Kai moved through the thick underbrush, his senses sharpened after the days of rest and nourishment from the elderly couple who had sheltered him ( a pity he didn't remember to ask their names, but isn't it strange that they didn't offer it? Kai mused as he raced through the forest). Each step felt lighter, yet each direction he took felt heavy with purpose. The Spirit Blade at his side seemed to pulse with its own sense of awareness, guiding him deeper into the Wildlands.
As he was adjusting to the sounds around him, he heard a muffled cry, a shrill sound echoing in the vast silence. Kai froze, listening. He heard it again—a small voice, fragile and desperate.
"eeeeeeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!"
Kai's instincts took over, and he sprinted toward the sound. He pushed through the dense foliage until he arrived at a small clearing, his eyes widening at the scene in front of him. A young boy, no older than eight, was backed against a tree, his face pale with terror. His gaze was fixed on a massive creature slithering through the grass toward him—a snake, at least twenty feet long, its scales shimmering in dark green and bronze hues. Its eyes were fixed on the boy, cold and calculating, as it prepared to strike.
"Get down!" Kai shouted, racing forward.
The boy instinctively dropped to his knees, shielding his head with his small arms as the snake reared back, its fangs glistening. Just as the creature lunged, Kai drew the Spirit Blade, the weapon humming to life in his hands. With one swift motion, he swung, the blade slashing through the air and meeting the snake's side with a blinding flash. The creature recoiled, hissing in fury, its massive body writhing as it retreated slightly, eyeing Kai with new wariness.
"Stay back," Kai warned, placing himself between the boy and the serpent.
The snake coiled, sizing him up, before it lunged once more, its powerful body surging forward. Kai moved fluidly, parrying the attack with the Spirit Blade, each movement purposeful, each strike calculated. He aimed for the creature's head, his blade slicing through scales and flesh. With a final, decisive blow, he drove the blade deep into the serpent's head, the creature letting out a spine-chilling hiss before collapsing in a heap.
Kai took a steadying breath, his chest heaving from the exertion. Turning, he looked down at the boy, who was still cowering at the base of the tree, his eyes wide with awe and fear.
"Are you alright?" Kai asked, sheathing his blade as he knelt beside the boy.
The boy looked up at him, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and wonder. He nodded slowly, swallowing hard. "Yyyyy-yeesssss… Thank you sir. I thought… I thought it was going to eat me."
Kai chuckled softly, extending a hand to help him up. "You're safe now. But what are you doing out here alone? The Wildlands are no place for a child."
The boy hesitated, casting a wary glance around before finally taking Kai's hand. "My name's Glen," he said, brushing the dirt off his clothes. He had a mop of brown hair, slightly unkempt, and a face smudged with dirt, but his eyes were bright, intelligent, and curious.
"I'm Kai," he replied, studying the boy with a raised eyebrow. "Now, Glen, what brings you this deep into the Wildlands?"
Glen's gaze dropped to his feet, his small hands twisting together nervously. "I… I ran away," he admitted quietly, barely meeting Kai's gaze. "My village, it… it wasn't safe anymore. My family's gone."
"But what do you mean by your family's gone? Kai asked more earnestly this time
"Our village chief discovered a strange metal that the Council requested him to surrender, he refused. I was up on a tree by the entrance to our village trying to gather bird eggs when I saw the entire village go up in flames. By the time I climbed down and ran back home, my parents and everyone in the village were killed and burnt. I ran off into the wildlands when I saw a cultivator, going round and stabbing the bodies twice" glen explained while sniffing and holding back his urge to cry
Kai felt a pang of empathy. He knew all too well the pain of losing loved ones, of feeling alone in a world that seemed to turn against you. He softened his tone. "I'm sorry to hear that, Glen. But the Wildlands aren't safe either, especially for someone as young as you."
Glen's eyes flashed with a stubbornness that surprised Kai. "I'm not afraid of this place! Well… maybe a little. But I had nowhere else to go. And I thought if I could make it through the Wildlands, I'd be strong—strong like my father."
Kai nodded, sensing the boy's determination and his pain. "Strength doesn't always come from facing danger alone. Sometimes, having someone by your side can make you stronger."
