Kael sat by the fire, his eyes scanning the three individuals around him. The tension in the camp was thick, and every sound from the surrounding forest made his grip on his spear tighten. The outcasts had allowed him to join their circle, but he could feel their wary gazes as if they were waiting for him to prove himself—or make a mistake.
The tall woman who had addressed him earlier seemed to be the leader. She sat closest to the fire, her dark hair pulled back into a rough ponytail, the bow slung over her shoulder within easy reach. Her sharp green eyes assessed Kael with calculated precision, her posture relaxed but ready to spring into action at any moment.
Next to her was a wiry man with sunken cheeks and a scruffy beard. His thin fingers toyed with the edge of a dagger, the blade flashing in the firelight as if he were trying to remind Kael of its presence. He hadn't spoken a word since Kael arrived but had barely taken his eyes off him.
The third member of the group was younger—a boy, barely out of his teens. His round face and short-cropped hair made him look out of place among the hardened group. He clutched a wooden staff in both hands, the top carved with faintly glowing runes. Unlike the others, the boy looked more curious than suspicious.
Kael cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Thank you for letting me sit here. I didn't think I'd run into anyone else out here."
The woman arched an eyebrow. "You're lucky we're the ones you found. Not all groups in this forest are so… welcoming."
Kael nodded, adjusting his posture to appear as non-threatening as possible. "I'll be honest. I'm new to this place. I don't know where I am or what's going on. I just… woke up here."
The wiry man snorted, finally speaking. "Another one of those, huh? Dropped in by the gods or whatever nonsense you people like to say."
"I didn't say anything about gods," Kael replied sharply, meeting the man's gaze. "I don't know how I got here. That's the truth."
The woman raised a hand, silencing the man before he could respond. "What's your name?"
"Kael," he said. "Kael Ardyn."
"I'm Marra," the woman said, leaning back slightly. "This is Corin," she gestured to the wiry man, "and the kid is Thane."
"I'm not a kid," Thane muttered, earning a smirk from Marra.
"You are compared to the rest of us," she said before turning her attention back to Kael. "So, Kael. How are you still alive out here? The forest isn't exactly kind to newcomers."
Kael hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I've been… lucky," he said finally. "I ran into a wolf and a few goblins, but I managed to fight them off."
Marra tilted her head. "You're armed, at least. But luck only goes so far out here. Either you're hiding something, or you've got more skills than you're letting on."
Kael felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple. "I've got some skills," he admitted. "I've had to learn quickly."
"Like what?" Corin asked, his tone skeptical. "You don't look like much."
Kael's grip on his spear tightened, but he forced himself to stay calm. "I'm decent with a spear," he said. "And I've got quick reflexes. That's all."
Corin snorted again, but Marra waved him off. "You've got enough to make it this far," she said. "That's more than most can say."
Thane leaned forward, his curiosity getting the better of him. "You said you woke up here. Do you mean… you came from another world?"
Kael's eyes flicked to the boy, his mind racing. Was it safe to tell them the truth? He decided to be vague. "Something like that," he said. "I don't remember much before I woke up."
Thane's eyes widened, but before he could ask more questions, Marra stood abruptly. "Alright, that's enough for now," she said. "If Kael wants to share more, he will. In the meantime, we've got work to do."
Corin rose as well, slipping his dagger into a sheath at his belt. "We're not babysitting him," he muttered, giving Kael a pointed look.
"I don't expect you to," Kael shot back, standing as well. "Just tell me what I need to do to pull my weight."
Marra smirked. "Good answer. Thane, stay here and keep an eye on the camp. Corin, you and I will take the perimeter. Kael, you're coming with me."
Kael nodded, following Marra as she grabbed her bow and quiver. As they walked through the forest, he mentally pulled up his System to check his status. After everything that had happened, he needed to see where he stood.
---
Name: Kael Ardyn
Level: 3
HP: 40/100
MP: 20/50
Stats:
- Strength: 13 (+3)
- Agility: 13 (+3)
- Endurance: 12 (+2)
- Intelligence: 13 (+1)
- Wisdom: 12 (+1)
- Charisma: 9
- Luck: 8
Skills:
- Skill Replication (Unique)
- Body Double (Rare, Tier: Grandmaster)
- Improvised Weaponry (Basic)
- Spear Proficiency (Basic)
- Swordsmanship (Basic)
- Predator's Reflexes (Basic)
- Domain Seed (Unique)
---
His HP was recovering slowly thanks to his brief time in the domain, but he was still far from full strength. His MP wasn't much better. The sight of the Domain Seed skill reassured him slightly—if he could find a way to make energy work for him, his recovery might become easier.
"Still staring into space?" Marra asked, glancing back at him. "You'll get yourself killed if you don't pay attention."
Kael blinked, shaking off the interface. "I'm paying attention."
"Good," she said, her tone brisk. "Out here, distraction is deadly."
They moved cautiously through the trees, their footsteps muffled by the soft earth. Marra's bow was at the ready, an arrow nocked but not drawn. Kael followed her lead, his spear held firmly in both hands.
Suddenly, Marra froze, her eyes narrowing as she stared ahead. Kael followed her gaze and spotted movement in the shadows. A low growl reached his ears, and his heart pounded in his chest.
"Wolf," Marra whispered. "Not as big as the ones further in, but dangerous enough. Can you handle it?"
Kael nodded, his muscles tensing. "I'll try."
The wolf emerged from the shadows, its yellow eyes locked onto them. It was smaller than the Dire Shade Wolf, but its sleek frame and sharp fangs still made it a formidable opponent.
Kael stepped forward, positioning himself between the wolf and Marra. The creature snarled, crouching low as it prepared to lunge. Kael adjusted his stance, his training kicking in.
The wolf lunged, its jaws snapping at Kael's leg. He sidestepped, spinning his spear and driving the blunt end into the wolf's side. The creature yelped, staggering back, but it recovered quickly.
Marra loosed an arrow, the projectile slicing through the air and grazing the wolf's shoulder. It snarled, turning its attention to her, but Kael didn't let it get far. He thrust his spear forward, piercing the wolf's flank. Blood sprayed across the forest floor, and the creature let out a final whine before collapsing.
---
Victory!
You have defeated Forest Wolf (Level 4)
+15 XP
---
Kael exhaled slowly, his hands trembling as he pulled the spear free. Marra lowered her bow, nodding in approval. "Not bad," she said. "You've got potential."
Kael wiped the blood off his spear, his heart still racing. "Thanks," he muttered, glancing down at the wolf's body. "Does this happen often?"
Marra smirked. "More often than I'd like. Welcome to the forest."
They returned to the camp a short while later, the tension in Kael's shoulders easing slightly. He still didn't fully trust Marra and her group, but for now, he had a place to rest and regroup. As he sat by the fire that night, he couldn't help but wonder what the future held—and whether these outcasts could become the allies he needed.