Grey woke to a warm sensation enveloping him. His body was supported, held upright in the glowing solution he was submerged in. It wasn’t the golden brilliance of the elixir made from the Heart of Radiance, but it had a similar glow—just softer, less radiant.

“You awake now?” Shot’s voice broke through the haze. She was in the cauldron next to his, her tone carrying a mix of teasing and exhaustion. “This isn’t as dangerous as the Heart of Radiance, but Elder said it’s going to get painful soon.”

Grey shifted slightly, feeling the liquid seep into every inch of his body. Energy was flowing back into him, and his wounds were disappearing, the pain fading with each passing moment. “Did we succeed? Was there another Central Organ?” he asked, his voice hoarse but steady.

From below the cauldron, Brawl’s familiar voice rumbled up. “That’s right. And if we can get one every time, we’ll all be changed before you know it.”

Grey grunted, adjusting himself to sit more comfortably. “I think I used some of my energy for the thread, but it should come back with this elixir. A few days, maybe, and I’ll have generated enough on my own.”

Keen’s voice came next, curious and cautious. “Generate your own… like Brawl?”

Grey exhaled softly. Brawl must’ve told Keen about his own new ability. “Yeah. I can.”

“Alright, we can talk about the serious stuff later,” Shot interjected, her voice tight as she winced. The pain had clearly started, but she bore it without complaint. “Focus on taking in as much energy as possible—and helping me advance while you’re at it.”

“You sound so selfish,” Brawl teased, his voice carrying a playful edge.

Shot rolled her eyes, ignoring him. “Oh, and try to think of a good apology for sneaking off. I’m still annoyed, and I bet everyone else is too. If you’d taken us all along, sure, it would’ve been slower, but it would’ve been safer.”

Grey cleared his throat awkwardly. “Oh—um… well, sorry.”

Shot laughed despite the grimace of pain crossing her face. “Not to me, idiot. To Serene. She was—let’s say—not happy. Once she knew you’d be fine, she stormed off.”

“Oh… yeah,” Grey muttered, shifting uncomfortably. “Any advice?”

Brawl’s laughter erupted, loud and unrestrained, while Shot chuckled in amusement. “Ask Keen,” she said lightly. “He probably knows best.”

Keen scratched the back of his head, his expression awkward but kind. “Just say sorry. Then keep trying until she gets over it, kid. Forget about that for now—focus on how much energy you’re getting from this.”

Grey nodded, closing his eyes as he turned his focus inward. The pain dissolved into the background, his awareness sinking into his mental space. In the familiar darkness of his mind, he saw the pool slowly filling with golden liquid. Though it retained the same color as always, the flow was noticeably slower.

“Maybe it gets purer when it gets here,” he murmured to himself.

The pool was filling at about a third of the rate compared to when he’d used a Heart of Radiance. The quantity of energy was less, but it was still potent enough to make a difference.

Grey began to suspect that the golden thread wouldn’t disappear until it reached the path of Will left behind by the beast, but he couldn’t be sure. Before focusing entirely on improving himself and enhancing Shot’s potential, he searched for another light with the same orange brilliance as the monster they’d recently fought.

It didn’t take long to spot it. The faint glow flickered in his mental space, calling to him like a distant flame. He hesitated, murmuring to himself, “Will this place force me out if I touch it like usual? Can I come back in if it does?”

He shook the thought away. Even if he could increase Shot’s potential enough to approach a breakthrough, she likely wouldn’t be able to advance without a couple more uses of a Central Organ. Resolving to act, Grey teleported to the nearest orb in his connection to the target and walked toward it.

As his fingers brushed the orb, he glanced back at the pool. It dipped slightly, only a small amount lost—enough to be regenerated on his own within three days. Then his focus faded, and he woke.

Shot’s voice greeted him as his eyes opened. “So, you think you can get me far enough?”

Grey nodded slowly. “Eventually, yes. But I need to try something first.”

He closed his eyes, attempting to focus inward again, but his efforts faltered. His brow furrowed, sweat forming as he struggled to penetrate the depths of his mind.

“Something wrong?” Shot asked, her gaze sharp as she noticed his unease.

“Sort of, but it’s not major.” Grey glanced around the room, spotting the familiar thread floating faintly in the air. It shimmered as it pierced through the walls, leading toward the lingering Will of the beast it led to.

“I’m not sure if they told you about my ability to track,” he began, “but when I use it, I can’t go back in to help you guys.”

Keen sat up sharply, his expression serious. “So—that means we need to hunt again?”

Brawl followed suit, his voice firm. “This time, we invite the others. And we’ll be more cautious. Last time was far too close. Thinking we were enough just because of our new strength was foolish.”

Stolen novel; please report.

“Should we go tomorrow then?” Grey asked, his tone steady.

Keen shook his head, his gaze shifting downward. “No. Elder is teaching you tomorrow—and the others who saw something in that scroll. I’ll be joining too, to learn the knowledge passed down to every named Elder before me.”

He paused, his expression thoughtful. “And when I inherit the title, I will teach everyone in the village. There’s no purpose in hoarding so much knowledge anymore. The fear of giving people a reason to leave the village… that’s no longer a concern. We will all be leaving.”

The room fell into a heavy silence as Keen’s words hung in the air. The last drops of elixir drained from the cauldrons, and Grey and Shot climbed down, their bodies renewed.

“You go ahead, kid,” Brawl said, his voice commanding. “The three of us will plan the next hunt. It might be the day after tomorrow, so be ready.”

Grey nodded and turned to leave. Curiously, the storehouse door had been left ajar, allowing him to step outside into the crisp air without hesitation.

