The devil-like creature spotted another prey and chased it into the shadows. As Kyren knelt on the ground, holding Hiro, blood seeped from Hiro’s wounds, staining the dirt beneath them. Hiro smiled, despite the agony of death creeping over him.

Seconds passed, and that smile twisted into something strange. Hiro’s face blurred, becoming a silhouette—a girl, her form shrouded in shadows. Her eyes glowed an eerie mix of purple and red, like embers burning with malicious intent. She drifted toward Kyren with a slow, deliberate pace.

Kyren’s chest tightened, his limbs frozen in place as if invisible hands held him. His mind screamed for him to move, but his body remained trapped. The silhouette of the girl stretched its hand toward him, and he swore he felt cold fingers brush his skin.

“Finally… my sweet… heart…” she whispered, her voice soaked with dread, each syllable dripping into Kyren’s soul. Her words coiled around him, suffocating him with their weight.

With each step she took away from him, the sound echoed louder in his mind, more deafening with distance, until it drowned out every other thought. He opened his mouth to scream, but no sound escaped. His voice was gone, swallowed by the oppressive air of terror that held him captive.

Then, in the midst of this suffocating fear, a voice broke through the haze. “Kyren! Kyren!” It was distant, distorted, but familiar. He struggled to place it, to remember whose voice it was. Finally, it clicked—it was Hiro.

Suddenly, Kyren jolted awake, gasping for air. His chest heaved as if he’d just surfaced from being underwater. Cold sweat clung to his skin, and his heart pounded against his ribs, the fear still lingering as if the girl’s presence was not just a nightmare but something real.

For a moment, he couldn’t tell where he was. His eyes darted around the room, the shadows from the night still haunting him. But then, Hiro’s face came into focus, sitting beside him, concern etched into his features.

“A nightmare after a nightmare,” Kyren thought bitterly.

“Kyren, are you okay?” Hiro asked softly, his hand resting on Kyren’s shoulder in a comforting gesture.

Kyren inhaled deeply, trying to slow his breathing, his voice shaky as he replied. “It was just a nightmare. I saw… a girl, a dark figure. She felt so real.”

Hiro handed him a glass of water, the coolness helping to ground him. “Dreams can be terrifying, but they’re only illusions. Sometimes, superstitions say dreams are the opposite of reality—maybe it’s a good omen,” he said, trying to lighten the mood with a reassuring smile.

Kyren nodded, though the image of the shadowy girl still clung to his mind. “Maybe… it’s just a dream,” he repeated, though he didn’t fully believe it.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

As the first rays of dawn crept through the window, Hiro busied himself, preparing for the day. He moved around the room quickly, his usual energy returning.

“You’re awake!” Hiro said, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. He set out a small meal for Kyren. “You can rest if you want, but I’ve got work. Want to come with me today?”

Kyren hesitated but then nodded. “I’ll come with you. Maybe I need the distraction.”

“Great! Eat up. We’ve got a lot to do.” Hiro’s enthusiasm was infectious, and Kyren felt a small wave of relief wash over him.

After they left Hiro’s house, Kyren was taken aback by the busy streets of the small town. The clamor of morning markets, the lively shouts of vendors, and the sweet smell of ripe fruits filled the air. But amid the bustling crowd, a dark thought surfaced—the nightmare lingered like a shadow at the back of his mind, making him stop in his tracks.

“What’s wrong?” Hiro asked, noticing Kyren’s sudden stillness.

Kyren forced a smile. “It’s nothing.” But his mind was far from settled. Hiro gave him a reassuring pat, pulling Kyren’s focus back to the present.

As they approached a particularly lively market stall, Hiro greeted the vendor with warmth. “Cora! Good morning!”

The older woman, Cora, looked up from arranging peaches and smiled. “Hiro, my boy! Good to see you,” she said, giving him a light pat on the shoulder.

“This is Kyren,” Hiro introduced. “He’s new here, but he’s trustworthy. He’s trying to find his memories and could use some work. Do you have any openings?”

Cora’s eyes flicked over Kyren with a discerning gaze. “Well, if Hiro vouches for you, that’s good enough for me. We work hard here, kid. Think you can handle that?”

Grateful, Kyren nodded. “Thank you. I won’t let you down.”

Just then, a townsman came rushing through the stalls, his voice frantic. “They’re here! The guild is here!”

Hiro’s expression darkened instantly. “Kyren, help me!” he barked, rushing to hide the best fruits behind the stall. He handed Kyren a crate filled with overripe ones.

“What’s going on?” Kyren asked, confused.

“I’ll explain later, just do it!” Hiro said, panic lacing his voice. Together, they hurried to replace the display with second-rate goods.

As the knights approached, Kyren’s eyes darted from stall to stall, noticing the same scene playing out—knights grabbing food without paying, vendors standing in defeated silence. His mind raced, piecing together the puzzle.

“They’re not just inspecting—they’re stealing,” Kyren muttered under his breath, watching one knight shove a vendor aside to snatch a basket of apples.

His gaze fell to the fresh fruits displayed on Cora’s stall, and suddenly it clicked. That’s why Hiro was in a panic earlier. They’re hiding the good stuff.

As they finished, a group of knights approached on horseback. Their armor gleamed under the morning light, a stark contrast to the gloom that fell over the market. Twenty armored men marched alongside them, inspecting every stall. Vendors watched in silence; their eyes downcast as the knights took what they wanted without a word of protest.

Kyren felt a surge of anger as he watched the helplessness in their faces.

When the knights stopped at Cora’s stall, the leader glanced at the display, his eyes narrowing. “This all you have?” he asked coldly.

Cora trembled slightly but nodded. “Yes… this is all we have,” she stammered.

The knight wasn’t convinced. “I don’t believe you.” He stepped forward, flipping the table and uncovering the hidden crates. His hand reached for his sword, prepared to destroy the goods.

But before he could strike, Kyren’s hand shot out, grabbing the knight’s wrist. The tension in the air thickened as Kyren stood firm, staring the knight down. The entire market seemed to hold its breath.