When they reached the river, the sky had turned a deep navy blue, with moonlight shimmering and rippling on the water's surface. The animal sounds echoing through the forest heightened the night's restlessness. The chimpanzees had already finished their their business, leaving behind a chaotic campsite before disappearing. Broken branches and footprints were the clearest signs of their hasty departure.
Kaelen knelt down and dipped their hands into the water. The cold stream, slipping through their fingers, eased their exhaustion, if only slightly. Raising their head, Kaelen took a deep breath and began drinking greedily.
"Ugh… I've been waiting for this for quite a while," Kaelen said, eyes narrowing as the refreshing water soothed their throat.
Liam stood a few steps back, watching Kaelen's relaxed demeanor. His plan had been solitary; he wasn't supposed to trust anyone. But now, in this unexpected situation, his unease was growing. There was something about Kaelen… an inexplicable, instinctual sense of threat.
For some reason, this kid was dangerous. Incredibly so. If Liam wanted to pass the test, he had to make sure Kaelen wasn't his enemy.
He muttered to himself, "So, what you said wasn't a lie."
Kaelen noticed Liam's gaze fixed on them. Slowly turning their head, they met his eyes. Kaelen's eyes glowed like crimson stones blazing in a fire. Cold and sharp.
"Hey, instead of just standing there, grab some of this meat. The chimpanzees made enough noise already. The other mages will probably start gathering here soon."
Liam was trying to make sense of Kaelen's unusually carefree attitude. He had a few burning questions. Why had Kaelen spared him? And more importantly, why were they acting so vulnerable around him?
"Doesn't he see me as a threat?" Liam thought, furrowing his brows slightly.
But he had to push those thoughts aside. Survival was the priority right now.
Kaelen carefully scanned their surroundings. Burn marks on tree trunks and dried bloodstains bore the traces of a conflict that had taken place here. Yet, there were no bodies. Only the cold silence left behind by vanished souls lingered.
Kaelen paused, grumbling under their breath, "So, the knives those kids used are gone too, huh?"
Running their hands through their hair, they sighed. "Let's go. There's nothing more here."
Liam carefully wrapped a large piece of cooked meat in leaves while Kaelen stood silently beside him. The thoughtful expression on Kaelen's face mirrored the complex calculations running through their mind. Then, they muttered to themselves:
"That damned witch… She wants us to get our hands dirty. Not just take others' stuff to pass the test."
Liam noticed Kaelen had spoken as if they'd forgotten themselves for a moment. But who was this "damned witch"? He had a few guesses, but who in their right mind would openly insult a master mage like that?
Liam turned his gaze to Kaelen. Their black hair blended into the night, and their crimson eyes glowed like flames in the darkness. Normally, Liam could sense a mage's aura, especially in his "Kai" form when his senses were heightened. But Kaelen was an exception, upending everything he knew. How could this kid slip behind him without making a sound?
He realized he didn't want to know the answer. Not yet, at least.
"Where are we going?" Kaelen asked, looking at Liam.
Liam blinked, raising his head in surprise. "Why are you asking me?"
Kaelen rolled their eyes. "Because a mage like you would've already secured a safe spot. Besides, I'm tired and sleepy. I don't want to sleep in a tree and deal with bugs."
Liam took a deep breath. Kaelen's carefree attitude was baffling. Normally, in relationships like this, one side would exploit the other. But Kaelen seemed to treat him more like a partner—at least for now.
"Yeah, I've got a shelter," Liam said hesitantly. "But I'm not alone. There's someone else."
Kaelen nodded slightly. "Good. That means two people to keep watch while I sleep."
Liam glanced at Kaelen again, still trying to figure them out. Who was this kid, really? Where did they come from? And why did they feel so dangerous?
