Gabriel
The wind carried the scent of old wood and burnt grease through the narrow alleys.
It was night. London was alive.
And we were supposed to learn how to move through this city the way hunters do.
Isaac stood on one of the rooftops, looking down at us.
"Your training has changed."
His voice was calm but firm.
"You've learned to hide in the woods. Now, you will learn how to hunt in a city."
Raphael
"What exactly does that mean?" I asked warily.
Isaac dropped down from the rooftop with effortless ease, landing right in front of us.
"It means that you must move among people without standing out. That you must remain unseen in a place filled with eyes and ears."
He turned to the side, glancing at the narrow alleys weaving through the city.
"And it means learning how to find your prey—without them finding you."
Michael
It was strange.
Until now, our training had always been about brute force, combat, or survival.
But here?
Here, we had to disappear.
Isaac let us go—right into the city. No weapons. No plan.
"You have one hour to find me."
Then he was gone.
Gabriel
The city was a jungle of light, shadow, and movement.
People flowed through the streets, merchants called out their goods, drunks staggered out of taverns.
It was loud. Alive.
And we were supposed to find a man who didn't want to be found?
I took a deep breath.
"We split up."
Raphael
I moved through a side alley, my gaze fixed on the rooftops.
Isaac was fast. Clever. But he wasn't a ghost.
If he was hiding somewhere, there had to be logic behind it.
Then I noticed something.
The rats.
They weren't moving like they usually did.
Something had disturbed them.
Michael
I crept through a backyard, scanning the walls.
Scratch marks. Fresh ones.
Isaac had been here.
Or someone else had.
My heart beat faster. I stepped closer—and heard a sound.
A quiet breath.
Then a smirk.
"Not bad," came Isaac's voice from the shadows.
I turned—
But he was already gone.
Gabriel
We didn't find him.
Not within an hour.
Not within two.
He was a phantom.
When we finally regrouped, he was already standing there, as if he had been watching us the entire time.
"You think too directly," he said.
I shook my head. "Then what should we do?"
Isaac sat down on a crate, reached into his coat—and pulled out a bottle.
"First, eat."
Raphael
It was one of those rare times when we sat together by the fire without training hanging over us.
I bit into my bread while Michael handed me a bottle of water.
"How long did it take you to learn this?" I asked.
Isaac looked down at his food. "Long enough."
Gabriel leaned forward slightly. "And who taught you?"
Isaac looked up.
And for a moment, something flickered in his eyes.
Then he leaned back.
"Someone who's dead now."
Silence.
Michael
I looked at Gabriel, then at Raphael.
None of us wanted to push further.
But we all knew—there was more to this.
I took a sip of water. "Was he a hunter?"
Isaac turned his head slightly. His gaze flickered toward the fire.
"He wasn't at first."
Raphael raised an eyebrow. "At first?"
Isaac exhaled softly. "He became one. Like I did. Like you will."
I didn't know why, but my throat felt dry.
"And how did he die?" Gabriel asked quietly.
Isaac stared into the fire.
And this time, he didn't answer.