The road changed before they noticed.
It wasn't a clear line.
But the ground got firmer.
The marks more recent.
The air… fuller.
Mike was the first to notice.
— There are people.
Lyra answered without looking:
— A lot.
They kept walking.
And then they started to see.
First, two hunters passing by fast.
Not even looking around.
Then, a group training further ahead.
Synchronized movement.
No mistakes.
Mike slowed his pace.
— They're strong.
Elion answered:
— They are.
— But they're not like you guys.
Lyra laughed.
— Not yet.
Kael said nothing.
But his eyes were alert.
And then—
someone appeared in the path.
Standing.
Waiting.
He didn't look aggressive.
But he didn't look casual either.
— It's been a while.
The voice came calm.
Elion recognized him instantly.
— Rivel.
Mike tilted his head.
— Is he one of the strong ones?
Lyra answered low:
— He is.
Rivel wasn't flashy.
He didn't have an exaggerated presence.
But the kind of silence around him… said everything.
He looked at Kael first.
Then at Elion.
Completely ignored Lyra.
— You came back.
Kael answered:
— No.
— Looks like it.
— It doesn't.
Rivel gave a slight side smile.
— Still the same.
He looked at Mike now.
And stopped.
For real.
— So it's you.
Mike looked back.
No fear.
Just curious.
— Me?
— Yes.
— What am I?
Rivel took a second.
Like he was deciding what to say.
— Problem.
Silence.
Lyra crossed her arms.
— You say that about every new one.
— No.
— You do.
— Not like this.
Mike looked between them.
— Did I do something?
Kael answered:
— Not yet.
Rivel took a step forward.
But not aggressive.
Just closer.
— You create.
— I make.
— It's not the same thing.
Mike smiled.
— To me it is.
Silence.
Elion was watching everything.
Carefully.
— You're more active.
He said to Rivel.
— Everyone is.
— Not at this level.
— You know why.
— I know they didn't explain it right.
Rivel shrugged.
— They don't have to.
Lyra let out a breath.
— You two are unbearable together.
Mike was already looking around.
— Is there more?
— A lot more. — Lyra answered.
And then—
an impact in the distance.
Dry sound.
Heavy.
Everyone stopped.
Rivel looked in that direction.
— It already started.
Kael answered:
— It shouldn't have.
— It shouldn't.
Mike looked at them.
— What?
No one answered right away.
And then—
another impact.
Closer.
Now you could feel it.
Not just hear it.
Lyra got serious for the first time.
— This isn't training.
Elion took a step forward.
— No.
Rivel looked at the group.
And for the first time…
he seemed truly interested.
— Want to see?
Mike answered first:
— I do.
Kael didn't stop him.
And they started walking.
Toward the impact.
Not like visitors.
But like part of it.
Mike
While walking, looking at everything around, he spoke half thoughtful:
— I thought the strongest stayed in the safest places…
but it looks like they stay exactly where things go wrong first. The sound didn't stop.
Now you could feel it in your body.
Each impact seemed to push the air out for a second.
Mike walked faster.
Not out of fear.
Out of curiosity.
— This isn't normal.
He said, more to himself.
Lyra answered, serious:
— Not at all.
Rivel was in front now.
Guiding.
Without looking back to see if they were following.
Kael came right behind.
Calm.
But different.
Elion noticed.
— You know this.
Kael answered low:
— I've seen something like it.
— Like it how?
Small pause.
— It shouldn't be here.
That was enough.
They turned one last stone corner—
and stopped.
The space was open.
Large.
Probably used for training.
But now…
there were too many people.
Hunters.
Many.
All pulled back.
Forming a circle.
No one interfering.
At the center—
three were fighting.
Mike widened his eyes.
— Damn…
Lyra crossed her arms.
— These are real ones.
The three in the center weren't fighting together.
Nor exactly against each other.
It was… confusing.
One advanced—
another dodged—
the third tried to hit something that wasn't visible.
Elion frowned.
— They're not fighting each other.
Rivel answered:
— No.
— Then?
One of the hunters was thrown back.
But not by either of the other two.
He hit the ground.
Dragged.
Got up… a bit delayed.
Mike took a step forward.
— There's more there.
Kael said firmly:
— Stay.
Mike stopped.
But didn't look away.
— I'm not seeing it right…
he murmured.
And then—
he closed his eyes for a second.
— Okay… wait…
When he opened—
his body reacted.
Like it had understood.
— Oh.
Silence.
— What? — Lyra asked.
Mike pointed.
— There.
No one saw it.
But Kael… turned exactly to the spot.
And then—
the air distorted.
A shape appeared.
Not complete.
Not stable.
Like it was being… badly made.
Elion took a step forward.
— That's not a creature.
Rivel answered:
— No.
— Then what is that?
Kael spoke low:
— Something that shouldn't exist like this.
The thing moved.
Without logic.
Without pattern.
One of the hunters tried to hit—
the strike passed through.
Another tried—
hit it.
But the impact… delayed.
Like the world hadn't decided yet if it could be touched.
Mike watched.
Completely focused.
— It doesn't know what it is.
Silence.
Lyra looked at him.
— What do you mean?
— Like… — Mike gestured trying to explain — it's like when I make something without thinking right… it comes out kind of wrong.
He pointed.
— Except this thing has no one thinking.
It struck.
Hard.
Elion looked at Kael.
— This isn't creation.
— No.
— Nor summoning.
— No.
Rivel finished:
— This is error.
Silence.
The thing advanced.
Faster now.
One of the hunters couldn't react in time.
He was hit.
But he wasn't thrown.
He just… stopped.
Like he had been paused.
Mike froze.
— I don't like this.
Kael took a step forward.
And then—
everything changed.
The entire environment felt it.
It wasn't an explosion.
It wasn't energy.
It was presence.
All the hunters around…
fell silent.
Rivel smiled slightly.
— Now that's it.
Kael stepped into the field.
Unhurried.
The thing reacted.
This time… instantly.
It advanced.
But unlike the others—
Kael didn't attack.
He waited.
One second.
Two.
And at the exact moment—
he touched it.
That's all.
And it…
locked.
It didn't die.
Didn't vanish.
But… stopped.
Like someone had finally understood what it was.
Total silence.
Mike widened his eyes.
— He didn't hit it.
Lyra answered low:
— He didn't need to.
Elion watched.
— He read it.
Rivel crossed his arms.
— That's why.
Mike didn't look away.
— I want to learn that.
Kael glanced slightly back.
— Then pay attention.
And in that moment—
for the first time—
the thing reacted for real.
It twisted.
Changed.
Tried to exist in another way.
And Kael…
stayed there.
Calm.
But now—
serious.