《Yahiko and the Nine Realms》


 UNIVERSE TERMINOLOGY

    About this document


    This chapter serves as a reference guide to the novel''s universe. The information it contains is gradually revealed throughout the story but is compiled here for easier access. As such, some sections may contain minor spoilers.


    Essence


    An invisible energy that permeates every being and every thing, serving as the source of power and balance in the world.


    Details:


    Only a select few humans can perceive and harness it.


    Arcanum


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    The ultimate form of Essence manipulation, unique to each individual.


    Details:


    Each Arcanum is distinct and reflects its wielder''s personality, will, or innate talent.


    The Guardians


    Mysterious beings who have learned to master and tame their Essence, granting them supernatural abilities.


    Details:


    They are regarded as humanity''s protectors against the threats of the Veil.


    The Yoka?


    Demons and monstrous creatures that emerge from the depths of the Veil, posing a threat to the human world.


    Details:


    Their power is ranked using a tiered system, ranging from E (weakest) to S (extremely powerful).


    The Veil


    A mystical boundary separating the human world from the infernal darkness where the Yoka? dwell.


    Sh¨­bu


    A strategic card game emblematic of the Guardians of the Veil universe.


    Details:


    Played throughout the world of Guardians of the Veil, it is one of the most popular pastimes.


    Who knows? Perhaps one day, it will be adapted to our own world!


    This guide may be updated with new elements as the story progresses!

 Prologue - The Night of Ashes

    The night had fallen upon the small village of K¨¹ngsta like a shroud of terror. The sky, streaked with silent lightning, momentarily illuminated the chaos below. Houses, consumed by flames, collapsed one after another, leaving behind only charred silhouettes. In the alleys, bodies lay scattered¡ªsome already lifeless, others gasping their final breaths, their souls carried away by the smoke.The wind carried ashes and distant screams, while the ground trembled under the steps of a monstrous entity.


    Amidst the ruins, a young woman clutched her two children against her with desperate strength. Yahiko, barely three years old, and Fumi, just one, clung to her, unaware of the danger looming over them. Her gaze remained fixed on the man standing before them.


    Motionless, he was the last barrier between his family and the advancing shadow.


    The ground was riddled with craters, strewn with fragments of wood and stone. Everywhere, debris bore witness to the brutal battle.


    Before the man stood a massive silhouette, both human and monstrous. The creature, towering over two meters, radiated an overwhelming presence. Its ashen-gray skin was marbled with dark veins pulsing with an ominous energy. Its incandescent red eyes gleamed with a savage hunger, craving destruction.


    Its body was covered in an ivory exoskeleton, perfectly molding its form. Yet this "carapace" was stained with blood and dirt, cracked in places¡ªa testament to the relentless battle unfolding at that very moment.


    Its fingers extended into razor-sharp claws, their blackened nails resembling forged metal. Its jaw, unnaturally wide, revealed elongated fangs, while the thick musculature of its neck hinted at an abnormal strength.


    When it spoke, its voice resonated with an eerie depth, as if multiple beings were speaking in unison¡ªan unsettling echo between man and monster.


    This hybrid appearance made it all the more terrifying. It was neither fully human nor fully beast, but something in between¡ªa living symbol of corruption and raw power.


    The man standing before it was of average height and build, dressed simply in a lightweight black tunic, worn from battle. It concealed a lean yet well-defined musculature.His disheveled black hair, piercing and focused gaze, and unwavering posture gave him the air of a seasoned warrior.


    His tanned skin, marred with scars, bore the weight of years of hardship. Though breathless and weary, he faced his adversary with an unshaken calm.


    The Yoka? wavered slightly before locking its incandescent gaze onto the man. A cruel smile stretched across its lips, revealing jagged fangs.


    Despite the visible wounds on its body and its labored breathing, it still exuded a menacing aura.A rictus stretched further across its face, and it spoke in a hoarse voice:


    "I was not lied to¡­ I am pleasantly surprised. You truly are one of the most powerful¡­ A ''Guardian'' who far surpasses the legends told about him."


    Its voice rumbled like distant thunder.


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    "However, it is too late. Even if I were to die tonight, do you really think it would matter? He is coming back soon."


    The man reacted instinctively, clenching his fists. His pupils contracted, and his body tensed as a faint aura began to envelop him.It rippled around him, a blend of light and almost imperceptible vibrations.


    His deep, sharp voice shattered the oppressive silence:


    "Who sent you here? How did you know about my family?"


    The Yoka? let out a raspy laugh, its fangs glinting under the flickering flames.


    "Do you really think you can stop what has already begun?"


    Without warning, the aura around the man intensified, sharpening until it molded perfectly to his body. Then, in a single breath, he vanished¡ªhis silhouette dissolving like a mirage.A fraction of a second later, he reappeared, mere inches from the demon''s face.


    The creature''s eyes widened in shock, unable to follow such speed.


    Acting purely on instinct, the monster retaliated. Its right arm swung a powerful hook, an energy wave trailing behind it, slicing through the air with brutal force.


    But the man, moving with supernatural fluidity, ducked just enough to evade the strike¡ªhis movement so precise it seemed measured to the millimeter.


    In a flash, he countered.


    His fist plunged into the monster''s right flank, shattering its bone armor for good. His strike pierced through the carapace, sinking deep¡ªprecisely at the liver.


    The impact unleashed a shockwave so powerful that villagers hiding dozens of meters away were sent tumbling, the flames flickering violently under the force.


    The Yoka? spat out a torrent of blackened blood, its knees slamming heavily into the ground.


    Silence fell, broken only by the creature''s ragged breathing. Unable to rise, its body convulsed in agony.


    The man towered over it, his gaze unwavering, his eyes burning with a deadly light.


    "It''s over."


    His voice, though calm, carried an unshakable authority.


    The Yoka?, still on its knees, struggled to lift its head. A thin line of black dust began peeling from its ear, the telltale sign of its essence unraveling.A monstrous smile spread across its face.


    "It doesn''t matter what you do¡­ He is coming, and nothing will stop him¡­ not even you!"


    It had no time to say more.


    Its body dissolved into a swirling mass of dark smoke, spiraling like black sand before vanishing completely into the air.


    The man remained motionless for a moment, his fists still clenched. He breathed heavily, his gaze fixed on the spot where the Yoka? had faded. His tattered clothes bore witness to the relentless battles he had fought that night.


    He staggered slightly but quickly steadied himself.


    Finally, he turned, his eyes falling upon his family.


    With slow, deliberate steps, he approached and knelt before his wife.


    Despite the horror surrounding her, she remained steadfast, her gaze shining with a determination nearly equal to his.


    He placed a hand on her face, his fingers gently brushing against her cheek.


    "I must leave again. I''m sorry I can''t stay."


    She nodded without a word, a sad yet resolute smile illuminating her face.


    "Do what you must."


    The man turned his gaze toward his children. Yahiko was crying, his tiny fists clutching his mother''s robe, while his younger sister, strangely serene, had fallen asleep despite the chaos.


    He placed a gentle hand on his son''s head. For the first time, his expression softened, all traces of hardness vanishing.


    A luminous energy, almost soothing, gathered in his palm, enveloping the child''s skull in a delicate glow.


    "I''m sorry," he murmured."But you must not remember any of this."


    The energy seeped into Yahiko, and slowly, his eyes closed, a faint smile forming on his lips.


    When he awoke, he would have only one memory left: the image of a man standing between him and the darkness.


    The man placed a final kiss on his wife, conveying his love in a simple "I love you." Then, he stood.


    He turned away, his imposing figure rising one last time against the flickering glow of the flames.