Glen looked up at him, a small spark of hope in his eyes. "Does… does that mean you'll let me come with you?"
Kai paused, considering. He'd been traveling alone for so long, carrying the weight of his journey in solitude. But something about Glen's bravery, his desire to prove himself, struck a chord within him.
"Traveling with me won't be easy, Glen," Kai warned, kneeling down to meet the boy's gaze directly. "There are creatures out here far worse than that snake. And I'm on a dangerous path myself."
Glen squared his shoulders, his expression resolute. "I can handle it! I'm tougher than I look, and I learn fast. Besides, you saved me, so I owe you."
Kai couldn't help but smile at the boy's spirited response. "Alright then. If you're sure about this… you can come with me."
The boy's face lit up, a grin spreading across his face. "Really? I won't slow you down, I promise!"
Kai laughed softly. "Just stay close to me, alright? And remember, if I tell you to run, you run. No questions."
Glen nodded eagerly. "Got it!"
Kai went to the slain snake and cut it into smaller pieces, and tied them in some wide leaves. He would smoke this at a more convenient location. At least their next meal was assured. As they set off together, Kai felt an unexpected warmth in his chest. For so long, he had been focused solely on his mission, on the burden of the Spirit Blade and the path he needed to take. But with Glen by his side, there was a sense of lightness, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time.
As they walked, Glen's curiosity quickly became apparent. He peppered Kai with questions about everything—the Spirit Blade, the creatures they might encounter, Kai's journey, and the Wildlands themselves.
"So… what's the Spirit Blade, really?" Glen asked, glancing at the weapon hanging from Kai's side. "It looked like it was glowing when you were fighting that snake."
Kai looked down at the blade, its surface calm once more, the power within it resting. "It's… a powerful weapon, but it's more than that. The Spirit Blade has a will of its own. It's saved my life countless times, guiding me and lending me strength when I needed it most."
Glen's eyes sparkled with admiration. "That's amazing! Do you think one day I could wield a blade like that?"
Kai chuckled, ruffling the boy's hair. "If you're brave enough to face the challenges that come with it, maybe one day you will. But it's not just about bravery—it's about purpose. The blade only chooses those with a strong will and a clear heart."
Glen's expression grew thoughtful. "My father used to say that strength isn't just in your muscles, but in your heart." He glanced up at Kai with a determined look. "I want to be strong like that, like you."
Kai felt a sense of pride in the boy's resolve. "If you stay true to yourself, Glen, you'll find that kind of strength."
They continued on, the Wildlands stretching endlessly around them. Kai pointed out certain plants and hidden trails, teaching Glen about the small signs that marked safe paths from treacherous ones. Glen was a quick learner, soaking up everything with wide-eyed fascination.
As night began to fall, they found a sheltered area to rest. Glen sat close to the small fire Kai had built, his face illuminated by the flickering flames. After a while, he glanced over at Kai, his expression pensive.
"Do you ever get lonely?" Glen asked quietly. "Traveling all by yourself?"
Kai looked into the fire, the question tugging at memories he often kept buried. "Sometimes," he admitted, his voice soft. "But sometimes, being alone helps you understand who you are. It makes you stronger."
Glen seemed to ponder this, his gaze thoughtful. "But… now you're not alone anymore," he pointed out, a small smile on his face.
Kai smiled back. "No, I suppose I'm not."
The warmth of their companionship filled the silence as they settled down for the night. But even as he drifted off to sleep, Kai couldn't shake a strange sense of unease—a feeling that their journey would only grow more treacherous from here on out.
In the distance, beyond the firelight, shadows moved in the darkness. Creatures watched them with glinting eyes, drawn by the warmth of their fire and the power of the Spirit Blade. Kai kept one hand on his weapon, his senses alert even as he closed his eyes.
As he lay there, a part of him knew that he had made the right choice. With Glen by his side, the path ahead felt less daunting, the challenges awaiting him a little less overwhelming. Although he couldn't predict what lay beyond the shadows, he knew one thing for certain: he would protect Glen, no matter the cost.