Theron's voice was already giving Ael a headache.
"Louder than necessary," Ael muttered, eyes flicking toward the clearing where Theron was mid-rant, flailing his hands while Elira just blinked slowly at him. "How do you argue that loud and still say nothing?"
Osiris said nothing. He didn't have to. His attention was locked on Ael, watching how he moved—like a cat who never unlearned its claws. Ael's posture was loose, but there was tension under the skin, like he was always on edge, just hiding it better than most.
Ael plopped down next to him like they were old friends, stretching out his legs and leaning back on his hands.
"You don't talk much, huh?"
Still no reply.
"That's cool. Less noise, more thinking."
Osiris turned slightly, one brow lifting. "You always this chatty with strangers?"
"Only the quiet ones. They're usually more interesting."
"Or more dangerous."
Ael grinned. "Same thing, really."
A beat passed. The fire cracked. Leaves shifted in the night wind.
"I saw how you handled those frogs," Ael said, voice casual. "Clean work. Not messy. You kill like you've done it before."
"Were you watching me?"
"Not on purpose. Just good at reading people."
"You think I'm dangerous?"
"I don't think. I notice."
A long pause.
"You're hiding something," Osiris said finally.
Ael didn't even blink. "So are you."
Their eyes met. For once, the silence didn't feel empty.
"If you become a problem," Osiris started—
"I get it. You'll deal with me," Ael finished, still calm. "Wouldn't blame you."
He stood up, brushing off his pants like they'd just wrapped up a conversation about weather. "But maybe don't waste your energy. Let's not be enemies if we don't have to."
Osiris watched him go, fingers tapping against his knee.
Potential. That word again.
---
Up above, Delythera floated lazily in the shadows of a dead tree. One leg crossed over the other, lips curled into a smirk. She'd been watching them both, amused. Fascinated, even.
"Getting twitchy?" she purred, drifting down toward Osiris, her voice only for him.
"He's hiding something."
"Oh definitely," she cooed, circling him like a slow orbit. "But aren't we all?"
Osiris didn't take his eyes off Ael. "There's something just strange about the guy. Rubs me the wrong way"
"You mean the way he hasn't spoken in hours? Or the way he moves like he's suppressing a kill switch?"
He didn't answer.
Delythera grinned. "It's hot."
Osiris's head turned just enough to glare at her.
She snickered. "Relax. I'm not crushing on your new team member. Yet."
"He's not part of my team. I don't even have a team"
"Sure, sure." She waved a hand. "But he's here. Which means I'm interested. And so should you be."
Osiris narrowed his eyes. "You trust him?"
"I don't even trust you, babe."
He scoffed, but the tension in his jaw didn't loosen.
Delythera floated closer, her voice softer now. "Look. I'm not saying braid friendship bracelets and sing lullabies around the fire. I'm saying… this one's worth watching."
"I am watching."
She smirked. "Then don't just stare. Learn."
Osiris crossed his arms. " learn what? He's hiding power. Masking it."
Delythera nodded slowly. "Mhm. And that's what makes him fascinating. He's… calculated. Clean. No energy leak. No arrogance. No need to prove himself."
She drifted closer until she was beside him, eyes fixed on Ael. "I've seen monsters. I've seen gods. That boy… isn't either. But he could be."
"He's dangerous."
"Oh, no question."
Osiris looked at her then, quiet for a beat. "You want me to fight him?"
She gave him a playful pout. "Don't be stupid. I want you to grow. He could be the chisel to your rough stone. You might hate him. He might kill you. But he might also sharpen you."
"You're trying to set me up."
She winked. "Always."
He was silent again.
Delythera floated back a little, upside-down now, grinning like a devil in silk. "Besides, Osiris… tell me you don't want to see what he looks like when he snaps."
Osiris didn't answer. But the slight twitch in his jaw said enough.
"Thought so."
She rolled lazily in the air, folding her hands behind her head. "Let him loose. Let him burn. And if he gets too wild…"
"I'll get rid of him."
"Of course you will."
They both went quiet, eyes locked on the quiet boy by the fire. Ael hadn't moved, hadn't looked their way once.
But Delythera's grin widened just slightly.
Something was coming.
---
Dinner was finally happening. A rare moment of calm. Kaelyn passed out cooked meat, Elira stayed quiet, and even Theron had stopped flapping his gums long enough to chew. Osiris sat off to the side, scanning the perimeter more than actually eating. Delythera floated just above the treetops, watching silently.
Then it hit.
A gust of foul-smelling wind.
The fire twisted unnaturally.
A sound came with it. Wet. Growling. Guttural.
From the dark tree line, something charged—a hulking creature, all muscle and mutation. Like it'd crawled out of hell and hadn't finished growing yet. Twisted limbs, cracked bones poking through its skin, and a mouth full of crooked teeth that never stopped snapping.
Screams. Shouts. The group scattered.
Theron tripped over a log. Elira stumbled backward. Kaelyn was already pulling a blade.
But Ael?
He just stood.
No dramatic pose. No flashy powers.
He pulled out two daggers—plain, obsidian-black, wickedly sharp. And walked forward.
Calm.
The monster lunged.
Ael dipped low, slid under its swing, and sliced behind its knee. A clean cut. No hesitation.
It roared and spun—but he was already gone, stepping around it like he was dancing.
Another swipe—Ael ducked, one dagger slicing deep across its side.
Osiris watched in silence, lips pressed tight.
Ael moved like he wasn't thinking. Just doing. Every step was intentional, fluid. He wasn't faster than the beast—he was just smarter. Controlled. Efficient.
He embedded one dagger into its shoulder to twist the beast off balance, then leapt, drove the second blade straight through the creature's eye socket.
It dropped. Hard.
Dead.
Ael yanked the blade out, wiped it clean on his pants, and turned around.
No scratches. Barely even breathing hard.
He walked back to the fire like it never happened.
Delythera floated lower, lips curling.
"Okay, that was impressive," she said, amusement thick in her voice. "Efficient. No wasted movements. Almost pretty to watch."
Osiris didn't look away from Ael as he sat back down. "He didn't use powers."
"Nope," Delythera said. "That's pure technique. Precision. He could be scarier than you if left unchecked."
Osiris nodded slightly. "You think he's a threat?"
"Could be. Or a useful friend." She hovered just behind him now, invisible to everyone else. "The first was better. You know what to do."
Osiris stared into the fire, jaw tight.
He didn't trust Ael.
But he respected what he saw.
And that, somehow, was more dangerous.