The two boys trudged through the prairie, their legs tired from all the walking. They could hear the soft rustle of the wind through the grass. Shortly after getting out of the city, they had gotten out of the truck, diverting their path towards Arbor. Now, they were close to their terminus.

Above, the sun started to dip below the horizon, casting the forest ahead in its final light. The trees stood tall and majestic, their branches waving gently in the evening breeze, welcoming the night. The air grew steadily cooler. The sky above them was a swirl of purples, oranges and reds, the last light of day clinging to the world.

Aquilo paused for a moment, taking it all in, the peacefulness and the beauty of the wilderness untouched by humans. And the way the fading sunlight bathed the trees in a soft glow. It made the forest seem magical.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Aquilo murmured, a moment of appreciation in his voice.

As someone who spent his days dwelling within the city’s confines, this was a picture he had never seen, not outside of his phone. Austin glanced at the scene, his expression less impressed.

“Sure, if you’re into that sort of thing.” He muttered, pulling his coat tighter as a cool breeze rolled in. “But we couldn’t have timed this worse."

"How so?"

That received a snort.

"It will be night soon, and we’re still out here gawking at this view.”

“Relax. We’ve got plenty of time. Besides, where’s the fun in everything going smoothly?” Aquilo chuckled. “And nothing's happened so far. It’ll be a piece of cake.”

The larger boy grumbled something under his breath, his gaze flicking uneasily toward the darkening treetops. As the sun continued lowering, and the stars started to make their appearance, they finally reached the edge of the dark wall of trees.

“Of course, we’d reach the forest just as night hits.” Austin was not one to let off the opportunity to complain.

Aquilo shot him a grin, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

“Treat it like a challenge. Loosen up Austin.”

He just grumbled, scanning the darkening horizon as if expecting trouble. The smaller boy shrugged.

“You worry too much. The wilderness isn’t as bad as they make it sound. Besides, we’ve got the best cover - darkness.”

“Yeah, until we run into something that can see better in the dark than us.” Austin shot back. “We’re a walking buffet!”

The blonde boy just whistled in response. Soon enough, they found a small clearing just inside the forest. The trees around them were thick. Aquilo tossed down his pack, unfazed by the growing darkness, while Austin glanced around warily. An owl’s hoot passed by their ears.

“Did you hear that?” Austin asked, his eyes scanning the treetops.

“Just some bird.” Aquilo replied casually, setting up his tent.

The forest transformed as night fell; the once vibrant hues of sunset were replaced by deep shadows. And complemented by the cool glow of the stars peeking through the canopy above.

The tall trees now loomed like silent guardians; their branches barely visible in the darkness. The quiet was only broken by the soft crackle of the fire they had built. It cast flickering light around their campsite.

The smell of cooking food hung in the air - simple provisions they’d brought along, but enough to fill the quiet night with a sense of comfort. The warmth of the fire spread through the clearing, offering a small reprieve from the chill that had settled over the forest.

Aquilo crouched beside the campfire, stirring a pan, his face illuminated by the orange glow. The faint sizzle of bacon cooking offered a sense of familiarity. And for a moment, even Austin seemed to relax, though his eyes still darted occasionally towards the treeline.

“Hope you like burnt.” Aquilo joked, flashing a grin. “Not exactly gourmet, but hey, it’s hot.”

Austin sat across from him, arms crossed tightly against the cold.

“As long as it’s food.”

“So, how are going to prepare for the exams? Now that only the core subjects remain, we are going to have more time on our hands.” Aquilo said, eager to divert their attention away from the surroundings.

“Same old.”

“Well, take this as a chance to practice for the practical side.”

“Is that really why we came here?”

“Nope.” The only thing Aquilo wanted was to feel the rush of adrenaline as you clawed your way through surviving the harsh environment.

This was just the test run though, he wouldn’t go too overboard. A single night to see what it was like, and they would be heading back.

“I see.” Austin muttered, watching the flames dance.

There was still that doubt, but it was hard to remain grumpy when infected with Aquilo’s contagious enthusiasm. The firelight flickered over his face, and the quiet sounds of the night crept in.

