Alexander leaned against the cool wall of the alcove, watching the faintly glowing crystals hum with a rhythm that matched the faint pulse in the ground. The liquid Kaelith had given him worked wonders—his ankle no longer throbbed, and his breathing was easier, though exhaustion weighed heavily on his body.
He stared at the jagged opening where Kaelith had disappeared, questions swirling in his mind. Who was she? Why had she bothered to save him? And, more importantly, how would he survive in this brutal world where even the "weaker" predators could tear him apart in seconds?
His thoughts were interrupted by a faint rustling sound. Tensing, Alexander scrambled to his feet, his eyes darting toward the noise.
"Kaelith?" he called out cautiously.
A shadow moved near the entrance, and Kaelith stepped into view. Her golden eyes scanned the alcove briefly before settling on him.
"Good. You're still alive," she said flatly, setting down a bundle of what looked like twisted roots and dried leaves.
"I didn't exactly have anywhere else to go," Alexander replied, his tone edged with frustration. "You were gone for hours."
Kaelith raised an eyebrow. "Hours? It was barely half of one. You really are weak."
Alexander opened his mouth to retort but stopped himself. She wasn't wrong, and arguing wouldn't change the fact.
Kaelith crouched down, pulling out a small blade from her belt. She began slicing the roots into thin strips, her movements precise and methodical.
"What are you doing?" Alexander asked.
"Preparing food," Kaelith replied without looking up. "You'll need your strength for what's coming."
Alexander frowned. "And what exactly is coming?"
Kaelith's golden eyes met his, and for the first time, there was a flicker of something almost resembling sympathy.
"Your first lesson," she said simply.
---
After a quick and surprisingly tasteless meal of roasted roots and dried leaves, Kaelith led Alexander out of the alcove and into the ravine. The air was cooler now, the twin suns dipping lower on the horizon and casting long shadows across the rocky terrain.
"Where are we going?" Alexander asked, his voice low as he followed her.
"To teach you how to fight," Kaelith said. "Or at least, how to survive."
"Fight?" Alexander echoed, his stomach tightening. "With what? I don't have a weapon!"
Kaelith stopped abruptly, turning to face him. She thrust her spear toward him, the sharp tip hovering inches from his chest.
"This is not a weapon," she said, her tone cold and sharp. "A weapon is useless without someone who knows how to wield it. What you need to learn first is not how to fight, but how to think."
Alexander stared at her, his mind racing. "Think? What does that even mean?"
Kaelith lowered the spear, her expression unreadable. "It means understanding your surroundings, your strengths, and your weaknesses. It means knowing when to fight and when to run."
She turned and continued walking, leaving Alexander to trail behind her, her words echoing in his mind.
---
They stopped in a clearing at the edge of the ravine. The ground here was smoother, with fewer jagged rocks, and faint glowing veins snaked across the surface. Kaelith gestured for Alexander to stand in the center of the clearing.
"Alright," she said, planting her spear in the ground and crossing her arms. "Let's see what you're made of."
Alexander blinked. "What?"
"Defend yourself," Kaelith said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"Defend myself? From what?"
Kaelith didn't answer. Instead, she whistled sharply, the sound cutting through the still air.
Alexander tensed, his eyes darting around the clearing. A moment later, a low growl echoed from the shadows, and a small, wolf-like creature stepped into view.
The creature was no larger than a dog, its sleek black fur rippling with faint blue energy. Its eyes glowed faintly, and its movements were smooth and predatory.
"You've got to be kidding me," Alexander muttered, backing away instinctively.
The creature lunged.
Alexander barely had time to react. He stumbled to the side, the creature's claws grazing his arm as it landed where he'd been standing. Pain flared, but he ignored it, scrambling to put some distance between himself and the beast.
"Focus!" Kaelith barked from the sidelines. "Watch its movements!"
The creature growled again, circling him slowly. Its glowing eyes locked onto Alexander's every move, and he felt a cold sweat break out across his back.
He picked up a loose rock from the ground, gripping it tightly. "Alright," he muttered. "You want a fight? Fine."
The creature lunged again, faster this time. Alexander swung the rock wildly, managing to clip the side of its head. The creature yelped, stumbling slightly, but recovered almost immediately.
"Don't just react," Kaelith said sharply. "Anticipate. Look for patterns."
Alexander gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing as he watched the creature. It circled him again, its growls low and menacing. He noticed the faint twitch of its tail before it lunged, and this time, he was ready.
He sidestepped the attack, slamming the rock into the creature's side. It let out a pained yelp, rolling across the ground before scrambling to its feet.
"Good," Kaelith said, her tone almost approving. "Again."
The creature charged once more, and Alexander felt a surge of determination. He focused on its movements, noting the subtle shifts in its posture and the way its glowing eyes tracked him.
When it lunged, he feinted to the left before swinging the rock upward, catching the creature under its jaw. The impact sent it sprawling, and this time, it didn't get up.
Alexander stood over the fallen beast, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. The rock slipped from his fingers, clattering to the ground.
Kaelith approached, her golden eyes appraising him. "Not bad," she said. "For a beginner."
Alexander looked at her, his hands trembling. "What the hell was that?"
"A test," Kaelith replied. "And a lesson. You're weak, but you're not hopeless."
She gestured to the fallen creature. "This world doesn't care about fairness or morality. If you want to survive, you need to be stronger—smarter. And you need to start now."
Alexander stared at the creature's lifeless body, a knot forming in his stomach. He wasn't a killer. He didn't want to be.
But as he looked at Kaelith, her golden eyes unyielding, he realized he didn't have a choice.
This world was merciless, and if he wanted to live, he would have to adapt.