    And, in a single breath, he vanished as swiftly as he had arrived, leaving behind nothing but a whisper in the wind.


    Beneath a sky where light and darkness still clashed, Yahiko, fast asleep, retained only one image from that tragic night: the silhouette of a man''s back, forever etched into his mind.

 Chapter 1 - A Strange Mirror

    The line trembled. An invisible tension ran along the rope, vibrating under a muffled force buried in the depths.


    Hands clenched around the grip, the silhouette remained motionless, muscles tense, holding its breath. Something was pulling it toward the abyss. A weight, heavy, elusive, was slowly rising from the darkness. The water beneath the ice seemed to stir, as if it were breathing, as if something down there had finally decided to respond.


    He had waited all day. Hidden under a thin layer of snow and intertwined branches, his body numb from the cold, he had not dared to make the slightest movement. This fish was no ordinary catch. It was cunning, devious, almost too intelligent. More than once, it had brushed against the bait without ever biting, disappearing into the liquid shadow of the lake. But this time¡­ it had taken the hook.


    A sudden jolt. A violent shock nearly wrenched the grip from his hands. The line groaned, threatening to snap. The child planted his feet firmly in the hardened snow, feeling the beast''s raw strength struggle in the abyss. He knew this was his only chance. With a steady motion, he gave a sharp tug.


    A silver flash burst from the hole in a spray of icy water and landed on the ice with a dull thud. The fish was gigantic, its scales gleaming under the twilight glow, its gaping mouth opening and closing with a raspy breath. It thrashed violently, whipping the air with brute force, its black eyes flashing with an intensity almost too sharp for a mere animal.


    Without hesitation, the young man lunged at it.


    His hands trembled from the cold but remained precise. He drew a sharp knife from his belt and, with an expert motion, plunged the blade into the base of the fish''s skull, right between the eyes, severing the spinal cord in a clean cut. It was Ikejime, a technique he had learned from one of the village elders. A swift and effective method to end life without suffering, instantly stopping all muscular movement. He felt the fish''s body shudder one last time¡­ then everything went still.


    Silence fell over the frozen lake.


    The adolescent, out of breath, felt adrenaline coursing through his veins. He had done it.


    Under the fading twilight, he slowly straightened, his gaze fixed on his catch. The fish was massive, larger than anything he had ever caught before. His aching arms bore witness to the effort he had just exerted, but he could not linger any longer. The icy air bit into his skin, and night was approaching.


    With a sure gesture, he tied a rope around the fish''s mouth and began to drag it through the snow. The animal left a long dark trail behind it on the ice, its weight making each step more difficult. But Yahiko, thirteen years old, did not falter. His body, sculpted by harsh daily labor, was accustomed to exertion. Beneath his thick woolen coat, his frame seemed unremarkable, yet it concealed a finely honed, well-defined musculature, forged by relentless winters and arduous work. His broad shoulders carried the burden with an ease that betrayed a strength uncommon for his age.


    The weight of the fish did not slow his pace, but he could feel fatigue gradually setting in. Yet, he did not stop. As he advanced, the landscape around him was tinged with the last hues of the day.


    Twilight slowly descended upon the snow-covered fjords, painting the sky in shades of purple and gold. The steep mountains, dotted with dark pine forests, framed a village nestled in the heart of a frozen valley. The biting wind carried the salty scent of the icy water and the woody fragrance of the evergreens. Snowflakes, light as feathers, drifted through the air, piling up on the slanted wooden rooftops of houses, their windows illuminated by the flickering glow of candles.


    In this wintery stillness, his silhouette moved cautiously along a path bordering the frozen fjords. His light brown hair, short but often tousled by the wind, let a stray lock fall onto his pale forehead, framing eyes of deep brown, filled with an unusual intensity. Always in motion, those eyes seemed to take in every detail around him, as if searching for something he could never find. He loved this frozen solitude, yet a part of him felt an emptiness¡ªlike a silent abyss deep within his chest.


    Yahiko moved forward with steady assurance. His steps were measured, his breath short but controlled. The fish dragged behind him in the snow, its body glistening under the evening light, each jolt of the rope reminding him of the harshness of this land, where only the strong survived.


    The journey back was long, each step weighing heavier on his tired muscles. Yet, he did not slow down. The familiar scent of burning wood drifted through the air, a sign that he was finally approaching the village. Through the silhouettes of the houses, lazy curls of smoke rose into the darkening sky, contrasting with the cold hues of winter.


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    After one last bend in the snowy path, he finally spotted the house. Modest but welcoming, it stood sheltered from the wind, its dark wooden walls marked by countless winters. The traces of time had taken nothing away from the warmth emanating from it.


    A cleared path led to the door, and in front of it, a small figure bounced on the spot, trying to keep warm. Fumi, bundled up in a coat far too big for her, suddenly lifted her eyes and spotted her brother.


    ¡ª "Yahiko! You''re back!" she exclaimed, running toward him, her boots slipping on the snow.


    The adolescent smiled instinctively. Seeing her so full of energy sparked a warmth in him that he cherished above all else. He set down the rope that secured the fish, then leaned forward to scoop his sister into his arms, lifting her off the ground with ease.


    ¡ª "You''re going to end up falling in that coat that''s too big for you," he said softly, a teasing smile on his lips.


    Fumi laughed, her clear voice ringing like a bell in the cold air.


    ¡ª "Mom made stew! She was waiting for you to add the fish for tonight''s meal!"


    She suddenly stopped, her pupils widening as she took in the massive catch Yahiko was dragging behind him. For a moment, she stood frozen, her mouth slightly open, before lifting her gaze to her brother, torn between awe and disbelief.


    ¡ª "It''s... huge! How did you even catch this?!"


    Yahiko simply smiled before replying with quiet confidence.


    ¡ª "Soon, I''ll teach you how to catch fish like this."


    She circled around the fish, observing it from every angle before lifting her sparkling gaze toward her brother.


    As he stepped inside the house, Yahiko was immediately enveloped by the comforting scent of stew, mingled with the faint aroma of burning wood. Their mother, Haruka, stood near the hearth, stirring a pot with slow yet precise movements. Her long black hair, tied into a simple braid, was faintly illuminated by the fire''s glow. She lifted her eyes toward her son and offered him a tired but sincere smile.


    ¡ª "Thank you, Yahiko," she said in a gentle voice. "You do so much for us, you know?"


    Yahiko nodded without responding. Though affectionate, these words weighed on him. He felt the burden of responsibility placed upon his shoulders¡ªa weight he carried without complaint, yet one that sometimes left him feeling bitter. He wished someone else had been there to share this role, a protective figure he had never known. A father.


    After dinner, once Fumi had gone to her room for the night and their mother quietly tidied the kitchen, Yahiko stepped outside for a moment. The snow crunched beneath his feet as he lifted his gaze to a sky scattered with stars. A glacial breeze bit at his cheeks, but he paid it no mind. Closing his eyes, he let his thoughts drift toward the memory he kept buried deep within him.


    Yahiko still remembered that day, seven years ago, when his sister had nearly disappeared. That moment haunted his nights, tangled with questions he had never been able to answer.


    One afternoon, he had wandered a little too far from the village. But Fumi, still so small, had slipped from his watchful eye, running too close to the frozen stream that wound through the valley. He could still see her childish smile, her tiny feet skidding over the snow-covered stones¡­ and then the stifled cry as she tumbled into the rushing waters. Everything had happened so fast. He recalled the panic seizing his chest like a crushing weight, the gaping void he felt as he watched the currents carry her away.


    What happened next remained blurry, almost unreal.


