The night clung to him like a shadow that refused to leave.
Kai walked slowly along the narrow path leading home, each step quiet… controlled.
Too controlled.
His clothes were stained—dark patches of dried blood clinging stubbornly to the fabric. The smell lingered, metallic and faintly disgusting, crawling into his senses no matter how much he ignored it.
He stopped.
Looked down at his hands.
They didn't tremble.
That bothered him more than anything.
"…So this is what I've become?"
For a brief moment—just a moment—something stirred beneath that calm surface.
Then it faded.
Just like everything else.
The stream outside the village flowed gently under the moonlight.
Kai knelt beside it, dipping his hands into the cold water. He scrubbed at the stains, harder than necessary, watching as the blood dissolved into the current.
Red… fading… disappearing.
But not really.
His reflection stared back at him.
Calm.
Detached.
Unfamiliar.
"…I should feel something."
But he didn't.
And that truth sat heavily in his chest.
When he reached home, the door opened before he could knock.
"Kai!"
His mother pulled him into a tight embrace.
That warmth—
It hit differently.
His body stiffened for a second… then slowly relaxed.
"I was worried sick! You didn't come back—what happened? Are you hurt?"
"I'm okay, Mom."
This time, his voice was softer.
Not cold.
Just… tired.
Dinner felt normal.
At least on the surface.
The familiar smell of food, the quiet clinking of plates—it should've been comforting.
And yet…
Something had changed.
His father noticed first.
"Kai."
Kai looked up.
"…What happened out there?"
Silence lingered.
Kai's fingers tightened slightly around his spoon.
"I fought."
His mother froze.
His father's gaze sharpened.
"…And?"
Kai met his eyes.
"I won."
No pride.
No excitement.
Just truth.
His mother looked down, her expression darkened, her appetite gone.
"That world…" she whispered, voice shaking slightly, "it's disgusting. It changes people… it takes pieces of you little by little until—"
"—until there's nothing left."
Kai finished quietly.
The table fell silent.
Kai finished quietly.
The table fell silent.
But this time…
Kai wasn't distant.
He looked at her.
Really looked.
"I'm still here."
His father leaned back slightly, studying him.
"If you're walking this path, then you already know… strength decides everything."
Kai nodded once.
"Then I'll get stronger."
His mother immediately shook her head.
"No."
Both of them turned to her.
"You've already done enough. You don't need to keep going into that dangerous world. You're still—"
"I have to."
Kai stood up slowly.
For the first time that night…
Emotion broke through.
"I don't want to be weak."
His voice trembled—just slightly.
"I don't want to stand there again… knowing I could die… knowing I can't protect myself… or you."
His mother's eyes widened.
"I was scared."
The words felt heavy.
Real.
"I don't want to feel that again."
He stepped closer.
"…Please."
"I'm begging you… let me do this."
Silence stretched.
Long.
Painful.
"…You won't rush in blindly?" she asked quietly.
"I won't."
"You'll be careful?"
"I will."
She hesitated.
Then slowly…
"…Okay."
Kai exhaled quietly.
His father nodded once.
"Then do it properly."
Kai turned.
"There are two paths. Grow alone… or join a guild."
"I'll join a guild."
His father's gaze hardened.
"Guilds aren't families. They'll leave you behind if it benefits them."
Kai held his gaze.
"I'll survive."
The next morning, the guild hall was loud, crowded, alive.
Voices overlapped. Laughter echoed. Arguments sparked and died within seconds.
It felt chaotic.
Messy.
Almost disgusting.
Kai walked through it all without reacting.
Eyes followed him.
"He's new."
"Why's he so quiet?"
"Feels off…"
He ignored them.
At the desk, a woman handed him a tag.
"Beginner rank. You'll be assigned a partner."
"…Understood."
"YO!"
The voice cut through the noise.
Kai turned.
A boy rushed toward him—slightly out of breath, a wide grin on his face.
But it wasn't the grin that stood out.
It was his eyes.
Sharp.
Observant.
Too observant for someone acting that carefree.
"You're the new guy, right? Name's Ren."
He stuck out his hand.
"Guess we're stuck together."
Kai didn't take it immediately.
He watched him.
"…You talk too much."
Ren laughed.
"Yeah, I get that a lot."
Then, quieter—
"Don't worry. I know when to be serious."
For a split second…
That carefree attitude disappeared.
Something colder surfaced beneath.
Then it was gone.
Kai noticed.
And for the first time since entering the guild…
Something felt interesting.
"…We'll see."
From the upper level of the guild hall—
A figure watched quietly.
Eyes locked onto Kai.
"…He begged for permission… but chose this path himself."
A faint smile formed.
"Good."
"Those are the ones who survive the longest."
Thank you guys for reading this chapter and don't forget to drop a power stone, helps in motivating me