Ray arrived back at his quiet home nestled deep within the forest, the sky above painted with soft streaks of orange and gold. Without a word, he walked toward the large ancient tree beside his house—the one whose roots were older than most kingdoms—and lay beneath it with a soft sigh.
The breeze was gentle. The silence, comforting.
He closed his eyes.
---
Somewhere far from the village...
The Seventh Disciple, known across the mountains as Thorne, the Frozen Monk, stood atop a glacial cliff overlooking a vast snowy plain. Muscles carved like stone, his breath turned to mist in the cold air as he gazed at the horizon, his thoughts elsewhere.
"Master…"
He murmured softly, the word barely audible over the wind.
"I wonder what he's doing now… I miss him. It's been too long."
He smiled faintly, recalling quiet mornings training in the garden, and nights filled with philosophical talks over warm meals. All he wanted now was to return home and spend time with the man who had given his life meaning.
But just then—
"MASTER!! MONSTER APPROACHING!"
A soldier nearby shouted in panic, jolting Thorne from his thoughts.
The ground trembled as a massive, bear-like creature charged toward their position, its maw wide open and its eyes glowing red.
Thorne's expression shifted instantly. The warmth in his gaze disappeared. His voice dropped cold and low.
"…You dared interrupt my moment."
With a single step forward, his fist moved like lightning—just one punch.
The monster flew back dozens of meters, crashing into the ice with a thunderous explosion, unmoving.
The soldiers stared in awe. Thorne exhaled slowly and turned away.
"…I'll be home soon, Master."
---
Back at the village...
Ray opened his eyes slowly as a familiar voice called out.
"Master Ray! Dinner's ready!" Kael's cheerful tone echoed from inside the house.
Ray stretched lazily beneath the tree.
"Was someone… talking to me just now?" he muttered, glancing at the sky.
He stood, brushed off the leaves on his robe, and walked inside.
That night, he and Kael ate together quietly. No grand feasts, no divine discussions—just simple food, laughter, and the clinking of chopsticks. It was the peace Ray had always longed for.
"Little Tin," Ray called during the meal.
The small robot whirred to life, floating beside the table.
"Scan the area. Anything unusual today?"
"Negative," it beeped. "Minor bird migration. One wandering adventurer turned back after 50 meters."
Ray nodded. "Keep an eye on the area."
Kael glanced at him curiously. "Master... is something coming?"
Ray didn't answer immediately. He simply looked at the flickering candle in the center of the table.
"…Nothing."
---
The Next Morning
Ray strolled down the mountain path into the village, greeted by waving farmers and cheerful children.
"Ray, can you help fix the well again?"
"Ray, the millstone's stuck!"
"Ray, can you carry this and put in the warehouse?"
"Sure," he said with a small nod.
In less than a minute, every chore in the village was done.
He made his way to the market to buy vegetables, casually picking up carrots and radishes before his eyes caught something across the street—a vendor selling noodle soup.
Ray's expression softened.
He walked over, sat down, and began to eat quietly. The broth was rich. The noodles warm.
But then—
The ground trembled faintly.
A procession came down the village road. Soldiers in polished armor marched ahead, some on foot, others on horseback. At their center was a grand carriage, elegant and adorned with gold and white emblems.
Ray raised an eyebrow.
He glanced at the vendor. "What's this all about?"
The old man leaned in, whispering, "They're from the Capital. Escorting the Duke's children to the Grand Academy. They're stopping here for the night."
The carriage slowed to a halt in front of the inn, the soldiers fanning out as the villagers watched with a mix of curiosity and awe.
Ray took another sip of his soup.
"…Nobles, huh? Must be a big deal."
He looked at the carriage, unaware that this encounter would soon drag him into yet another mess—one that even he couldn't simply ignore.
---
Inside the Carriage...
Two young nobles sat across from each other. The older brother, Lucien, looked out the window with an expression of boredom. His sister, Elira, flipped through a spellbook, her fingers glowing with faint arcane light.
"Do you think the Academy will be as amazing as they say?" she asked.
Lucien snorted. "It's just another place full of weakling and commoner who think throwing fireballs makes them special."
Elira looked up. "What an arrogant, but you're still weaker than me and lose in 1v1 combat."
Lucien smirked. "That's because I don't take seriously. Because you might get hurt."
Outside, he caught a glimpse of Ray sitting alone at the noodle stall. Something about the man seemed off—too calm. Too... ordinary.
And yet, Lucien's instincts stirred.
"…Strange," he muttered. "That guy. He doesn't belong in a place like this."
Elira glanced over. "What do you mean?"
Lucien narrowed his eyes.
"I mean he doesn't feel like a villager. He feels like... a storm pretending to be a breeze."
---
Back at Ray's House That Night
Ray sat at his desk, flipping through an old book. Its cover was made from beast hide and its pages written in an ancient tongue.
Kael peeked in. "Master, those nobles at the inn… Should we do something?"
Ray shook his head.
"They're not much a problem. But they'll be a problem."
Kael blinked. "A problem?"
Ray's voice turned quiet.
"Something... is coming."
Outside, the stars seemed to blink uneasily. The wind carried a strange scent.
And somewhere, deep beneath the ground, a faint pulse echoed.