    For an instant, everything had plunged into total darkness, as if his mind had disconnected from his body. Then, a raw, untamed force had awakened within him, burning through everything in its path. He had not understood his own movements, nor the energy that had surged out of him¡ªas if another part of himself had risen to answer the threat.


    When he had opened his eyes again, they were lying on the riverbank, Fumi curled against him, shivering. She was breathing heavily. He had wasted no time¡ªhe had scooped her into his arms and rushed back toward the village.


    They had never spoken of that painful event again, neither with his sister nor their mother¡ªperhaps out of modesty¡­ But he had never forgotten.


    That memory, riddled with shadowy gaps, remained unexplained. Had it been a dream? An illusion born from despair? Yet, each time he thought back to it, he could feel that same energy, buried deep within him, like a distant echo.


    He shook his head slightly, his thoughts scattered by the icy wind. In silence, he stepped back inside for the night, leaving behind a sky glistening with stars.


    The next morning, after finishing his chores, he discreetly slipped away into the forest. This solitude had become his refuge¡ªa place where he could try to tame the strange force he still struggled to understand.


    After a few minutes sitting on a frozen rock, a bird landed nearby on a bare branch, free of snow. Slowly, Yahiko observed it, holding his breath so as not to startle it. He studied it intently, striving to capture every detail: its slender frame, the delicate texture of its feathers, the subtle gradient of its plumage, the curve of its long, thin beak, down to the sharp little talons gripping the bark. Then, he closed his eyes and focused on visualizing it perfectly, down to the finest detail.


    A strange pulse stirred within him¡ªfluid, natural¡ªlike an underground river coursing through his veins. He felt a faint ripple in the air and slowly reopened his eyes. There, perched on his shoulder, was a perfect replica of the bird.


    Then, it moved.


    With a delicate flutter of its wings, the creature turned toward him and locked eyes with his own.


    Yahiko smiled, but his heart remained heavy. Each time he saw these creations, he wondered if they were truly alive or merely an echo of his solitude.


    The flawless copy suddenly vanished, dissolving like a whisper into the frozen air. He let out a soft sigh.


    ¡ª "A reflection¡­" he murmured, staring at his hands, trembling from the effort. "Nothing more¡­ at least, that''s what he wanted to believe."

 Chapter 2 - The Dreams of the Little Warrior

    The cold bit into his skin, but the boy did not slow down.His breath rose in white clouds, synchronized with the precise movements of his arm. The old wooden sword cut through the air, each strike tearing through the morning silence. With every motion, snow burst around him in vaporous flurries, lifted by the sheer force of his training.


    Strike, pivot, dodge. His body¡ªstill young, yet already robust for his age¡ªexecuted each sequence with relentless precision. His knotted arms, proof of his tireless efforts, wielded the weight of the wood with perfect control. He let no strike go astray.


    The icy wind rushed between the village houses, whipping through his short, unruly red hair. But he did not flinch. His brown eyes, burning like embers under the pale morning light, remained locked on an invisible opponent.


    He had been training since dawn, alone, away from the village.In this space where the world seemed frozen in eternal winter, there was only him, his sword, and his ambition.


    He knew he could not stay here forever. He wanted to see what lay beyond the fjords, beyond the snow-capped mountains that imprisoned their village like a frozen cage.


    So, he struck. Again and again.


    A swift step through the powdery snow. A perfect pivot. Then a fierce blow, loaded with all his energy.


    CLACK.


    The impact echoed like a thunderclap.His sword had met an obstacle. Another blade.


    Mata blinked. Someone had parried his attack.


    A dark silhouette stood before him, a calm expression on his face.


    ¡ª "You hit hard for just a warm-up."


    Mata grimaced, immediately recognizing the voice. He took a step back, lowering his weapon.


    Facing him, Yahiko stood with a wooden sword in hand. His light brown hair, tousled by the wind, let a stray lock fall over his pale forehead. His brown eyes, sharp as steel, watched his friend with a hint of amusement.


    Mata shook his head, catching his breath.¡ª "Could you at least warn me before showing up like that?"


    Yahiko raised an eyebrow.


    ¡ª "And deny myself the pleasure of an impromptu duel?"


    Mata tightened his grip on his wooden sword. A smile stretched across his lips.¡ª "Glad you showed up."


    The fight began without another word, and Mata was the first to move.


    He lunged without hesitation, aiming straight for the center.His wooden sword cut through the air in a brutal thrust, propelled by the full force of his body.


    But Yahiko reacted in an instant. He pivoted to the side, letting the attack pass just inches from him. The wind from the strike brushed against his face, but he paid it no mind. In one fluid motion, he swept at Mata''s legs, trying to unbalance him.


    Mata, quick on his feet, jumped in place, narrowly avoiding Yahiko''s sweep. But Yahiko had already anticipated his evasion. Without losing a second, he raised his arm, ready to bring his sword down, targeting the opening Mata had just created.


    Mata reacted in a fraction of a second. He couldn''t block the attack head-on. Instinctively, he reached out and grabbed Yahiko''s head with a firm grip.A heartbeat later, he used it as leverage to propel himself backward, escaping the dangerous close-quarters engagement. His foot found solid ground in the snow, instantly resetting his stance at a safe distance.


    A single heartbeat passed.


    Then, with an explosive step, Mata charged again.


    This time, he held nothing back. He attacked with full force, unleashing a series of powerful strikes. His wooden sword whistled through the air, a relentless storm of blows meant to crush Yahiko under sheer pressure.


    Yahiko retreated, absorbing each impact. He intercepted every swing with his own sword, deflecting the attacks, focusing on dispersing Mata''s strength rather than meeting it head-on.


    Each blow resounded like a thunderclap. Yahiko felt the vibrations reverberate through his arms, numbing his wrist. As he kept stepping back, his breath quickened.


    Then, as he shifted his footing, he felt an anomaly beneath his boot.


    His foot had struck a softer patch¡ªan almost imperceptible dip concealed under the snow. For a split second, his balance wavered.


    Where anyone else would have sunk into the ground, Yahiko''s body reacted before he even registered the danger.


    A lightning-fast command, a neural impulse sharper than thought.


    His muscles contracted instinctively, locking his footing in place. At the last moment, he compensated for the sinking ground, engaging his entire lower body in perfect coordination. His foot barely grazed the loose surface before stabilizing¡ªso seamlessly that it was as if nothing had happened.


    Mata, fully focused on his assault, noticed nothing.


    But Yahiko had understood.


    This hole could be a weapon.


    The next instant, he made a decision.


    He took another step back, resisting the urge to strike. Not yet. Mata had to fall into the trap on his own. His friend, fully absorbed in his onslaught, remained oblivious to the anomaly. His powerful fighting style required him to hit hard, to root himself into every strike to maximize his impact.


    That was his weakness.


    When his foot landed in the concealed dip, his balance broke for a fraction of a second.


    Yahiko, like a predator, struck at that exact moment.


    With a swift motion, he twisted his sword and brought it down in a fierce vertical slash, aimed straight at Mata.


    An instinctive, precise choice. He knew Mata was in the middle of engaging his muscles to recover his stance, and that brief moment of hesitation would prevent him from countering immediately.


    One strike. One chance.


    CLAC.


    Yahiko''s wooden sword crashed down with tremendous force.


    But Mata reacted at the very last second.


    A spark of realization flickered in his eyes¡ªhe had understood the trap. He didn''t have time to dodge, but he could still block.


    With an almost inhuman effort, he raised his weapon above his head. The impact was colossal. Yahiko''s sword slammed against his, the sheer force making the wood groan under the pressure, his arms buckling from the strain.


