As the suns dipped below the jagged horizon, Alexander sat in silence by the beast he had killed. The clearing had grown colder, and the soft hum of the glowing veins in the ground did little to distract him from the metallic smell of blood.
His gaze fell on the creature's lifeless form. It was no larger than a wolf, its sleek black fur still shimmering faintly with the blue energy it had wielded in life. The sight of it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Kaelith stood nearby, leaning on her spear and watching him with those unrelenting golden eyes.
"You're wasting time," she said finally.
Alexander didn't look up. "Wasting time?" he repeated, his voice low. "I just killed a living thing."
Kaelith tilted her head slightly, as if studying him. "Yes, and?"
"And?" Alexander snapped, standing abruptly. He pointed at the beast. "That thing wasn't trying to survive. It was trained, wasn't it? You brought it here to attack me!"
Kaelith shrugged. "Of course, I did. How else would you learn? Do you think the predators in this world will care about your feelings? Or the fairness of a fight?"
Her words stung, but Alexander didn't back down. "That doesn't mean I have to like it," he said firmly.
Kaelith's gaze softened—just a fraction. "No one said you had to like it. But if you're going to survive, you need to stop hesitating."
She knelt beside the creature and, with a swift motion, plunged her blade into its chest. A faint blue mist began to seep from the wound, coalescing into a small, glowing orb that floated above the carcass.
"What is that?" Alexander asked, his voice wary.
"Essence," Kaelith replied, holding the orb between her fingers. It shimmered like a miniature star, its light casting faint shadows across her face.
"This creature had absorbed enough of it to survive and grow stronger. Just like you will."
Alexander frowned. "You mean… I have to absorb that?"
Kaelith stood, the orb still glowing in her hand. "If you want to heal, grow stronger, or even stay alive for longer than a week in this world—yes."
He hesitated, the weight of her words pressing down on him. The idea of absorbing energy from a creature he had killed felt… wrong.
But then he looked at his hands, still trembling from the fight. He thought about the towering beasts, the ruthless terrain, and the harsh reality of this new world.
He didn't have a choice.
"What do I do?" he asked quietly.
Kaelith smirked, tossing the orb toward him. It hovered in the air for a moment before settling inches above his chest.
"Focus," she instructed. "Breathe deeply and pull it into your core. Your body will do the rest."
Alexander closed his eyes, taking a shaky breath. The orb pulsed faintly, and he felt a strange warmth spreading through his chest. It was as if the energy was seeping into his very being, filling him with a vitality he hadn't realized he was missing.
When he opened his eyes, the orb was gone.
Kaelith nodded approvingly. "Not bad for your first time."
"How do you even know it worked?" Alexander asked, rubbing his chest absently.
"Because you're still standing," Kaelith said with a faint smirk.
The journey back to the alcove was uneventful, but Alexander couldn't shake the heaviness in his chest. Absorbing the creature's essence had left him feeling… different. Stronger, yes, but also strangely hollow.
"You'll get used to it," Kaelith said as they walked.
"Get used to what?"
"The guilt," she replied.
Alexander glanced at her, surprised by the hint of vulnerability in her voice.
Kaelith didn't elaborate, and the rest of the trek passed in silence.
That night, Alexander sat by the small fire Kaelith had built, staring into the flames. He replayed the events of the day in his mind—the fight, the kill, the essence.
This world was unlike anything he had ever imagined. It was beautiful in its brutality, its dangers both fascinating and terrifying.
But most of all, it was a place where survival was the only rule.
He looked at Kaelith, who was sharpening her spear with a practiced ease. She was a mystery, her golden eyes unreadable and her movements always purposeful.
"Why are you helping me?" Alexander asked suddenly.
Kaelith didn't pause in her work. "Who says I am?"
Alexander frowned. "You saved me. You've been teaching me. That counts as helping."
Kaelith's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Maybe I just enjoy a challenge."
Alexander sighed, leaning back against the rough wall of the alcove. He was too tired to press further.
For now, he would take whatever help he could get.
The next morning, Kaelith woke him before the suns had even risen.
"Up," she said, kicking his makeshift bedroll.
"Seriously?" Alexander groaned, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "Do you ever sleep?"
"Not when there's work to do," Kaelith replied. "And neither will you."
"What now?"
"Your next lesson," she said simply.
Alexander sighed, pulling himself to his feet. He didn't know what to expect, but he had a feeling it wouldn't be pleasant.
Kaelith led him out of the alcove and into the ravine, the faint light of dawn casting long shadows across the rocky terrain.
She stopped at a narrow crevice in the rock, gesturing for him to enter.
"What's in there?" Alexander asked, his voice wary.
Kaelith smirked. "You'll find out."
Before he could protest, she gave him a firm shove, sending him stumbling into the darkness.
"Good luck," she called after him.
The crevice was cold and damp, the walls pressing in on either side. Alexander moved cautiously, his hands brushing against the rough stone for balance.
He didn't know what Kaelith had planned, but he had a sinking feeling he wasn't going to like it.
As he ventured deeper into the darkness, a low growl echoed from ahead, sending a chill down his spine.
This was going to be another long day.