He walked toward Elder’s house, the night sky glittering above, stars scattered across the dark expanse like a galaxy come to life. When he entered, Elder was seated, his posture weary but his gaze steady, as though he had been waiting.

“I’m glad you’re safe... how are you feeling?” Elder asked, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

“I’m alright. Thanks for preparing the elixir,” Grey replied.

Elder waved off his thanks with a faint motion. “The monster your group brought back had incredible power—and its body, that flexible wood... Carver and his wife are preparing bows from it for you and the others. Why don’t you head over there? Tear is with them.”

Grey paused, studying the old man who had raised him. “Elder, are you alright?”

The Elder sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging slightly. “I am fine, Grey. I’m just... old. I’m overjoyed that we’ll finally be leaving this place, but the process may be more dangerous than I anticipated. If beasts like that one are already so perilous, what happens when you venture further and further out? How long will it take before you can retreat to a safe place if needed?”

Grey took a step forward, concern etched on his face, but Elder raised a hand to stop him. “Don’t worry about me, Grey. I’m just... thinking too much. Keen will be staying here for now, and Patrona and Stilra will be over soon. Go on. See Tear and the others.”

Grey hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll see you tomorrow for the lessons.”

Elder waved him off with a small, tired smile. “Goodnight, Grey.”

The cold night air greeted him as he stepped back outside, his breath visible in the frosty air. He jogged toward Serene’s home, where he could already hear the faint, muffled sound of Tear’s excited chattering from within.

“I don’t get it,” Tear’s muffled voice said, brimming with curiosity. “How do you make the wood bend without it breaking?”

Carver’s deep tone answered her, though his exact words were hard to make out. Something about “heating it evenly” and “keeping the tension balanced.”

“What about the string?” Tear asked, her voice rising with enthusiasm. “Is it from the beast too? Or something else?”

Carver’s wife chimed in, her voice calm and patient. “Yes, that’s right. Its vines are like sinew—strong and flexible.”

“Ohhh,” Tear exclaimed. “But what if it snaps? Wouldn’t that ruin the whole bow? Do you have extras?”

Carver chuckled softly, his voice warm. “That’s why we make sure it doesn’t snap, kid. And yes, we’ll make extras.”

Grey paused for a moment outside, listening to Tear’s endless stream of questions and Carver’s steady responses. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he knocked on the door.

“Who is it?” Carver’s voice called out from inside.

“It’s me, Grey,” Grey replied.

The sound of hurried movement followed his words, a door closing somewhere within. He waited, confused, until a familiar young girl opened the front door with a teasing grin.

“You made Serene run into Carver and Harthy’s room,” Tear announced, her green eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Come on in, Grey,” Harthy called warmly from within.

Grey stepped into the cozy warmth of the home, the heat of the hearth washing over him. Tear latched onto his arm immediately, guiding him to a seat.

Once seated, Tear’s inquisitive gaze locked onto him. “So, what did you do?” she asked, her voice playful but probing.

Before Grey could respond, a heavy hand landed on his back, clapping him a few times. “Don’t worry about it,” Carver said with a hearty laugh. “She gets worked up over nothing these days. Just let her seethe a bit; she’ll be fine. Just like her mo—”

A sharp crack interrupted him as a wooden branch smacked the back of his head.

Harthy stood nearby, branch in hand, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. “Ignore his advice,” she said. “Just go talk to her. She’s in the workshop.”

Carver, either recovered or unfazed, grinned and held up a polished, dark brown bow. Its sleek surface glinted in the firelight, the craftsmanship flawless. “Then we’ll show you your new weapon,” he said proudly.

Grey’s eyes lingered on the bow for a moment before nodding. “Alright.” Rising, he moved to the workshop door and opened it quietly.

Inside, Serene sat on a small bench, her fingers fiddling with a cord that looked like the vines from the creature in the recent hunt.

“Hey,” Grey said softly, stepping into the room. “Shot told me to come up with an apology.”

Serene let out a soft chuckle. “She would… but you don’t need to.” She sighed, setting the cord down. “I know why you guys went out alone.” She paused before continuing, her voice quieter. “Brawl said it was his idea anyway.”

“I could’ve refused,” Grey admitted, sitting down beside her. “I should’ve. We almost died out there. With a couple more hunters, it would’ve been easier to take it down.” He glanced at her, his voice steady. “I’m sorry.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Grey extended his hand, and Serene placed the cord in it.

“Took all the thorns out?” he asked, running his fingers along its smooth surface.

“Yeah,” she said. “Dad and Mom scraped it clean. Though Dad managed to scrape himself once… he felt terrible for a while.” Her lips curved into a small smile, and Grey couldn’t help but laugh softly along with her.

He tugged at the vine experimentally, testing its strength. Even with his newfound power, the material refused to budge. “This is tough,” he murmured, impressed.

“Maybe in a couple of days, we’ll go out again,” he said, handing the cord back to her. “This time, we’ll move slower, keep an eye on each other, and be better prepared.”

Serene glanced at him, her expression softening. “Yeah,” she said quietly.

They sat together in comfortable silence, the weight of their earlier conversation easing. Then, a rich aroma drifted into the room from the next door. Grey’s stomach growled loudly, the sound echoing awkwardly in the quiet space.

Serene sputtered, trying to hold it in, but soon broke into full-on laughter. Her shoulders shook as she tried to regain her composure. Grey, grateful for the darkness, tilted his head down to hide his reddening face.

“Let’s go eat,” Serene said between giggles as she stood up, brushing herself off.

Grey nodded, quickly following her back into the warmth of the main room. The rich scent of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the air, wrapping around them like a welcoming embrace.