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    Mata gritted his teeth. His foot sank even deeper under the pressure. He was stuck.


    But he refused to yield.


    Drawing strength from deep within, he let out a sharp growl and, with a surge of raw power, pushed Yahiko back.


    Yahiko staggered, stopping a few steps away, eyes wide with disbelief.


    ¡ª "Seriously¡­ you managed to block that and push me back?"


    Mata, still half-trapped in the hole, exhaled with a tired smirk.


    ¡ª "You''re the one saying that? How did you know about the hole?"


    They locked eyes for a moment.


    Then, simultaneously, a grin stretched across their faces.


    The very next instant, they dashed toward each other.


    No more strategy. No more analysis. Just one final clash.


    Their wooden swords collided in a thunderous impact.


    A fleeting moment of suspension.


    Then, both were sent flying backward, repelled by the sheer force of their own strikes.


    One step back.


    Then another.


    Silence settled between them.


    Panting, they stared at each other.


    Then, they burst into laughter.


    ¡ª "A draw, huh?" Mata exhaled, resting his sword on his shoulder.


    ¡ª "Looks like it." Yahiko ran a hand through his messy hair before sighing. "You''re as stubborn as ever."


    Mata raised an eyebrow, amusement gleaming in his gaze.


    ¡ª "And you''re still just as annoying."


    They laughed together, their voices echoing in the crisp morning air.


    Then, the two boys collapsed onto the snow, lying side by side, their breath still uneven, waiting for the rush of endorphins to settle. The icy wind whipped against their faces, but neither of them cared. They simply savored the moment of respite.


    After a few minutes of silence, Mata slowly sat up, planting his wooden sword into the snow in front of him.


    ¡ª "One day¡­ I''m leaving."


    Yahiko, still lying down, turned his head slightly toward him, raising an amused eyebrow before sitting up as well, propping himself up on his hands against the cold ground.


    ¡ª "This again?"


    Mata clenched his fists.


    ¡ª "I''m serious."


    Yahiko watched his friend. He had heard this countless times before. That obsessive dream of leaving the village, crossing the fjords, becoming strong enough to never feel powerless again.


    But he didn''t blame him. He respected that ambition. He had never met anyone as determined as Mata.


    ¡ª "You still want to hunt those ''demons''?" Yahiko asked, without a hint of mockery.


    Mata locked eyes with him, his brown gaze burning with fierce resolve.


    ¡ª "Of course. You know what I heard that night."


    Yahiko nodded. He knew. Mata had told him everything, word for word.


    A year ago, while eavesdropping on a meeting between the village chief and the elders, he had uncovered a truth that had shaken him to the core.


    The "Great Winter" of ten years ago¡ªthe one that had paralyzed the village and claimed so many lives, including his parents¡ªhad not been a natural disaster. It wasn''t the snow. It wasn''t famine.


    It was something else.


    And yet, all his life, he had been told it was just a cruel winter, an unforgiving cold that had taken the weakest. He had believed that story¡­ until he overheard that conversation.


    They spoke of a night drenched in blood, not ice. Of a horror emerging from the darkness, consuming the village in a single night.


    A single word had been uttered.


    "Yoka?."


    That name had burned itself into his mind like a brand.


    And suddenly, hazy memories he had never truly understood resurfaced.


    He didn''t remember much. He had only been four years old.


    But sometimes, in his nightmares, the images came back.


    The scent of cold wood beneath his fingers.


    His mother''s embrace, holding his small body tightly with a desperate gentleness.


    His father''s grave expression as he whispered words he hadn''t understood back then.


    They had hidden him beneath the house, bundling him up in layers upon layers of blankets and wool to shield him from the biting cold. His heart had pounded as they stroked his hair, whispering the same words over and over again:


    ¡ª "Stay still, Mata. Don''t move. No matter what you hear, stay here."


    Then, silence.


    He had waited. A few minutes? A few hours? Maybe longer.


    Alone in the darkness, he had clung to the faint warmth his parents had left behind.


    But it had faded, little by little, until only the cold remained¡ªan oppressive silence that felt endless.


    When the villagers finally found him under the house, he didn''t even cry.


    It wasn''t the winter that had taken his parents.It wasn''t famine.


    It was that thing.


    A creature from elsewhere, laying waste to everything in its path.


    And yet, no one spoke of it.


    When Mata overheard that conversation, his first instinct had been to rush to Yahiko. His best friend had listened without interruption, but as the story unfolded, Mata had seen his expression change¡ªhis features stiffening, his eyes darkening with something between disbelief and deep concern.


    Yahiko had believed him. Mata knew that much.


    But he could also tell that this revelation had shaken something in him.


    Yahiko remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking, his voice lower than usual.


    ¡ª "I¡­ I remember something too."


    Mata raised an eyebrow, intrigued.


    He, too, held onto a memory from that night. Faint, fractured by time. He had been too young to grasp what had happened, but one image had stayed with him:


    A silhouette, standing in the snow, its back turned to him.


    He didn''t know who it was, nor why that presence had burned itself into his mind.


    The memories were blurry, incomplete. But Yahiko had believed Mata''s story without question.


    Because he, too, carried a secret.


    Then, Yahiko told him about the strange sensation he sometimes felt. A force, elusive and unexplainable, stirring within him without warning. Sometimes, it would take shape before his eyes¡ªwavering shadows, vague figures flickering into existence before vanishing like mirages.


    Back then, they were only distorted outlines, too unstable to resemble anything real. But they were real.


    He had never spoken of them to anyone. Not his mother. Not his sister.


    Who would have believed him?


    But as he listened to Mata talk about creatures from another world, about monsters that adults refused to acknowledge, a thought had lodged itself in his mind.


    If he was capable of summoning those forms¡­


    Then why couldn''t those demons exist too?


    Mata had been the first to listen. The first to believe him.


    At least, until laughter shook his shoulders.


    ¡ª "Wait¡­ you''re telling me you can just make things appear with your mind?"


    Yahiko didn''t flinch. He wasn''t joking.


    So, he showed him.


    Back then, his recreations had been clumsy, barely perceptible¡­ but real enough to send a chill down Mata''s spine.


    He had frozen, mouth slightly open, unable to believe what he was seeing. For days, he had hounded Yahiko to do it again. Over and over. Searching for an explanation, a flaw.


    Then, after a few weeks¡­ he had come to accept it.


    And that day, he had made Yahiko a promise.


    ¡ª "I''ll keep your secret."


    But this truth¡ªboth fascinating and terrifying¡ªonly fueled a quiet fury within him.


    Yahiko wasn''t the only one carrying a secret. The entire village was. And no one would speak.


    Mata had tried to find answers. Every time, he was met with the same wall of silence. Avoided gazes. Conversations shifting away.


    As if that nightmare winter had never happened.


    As if his parents had never died that night.


    All he had were questions.


    And no one to answer them.


    So, he had stopped asking.


    He had realized that as long as he stayed here, in this prison of snow and unspoken truths, he would never know.


    Since that day, not a single morning had passed without him training.


    He would grow stronger. Strong enough to break that silence. Strong enough to make sure no child would ever be orphaned the way he had been.


    And one day, he would leave. He would cross those mountains, beyond the frozen fjords, and find the answers they had stolen from him.


    Silence settled between them, broken only by the icy wind sweeping across the snow. Mata let out a quiet sigh, as if trying to push away the weight of his thoughts.


    Yahiko watched his friend for a moment, then shrugged slightly.


    ¡ª "You''ll never change, huh?"


    Mata lifted his gaze, caught off guard by his tone.


    ¡ª "No matter the obstacles. No matter if no one follows you¡­ You''ll keep going. Because that''s what drives you, isn''t it?"


