The sea stayed quiet.
---
Not calm.
---
Never calm.
---
But… watchful.
---
---
Thalren stood near the shoreline.
---
Blade in hand.
---
The cut from earlier still fresh in his mind.
---
Step.
---
Shift.
---
Cut.
---
---
Cleaner than before.
---
But not enough.
---
---
Behind him—
---
Kaizen.
---
Leaning against a jagged rock.
---
Watching.
---
"…You're thinking too much now," he said.
---
---
Thalren didn't turn.
---
"…Better than not thinking."
---
---
A pause.
---
"…Not if it slows you down."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
The wind passed between them.
---
Carrying the scent of salt—
---
And something else.
---
Faint.
---
Unfamiliar.
---
---
Kaizen's gaze shifted slightly.
---
"…We're not alone."
---
---
Thalren's grip tightened.
---
Not in tension.
---
In readiness.
---
---
A sound.
---
Distant.
---
Metal—
---
Dragging against stone.
---
---
Then—
---
A voice.
---
"…Stay back… just—stay—"
---
---
Rushed.
---
Strained.
---
---
Kaizen straightened.
---
"…Trouble."
---
---
No hesitation.
---
They moved.
---
---
Across the uneven rocks—
---
Toward the sound.
---
---
The terrain shifted sharply.
---
Higher ground.
---
Broken edges.
---
Cliffs overlooking a narrow inlet.
---
---
Below—
---
Movement.
---
---
A figure.
---
Alone.
---
---
A young man.
---
Thin.
---
Worn coat.
---
Glasses slightly cracked at the edge.
---
Holding a short blade—
---
Poorly.
---
---
In front of him—
---
A sea beast.
---
---
Smaller than the last one.
---
But faster.
---
---
Its body low—
---
Tense—
---
Ready to strike.
---
---
The man stepped back.
---
His footing unstable.
---
Wrong.
---
---
"…Don't—come closer—"
---
---
The creature didn't listen.
---
It lunged.
---
---
Fast.
---
---
The man reacted late—
---
Raised his blade—
---
Wrong angle—
---
---
Impact—
---
His weapon flew from his hand.
---
---
He fell back.
---
Hit the ground hard.
---
---
The creature moved again.
---
No pause.
---
---
From above—
---
Thalren moved.
---
---
He dropped down the slope—
---
Controlled.
---
Not rushing.
---
---
The creature turned—
---
Sensed him—
---
Changed target instantly.
---
---
It lunged.
---
---
Thalren stepped.
---
Adjusted.
---
No slip.
---
---
The attack passed.
---
---
He didn't counter immediately.
---
---
He watched.
---
The movement.
---
The rhythm.
---
---
The creature turned again.
---
Faster now.
---
More aggressive.
---
---
It struck—
---
Claws forward—
---
---
Thalren raised his blade—
---
Clack.
---
Contact.
---
Held.
---
---
The force pushed him back—
---
But he stayed upright.
---
---
A small opening appeared.
---
---
This time—
---
No hesitation.
---
---
He stepped in.
---
---
Step.
---
Shift.
---
Cut.
---
---
The strike landed.
---
---
Clean.
---
Across the creature's side.
---
---
It recoiled—
---
But didn't retreat.
---
---
Instead—
---
It twisted—
---
Faster than before—
---
Struck again.
---
---
Thalren reacted—
---
But slightly late—
---
---
The claw grazed his shoulder.
---
---
A shallow cut.
---
---
He stepped back.
---
Reset.
---
---
Not perfect.
---
Still lacking.
---
---
The creature lunged again—
---
---
Thalren moved.
---
Cleaner now.
---
More stable.
---
---
He met it—
---
Redirected—
---
---
Another opening.
---
---
He cut again.
---
---
This time—
---
Deeper.
---
---
The creature staggered.
---
Its movement slowed.
---
---
Silence.
---
Short.
---
---
Then—
---
It retreated.
---
Not defeated.
---
But unwilling to continue.
---
---
It slipped back into the water—
---
And vanished.
---
---
The inlet grew quiet.
---
---
Thalren lowered his blade slightly.
---
Breathing steady.
---
---
Behind him—
---
The man remained on the ground.
---
Frozen.
---
---
"…It's gone…" he said quietly.
---
---
No one responded.
---
---
He pushed himself up slowly.
---
Looked at Thalren—
---
Eyes wide.
---
Not just relief.
---
Something else.
---
---
"…That movement…"
---
A pause.
---
"…that wasn't instinct."
---
---
Thalren didn't answer.
---
---
Kaizen dropped down beside them.
---
Glanced at the man.
---
"…You shouldn't be here."
---
---
The man let out a short breath.
---
"…I get that a lot."
---
---
He adjusted his glasses.
---
Hands slightly shaking—
---
But his eyes—
---
Sharp.
---
Observing.
---
---
"…You fight differently," he continued.
---
Looking at Thalren.
---
"…You read it first."
---
---
A pause.
---
"…Most hunters don't."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Kaizen studied him.
---
"…Who are you."
---
---
The man hesitated.
---
Just briefly.
---
Then—
---
"…Alric."
---
---
A pause.
---
"…I study sea creatures."
---
---
Kaizen's gaze didn't soften.
---
"…You almost died studying them."
---
---
Alric exhaled.
---
"…That happens too."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Alric looked back at Thalren.
---
More focused now.
---
"…That wasn't a common beast."
---
---
A pause.
---
"…It was changing."
---
---
Thalren's eyes shifted slightly.
---
"…Changing?"
---
---
Alric nodded.
---
"…Not fully… but close."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
"…Close to what?" Kaizen asked.
---
---
Alric hesitated again.
---
Longer this time.
---
His expression tightened slightly.
---
---
"…Something worse."
---
---
No explanation.
---
No detail.
---
---
Just—
---
Truth.
---
---
The wind passed through the inlet.
---
Colder now.
---
Heavier.
---
---
Kaizen looked toward the sea.
---
Then back at Thalren.
---
---
"…We move," he said.
---
---
Thalren nodded once.
---
---
Alric blinked.
---
"…Wait—you're just leaving?"
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Then—
---
"…Come if you can keep up," Kaizen said.
---
---
A pause.
---
---
Alric stared at them.
---
Then at the sea.
---
Then back at Thalren.
---
---
Something clicked.
---
---
"…I will."
---
---
He picked up his fallen blade.
---
Not with confidence.
---
But with decision.
---
---
The three of them moved.
---
Away from the inlet.
---
---
Behind them—
---
The water shifted.
---
Slightly.
---
---
As if something beneath had been watching—
---
And had just lost interest.
---
---
And within Thalren—
---
The darkness remained still.
---
---
But for the first time—
---
It wasn't just observing him.
---
---
It was observing—
---
Everything.