Chapter 10
Krogas barely slept that night.
The others had already fallen asleep inside the crude wooden shelter, but the old elf remained outside, sitting beneath the branches of an enormous tree.
His sword rested beside him.
His eyes remained fixed on the blade.
That strange sensation from earlier refused to leave his mind.
When Nick had held the sword, Krogas had sensed something.
Something incredibly faint.
A tiny disturbance around the blade.
Almost like a thin layer of energy.
Krogas had seen that phenomenon before.
He knew what it was.
Or at least, he thought he did.
Sword Aura.
His expression became slightly serious.
Then he shook his head.
Impossible.
Nick was barely ten years old.
Even among talented swordsmen, developing Aura at such an age was almost unheard of.
Krogas had spent decades refining his own swordsmanship before reaching the level he possessed now.
There was no way a child could accidentally produce Aura simply by holding a sword.
I must have mistaken it.
Perhaps the moonlight had reflected off the blade.
Perhaps the surrounding mana had distorted his senses.
There were plenty of explanations.
Krogas preferred any explanation to the ridiculous one.
He picked up his sword and slowly ran his fingers across the flat of the blade.
Nothing.
"Just my imagination," he muttered.
With that, he decided to forget about it.
For now.
---
The next morning, Krogas woke the two boys before sunrise.
"Get up."
Nick groaned beneath the boar-hide blanket.
"Five more minutes."
"No."
"Three?"
"No."
"One?"
Krogas kicked the wooden wall.
The entire shelter shook.
Nick immediately sat upright.
"I'm awake!"
Miguel crawled out from beneath his blanket, rubbing his eyes.
"Why are we leaving so early?"
"We have a seven-day journey ahead of us."
Nick blinked.
"Seven days?"
Krogas nodded.
Miguel looked toward the forest.
"That's longer than I expected."
"You wanted to reach the capital, didn't you?"
Nick sighed.
"Yeah, but I thought we'd get there in, like, two hours."
Krogas stared at him.
"Do you think cities move closer when you want them to?"
Nick thought about it.
"...Maybe."
Miguel covered his face.
"Please don't encourage him."
They packed their belongings.
Their crude shelter was left behind.
For the first time since escaping the prison, Nick and Miguel had a destination that wasn't simply away from danger.
They were heading toward civilization.
Toward the Glarian capital.
Toward a completely unknown future.
Krogas led them through the forest.
The first few hours were peaceful.
The morning sunlight filtered between the trees, and birds flew overhead.
Nick walked beside Krogas.
"So, old man."
"What?"
"What's the capital like?"
"You'll see."
"Is it huge?"
"Yes."
"How huge?"
"Large."
Nick frowned.
"You're terrible at explaining things."
Krogas shrugged.
Miguel laughed quietly.
"You asked."
Nick ignored him.
They continued walking.
Then something moved in the bushes.
Miguel stopped.
"Wait."
Nick immediately raised his hands.
"Monster?"
Krogas nodded.
"Three."
Three creatures emerged from the vegetation.
They resembled wolves, but their bodies were larger, and each had a short horn growing from its forehead.
Nick grinned.
"Finally."
Krogas stepped aside.
"Handle them."
Miguel looked at him.
"Both of us?"
"Yes."
The wolves charged.
Nick immediately surrounded his fists with flames.
"Flame Fist!"
He stepped forward and struck the first wolf.
BOOM!
The beast flew sideways.
Miguel formed several water spheres.
"Water Bullet!"
Three projectiles shot forward.
One wolf dodged the first.
The second struck its shoulder.
The third hit its leg.
The beast stumbled.
Nick rushed forward.
"Got it!"
His flaming fist slammed into the monster.
It collapsed.
The remaining wolf charged Miguel.
Miguel stepped backward, forming a larger sphere.
"Wait..."
The wolf leapt.
Miguel threw the water sphere directly upward.
The wolf passed beneath it.
Miguel quickly turned.
"Now!"
The sphere dropped onto the creature.
SPLASH!
The wolf crashed into the ground.
Nick finished it with a controlled flame strike.
Silence returned.
Nick looked at the defeated monsters.
"That was easy."
Krogas shook his head.
"You relied too much on brute force."
Nick frowned.
"I won."
"Winning doesn't mean you fought well."
Miguel nodded.
Krogas looked at him.
"You relied too much on distance."
Miguel's expression dropped.
"So we both did badly."
"Correct."
Nick crossed his arms.
"Then why did you let us fight?"
"Because you need experience."
Krogas continued walking.
"If I kill every monster you encounter, you'll never learn."
Nick looked at Miguel.
"I think he secretly enjoys watching us struggle."
"I heard that."
"See?"
---
By evening, they reached a small clearing.
Krogas prepared a simple camp.
Nick dropped onto the ground.
"My legs hurt."
"You've been running every day for weeks."
"Walking is different."
"It's not."