    Mata opened his mouth¡­ then closed it.


    He didn''t like to admit it, but Yahiko understood him better than he wanted to acknowledge.


    A heavy, nameless weight settled between them.


    Thick with the things left unsaid.


    Then, without really knowing why, a chill crawled up Yahiko''s spine, creeping slowly along his nape. His body tensed, almost imperceptibly.


    Something was wrong.


    He turned his head toward the edge of the forest below. His gaze swept over the frozen shadows between the trees¡­ and then, he thought he saw it.


    A flicker of movement. A vague silhouette.


    A fragment of shadow swallowed by the depths of the woods.


    His breath hitched.


    He knew the wildlife here like the back of his hand. Every rustle in the undergrowth, every shifting shadow beneath the trees had meaning.


    He could tell the erratic flutter of a startled crow. The swift, silent leap of a deer weaving between the trunks. Even the ghostly prowl of a fox stalking its prey.


    But this¡ªthis fleeting movement, this indistinct presence¡ªwas like nothing he had ever seen before.


    His heartbeat quickened.


    He narrowed his eyes, trying to pierce through the unmoving dark between the trees.


    Nothing.


    Just the forest. Still. Cold. Silent.


    One heartbeat.Then another.


    Yahiko furrowed his brows. Without realizing it, he had already risen to his feet, guided by an instinct he couldn''t yet name.


    ¡ª "Mata¡­" he murmured, his gaze locked on the tree line.


    His friend turned to him, frowning.


    ¡ª "What?"


    Yahiko hesitated for a fraction of a second.


    His instincts told him it was nothing.


    But his heart said otherwise.


    ¡ª "I don''t know¡­ Follow me."


    He had no idea what they would find.


    But somewhere, hidden in the silence of the forest, something¡ªor someone¡ªwas watching them.

 Chapter 3 - The Silence of the Forest

    The wind had died down, plunging the village into an almost eerie silence. From the top of the hill, Yahiko and Mata gazed at the forest below. The dark treeline seemed distant, almost unreal, as a rising mist crept through the valley.


    Yahiko didn''t like this.


    A vague feeling, a dull unease, a tension he didn''t fully understand weighed on his shoulders. As if something in the air had changed.


    He exchanged a glance with Mata, then, without a word, they began their descent.


    Their steps were quick but measured as they crossed the village, walking past the houses in silence.


    They passed by old Gribou''s house, an elderly yet hardworking man. He was the one who had taught Yahiko the basics of fishing in frozen lakes, passing down his knowledge with kindness. He raised three goats, caring for them meticulously, and whenever he had extra milk, he often shared it with Yahiko''s mother. A good man¡ªgenerous and respected by all.


    When they saw him, Yahiko and Mata only gave him a brief greeting.They merely muttered a quick, "Good evening, sir," as they walked by.


    ¡ª "Where are you heading at this hour? Night is falling!" the old man called out, intrigued.¡ª "We need to check something, we''ll be back in just a few minutes," Yahiko answered without slowing down.


    They continued on, passing the last houses of the village. With only about a hundred inhabitants, the village was made up of small wooden and stone homes, nestled close together to withstand the harsh winter. For a brief moment, the unease faded, as if losing sight of the horizon and the clearing had lifted the oppressive sensation. But the instant they stepped beyond the village''s borders and Yahiko raised his eyes toward the dark treeline once more, the feeling returned¡ªstronger, heavier.


    This time, there was no doubt.


    Something was wrong.


    Each step on the pristine snow seemed to muffle the sounds around them, as if the world itself was holding its breath.


    Beside him, Mata felt it too. He wasn''t speaking anymore, his eyes scanning the surroundings cautiously. More tense than usual, he looked like he was fighting an instinct that urged him to turn back.


    Then, they saw it.


    A footprint.


    They stopped simultaneously.


    It was of moderate size but oddly shaped. Too big for a fox, too narrow for a deer. Its edges were sharp, as if something heavy had passed through recently.


    Yahiko swallowed slowly.


    This wasn''t normal.


    But they kept moving forward. Slowly, as if their very lives depended on it.


    With each step toward the forest, the tension became nearly unbearable.


    They passed a second footprint.


    Then a third.


    With every step, the tension rose, their stress intensifying.


    The forest was now dangerously close. Yahiko lifted his gaze toward the dark mass of trees.


    There was something there.


    A crushing weight pressed against his back. A feeling of being watched. Hunted.


    It was there. Hiding.


    Within the frozen darkness between the snow-covered trunks, something was watching them.


    Short of breath, Yahiko knelt down, staying alert, his gaze locked straight ahead. With his fingertips, he traced the contours of a deeper print in the snow. The edges were too sharp, slightly arched¡ªbut arched in an unnatural way. He swallowed hard. The fresh powder hadn''t yet covered the mark.


    Whatever had made this print had passed by recently.


    Perhaps only minutes ago.


    ¡ª "What the hell¡­" Mata muttered, his voice rougher than usual, almost stifled by the tension.


    He crouched beside Yahiko, his face tightening as he studied the print.


    Yahiko opened his mouth¡­ but no sound came out.


    A freezing breath brushed against the back of his neck.


    He snapped his head up.


    In the shadows of the forest, something was staring at them.


    He couldn''t see its shape¡ªonly a presence. A primal instinct screamed within him.


    The darkness between the trunks seemed denser, deeper. As if it swallowed the light.


    Mata felt Yahiko''s unease and tensed up as well.


    ¡ª "You feel it too?" Yahiko whispered.Mata slowly nodded, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his wooden sword strapped to his waist. A slight tremor ran through his arm.


    It wasn''t fear.


    Just a tension he had rarely experienced.


    For a moment, they felt like everything was on the verge of shifting.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    If that thing moved...If they took one step too far¡­Something would happen.


    This was the limit.


    Their limit.


    The invisible boundary between life and death.


    Their hearts pounded in unison, a rapid, deafening rhythm in the unnatural silence.


    Then, they made their decision.


    Despite their youth, their recklessness, and their courage¡­ they weren''t fools.


    They turned back.


    But without ever turning their backs on the forest.


    Not even for a second.


    They stepped back cautiously, every movement precise, controlled.


    One step at a time.


    Slowly.


    Once they had put enough distance between them and the treeline, they finally allowed themselves to pick up the pace toward the village.


    They were exhausted.


    Drained of all energy.


    Every muscle, every fiber of their bodies had been stretched to its limits.


    They were sweating profusely, despite the biting cold of the day.


    The invisible weight that had pressed upon them¡­ it might still be there, lurking in the shadows.


    They had been right to retreat.


    But one thought lingered in Yahiko''s mind, repeating over and over as they reached the first houses of the village:


    If that thing was watching them¡­ what was it waiting for?


    He shook his head, trying to dismiss the thought. Yet, a dull unease clung to him. Something in the freezing night whispered to him¡­ that this was only the beginning.


    As soon as they entered the village streets, doors creaked open.


    Figures emerged slowly, drawn by their hurried return. Among them were the elders, their gazes evasive, and younger men whose expressions hardened upon seeing the two boys.


    Breathless, Yahiko and Mata recounted in detail what they had seen and felt.


    The footprints.The oppressive atmosphere.That unsettling sensation of being watched.


    A heavy silence followed their words.


    Too heavy.


    The elders exchanged looks full of unspoken meaning.


    ¡ª "Wouldn''t it just be tracks from some wild animal?" one of them suggested firmly, his tone dismissive.


    ¡ª "A migrating animal from a far-off region? Ha! That reminds me¡­ Last week, I saw birds flying overhead, massive as deer. I had never seen such a species before. You boys are just imagining things. Relax," another added, his tone casual, almost mocking, as if to end the conversation.


