached each failure with determination, her face set in concentration. Kai couldn't help but admire her resilience.
By the time the eastern sky began to lighten with the first hints of dawn, Lila had managed to create a tiny, flickering flame in the palm of her hand. It was small and unsteady, but to her, it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
"I did it," she whispered, her voice filled with awe and pride. "I really did it!"
Kai nodded, a warm smile on his face. "You did," he confirmed. "And this is just the beginning."
As they prepared to return to the settlement, Kai noticed a change in Lila. She stood a little straighter, her eyes shone a little brighter. For the first time since he'd met her, she looked like she had hope for the future.
The journey back was quicker, with Kai using his lightning-fast movement to return them to the outskirts of the settlement just as the sun began to peek over the horizon. As they walked the final distance, Lila turned to Kai.
"Thank you," she said softly. "Not just for the magic lesson, but for... for giving me something to look forward to."
Kai nodded, feeling a sense of purpose he hadn't expected when he first arrived in this world. Maybe, he thought, this was why he had been summoned. Not for some grand adventure, but to help these people, one small act of kindness at a time.
As they reached Lila's home, the settlement was beginning to stir with the early morning activities. People were emerging from their homes, ready to face another day of struggles and survival. But for Lila, and now for Kai, this day held the promise of something more - of magic, of hope, and of change.