Despite the serenity, there was a subtle tension that still lingered. The darkness beyond the fire’s light held secrets neither of them wanted to discover.

After eating, the boys retreated to their tent, putting out the flame beforehand. The fire had now dwindled to just glowing embers, casting a faint red glow over the campsite. The soft sounds of the forest during the night blended into a steady hum. The world itself was falling asleep.

Above, the stars continued to twinkle through the gaps in the trees, their cold light a stark contrast to the warmth inside the tents. Aquilo lay on his back, hands behind his head, staring up at the dark fabric of the tent above him.

He couldn’t help but grin. This was what he lived for - the thrill of the unknown, the challenge of something he had never done before. But also because deep down, he wanted to test himself. He had also dragged Austin out here because what fun would be an adventure alone?

The air inside was cooling and gradually calmed him down. But it was not uncomfortable. His nose took in the earthy scent of the forest floor filling the small space.

He felt oddly at peace, a rare moment of tranquillity settling over him as he listened to the wind gently rustling the leaves outside. With the excitement of the day fading, his eyes grew heavy, and soon, the rhythmic sound of his own breathing lulled him into sleep.

In the tent beside him, Austin shifted restlessly in his sleeping bag, pulling it tighter around him. His mind once again started to race with uneasy thoughts. Every small noise outside - the crack of a twig or the distant call of a bird - made him flinch. He sighed, running a hand over his face, trying to shake the feeling.

Exhaustion eventually won out, and with a final glance toward the zipped entrance of the tent, he let his eyes close, surrendering to sleep. Outside, the forest stood silent and still, the tents barely visible against the dark backdrop of trees.

***

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The house was quiet today, the soft hum of the television filling the living room. Dim light from the crystal above bathed the space in a warm glow. The comfortable, well-worn furniture decorated the room. The scent of dinner still lingered faintly in the air, mixing with the clean, familiar smell of home.

Zara sat curled up on the couch, a blanket draped over her lap. Her eyes were half-closed, and the TV in front of her chattered on unaware. Archie sat on the dining table, staring intently at an old tablet.

The usual liveliness in the house seemed to have faded tonight, replaced by a gentle stillness. Alex glanced around as he walked into the room after taking a quick shower. He noticed the subtle difference in Zara's posture - quieter, less energetic than usual.

“Hey, are you feeling okay?” Alex asked.

“I’m fine.” She replied quickly, giving him a tired smile. “Just a bit of a headache. It’s no big deal.”

Alex frowned, watching her for a moment longer before nodding.

“If you say so. Just let me know if you need anything.”

He switched his sight to the TV, browsing his catalogue to find some movies to watch.

“Archie, come here. It's movie night.”

Without needing further encouragement, the boy came running over.

“Which one?”

“Ehh, how about Avatars of the Gods?”

“I heard about that! My friends said it was good.” He started to jump up and down in jubilation.

As the siblings settled onto the couch, the glow of the TV cast a soft light across the room. As the movie started, Alex leaned back, trying to focus on the screen, but his thoughts kept drifting to Zara.

She had always been strong, never one to complain, even when things got tough. But lately, Alex had noticed the subtle signs of her fatigue. He couldn’t help but feel responsible. It was his job to protect her and Archie - his family, the thing that mattered the most.

Zara shifted beside him, and Alex shot her a quick glance.

“Sure you’re okay?”

“For the last time, yes,” Zara replied with a comforting smile. “Stop worrying so much. You’ll get grey hair.”

He nodded, diverting his attention back to the screen as Archie tugged on his sleeves. The movie played on, showing the rise of the ancient cities and the powerful mages that protected them in the medium of animation.

Various monsters entered the land through mysterious portals, while others still mutated under the influx of dark energy. Onscreen, warriors battled beasts the size of mountains, their elemental powers lighting up the battlefield.

But it was all presented in a way suitable for youngsters, with the typical hero beats villain storyline. Archie was constantly excited, his fingers pointing at the screen, urging his siblings to concentrate.

As the movie neared its end, Alex asked a question mirthlessly.

“How accurate is this compared to real history?” Alex asked, half-watching the screen.

