The sun rose slowly over the barren terrain, its light painting the rocks in muted gold. Kaelen stood with his back to the others, his gaze fixed on the horizon. His wounds had closed entirely, leaving only faint lines of fresh skin as evidence. Despite his outward calm, his mind churned. The conversation from the night before lingered, and for once, he wasn’t sure how to feel about it.

"Hard to believe you’re a morning person," Sigrid said dryly, breaking the silence. She approached with measured steps, her face neutral but her tone carrying a hint of challenge. "Or do you just enjoy brooding?"

Kaelen glanced at her. "I’m versatile," he replied, deadpan. "Some mornings I brood. Others I sulk. It’s about balance."

She snorted softly and leaned against a nearby rock, crossing her arms. "You’re deflecting again."

"You’re awfully interested in my habits all of a sudden," he shot back, though his voice lacked venom.

Sigrid’s eyes narrowed slightly, studying him. "You’re hiding something bigger than what you admitted last night," she said bluntly. "I don’t know what it is, but I’m not the only one who noticed."

Kaelen exhaled through his nose. "Let me guess—Nessa’s taking notes for the next interrogation?"

Sigrid allowed a faint smirk. "She’s thorough, I’ll give her that. But she’s right, you know. If there’s more to your ‘curse,’ we need to know. Secrets have a way of getting people killed."

Kaelen met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "And if the secret is the difference between life and death? You sure you want to dig that deep?"

Sigrid didn’t flinch. "I wouldn’t ask if I couldn’t handle the answer."

The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken truths. Finally, Kaelen looked away, his jaw tightening. "Maybe one day," he said quietly. "But not today."

Sigrid seemed to weigh his words, then gave a slight nod. "Fair enough. For now." She straightened and stepped back. "But if you pull another stunt like last night without warning us first, I won’t be so forgiving."

Kaelen’s lips twitched in a faint smile. "Noted."

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The camp stirred to life as Nessa rejoined them, her mood sour. She carried her bag with a determined air, her eyes darting between Kaelen and Sigrid.

"We moving or standing here wasting daylight?" she asked sharply, slinging her gear over her shoulder.

Kaelen gestured toward the rocky path ahead. "We’re moving. Next village is a half-day’s walk, and we’ll need supplies if we’re going to keep going."

"And more work," Sigrid added. "I’m not wasting time sitting around."

"Of course not," Kaelen said with a smirk. "Heaven forbid we relax."

Nessa rolled her eyes and started walking. "Try to keep up."

The trio fell into step, the tension between them easing slightly with the rhythm of travel. The forest gradually gave way to rolling hills and scattered farmland. Smoke rose from chimneys in the distance, signaling the presence of a village.

Kaelen slowed his pace as they neared the outskirts, his instincts sharpening. The air felt… wrong. Too quiet. The faint smell of burning wood drifted toward them, acrid and unnatural.

"Something’s off," he said, raising a hand to stop the others.

Sigrid unsheathed her daggers, her eyes narrowing. "You feel it too."

Nessa’s hand hovered near her blade, her face pale but focused. "What is it?"

Kaelen didn’t answer immediately, his eyes scanning the horizon. Then he spotted it—dark shapes moving among the houses. Too many, and too large to be human.

"Beasts," he said grimly. "Looks like a raid."

Sigrid’s grip on her weapons tightened. "How many?"

"Enough to make this messy," Kaelen replied. "But if we don’t step in, those villagers are dead."

Nessa hesitated, her expression torn. "This isn’t what we signed up for."

Kaelen’s gaze hardened. "No, it’s not. But we’re here, and they’re not going to save themselves."

Sigrid stepped forward without hesitation, her voice cold. "Let’s make this quick."

Kaelen nodded, drawing his sword. "Nessa, you with us or not?"

She bit her lip, then cursed under her breath and unsheathed her blade. "Fine. But if we’re doing this, I expect a cut of whatever they have left."

Kaelen allowed himself a brief smile. "Wouldn’t dream of shortchanging you."

The village was in chaos. Houses burned, their flames casting eerie shadows over the scene. The creatures rampaging through the streets were hulking, wolf-like beasts with matted fur and glowing red eyes. Their claws tore through wooden walls with ease, and their howls sent shivers down the spines of the hunters.

Kaelen charged first, his blade cutting through the nearest beast with brutal efficiency. Sigrid flanked him, her daggers a blur as she danced between the monsters, striking with deadly precision. Nessa held the rear, her movements more cautious but no less effective as she picked off stragglers.

The fight was vicious, and the beasts seemed endless. But for every monster they felled, the hunters grew more synchronized, their movements flowing together like a well-rehearsed dance.

Kaelen’s voice rang out above the chaos. "Nessa, cover Sigrid! Sigrid, flank left—now!"

Sigrid didn’t hesitate, pivoting to strike the beast lunging at Nessa. Her blade found its mark, and the creature fell with a guttural snarl.

"Nice save," Nessa muttered, breathless.

"Don’t mention it," Sigrid replied, her tone clipped.

Kaelen slashed through another beast, his glowing blade carving a fiery arc through the air. The creatures hesitated, their glowing eyes flickering with something akin to fear.

"Looks like they don’t like fire," Kaelen observed, a grim smile spreading across his face. "Let’s use that."

Sigrid’s magic flared to life, a shimmering barrier of heat and light driving back the nearest beasts. Nessa hurled a makeshift torch into the fray, the flames scattering the pack. Together, they pressed the advantage, cutting through the remaining monsters until the village fell silent once more.

As the smoke began to clear, Kaelen surveyed the wreckage. The few surviving villagers emerged cautiously, their faces etched with a mix of fear and gratitude.

"That was reckless," Sigrid said, though there was no bite in her words.

Kaelen smirked. "You’re welcome."

For the first time, Sigrid didn’t argue. Instead, she turned away, her gaze lingering on the horizon.