The forest was alive with sound. Birds cawed overhead, branches rustled in the wind, and the distant growls of unseen predators echoed through the trees. Ryuga Satoru tightened his grip on the simple knife he'd been allowed to carry, his heart pounding in sync with his hurried steps.
"Three days in this place," Jin muttered beside him, casually tossing a stone in his hand. "Doesn't sound so bad, right?"
"Except for the fact that we're surrounded by people who'd probably rather see us fail than succeed," Kaira Mitsuki interjected from behind them. Her tone was calm, but her sharp eyes scanned the forest, ever vigilant.
Ryuga glanced at her, then at Jin. The three of them had stuck together since entering the forest, though their alliance was fragile at best.
"Why'd you team up with us anyway?" Jin asked Kaira, tossing the stone away. "You don't seem like the 'group project' type."
"Survival is easier in numbers," Kaira replied without looking at him.
Jin snorted. "You could've just said, 'I'm using you.' Would've been more honest."
"Call it what you want," she said, finally glancing at him. "I'll watch your back as long as you watch mine. After the trial, we're competitors again."
Ryuga frowned but kept quiet. The truth was, he didn't fully trust either of them. But in a place like this, trust wasn't a luxury he could afford to withhold.
The group had been walking for hours, moving cautiously through the dense undergrowth. The mist clung to the ground like a shroud, and every shadow seemed to hold danger.
"We need to find water," Ryuga said, breaking the silence.
"Already on it," Jin replied, pointing to a faint trail of damp earth leading downhill. "There's probably a stream that way."
Kaira nodded in agreement. "Water will attract other candidates. We'll need to move quickly and stay hidden."
As they followed the trail, Ryuga's thoughts drifted. He still didn't fully understand how the Seeker Examination worked or what role Rynt would play in the trials. The concept of Rynt was as foreign to him as the city of Kaizen had been—something he'd heard about but never experienced.
"Thinking too hard will slow you down," Jin said, snapping Ryuga out of his reverie.
"I was just wondering," Ryuga said hesitantly. "Do either of you know how to use Rynt?"
Jin grinned. "Of course. Doesn't everyone?"
"No," Kaira said flatly, cutting off Jin's boasting. "Most people don't, especially outside the cities. But if you want to become a Seeker, you'll need to learn fast."
"What about you?" Ryuga asked her.
Kaira didn't answer immediately. Instead, she knelt down by the trail, brushing her fingers against the damp earth.
"I know enough," she said finally, standing and gesturing for them to follow.
Ryuga decided not to press further.
By the time they reached the stream, the sun was beginning to set. The sky turned a deep orange, and the forest seemed to grow darker with every passing moment.
"Perfect," Jin said, kneeling to drink. "I was starting to think we'd never find it."
"Don't get too comfortable," Kaira warned, scanning the area. "We're exposed here."
Ryuga crouched by the water's edge, filling a small pouch he'd brought from home. He glanced at Kaira, who stood with her back to the stream, her eyes fixed on the forest.
"Do you think someone's following us?" Ryuga asked.
Kaira didn't respond immediately. Then, in a low voice, she said, "I know someone is."
Before Ryuga could react, a rustling noise erupted from the bushes behind them.
"Ambush!" Kaira shouted.
Three figures emerged from the shadows, each wielding crude weapons. Their leader, a tall boy with a jagged scar across his face, smirked.
"Well, well," the scarred boy said. "Looks like we found ourselves an easy target."
Jin stood, cracking his knuckles. "You think so? Care to test that theory?"
The scarred boy's grin widened. "Gladly."
The fight erupted in an instant.
Jin charged forward, meeting the scarred boy head-on. Their clash was brutal, each blow echoing through the forest. Jin's raw strength was evident, but the scarred boy was no novice, dodging and countering with practiced precision.
Meanwhile, Kaira took on the other two attackers. Her movements were fluid and precise, her small dagger flashing as she deflected their strikes. She moved like a shadow, always one step ahead.
Ryuga, however, found himself frozen. His heart pounded as he gripped his knife, unsure of what to do.
"Move, Ryuga!" Kaira shouted, her voice snapping him out of his paralysis.
One of the attackers broke off from Kaira and charged at Ryuga. The boy swung wildly, and Ryuga barely managed to dodge, stumbling back.
Think! Ryuga told himself. You're not going to survive if you keep hesitating.
He focused on his opponent, watching his movements. The attacker lunged again, but this time Ryuga sidestepped, slashing with his knife. The blade grazed the boy's arm, drawing blood.
The sight of the wound sent a strange sensation coursing through Ryuga—a heat that seemed to awaken something deep within him.
The boy lunged again, but this time Ryuga didn't step back. He stepped forward, driving his shoulder into the attacker's chest and knocking him to the ground.
The fight ended as quickly as it had begun. The scarred boy lay unconscious at Jin's feet, and Kaira stood over her two opponents, her dagger dripping with blood.
"Not bad," Jin said, clapping Ryuga on the back. "Looks like you've got some fight in you after all."
Ryuga didn't respond. His hands were trembling, and the heat he'd felt earlier still lingered.
Kaira knelt beside the scarred boy, checking his pulse. "They'll live," she said, standing. "But we should move. There's no telling how many others are out there."
As the trio disappeared into the forest, Ryuga couldn't shake the feeling that something inside him had changed.
Whatever it was, he knew it was only the beginning.