Jack woke up when the house was already moving.
Light slipped through the curtains, thin but annoying. He turned his head away and stared at the wall for a while, letting the sounds around him settle in—footsteps, the clink of a bowl, a familiar wingbeat near the window.
Lina was up.
Jack sighed quietly and sat up. He didn't rush. He never did.
Turt was curled up near his pillow, half inside its shell. One black eye opened slowly, then closed again.
"Morning," Jack muttered.
Turt didn't respond. Which felt fair.
Jack washed his face and went downstairs. He hadn't eaten yet, and he didn't really feel like it. The kitchen smelled faintly of fruit and grain.
Lina stood near the window, focused on Fluto. The bird monster hopped excitedly from perch to perch while Lina fed it, wings fluttering as if the day itself was something to celebrate.
"You're late," Lina said without turning around.
Jack leaned against the doorway. "I just woke up."
Fluto chirped loudly when it noticed him, flapping toward the window frame.
"You always just wake up," Lina said. "You know most people our age—"
"I know," Jack interrupted gently.
She glanced at him, narrowing her eyes. "Sixteen isn't 'most people's age' to do nothing, Jack."
Jack didn't answer.
Turt padded in behind him, stopped near the doorway, and sat down. Lina noticed and sighed.
"You two really are the same," she said. "Slow. Quiet. No plans."
Jack scratched his cheek. "Plans are complicated."
Lina shook her head but didn't push further. She knew how that usually went.
After a moment, Jack straightened up.
"I'm going for my morning walk."
"Don't be out too long," Lina said. "And don't fall asleep near the river again."
Jack gave a lazy wave and stepped outside.
Turt followed.
Noll was calm, like it always was.
The dirt roads were quiet, fields stretching out under the soft morning wind. Jack walked without thinking much about where he was going. He didn't need to. His feet knew the way.
The river lay just beyond the edge of town, water flowing slow and steady. Jack sat down on the bank and leaned back slightly, letting the breeze brush past him.
Turt settled beside him, close enough that their shoulders almost touched.
For a while, Jack just sat there.
Lina's words echoed faintly in his head.
Sixteen isn't the age to do nothing.
Jack frowned slightly.
What could he do?
Travel?
Train?
Compete?
Things people talked about.
Things people chased.
Jack exhaled slowly.
"Too much effort," he muttered.
The river kept flowing. The wind kept moving.
That's when the sound of running cut through the calm.
Fast. Loud. Reckless.
"JAAAACK!"
Jack closed his eyes for a second.
When he opened them, Evan Walker was already halfway across the field, waving like this was the most important moment of his life. Meow sprinted ahead of him, small flames flickering beneath its paws as it jumped and skidded over the dirt.
Evan stopped in front of Jack, breathing hard but grinning.
"It's confirmed!" Evan said. "This year! The Stages are officially open!"
Jack blinked.
"…Already?"
"Already!" Evan said. "Every two years, remember? This is our year!"
The Battle Stages.
Official combat trials organized by the Monster Association, held across Zalendia. Battlers challenge Stage Leaders, earn medals, and climb ranks their way forward.
The Monster League was built on those stages.
And they only opened once every two years.
This year… was one of them.
Jack leaned back on his hands. "Your year."
"Our year," Evan corrected immediately.
Meow jumped onto a rock and let out a proud cry.
"I've been training since we were twelve," Evan said, eyes shining. "Four years. This time, I'm going all the way. Stage medals. League. Finals."
He looked straight at Jack.
"Our promise."
Jack stared at the river.
He remembered Evan shouting back then.
Remembered nodding, mostly to make him stop.
"Monster League finals," Evan said. "You and me."
Jack glanced at Turt.
Turt looked away.
"…Right," Jack said. "That promise."
Evan let out a breath, half relief, half frustration. "Good. Because I'm not backing down."
Jack tilted his head. "You know you're way ahead, right?"
"So?" Evan said. "That's your problem."
Jack didn't argue.
Evan turned, already talking to Meow about training routes and battle schedules, and ran back toward town.
Jack stayed where he was.
The wind passed through the grass.
The water moved like it always had.
He's been training for four years, Jack thought.
I've been… walking.
Stages.
Battles.
The League.
A lot of work.
Jack closed his eyes, then opened them again.
"…Might as well try," he said quietly.
It surprised even him.
He smiled a little—not excited, not confident. Just curious.
Guess I should find out how it turns out.
Jack stood up and dusted himself off.
"Come on," he said.
Turt blinked once, then followed as Jack headed back toward town.