Kael's footsteps echoed through the desolate wilderness as he journeyed deeper into the land beyond the bastion's protective walls. The early morning light barely pierced the thick canopy above him, casting long, jagged shadows across the uneven ground. The scent of wet earth and decaying leaves filled his nostrils, but Kael barely noticed. His mind was elsewhere—on the battle, the beasts, and the strange intelligence that had guided them.
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden rustling in the underbrush. Kael's senses sharpened instantly, every muscle tensing. He dropped to a crouch, his spear held low in front of him, ready for whatever threat was approaching.
A shape emerged from the shadows, but it was not a beast. It was another wanderer, a figure draped in the tattered remnants of a cloak. Their face was hidden, but the sound of their heavy breathing told Kael they were no stranger to survival.
"You're out here, too," the figure said, their voice gravelly from disuse. "You're not one of them."
Kael didn't answer immediately. He studied the figure closely, noting the worn edges of their cloak, the dirt-caked boots, the hardened look in their eyes. They weren't an enemy, but they were also not someone Kael would trust immediately.
"I'm no one's ally," Kael finally said. "But I don't let others die in the wilds unless they deserve it."
The figure gave a dry laugh, a sound that carried the weight of years of hardship. "A good philosophy. But that's not why I'm here. I've heard of you. The one who fights the beasts. The exile."
Kael's grip tightened on his spear. He wasn't used to being known, at least not outside of the bastion. Word had spread faster than he'd anticipated, but he wasn't sure how he felt about it. Recognition meant more attention, and attention meant more enemies.
"I'm not interested in rumors," Kael replied, his voice flat. "What do you want?"
The figure tilted their head, sizing Kael up. Then, with a slow exhale, they reached into a pouch on their belt and withdrew a small, intricately carved stone. It was dark, smooth, and seemed to absorb the light around it.
"I want to show you something," the wanderer said. "Something that's beyond your beasts. There's a reason they're coming. A reason you're out here. And it's bigger than just survival."
Kael's eyes narrowed as he took the stone from the wanderer's outstretched hand. Something about it felt... wrong. Yet, he could sense a strange pull in his chest, as if the stone was calling to him.
He didn't trust it, but in this world, trust was a commodity as rare as water in the desert.
"I'm listening," Kael said, keeping his guard up as the figure began to speak of things he couldn't yet comprehend.