Zara nodded, her fingers trembling beneath the cover.

“Quite accurate, at least about the first humans to be blessed by the elemental gods. Same thing with the portals, and that’s where most of the beasts imbued with chaos came from.”

“And that’s why we still have monsters lurking around.” Alex muttered, the thought of the skalvorn flashing briefly in his mind.

He hadn’t discussed the incident with his siblings. It would do them no good, worrying them unnecessarily. Thinking back to when he arrived at the mine earlier today, he remembered as the guards gathered around their van, observing its scars and relaying information to who knows.

He barely had the drive to work, and luckily no one found fault with him for it. When returning, they had no choice but to use a replacement vehicle temporarily gifted by the company. It was odd how often and willing they were to help Sam, but then again, he was the perfect employee.

The incident was now behind him. He could only hope it would stay that way.

***

The training hall was vast and silent, save for the steady rhythm of Yeray’s sword slicing through the air and the hum of a lone drone observing him. The lights were limited to only a few sections of the hall, some corners now filled with darkness. Shadows sat across the polished floor. There was an intense focus etched on Yeray’s face. The room smelled faintly of sweat and metal, the lingering scent of long hours of practice.

Near one of the room’s entrances, the last of the other trainees slung their bag over their shoulder, wiping sweat from their brows.

"You’re still at it, huh?" She called, offering a tired smile. "Remember not to overdo it."

With a wave, she headed towards the door, her footsteps echoing in the near empty hall. Yeray barely glanced over, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword.

"Goodnight." he muttered, but his attention was already back on the practice dummy before him.

Using the data fed to it by the machines around him, the dummy could better react to his weaknesses, forcing him to improve his weak spots. His muscles ached from hours of repetition, but still he moved, each strike sharper and more precise than the last.

As the door clicked shut, Yeray stood alone in the hall, the silence heavy around him. But he wasn’t done yet. Not until he was stronger. Not until he could surpass her.

The silence in the training hall stood steady as Yeray continued his relentless practice, only offset by the occasional swishes of his sword cutting the air. Each swing of his weapon cut through the still air, the room bathed in dim light until it all seemed to blur - his movements, the soft glow of the crystals high above, the empty space around him.

The darkness seemed to creep closer, the quiet becoming almost suffocating. Then, everything shifted. The sword in his hand vanished, and the familiar training hall dissolved. He now stood in a past he couldn't forget. It was a cold, deep night.

He blinked, now standing outside one of the grand estates of the Griffin family. The tall iron gates loomed before him, their imposing form cutting through the stillness of the night. It felt the same - his shivering, the stars in the sky above, the vast emptiness in his heart.

He remembered the cold, how it seeped through his ragged clothes, and the empty ache in his stomach as he had stood there, trembling, alone. Just like now, the world had been silent then.

The darkness wrapped around him like a cloak. He could still feel the floor beneath his bare feet, the weight of his exhaustion making his legs weak. The family estate had seemed too grand, too unreachable for someone like him. But he had nowhere else to go.

The front door had creaked open then, and soft light spilt out. There she stood, bathing under the warmth. She motioned a man over, dressed in butler’s clothing. He opened the gates, his eyes suspiciously hovering over Yeray. For the first time in his life, the boy felt his existence had a purpose.

They had found him abandoned, with nothing but the clothes on his back. They had taken him in and given him a home. But that didn’t mean he was content to stay in their shadow. No, the only way to repay them was through strength. It was all he knew.

His body will be her shield, his arms her sword, his will her desire. He long had a goal. To surpass everyone, to become stronger than any of them, especially her. She had always been ahead - smarter, more talented, more powerful. But Yeray was determined to close that gap, no matter what it took. Only then could he confidently stand beside her.

He had to make his name known. Thus, he challenged all those who could steal his place. His goal had been within arm’s reach, yet it was foiled within moments. But it was of no matter. He would try harder. He would destroy anyone who stood in his path. He’ll earn back her respect.

Yeray tightened his grip on the sword in his hand, his knuckles turning white.

“I’ll surpass her.” He whispered under his breath, his eyes flashing with determination. “I have to.”