"This is the final one!" a man shouted, his voice echoing through the clearing as the great Mukbar tree groaned under its own weight. The sun, now dipping low in the sky, cast golden rays that danced on the sweat-slicked backs of the workers.


    “Timber!!”


    With a thunderous crack, the massive tree gave way, crashing to the earth in a shower of splinters and dust. Birds scattered from the treetops, and the ground trembled beneath their feet.


    “Good work today, Leonard,” the foreman called out, wiping the grime from his brow as he approached the younger man, who was leaning on his axe, catching his breath.


    Leonard straightened, offering a polite smile. He unfurled his black hair from the bandana he was wearing to keep away the sweat from his brow. His once wiry frame had filled out over the years, muscles hardened from labor and something else—something the others couldn’t quite place.


    “Thanks, boss,” he replied simply, brushing damp strands of hair from his forehead.


    “Always the humble one,” the foreman chuckled, clapping him on the back with a hearty thud that nearly knocked Leonard forward. “Say, why don’t you just marry my daughter already? You’re both of age, and you ain’t getting any younger, lad.”


    From behind, an older man barked a laugh and swatted the foreman’s backside with a thick leather glove. “Oh, lay off him, will ya? Young folk pick their own time for marrying now. Ain’t like when we were pups, betrothed by age fifteen and miserable till death.”


    “That’s right!” another chimed in, loosening his work belt and plopping onto a nearby stump. “The Tribunal of Magic was a godsend if you ask me. Who would’ve thought that decent food and clean water would let folks live longer? Now we get to nag the young’uns a good twenty years longer than our fathers did!”


    Laughter rippled through the group.


    “Right?” one of them said, snapping his fingers as if a thought just struck him. He turned to Leonard with a curious squint. “Say, wasn’t your brother part of that whole Tribunal mess? What do they call ‘em—official magi or somethin’?”


    “Yeah! I remember now,” another added, perking up. “He married that rich girl, didn’t he? Way back—what—fifteen years ago? All ‘cause he could use magic, right? How’s he doin’ these days?”


    Leonard busied himself sheathing his axe, buying a moment before answering. He glanced up at them with an easy smile. “He’s well,” he said, tightening the straps on his pack. “Sent me a letter, actually. Says he’s expecting another kid.”


    A round of whistles and claps broke out at that.


    “Well, would you look at that! Congrats to him—and to you, Uncle Leonard!”


    “Thanks,” Leonard replied, though there was a note of tired amusement in his voice.


    The foreman squinted at him, smirking. “Don’t suppose you’ll be settlin’ down like him anytime soon, eh?”


    Leonard slung his pack over his shoulder, shaking his head with a soft chuckle. “Not today, boss. Now, if you’ll excuse me, gentlemen.” He gave them a playful salute before turning down the well-trodden path leading away from the lumberyard.


    The group watched him go, the banter quieting as his figure receded into the trees.


    “Where d’you reckon he’s always runnin’ off to?” one of the younger men asked, tilting his head.


    The others shrugged.


    “Dunno,” muttered one. “Always headin’ deeper into the woods—and comes back lookin’ like he fought a bear, or worse.”


    “And don’t forget the meat!” another added. “Mayor’s cold chest is always packed full when he comes back. Real meat, too. None of that salted junk we get from the peddlers.”


    “Right,” a wiry man said, leaning in as if to share a secret. “And no one’s seen him huntin’. No traps. No bow. He just vanishes into the forest and returns with more meat than a man should be able to carry.”


    “Well, boys,” Delan, the foreman, said, a smug grin curling on his lips. He crossed his arms and rocked back on his heels. “We might not have to wonder much longer.”


    The others turned to him, raising brows.


    “Delan, what’re you talkin’ about?”


    The foreman simply chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ll find out soon enough.”


    And with that cryptic remark, he turned back toward the path home, leaving the others murmuring in speculation.


