Kaelen began observing the scene. His only regret was not being able to watch more closely. However, given his current situation, staying hidden was far more important. In his previous life, he could stand right behind these kids without them sensing his presence; but now, in this new body, he was inexperienced in using mana. He had the knowledge, but lacked the experience. His body had no ingrained habits, and the flow of mana still felt like an unfamiliar, erratic river.
A momentary lapse in using "Kai" incorrectly would be no different from shouting "I'm here!" to every living creature around. So, he slowed his breathing, relaxed his muscles, and focused on observing without distraction. He began listening to the sounds around him. He didn't want to miss the conversations.
"Hey, you! Stop right there!"
A harsh voice rose from the coalition group. The blond kid at the front, tightly gripping a knife, took a step forward. His eyes were locked on the figure in front of him. Standing opposite them was a tall, dark-skinned boy. In the darkness of the night, he nearly blended into the shadows. His black skin made him look like a silhouette in the dim light.
The boy staggered slightly and spoke in a soft voice:
"I'm injured. I'm unarmed. Please help me. In return, I'll give you the berries I gathered."
Kaelen listened carefully to his trembling voice. The boy sounded convincing, but Kaelen was trying to figure out if there was a trick involved.
"We don't need your berries! Get lost!"
One of the sleeping kids in the camp suddenly spoke up. His voice was harsh and authoritative. Kaelen figured this person was likely the group's leader. His words were threatening, but there was a hint of hesitation in them.
"Please, just let me take some water."
The boy showed his injured leg. His sweatpants were soaked in blood. Was the injury real, or just a ruse? Kaelen tried to discern this. The bloodstains were irregular, but the light was too dim for him to see clearly.
The boy was holding a flask carved from a piece of wood. He slowly crouched down and began filling it with water. His movements were calm, not rushed.
The minute-long silence piqued Kaelen's interest even more. The dark-skinned boy carefully filled his flask with water. As he stood up, a pained expression crossed his face. Kaelen still wasn't sure if he was truly injured.
Either he was genuinely in trouble, or he was a master at acting.
The boy slightly bowed his head and thanked the group.
"Thank you. Take this as a token of my gratitude."
He pulled out dark purple berries wrapped in leaves from his pocket and placed them on the ground. His movements were slow; every detail seemed deliberate. Then he turned and walked heavily into the darkness of the night.
Kaelen's lips curled into a slight smile.
So that was your plan.
The moment he saw the purple berries, a spark went off in his mind. His eyes quickly scanned the surroundings. The boy's movements were too controlled. Something felt off.
He slowly rose from his perch on the tree and took a deep breath.
Time to get out of here.
He repeated the sentence to himself. His instincts told him that staying longer would put him in danger. But his curiosity got the better of him. He looked in the direction the dark-skinned boy had gone. If this was a trap, he wanted to know who or what it was set for.
"Hm… Let's see how the hunter reacts when he becomes the prey," he muttered.
He lightly leaped onto a vine and silently followed the boy. As he moved through the forest, he adjusted his speed. He kept his steps light, controlled his breathing, and carefully maneuvered through the trees to keep the boy in sight.
The dark-skinned boy was much faster than Kaelen had expected. How could an injured person move at such speed? Kaelen's suspicions were confirmed.
So you've been acting all along.
At that moment, he noticed strange sounds coming from the depths of the forest. A sudden rustling from behind made his hair stand on end. He narrowed his eyes and listened carefully.
Something was swinging through the vines.
He saw shadows moving swiftly toward the riverbank. Chimpanzees! But these weren't ordinary chimpanzees. Their movements were strange, unnaturally focused on a single point. Kaelen immediately understood why.
The berries!
The purple berries the boy had left for the group were irresistible to many creatures in the wild. But these berries weren't just delicious—they also had an energy-boosting, aggression-enhancing effect. The chimpanzees must have caught their scent.
Kaelen realized things were about to spiral out of control. There was no point in staying here any longer. If the group wasn't careful, they'd be attacked by hungry, aggressive creatures within minutes.