    The younger men exchanged glances, visibly unconvinced.


    ¡ª "Yeah¡­ but still, a footprint like that isn''t something you see every day," muttered one man, arms crossed.


    ¡ª "Exactly¡­ That''s not the kind of animal we usually find around here," added a woman, her voice uncertain.


    But none of them openly contradicted the elders.


    One of the old men reached out, placing a firm hand on Mata''s shoulder, a conciliatory smile on his lips.


    ¡ª "You''ve probably caught a fever from training so much in this cold."


    Before he could protest, a middle-aged woman folded her arms and spoke with finality:


    ¡ª "Enough now. Go home. It''s getting late."


    Her tone left no room for argument. The discussion was over.


    Yahiko and Mata remained still.


    They were speechless.


    A tense, uncomfortable silence settled over them, heavier than the winter air.


    The two friends exchanged one last glance, then turned on their heels.


    Their footsteps struck hard against the frozen ground as they walked away, jaws clenched, swallowing their frustration.


    ¡ª "This is complete nonsense," Mata finally blurted out, kicking a frozen pebble. "They really think we''re just a bunch of kids!"


    Yahiko didn''t respond immediately. His gaze remained fixed straight ahead, his expression tense.


    He knew what they had felt. He knew they weren''t crazy.


    And yet, the elders had brushed off their testimony as if it were nothing more than a child''s overactive imagination.


    ¡ª "We should have insisted," he muttered, his fists tightening.


    ¡ª "What for? They would have just come up with another stupid excuse," Mata grumbled.


    He gritted his teeth, holding back his irritation. But no matter how much he tried to push it down, he couldn''t shake off the feeling of being completely ignored.


    They had seen those footprints.


    They had felt that presence.


    And yet, no one had taken them seriously.


    Then, suddenly, a complete shift.


    Mata stopped dead in his tracks, sniffing the air with an almost animalistic focus.


    ¡ª "Wait¡­ is that¡­?"


    A scent drifted from Yahiko''s house, carried by the cold night breeze.


    A thick, comforting aroma that instantly melted the tension from his shoulders.


    His eyes widened. His gaze sparkled like a child''s at the sight of a feast.


    A bit of drool escaped from the corner of his mouth.


    ¡ª "Oh damn, Yahiko¡­ tell me that''s what I think it is!"


    Yahiko, who had also picked up on the mouth-watering scent, smirked.


    ¡ª "Smells like grilled fish, doesn''t it?"


    Mata was already gone.


    A blissful grin split his face as he picked up his pace, his hunger completely overpowering his anger.


    He licked his lips, utterly consumed by the thought of the meal awaiting him.


    ¡ª "That''s it, I give up. We''ll talk later!" he declared, his energy suddenly restored.


    The mere thought of a warm evening, a hearty meal, a hot wash, and a soft bed wiped away all of his frustration.


    Without hesitation, they pushed open the door and stepped into Yahiko''s home, leaving behind the freezing night and the ominous shadow of the forest.


    Inside, a warm glow bathed the room, cast by the fire crackling gently in the hearth.


    The smoky scent of fire-grilled fish still lingered in the air, its rich aroma blending with the fragrance of dried herbs that sizzled over the flames.


    The golden flesh of the fish was slowly kissed by the fire, while winter vegetables roasted alongside it, absorbing the spices and the essence of the embers.


    After the freezing atmosphere outside, the warmth of the home felt almost unreal.


    Yahiko and Mata sat at the table, where Haruka, Yahiko''s mother, was already serving the food.


    His little sister, Fumi, greeted them with a mischievous grin.


    ¡ª "So, Mata, did you lose to my brother again?" she teased.


    Mata rolled his eyes, taking a bite of his fish.


    ¡ª "Tsk. As if!"


    ¡ª "You say that every time," Fumi snickered, sticking out her tongue.


    The mood was light, as if the tensions from earlier had evaporated with the warmth of the meal.


    Despite the frustration lingering in him, Mata let himself sink into the comfort of the moment.


    Over time, this house had become more than just a place he visited.


    It was a refuge.


    Haruka had always treated him like a son.


    He even had a second sleeping mat in Yahiko''s room, proof that he was far more than just a guest here.


    Haruka gently placed a hand on his shoulder, a warm smile on her lips.


    ¡ª "Eat while it''s hot. You must be exhausted from all that training."


    Mata nodded, suddenly quiet.


    He didn''t say it out loud, but he deeply appreciated these small gestures, these quiet acts of care.


    They meant more to him than any words ever could.


    After the meal, the two boys washed up before collapsing onto their bedding.


    Exhaustion claimed them instantly.


    The next morning, Yahiko and Mata woke up feeling well-rested.


    The moment their bodies had hit the mats, the warmth of the home had melted away the tension from the previous night.


    Around the table, the scent of fresh bread and a warm herbal drink drifted through the air.


    Fumi was already seated, picking at her food while shooting annoyed glances at the two boys, who were still half-asleep.


    ¡ª "You two snored all night," she grumbled.


    Mata stretched with a groan before grabbing his bowl with newfound enthusiasm.


    ¡ª "No way. Yahiko, maybe, but me? Never."


    Yahiko simply raised an eyebrow, taking a sip of his tea without bothering to reply.


    Haruka approached the table, her gaze soft.


    ¡ª "Boys, could you go fetch a block of ice after breakfast? We just ran out, and we''ll need it for drinking water."


    Yahiko nodded immediately. It was a routine task in winter¡ªtedious, but not difficult.


    ¡ª "We''ll go after we eat," he confirmed.


    They finished their breakfast, dressed warmly, and finally stepped outside, ready to set off.


    But the moment they crossed the threshold, they noticed something unusual.


    A small crowd had gathered near the old man Gribou''s house.


    A dozen people were standing together, whispering among themselves.


    Some looked worried. Others seemed puzzled.


    Intrigued, Yahiko and Mata exchanged glances before approaching.


    ¡ª "What''s going on?" Yahiko asked.


    A man with his arms crossed let out a heavy sigh before answering in a grim tone:


    ¡ª "One of old Gribou''s goats vanished last night."


    The two boys froze.

 Chapter 4 - Where Even the Wolves Fall Silent

    Morning rose over a village numbed by cold and unease. The disappearance of Old Gribou''s goat was on everyone''s lips, yet the elders continued to downplay the incident.


    A makeshift gathering had formed in the central square, where the villagers huddled together, wrapped in thick woolen coats. The air was heavy with silent tension, and every face betrayed a certain uneasiness.


    Yahiko and Mata, standing slightly apart, observed the discussion as it took a predictable turn.


    ¡ª "It''s probably a mountain eagle," an old man declared confidently. "This time of year, they come down from the cliffs in search of food. With the cold, hunting becomes harder for them, so they get bolder."


    ¡ª "An eagle?" a middle-aged woman retorted, arms crossed. "An eagle that takes a fully grown goat without leaving a single trace? Without making a sound?"


    The gathering fell silent for a moment.


    A man in his thirties furrowed his brows.


    ¡ª "An eagle couldn''t lift a goat that size."


    Another silence followed. A few uneasy glances were exchanged within the crowd.


    A hesitant young man spoke up.


    ¡ª "Maybe we should keep watch tonight¡­"


    An old man raised an amused eyebrow.


    ¡ª "Keep watch for what? A ghost bird?"


    The young man tensed under the gazes fixed on him. He opened his mouth, then hesitated and said nothing.


    ¡ª "What they''re saying¡­ it''s not entirely stupid," a woman murmured under her breath.