    ________________________________________________________________


    On the other side of the forest, a young woman strode with determination, expertly dodging another gnarled root that writhed just above the forest floor — a hungry trap for any careless wanderer. She shot it a scowl, using the handle of her basket to shove it aside as she pressed on.


    The basket swung gently from her arm, filled to the brim with sweet cakes, cured meats, and spiced bread, the sort of offerings that would make any man weak in the knees — or so she hoped.


    "Damn, how deep did he go?" Samantha muttered to herself, tucking a strand of brunette hair behind her ear as she carefully sidestepped a thorny vine that snapped at her heels. She was beginning to regret wearing her finer dress for this little adventure.


    A sharp hiss to her right caught her attention — a bulbous predatory plant, its leafy maw snapping open and shut in hopes of snatching a bite from her basket.


    "Oh no you don’t," she growled, swatting the plant’s mouth closed with practiced ease. “This is for Leonard, not you.”


    Samantha, daughter of Delan the foreman and self-proclaimed most eligible bachelorette of Telones, was not a woman to be deterred by hungry plants or wandering roots. Not when her prize was Leonard Expatri.


    Still, even her tenacity was wearing thin. Hours had passed since she ventured into the deeper reaches of the woods, and though the forest had quieted some, her arms were aching, her feet sore, and her resolve stretched thin.


    But that was when she heard it — a steady, rhythmic thwack, like steel biting into wood.


    Her eyes narrowed, a smile tugging at her lips. "Gotcha," she whispered.


    With renewed energy, she pressed toward the sound, slipping through brambles and thick brush until she reached the end of the thicket.


    What she saw made her breath catch in her throat.


    There it was — The Tree of Ancients. The most massive tree in all of Telones, towering like a mountain with roots as thick as houses. Its bark shimmered faintly, as though the tree itself were alive with old magic. But what stole her attention were the deep gashes carved into its trunk — countless marks where blades had sunk into its wood and where the tree had tried, in vain, to heal itself.


    And there, standing before it, axe in hand, was Leonard.


    He looked... different.


    His shirt clung to him, soaked through with sweat, and every muscle in his arms and back tensed as he raised the axe high and brought it down with a crack, splitting bark and wood. His eyes burned with a focus so intense it made her hesitate. This wasn’t the quiet, humble man she bantered with in town — this was someone fighting a war of his own.


    She took a step forward, ready to call out to him, to offer the basket and her brightest smile — but stopped when he paused, panting, and set the axe down beside him.


    He pulled a canteen from his belt, taking a long drink before fishing something from his pocket. A letter.


    Samantha''s brows knit together as she watched him unfold the paper, his hands trembling just slightly. His eyes scanned the words with a look that made her chest ache — a look filled with sadness and determination.


    She opened her mouth to say something, anything — but the moment felt too heavy to break.


    After a long moment, Leonard folded the letter, setting it gently on a nearby rock as if it were something precious. Then, with a final swig from his canteen, he gripped his axe once more and began to swing again.


    Samantha crept closer, curiosity gnawing at her. With Leonard’s back turned, she reached for the letter, her fingers tracing the edges before unfolding it carefully.


    Her eyes darted across the page, reading quickly:


    <hr>


    "Dear Brother,


    I hope our family and Telones are doing well. Know that I miss you, Mom, and Dad daily.


    I''m blessed with another child. A son this time! I just wish that I’ll have the time to get to know him.


    This damn war with the North is making all the nobles mobilize — and that includes me.


    But don’t worry though! As you know, I’m super strong. I’ll see you soon enough when Mercie and I visit you again.


    Love, Richard."


    <hr>


    Samantha blinked at the words, her heart twisting.


    “Damn idiot,” Leonard muttered behind her, startling her enough that she nearly dropped the paper. She turned, but he hadn’t noticed her yet — his axe resting against the tree, his eyes lost in thought.


