The path to Eldergloom Forest was one every child in Vareth Village knew.
And yet—
It never felt the same twice.
Dry leaves crunched softly beneath their steps as Kael and the others walked along the narrow trail. The sounds of the village faded gradually behind them, replaced by the quiet murmur of wind weaving through trees.
Rynel walked ahead, hands behind his head, completely at ease.
"I heard," he began, his voice full of excitement, "that someone from the capital passed through the outer road last week."
Tovin's eyes lit up instantly. "From the capital? Really? Did they have one of those—what do you call it—mana devices?"
"Who knows," Rynel shrugged. "But Old Bren said their armor was shining like silver."
"That doesn't mean anything," Liora said calmly. "Old Bren thinks anything polished is 'royal.'"
Rynel clicked his tongue. "You always ruin the fun."
Kael said nothing.
His gaze drifted ahead, toward where the path darkened as it led deeper into the forest's edge.
The capital.
A distant place.
Far beyond anything in this village.
"…Kael."
Liora's voice pulled him back.
He turned slightly.
"You've been quiet," she said, studying him. "More than usual."
Kael hesitated.
Then—
"I'm thinking about the academy."
Rynel stopped walking.
Tovin nearly bumped into him.
"The academy?" Rynel turned, eyes wide. "You mean the Aetherion Grand Academy?"
Kael nodded.
For a moment, even the wind seemed to quiet.
"That place is…" Tovin trailed off, searching for the right word. "It's not just big—it's different."
"Only nobles go there, right?" Rynel said.
"Not only," Liora corrected. "But mostly."
Her eyes shifted slightly toward Kael.
"…People like us don't usually make it."
Kael's expression didn't change.
"I will."
There was no hesitation.
No doubt.
Just a simple statement.
Rynel stared at him for a second—
Then grinned.
"Of course you will."
Tovin nodded quickly. "Yeah—if anyone from this village can do it, it's you."
Liora said nothing.
But she didn't disagree.
Kael looked ahead again.
The trees were taller here.
The light thinner.
"…I don't want to stay here forever," he said quietly.
The words weren't heavy.
But they carried weight.
"This place is peaceful," Liora said.
"It is," Kael replied.
"But it's small."
His grip tightened slightly around the wooden sword resting on his shoulder.
"There's more out there."
He could feel it.
Not just the academy.
Not just the capital.
Something else.
Something he couldn't name.
"…Then go," Rynel said suddenly.
Kael glanced at him.
Rynel's usual carefree expression had softened, just slightly.
"If you want something bigger, go get it."
Tovin nodded again, though less confidently. "Just… don't forget us when you become someone important."
Kael let out a faint breath—almost a laugh.
"That won't happen."
Liora watched him carefully.
"…Then you should make sure you're ready," she said.
Kael tilted his head slightly.
"For what?"
"For the world outside this village," she replied.
Her gaze shifted briefly toward the forest ahead.
"It's not as kind as this place."
For a moment, silence settled over the group.
The forest entrance stood just ahead now.
Eldergloom.
From a distance, it looked no different than any other stretch of trees.
But standing before it—
It felt different.
The air was cooler.
Heavier.
As if something unseen lingered between the trunks.
Kael slowed slightly.
That feeling again.
Faint.
Subtle.
Like a whisper brushing against his awareness.
Not a sound.
Not a presence.
Just—
Something.
"…Kael?"
He blinked.
"It's nothing," he said.
Rynel stepped forward first without hesitation.
"Come on—we're not going that deep anyway."
Tovin followed, though with a bit more caution.
Liora paused for just a moment before stepping in as well.
Kael remained still for a second longer.
His eyes scanned the trees.
The shadows between them.
The silence.
Then—
He stepped forward.
The moment he crossed into the forest, the world behind him seemed to fade.
Not disappear.
But grow distant.
As if he had stepped into a place that existed slightly apart from everything else.
The light dimmed.
The air shifted.
And somewhere deep within—
Something stirred.
Kael frowned slightly.
"…Strange."
"What is?" Rynel asked.
Kael shook his head.
"Nothing."
But even as he said it—
He knew that wasn't true.
And far deeper within Eldergloom Forest…
Something had already begun to notice them.