    ¡ª "You''re not starting with that nonsense too, are you?" an elder grumbled, cutting the conversation short.


    Silence fell once more. The younger villagers lowered their eyes, and the cold air felt even heavier.


    ¡ª "But we told you last night!" Mata suddenly exclaimed, his jaw clenched. "It wasn''t an eagle or a wolf. It was¡­ something else."


    His voice was tense, almost accusatory.


    But once again, the elders sighed, visibly exasperated.


    ¡ª "Still going on about that?" one of them grumbled, shaking his head.


    ¡ª "This isn''t nonsense!" Mata snapped. "What exactly are you waiting for? Another disappearance? For it to start attacking people before you take action?"


    The old man shrugged.¡ª "Well, that''s nature. Beasts hunt. It''s not the first time an animal has disappeared."


    Mata felt his blood boil. He took a step forward, fists clenched, muscles tensed as if he was about to grab the old man by the collar.¡ª "Cut the crap! You''re turning a blind eye, and you know it!" he spat.


    A chilling silence fell over the gathering. The elders stared at him, surprised by his outburst.


    One of the oldest among them, visibly annoyed, stomped his foot in the snow.¡ª "Oh, enough of this! Go back to playing the little warrior with your wooden sword instead of wasting our time with your tales of invisible monsters!"


    Mata opened his mouth, ready to lash out¡ª


    But a hand clamped down on his shoulder.


    A firm, unyielding grip.


    Mata immediately sensed the strength contained in that grasp. If his body hadn''t been so sturdy, Yahiko could have crushed his shoulder with the pressure alone. It was a silent warning.


    He turned his head toward his friend and was struck by the intensity of his gaze. There was no hesitation. Just a cold, controlled anger¡ªone that burned just as fiercely as his own.


    Yahiko didn''t need to say anything for Mata to understand.


    ¡ª "Let it go," he murmured, his tone calm but cutting. "Follow me."


    Mata hesitated for a moment, still seething, but in the end, he nodded.


    Behind them, the elder who had mocked them smirked.¡ª "That''s right, boy. Listen to your friend and stay out of things you don''t understand."


    Yahiko stopped dead in his tracks.


    Slowly, he turned toward the old man and locked eyes with him.


    The elder''s confidence vanished in an instant. His smirk faltered. He swallowed hard under the weight of Yahiko''s stare.


    No one spoke.


    Then, without a word, Yahiko turned on his heel and walked away, Mata following close behind.


    A few minutes later, they walked in silence through the snow-covered village, moving away from the group. The only sounds accompanying them were the muffled crunch of their footsteps and their breath in the frigid air.


    They walked around a house used as a storage shed, keeping out of sight. Mata, still fuming, turned to Yahiko.


    ¡ª "Why did you want us to leave?! Those old fools are dragging everyone into denial!"


    ¡ª "Because they won''t listen to us," Yahiko replied, his gaze unwavering.


    Mata crossed his arms, still frustrated.


    ¡ª "So what do we do, then? Just wait for something bad to happen?"


    ¡ª "No."


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    Yahiko motioned toward the entrance of the storage shed with his chin.


    ¡ª "Grab two curved tridents and two hand shovels. We''ll need them to clear the snow and haul the ice block back."


    Mata nodded, but Yahiko quickly added in a lower voice:


    ¡ª "Take a sword, too. And keep it hidden until we''re out of the village."


    Mata turned to him abruptly, eyes questioning.


    ¡ª "A sword? Why?"


    Yahiko met his gaze, his expression unreadable.


    ¡ª "I''ll explain later. We need to hurry."


    Mata hesitated for a split second, but faced with his friend''s determination, he chose not to press the issue and did as he was told.


    Yahiko took a step back.


    ¡ª "I have something to take care of on my own. Meet me at the village outskirts in ten minutes."


    Without waiting for a reply, he turned on his heel and disappeared between the snow-covered buildings.


    Mata watched him go, then clenched his fists. He cast one last glance at the village behind him, where the elders continued their discussion as if nothing had happened. He exhaled sharply before heading off to gather their supplies.


    A little while later, at the edge of the village, they met as planned. A simple exchange of glances was enough for them to set off without a word.


    The icy wind swept through the mountains, lifting fine whirls of snow that danced around them. Since leaving the village, they had walked in silence, Mata following Yahiko without asking too many questions. But when he noticed that they weren''t taking the usual path leading to the ice block, he frowned.


    ¡ª "Alright, are you finally going to tell me what you''re up to?" he asked, casting a wary glance at the steep cliffs lining their route.


    Yahiko slowed his pace slightly, holding a small empty wooden cage.


    ¡ª "We''re going to find something useful."


    Mata raised an eyebrow.


    ¡ª "Something useful¡­ Meaning?"


    Yahiko took a deep breath before replying.


    ¡ª "Last night, near the forest, you felt it too. That presence¡­ it crushed us. We''re too weak against something like that."


    Mata clenched his teeth, the memory still fresh in his mind.


    ¡ª "So, what do we do?"


    ¡ª "We prepare," Yahiko answered. "We need to give ourselves a chance to survive. And for that¡­"


    He paused, watching Mata''s reaction before adding:


    ¡ª "We''re going to make a poison."


    Mata''s eyebrow arched higher, his expression skeptical.


    ¡ª "A poison?"


    ¡ª "Not just any poison," Yahiko clarified. "It''s a recipe old Gribou taught me, passed down from his grandfather. He made me swear never to use it¡­ unless we were in extreme danger."


    Mata stared at him, doubtful.


    ¡ª "And you really think that would work against this thing?"


    Yahiko nodded.


    ¡ª "When mixed with a specific plant, it becomes extremely potent. A single drop can kill a man in seconds. If we coat our weapons with it¡­"


    He let his words hang before continuing, his voice heavier.


    ¡ª "But we''re missing a key ingredient: the venomous sac of a boreal bear. It''s located just above its left lung."


    Mata ran a hand over his face, exasperated.


    ¡ª "Wait¡­ You want us to hunt a boreal bear?!"


    Yahiko remained impassive.


    ¡ª "I just told you why we need it. But there''s another reason."


    Mata frowned.


    ¡ª "What other reason?"


    Yahiko held Mata''s gaze, more determined than ever.


    ¡ª "If we manage to kill a boreal bear, the village will have no choice but to take us seriously. We''ll prove to them that we''re real hunters, that we know what we''re doing."


    Mata crossed his arms, thinking. He wasn''t afraid of fighting, nor of hunting. What unsettled him was the sheer audacity of this plan.


    ¡ª "This plan is completely insane¡­ but if it works, we''ll be killing two birds with one stone."


    The duo walked for hours, passing one landscape after another. After crossing the largest lake in the region, they instinctively slowed their pace, listening carefully to the crunch of their footsteps on the frozen ground.


    The boreal bears'' territory was well-known among the villagers, and for good reason: no sane hunter ventured there without a damn good reason. It wasn''t just their raw strength or unpredictable nature that made them feared¡ªthere was something far worse.


    The venomous sac within their bodies, connected to their bloodstream, released an insidious toxin over the years, gradually driving them into an uncontrollable frenzy. This poison didn''t just make their bites deadly¡ªit ate away at their minds, consuming them in a blind and relentless rage.


    The effects were undeniable. Their territory had become an absolute no man''s land. No predators, no game dared set foot there anymore. Wolves, foxes, even the smallest rodents had vanished, exterminated by the madness that plagued these beasts. Here, only the snow, scarred with deep claw marks, and the heavy silence of a land ruled by monsters remained.