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    “How do you make war sound so easy?” he said bitterly, jaw tight. “We both heard the old folks tell us how disgusting it was during the Great War... like it was yesterday.”


    Samantha swallowed hard, the basket suddenly heavy in her hands.


    She knew exactly what he meant. Her own grandfather had spoken often, and darkly, of those years. Of friends who never came back. Of fields turned to ash.


    Leonard ran a hand through his sweat-soaked hair, staring up at the tree with a look that made her chest ache even more.


    She wanted to say something — to call out to him, to offer comfort or even just her company — but the words stuck in her throat.


    So instead, she quietly folded the letter, setting it back where she had found it, and stepped away, the woods swallowing her presence.


    As she retreated, Leonard raised his axe again, and the sharp crack of metal against ancient wood echoed through the trees — a sound of defiance against something far larger than himself.


    However, the quiet exit Samantha had hoped for shattered in an instant when a pair of blazing red eyes glared at her from between the gnarled roots of an ancient tree. The eyes burned like embers in the gloom, locking her in place.


    Her breath caught in her throat, her hands tightening on the basket handle until her knuckles turned white.


    A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the clearing, vibrating in her chest. Slowly, with a creak of sinew and muscle, a massive beast emerged from the shadows — a bear, but far larger than any she had seen before. Its fur was matted with mud and old scars, and strange crimson veins pulsed just beneath the surface of its hide, glowing like molten cracks in stone.


    “Wha… what are you…” she whispered, unable to move.


    With a flash of movement too fast for its size, the bear lunged — a massive claw swiping out like a scythe to tear her in two.


    Samantha screamed and shut her eyes, bracing for the end.


    But the pain never came.


    Instead, she felt strong arms yank her back, pulling her flush against a sturdy chest. The next thing she heard was the sickening crunch of metal meeting bone — followed by the beast’s roar of pain.


    “Are you alright?”


    The voice was low, calm yet sharp, like the eye of a storm.


    Samantha’s eyes shot open to see Leonard, one arm wrapped protectively around her waist, his axe buried deep into the bear’s front leg, severing it nearly to the bone. The beast staggered back, blood pouring down its limb.


    Leonard’s gaze never left the bear, though his voice softened just for her. "Stay behind me."


    Her heart fluttered in her chest, her usual sharp wit failing her for once.


    “Oh, my legs… my legs gave out,” she mumbled weakly, her cheeks burning.


    Leonard gave her a glance, smirking slightly as he loosened his hold. "Funny, Sam. But you stand straighter than a Mukbar tree."


    She caught herself quickly and straightened up, adjusting her dress like she hadn’t just been clinging to him like a frightened child.


    “Stop playing, Sam,” he said firmly, though the corner of his mouth twitched. "We both know you’re not that weak."


    “Well, sorry for trying to be a proper lady for once,” she huffed, glaring at him — but her hands still trembled faintly.


    Leonard gave her a raised brow, amused even in the middle of danger. "Now why would you want that?"


    But neither had time for further banter.


    From the mist beyond the clearing, more pairs of red eyes blinked into existence, glowing like coals in the darkness.


    Three more bears lumbered out, each just as monstrous as the first, lips curled back in snarls that exposed jagged, yellow teeth. Their breath steamed in the cool air as they stalked forward, muscles rippling beneath corrupted fur.


    Samantha swallowed. "You’ve gotta be kidding me..."


    Leonard''s face hardened, taking a defensive stance. "Stay behind me, and if I say run, run. Got it?"


    She gave a reluctant nod, clutching the handle of her basket as though it would offer some protection.


    The first bear, despite its wounded leg, let out a furious roar and charged, barreling toward Leonard like a freight train.


    Leonard sidestepped at the last second, raising his axe high and bringing it down with a wet crack against the beast’s spine. The blow was powerful enough to stagger the creature, but not to fell it.


    "Damn, you''re a tough one," Leonard muttered, wrenching the axe free just as the second bear lunged.


