Kael tightened the straps on his pack as the distant cry of a beast echoed through the morning fog. The air was thick and damp, clinging to his skin and clothing. He had spent the night beneath the canopy of a massive hollowed-out tree, its twisted roots forming a natural shelter. The charred remains of a small fire still smoldered at his feet, its warmth long faded.
This was his first true morning in the wilds, far from the towering walls of the Eclipse Citadel. His body ached from the brutal journey here, and his mind buzzed with uncertainty. Yet a fire burned within him—a determination to survive, to grow stronger, and to prove to himself that his exile was not an end, but a beginning.
Kael stepped out into the clearing, spear in hand. The weapon, still mysterious in its origins, hummed faintly as though sensing the raw energy of the wilds. He glanced at the jagged blade, its edge glinting with faint blue light. It had already saved his life more than once, but Kael felt it still held secrets he had yet to unlock.
Ahead lay an expanse of dense forest, its trees towering high with gnarled branches that twisted like claws. The ground was soft and uneven, covered in layers of moss and decaying leaves. Somewhere beyond this forest lay his path—one he would carve with his own strength and resilience.
Kael began to move, each step careful and deliberate. The wilds were alive with sound: the rustle of leaves, the distant roar of something massive, and the faint chittering of smaller creatures hidden in the underbrush. Every noise was a reminder of the danger that surrounded him.
He wasn't afraid. Not anymore.
...
Hours later, Kael crouched low behind a cluster of rocks, watching as a massive tusked beast grazed in the clearing ahead. Its hide was thick and mottled, covered in jagged scars that spoke of countless battles. The creature's tusks were the size of Kael's forearm, each one capable of impaling a man with ease.
Kael tightened his grip on his spear, his pulse quickening. He needed food and materials to fashion better tools, and this beast offered both. But it was more than a hunt—it was a test. The first of many.
He studied the beast's movements, noting how it shifted its weight and the way its ears flicked at every sound. Kael had learned from his training at the academy, but now, he relied on his instincts. The wilds had no rules, no structure. It was kill or be killed.
With slow, deliberate movements, Kael crept closer. His heart pounded in his chest, the rush of adrenaline sharpening his focus. He was within striking distance now, the beast unaware of his presence.
Kael launched himself forward, the spear in his hands a blur. The beast bellowed in surprise as the blade sank into its flank, its massive body jerking with raw power. Kael rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a swipe from its tusks. He pulled the spear free and struck again, this time aiming for its vulnerable neck.
The fight was brutal, every second a test of Kael's endurance and reflexes. Blood sprayed as the beast let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing to the ground. Kael stood over its body, panting and covered in dirt and blood. He had won.
But this was only the beginning.
...
As night fell, Kael sat by another small fire, the smell of roasted meat filling the air. He stared into the flames, the day's events replaying in his mind. He had survived, but survival alone was not enough. He needed to grow stronger, to understand the wilds and the creatures that inhabited them.
Above him, the stars shone bright, unbroken by the glow of the Citadel. Kael felt small beneath the vastness of the sky, but he also felt free. For the first time, he wasn't bound by expectations or rules. Out here, he could become something greater—something the world had never seen before.
And so, Kael made his vow: to master the wilds, to learn from its creatures, and to one day return to protect the bastion that had cast him out.
The first step had been taken. The journey had begun.