"It feels different."
Miguel sat beside him.
"What are we eating?"
Krogas looked at them.
"You have food."
Nick opened their supplies.
"...We have dried meat."
"Then eat it."
Nick sighed.
"Capital food better be amazing."
Miguel nodded.
"Agreed."
They ate beside the fire.
The night was quiet.
Nick stared at the flames.
"So, Krogas."
"Hm?"
"Why did you really decide to take us with you?"
Krogas remained silent for a moment.
"Because you two were alone in a dangerous place."
Nick waited.
"And?"
"And I thought leaving you there would be irresponsible."
Miguel looked at him.
"That's all?"
"For now."
Nick narrowed his eyes.
"Suspicious."
Krogas smirked.
"You don't trust easily."
"Neither should you."
Krogas laughed quietly.
"Fair."
---
The second day was harder.
The forest became denser, and the terrain became rougher.
They crossed streams, climbed rocky slopes, and traveled through areas where the trees were so large that Nick couldn't see their tops.
Several monsters attacked throughout the day.
Krogas continued allowing them to handle the weaker creatures.
Nick's flames became more controlled.
Miguel's water attacks became faster.
They began working together naturally.
When Nick charged forward, Miguel covered his blind spots.
When Miguel created distance, Nick prevented enemies from reaching him.
By sunset, both boys were exhausted.
Nick collapsed onto a rock.
"We're getting stronger."
Miguel nodded.
"I think so."
Krogas watched them quietly.
Their improvement was noticeable.
They were still weak compared to experienced fighters, but they were learning quickly.
That was dangerous.
And impressive.
---
On the third day, they encountered a group of travelers.
Humans, elves, and a beastman were traveling together with several carts.
The travelers looked surprised when they saw Krogas.
One elderly merchant raised his hand.
"Krogas?"
Krogas stopped.
"It's been a while."
The merchant laughed.
"You still wandering around?"
"Apparently."
The merchant looked at Nick and Miguel.
"Your students?"
Krogas shook his head.
"Not exactly."
Nick whispered to Miguel.
"We're not students yet."
Miguel whispered back.
"Don't start."
The merchant gave the boys a curious glance.
"Where are you taking them?"
"The capital."
The merchant nodded.
"Good. The roads ahead are safer."
They exchanged a few words before parting.
Nick watched the caravan disappear.
"There are humans here too."
Krogas glanced back.
"Of course."
Nick frowned.
"I thought Glarian was an elven kingdom."
"It is. That doesn't mean only elves live here."
Miguel looked interested.
"So humans can live here?"
"Yes. The capital contains people from many races."
Nick's eyes brightened.
"Then I want to see everything."
Krogas smiled faintly.
"You'll have plenty of time."
---
The fourth day brought the strongest monster they had encountered.
It emerged from the forest like a moving wall.
A massive beast with dark scales and four powerful legs.
Nick's flames ignited immediately.
Miguel formed water around his hands.
Krogas raised one hand.
"Stay back."
Nick frowned.
"We can fight."
"No."
The beast roared.
The sound shook leaves from the trees.
Nick swallowed.
"...Okay."
Krogas stepped forward.
The monster charged.
Krogas disappeared.
A flash of steel followed.
The beast stopped.
Krogas was already standing behind it.
The monster collapsed.
Nick stared.
"That's ridiculous."
Miguel nodded.
"Completely."
Krogas sheathed his sword.
"That's what experience looks like."
Nick clenched his fists.
"Then I'll reach that level."
Krogas looked at him.
"Good."
---
The fifth and sixth days passed more peacefully.
The forest gradually became less dense.
They began seeing more travelers.
Roads appeared beneath their feet.
Sometimes they passed merchants.
Sometimes adventurers.
Once, they even saw a group of armored knights traveling toward the forest.
Nick couldn't stop staring.
"This world is awesome."
Miguel laughed.
"You've changed your opinion quickly."
Nick grinned.
"Prison was bad. Forest was dangerous. Capital sounds better."
Krogas shook his head.
"You haven't seen the capital yet."
"Exactly."
By the sixth evening, the trees were noticeably thinner.
For the first time, Nick could see the open sky without branches blocking his view.
He stopped.
"We're close."
Krogas nodded.
"Tomorrow."
Nick smiled.
"Finally."
---
That night, they camped beneath the stars.
Nick lay on his back.
Miguel sat beside him.
Krogas rested against a tree nearby.
For a while, nobody spoke.
Then Nick quietly said:
"I wonder what our new life is going to be like."
Miguel looked at the stars.
"I don't know."
Nick smiled.
"Whatever happens, it'll be better than that prison."
Miguel nodded.
"Definitely."
Krogas closed his eyes.
The two boys had no idea what awaited them.
Neither did he.
But tomorrow, they would finally see the capital.
And their lives would change again.
To be Continued ...
[A/N : VOLUME 1 ENDS ]