Kaelen stretched, loosening their muscles, and started walking toward the opposite bank of the river. They looked up at the sky. Dark clouds veiled the moonlight. The long night was just beginning…
Liam took the lead, guiding Kaelen toward the place they'd been hiding so far. As they stepped into the forest's darkness, Kaelen kept their "Kai" form active. Liam decided to do the same, activating his own "Kai" form. This allowed them to move through the forest almost as one with their surroundings.
After a few minutes of silent walking, Kaelen asked curiously:
"How did you know about the skyberries?"
Liam felt a chill run down his spine. Kaelen's voice echoed through the darkness. In that moment, he realized Kaelen's mere presence was oppressive. Still, he answered clearly.
"Where I come from, there are a lot of corrupted beasts. The first thing my family taught me was to never, ever steal food from their territory."
Kaelen considered the response for a moment and nodded.
"Your family sounds knowledgeable. A place with a lot of corrupted beasts… Is that in Africa?"
Liam answered promptly:
"Yes, sir."
"That continent has plenty of corrupted beasts. So how did you end up in Eldorian? Getting from one end of the world to the other must've been tough."
Liam sighed. "Honestly, the Council helped with that. There are a lot of strong people in my village, and their recommendation got me here."
Kaelen sized Liam up. "Hmm. So that's how it happened. Do you have a last name?"
Liam gave a faint smile. "Liam Carter."
Kaelen, with a smile hidden in the darkness, thought to themselves, That explains a lot. The Carter family, huh… Interesting to think this kid's from that family. But why didn't I know him in my past life? Did he not make it to the Academy?
The silence between them was brief. Liam, a bit hesitant, asked:
"How come I didn't sense you coming?"
Kaelen suddenly leaned close to Liam's ear and whispered:
"Like this?"
Liam jumped reflexively. "Ugh…!"
Kaelen barely suppressed a laugh. "Alright, alright. I'm sorry. I'll explain."
Liam listened intently.
"Like you, I used 'Kai,' but our approaches were a bit different. You used it to isolate yourself from the environment, while I used it to blend into it. I even synced our heartbeats. I made sure the wind carried my scent away from you. Plus, you were too focused on the scene in front of you. With all those factors combined, it's only natural you didn't notice me."
Liam tried to process Kaelen's words. He'd never met someone who used "Kai" so masterfully before. And they were around the same age.
Liam slowed his pace. He'd learned a lot from this conversation, but he still had no clear idea of Kaelen's intentions.
Meanwhile, Kaelen, scanning their surroundings, noticed they'd reached the entrance to a cave on the slope of a volcanic mountain. Curiosity piqued, they asked:
"Is this the place?"
Liam nodded. "Yeah."
Kaelen saw that the cave was naturally fortified. Under normal circumstances, even a mage who stumbled upon it by chance wouldn't dare enter. From what Kaelen recalled, the strongest beasts in this area lived in caves. They wondered what knowledge Liam had used to choose this as a shelter but decided to ask later.
Noticing Kaelen's hesitation, Liam went in first. The entrance had narrow corridors that provided natural protection. Large mana beasts couldn't get in, which was an advantage. As they ventured deeper, the tunnel narrowed until they passed through a tight passage that even Kaelen barely fit through. Beyond it, they were greeted by a spacious cave chamber, about 20 square meters.
Kaelen couldn't hide their surprise. In their past life, they'd often slept on cold tree roots and had never stayed in a shelter this secure. They wondered if mages their age typically lived in places like this.
But then, something else caught Kaelen's attention.
In the darkness, someone was sitting against the wall.
Their black hair cascaded over their shoulders. They were short but carried an undeniable presence. Their onyx-colored eyes seemed to pierce right through Kaelen.
For a moment, Kaelen felt something strange in those eyes. The girl's gaze seemed to penetrate their mind. Instinctively, Kaelen adopted a cautious stance.
In one corner of the cave, three makeshift beds made of branches lay on the ground. Seeing them, Kaelen gave a faint smile.
Then, looking directly into the girl's eyes, they asked:
"Are you a seer?"