But the real question was: Had the dark-skinned boy done this on purpose? Or was this outcome just a coincidence?
Kaelen's smile widened.
Now things were getting really interesting.
He vanished into the night like a shadow, continuing to follow the boy. He was no longer just an observer; he wanted to see who the real hunter was.
The boy with the flask had stolen the berries from the chimpanzees' territory, and this disrespect wouldn't go unpunished. The chimpanzees were determined to punish the intruder who had taken their food. In the darkness, Kaelen could hear their angry shrieks and the rustling of leaves. This was no longer a simple escape—it was a matter of life and death.
Kaelen felt a slight pang of disappointment that he couldn't stay to watch the chaos unfold. However, he found this newly discovered boy far more intriguing. Something about him was captivating. Kaelen realized he wasn't just a victim—he was a player. Silently, he descended from the tree and slipped into the shadows. Moving through the branches, he approached the boy's location.
The boy with the flask stood by the riverbank, watching the events unfold as if he were observing a staged play. Despite the sounds of the chimpanzees charging toward the camp, the smile on his face didn't fade. He even seemed to be enjoying himself. This amused Kaelen. Who was this kid? He was certain they hadn't met before. If he had been one of the survivors who lasted long in the test, Kaelen would have remembered him. He was likely one of the early eliminations—or he had crossed the wrong person.
But one thing was certain: those who survived until the end of the test were the strong ones, and those who survived at least three days would earn a spot in the academy. The boy with the flask, however, might last one more day at most. At least, that's what Kaelen thought.
Kaelen pursed his lips. He'd made his decision. If this boy could be useful, he'd keep him around.
Silently, he glided down from the treetop to where the boy stood. His movements were as fluid as a panther's. Not a branch snapped, not a leaf rustled. Even the wind didn't betray his presence. There were many sounds in the environment, but Kaelen's heartbeat was silent.
The chimpanzees had already reached the camp. Kaelen wondered how long the five mages would hold out against the furious creatures. He gave them ten minutes at most. And that was optimistic.
Meanwhile, the boy with the flask was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. For him, it was just entertainment. Kaelen silently approached from behind. Leaning over the boy's shoulder, he looked at the same scene and spoke with a mocking smile:
"Very clever plan. I'd give it an eight out of ten."
Before the boy could react, Kaelen swiftly reached out and grabbed his throat. His fingers pressed lightly against the boy's neck, as if the slightest movement could end his life.
"Don't even try," Kaelen whispered, his voice menacing and cold.
The boy's eyes widened, but he didn't scream. Kaelen's gaze was sharp, measuring his prey's pulse. This was the closest the boy had ever come to death.
"Don't do anything stupid," Kaelen continued. "You seem like a smart one."
The boy took a deep breath and quickly nodded. "Okay."
Kaelen raised his eyebrows. He hadn't expected such quick surrender. He'd thought there'd be at least a little resistance. Maybe he'd have to rough him up a bit to bring him to his side, but things were progressing more smoothly than anticipated.
"Huh, that wasn't what I expected," Kaelen thought to himself. "I was kind of looking forward to beating you up a bit, but oh well, next time."
The boy with the flask decided to pretend he hadn't heard that. Kaelen, testing him further, released his grip on the boy's throat.
"I'm Kaelen," he said calmly. "You?"
The boy blinked, his expression one of shock. Just moments ago, this person could have killed him, and now he was introducing himself. It was a strange situation, but Kaelen's eyes were resolute, showing no sign of jest.
"Liam," the boy replied.
At that moment, Kaelen noticed the battle had ended. The screams from the camp had stopped. The chimpanzees had likely retreated, or the mages were completely wiped out. Kaelen turned to Liam, raising his eyebrows slightly as he sized him up.
"Follow me, partner," he said with a smile.
Then he raised his hand and lightly patted Liam's shoulder. He began walking toward the riverbank with slow but confident steps. After a brief hesitation, Liam shook off his shock and started following. Surviving the night alone didn't seem likely, so trusting Kaelen was his only option.
As Liam followed Kaelen, one thought ran through his mind: "What have I gotten myself into?"
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