The cave echoed with the fading crackle of the fire, the steady rhythm of the rain, and, just for a moment, the quiet satisfaction of finding your element—one kick at a time.
The rain had finally passed, but the forest still glistened with droplets clinging to leaves and branches. The ground, soft and damp, gave off that rich scent of wet earth. Towan and Elliot stood a few paces apart, their breaths still heavy as they practiced the punches and kicks Leon had drilled into them. Their form wasn’t perfect, but it was getting there—less flailing, more purpose.
Leon stretched his arms behind his back, eyes scanning the sky through the clearing canopy.
—"Looks like the rain’s taking a break," he said with a smirk, watching a ray of sunlight peek through. "Let’s keep moving."
The boys paused and exchanged a tired glance before slinging their backpacks over their shoulders. The damp fabric clung awkwardly to their backs.
—"Soooo... how much more walking do we have?" Towan asked with a dramatic sigh, dragging his boots through a puddle like it owed him money.
Leon chuckled as he pointed toward a narrow side road veering off to the right.
—"Well… if we wanted to reach Ravenshore faster, we could go down that way. But right now, we’re headed to my old dojo. Still a ways off."
Towan groaned louder this time, as if to make the gods themselves aware of his suffering.
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—"Great. Sore legs and more training."
Leon kept walking, unbothered.
—"Welcome to the life of someone who isn’t being fed by Herb anymore. Once we get to the dojo, we’ll start making trips to Stoneveil for commissions. Gotta earn your meals now."
Elliot furrowed his brow, the question sneaking out before he even realized it.
—"Why was Herb helping us so much, anyway?"
Leon’s pace slowed just a little, and his tone dropped.
—"He owed me. But more than that… he’d been through something like what you two went through. Except… he didn’t have the mental strength to pull through it."
Towan tilted his head.
—"You helped him too?"
—"Yeah," Leon nodded. "I helped him open his tavern a few years ago. He just wanted a quiet place… something stable to hold onto."
Elliot raised a brow, curiosity piqued.
—"Okay but… how do you know how to fight? Aren’t you supposed to be a merchant? Didn’t know merchants were out here throwing hands with Essentia techniques."
Leon stopped just for a beat and turned slightly, the faintest grin tugging at his lips.
—"Merchants aren’t. But the story behind my skills… that’s for another time."
And with that, he turned back, resuming his stride as sunlight continued to cut through the misty forest canopy above. Towan and Elliot followed in silence, their minds buzzing with fresh questions and quiet admiration.
Birdsong echoed faintly in the distance, and the forest felt like it was listening—like the world had taken a moment to breathe with them… before whatever came next.
As they moved deeper into the misty woodland, the sounds of the forest grew still—unnaturally still. Birdsong cut off mid-note. Wind halted mid-whistle. The only thing that remained was the crunch of damp leaves beneath their boots.
Then they reached it: a clearing, scarred and silent. The vegetation had been shredded—claw marks gouged into trees, and patches of earth had been torn open. The lingering presence of Essentia clung to the air like static.
Leon raised a hand, halting them.
—“Hold up,” he said, his tone suddenly cautious. “There’s something nearby. Keep your Essentia still—it’s drawn to it.”
A deep growl rolled through the clearing like thunder.