    He spun to meet it, swinging his axe in a wide arc that caught the bear in the side of the head. Bone and flesh gave way with a spray of crimson, but the bear kept coming, driven by some unnatural force.


    Samantha could only watch, heart pounding, as Leonard fought like a man possessed. He moved with sharp precision, each step measured, every swing of the axe aiming for a vital point. But even he was starting to breathe harder, sweat pouring from his brow.


    The third bear let out a growl and lunged for Samantha, clearly deciding she was easier prey.


    “Sam, move!” Leonard barked, but she was already ducking under a wild swipe of its claws. Her basket went flying, scattering pastries and meats across the forest floor.


    “I was gonna give him those, you bastard!” she snapped, surprising herself.


    Leonard rushed to intercept, slamming the handle of his axe into the bear''s snout to knock it back.


    “Behind me, now!”


    Samantha scrambled back, putting a thick tree trunk between herself and the raging creature.


    The wounded first bear charged again, and Leonard spun to meet it, planting a foot and hurling his axe like a spear — the blade sank deep into the beast''s throat, and this time, it finally dropped with a ground-shaking thud.


    No time to retrieve the axe.


    The third bear lunged again, and Leonard met it with only his fists and a broken branch he grabbed from the ground. He jammed the branch into its maw, using all his strength to keep the snapping jaws from closing around him.


    "Sam!" he grunted, struggling against the beast’s weight. "Now would be a good time to show me those lady-like skills!"


    Samantha blinked, then glared. "You’re gonna regret saying that!"


    She yanked a long knife from her boot — the kind her father always said a smart girl carried — and dashed forward. As the bear focused on Leonard, she drove the blade deep into its exposed side, right under the ribcage.


    The bear let out a choking roar, twisting in pain. Leonard took the chance to slam his elbow into its skull, knocking it to the ground.


    With a grunt, Leonard pulled his axe free from the fallen first bear and turned to the last one, now circling cautiously.


    “Stay back, Sam,” he warned, blood trickling down his arm from a shallow scratch.


    “Not a chance,” she shot back, gripping her bloodied knife tighter.


    Leonard smirked. "See? You were never really the ''proper lady'' type."


    The final bear stood there, muscles rippling under its corrupted fur, its crimson eyes glaring at them with raw, savage hunger. Foam dripped from its jaws as it let out a low, rumbling growl that vibrated in Samantha’s chest.


    Leonard rolled his shoulder, adjusting his grip on the bloodied axe. "Alright," he muttered, half to himself, half to her. "Last one."


    Samantha swallowed but stood firm beside him, her knife glinting in the pale light that filtered through the trees. "You ready?"


    Leonard gave her a sideways glance, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "I was about to ask you the same thing."


    The bear pawed the ground like a bull, its massive body coiling up, preparing to lunge.


    Then it charged.


    "Left!" Leonard barked, and both of them split to opposite sides, the bear charging straight between them.


    As it roared and turned to follow Samantha — the smaller, quicker target — Leonard rushed in from behind, burying his axe deep into the back of the bear’s hind leg, severing tendons with a brutal crunch.


    The beast howled in fury, turning on him, snapping its massive jaws.


    "Leonard, duck!" Samantha shouted.


    Without hesitation, Leonard dropped to a knee as Samantha leapt over him, using his shoulder as a springboard to launch herself right at the bear''s head — knife raised high.


    With a snarl of determination, she plunged the blade into the bear''s glowing eye, driving it in to the hilt.


    The bear screamed in pain, rearing back on its haunches, thrashing wildly — but it was already over.


    Leonard was waiting.


    As the beast raised itself high, exposing its chest, Leonard surged forward with a roar of his own, swinging his axe in a brutal upward arc, cleaving straight through its gut and into its heart.


    The bear shuddered, its massive body swaying — then, with a final, wet gurgle, it collapsed to the forest floor with a thunderous crash, shaking the ground beneath them.


    Silence fell over the clearing, broken only by their ragged breathing.


    Samantha still stood where she had landed, chest heaving, eyes wide but alight with adrenaline. She wiped her blade on the grass, trying to seem casual despite the wild thumping of her heart.


    Leonard straightened slowly, yanking his axe free from the beast’s corpse. He glanced at her, eyebrows raised. "You alright?"


    She gave him a shaky grin. "Yeah... yeah, I’m good."


    He snorted, but there was a flicker of pride in his eyes. "You fight like a wildcat. Where''d you learn that?"


    Samantha grinned, sheathing her knife. "Maybe I picked up a thing or two when you weren''t looking."


    Leonard shook his head, smirking as he wiped the blood off his axe. "Remind me not to get on your bad side."


    "You’d never survive," she shot back, tossing her hair over her shoulder — though her knees were still weak.


    As the last rays of sunlight filtered through the trees, casting golden light over the now-quiet clearing, Leonard stared at the wounded Tree of Ancients. His face grew solemn, the weight of unseen burdens pressing on his shoulders.


    Beside him, Samantha followed his gaze in silence.


    "Thanks," Leonard murmured, his voice quieter now. "You should get out of here—before more of those things show up."


    "But what about you?" she asked, her brow furrowed with concern. "You’re hurt! You need a witch doctor."


    Leonard just shook his head. With effort, he knelt by one of the fallen bears and yanked a bright purple stone from deep within its chest. The stone pulsed faintly in his hand, radiating a strange light.


    "I need to finish up here," he said, though his words were strained with pain.


    Samantha watched in stunned silence as Leonard walked to the massive scar along the Tree of Ancients and pressed the stone into the wounded bark. Then, with a sharp breath, he swung his axe — and as the blade struck the stone, a ripple of force exploded through the tree, tearing away a massive chunk as if an invisible blast had detonated from within.


    Samantha flinched at the sound. "What the hell…?" she whispered, eyes wide.


    Leonard chuckled, though it was tired and hollow. "Pretty, isn''t it? I found them when I started cutting this thing… from the beasts that kept coming after me."


    "You’ve been doing this for years?" she asked, putting pieces together in her mind.


    "Fifteen," he admitted, wiping sweat from his brow.


    "Fifteen years," she repeated softly, then gave a small smile. "I thought so."


    Leonard blinked at her. "How’d you figure that out?"


    "Let’s just say… my eyes were on you for a long time. Since we were kids. And it just so happens that fifteen years ago, you started working under my dad and disappearing into these woods every day."


    Leonard paused at that, searching her expression — but said nothing. Instead, he reached for a second stone, planting it deep into another fissure in the bark. He swung again, and another violent crack tore through the ancient tree, its groans echoing like an old creature in pain.


    "I’m close," Leonard muttered, though his arms shook and sweat poured down his face. His grip on the axe was weakening, but still, he refused to let go. "Just… one more hit."


    He reached for a third stone — larger, darker than the others — and readied himself for the final strike.


    But before he could move, Samantha’s hand shot out, gripping his wrist firmly.


    "If you swing like that, your arm''s coming off along with that axe," she said sharply, her eyes locking onto his.


    Leonard frowned, caught off guard.


    "Here," she continued, softening, as she tore a long strip of fabric from her skirt. "Widen your stance, hold the axe right." She bound the handle to his hands, tightening it to keep it steady. "There. Now it won’t slip."


    Leonard looked at her, a flicker of gratitude breaking through his exhaustion. He gave a weak nod.


    With a deep, bracing breath, he lifted the axe one final time, feet planted firm — and brought it crashing down onto the last stone.


    The impact sent a deafening roar through the woods, a sound so immense it echoed all the way back to Telones, rattling the very ground beneath them.


    The Tree of Ancients shuddered violently, splinters flying as its ancient body gave way, and for a moment, everything stood still in the fading light of day.