    Reaching the edge of the territory, Yahiko motioned toward a rocky outcrop with a nod. Without a word, they took cover behind it. Yahiko immediately sat down, placing the wooden cage beside him, and gestured for Mata to do the same.


    Without wasting time, Mata crouched and methodically laid out their equipment: shovels, curved tridents, then his sword, which he planted firmly into the snow within arm''s reach. He quickly checked the condition of the blades before looking up at Yahiko.


    ¡ª "Alright, now what?"


    ¡ª "Now, we dig."


    He explained his plan. Using the shovels, they would dig a hole deep enough to conceal sharpened wooden stakes. They would then cover the trap with branches and a thin layer of snow to make it undetectable.


    The bait would be a captured bird. Yahiko would use his power to materialize a double of the animal and place it above the trap. Unlike a real bird, this one wouldn''t fly away, inevitably catching the attention of a hungry bear. Seeing an unmoving prey, the beast would have no choice but to charge straight at it¡­ and fall right into their trap. Once ensnared, wounded, and entangled in the sharp stakes, all that would be left was to finish it off before it could break free.


    Mata suddenly cut in:


    ¡ª Wait, how do you plan to lure it here?


    No sooner had he asked the question than he realized a crucial element was missing from the plan¡­ and he didn''t like it at all. He slowly turned his head toward Yahiko, who gave him a smile. That smile. The one he knew all too well.


    Mata sighed.


    ¡ª Let me guess¡­ We need a first bait.


    Yahiko nodded with a simple tilt of his head, his smile widening.


    ¡ª Exactly. You''ll be in charge of luring one of the bears here.


    Mata opened his mouth, then closed it again, sensing disaster approaching.


    ¡ª You''ll have to run as fast as you can to get out of its line of sight. Then, as soon as you reach our position, you''ll hide in the bushes, right next to me.


    ¡ª And then? Mata grumbled, already feeling the adrenaline kicking in.


    ¡ª Remember, I can''t move when I use my power, Yahiko explained calmly. The bear will be enraged, and inevitably, it will keep charging¡­ straight into our trap.


    Mata folded his arms and fixed Yahiko with a stare.


    ¡ª Yahiko¡­ I hope you''re sure about this.


    His friend simply smirked as he adjusted his equipment.


    ¡ª With a little luck, we should be able to pull it off.


    Mata raised an eyebrow and sighed inwardly. Luck... Yeah, they were definitely going to need it.


    They searched the surroundings, and after about twelve minutes, they found the perfect spot: a small clearing about ten square meters wide, covered in freshly fallen snow. Surrounded by trees with dense foliage, it provided excellent natural cover. A narrow path wound between the trunks, leading directly toward the bears'' territory.


    Without wasting any time, they began digging. The snow was thick, concealing frozen ground beneath, making the task harder than expected. But after a long effort, the hole finally took shape.


    Next, they started gathering broken logs and sturdy branches. Using Mata''s sword and Yahiko''s small knife, they sharpened stakes into deadly points, sharp enough to pierce through a beast of that size.


    Hours passed. Then, as the first hues of twilight painted the sky, the trap was finally complete.


    They carefully covered it with branches and a thin layer of snow to camouflage it. The bird had already been captured earlier by Yahiko.


    Now, all that was left was to wait.


    Mata, exhausted but alert, stood with his back to the path leading into bear territory, taking a sip from the water flask Yahiko had handed him earlier. As he drank, he listened to his friend go over, for what felt like the tenth time, the key steps of their ambush.


    Mata sighed, annoyed.


    ¡ª Alright, I got it!


    But Yahiko didn''t answer.


    The silence lasted a fraction of a second too long.


    Mata furrowed his brows. He could only hear his own breath and the faint crunch of snow beneath his boots.


    Then, slowly, he turned his gaze toward Yahiko.


    His friend was frozen. Motionless, pale, eyes wide and fixed on something behind him.


    Mata didn''t have time to react.


    A bestial roar shattered the air, rumbling like a clap of thunder in the biting cold.


    A deep, guttural sound that rattled his bones.


    His blood turned to ice. A cold sweat prickled down his spine.


    The bear was there¡ªready to strike.

 Chapter 5 - The Price of the Hunt

    The beastly roar echoed once more in the icy air, slicing through the night like a thunderclap.


    Mata felt his heart skip a beat. Yahiko, on the other hand, was frozen. A wave of shivers ran down his spine as his eyes locked onto the creature emerging from the darkness.


    The boreal bear was a living monstrosity. Massive, titanic, it must have stood nearly two and a half meters at the shoulder, its gray fur streaked with scars, forming a map of past battles. Its entire body told a story of war and survival. Where other beasts would have been broken by time and wounds, this one had only grown more monstrous.


    But what struck Yahiko and Mata the most were the bony protrusions jutting from its back like sharp blades. Around thirty bone spikes, terrifyingly long, formed a natural armor, deterring any attack from behind. But the most terrifying part was what oozed from their tips¡ªa thick, blackish, viscous liquid.


    Poison.


    Its own poison.


    Over the years, the toxin circulating in its blood had seeped into these bony outgrowths, saturating them with a deadly venom. A mere scratch could be enough to infect, paralyze, and kill. This was no longer just a mere beast¡­ it was a living weapon, a predator whose entire body had become an instrument of death.


    Mata swallowed hard. One of the beast¡¯s eye sockets was empty¡ªan old wound, further proof that this creature had already brushed against death¡­ and defied it.


    At first glance, the boreal bear had no weakness.


    A suffocating silence settled in, broken only by the animal¡¯s harsh breathing, its breath forming thick plumes of vapor in the freezing air.


    Then, without the slightest warning, it charged.


    The air shattered under the force of its movement. It barreled toward them at an absurd speed for a creature of its size, its colossal body plowing through the snow in a storm of frost and fury.


    To it, Yahiko and Mata were nothing. Mere insects to be crushed.


    In a fraction of a second, the bear lunged at them, its massive paw slicing through the air with terrifying power.


    Mata reacted instantly and shoved Yahiko aside, forcefully throwing him out of the attack¡¯s reach.


    Propelled away, Yahiko lost hold of the cage in the chaos. Before it could even hit the ground, it was obliterated by the bear¡¯s strike, exploding into a rain of splinters.


    A beat of wings.


    The bird took flight with a panicked flutter.


    A precious option had just vanished.


    And the bear hadn¡¯t even slowed down.


    It lunged at Yahiko, jaws wide open, revealing fangs as large as his hand.


    But Yahiko had already regained his senses. He leaped backward, barely dodging the attack, putting a crucial distance between himself and this machine of death.


    With a swift motion, he grabbed the small curved blade at his waist and took a defensive stance. Mata, on his end, had already drawn his sword. Together, they surrounded the beast.


    Their pupils had contracted under the pressure of absolute focus. Every muscle in their bodies was taut, ready to react at the slightest movement. After witnessing the animal¡¯s speed and power, they knew that the smallest mistake, the slightest misstep, would mean death.


    They knew their only chance was to disorient it, to attack from different angles. If the bear managed to trap them both at the same time, it would be over.


    But the beast was not stupid. Its black eyes followed their movements with an unsettling intelligence. As if it understood their strategy.


    Then it moved.


    A monster of that size should never have been so fast.


    In an instant, the bear lunged at Mata, bringing its claws down to crush him.


    Yahiko, reacting in a heartbeat, grabbed a rock and hurled it with all his strength at the beast¡¯s back. The impact, though insignificant, was enough to distract the bear for a fraction of a second¡ªjust long enough for Mata to leap to the side and evade the attack.


    In the same motion, he countered. His sword slashed through the air, aiming for the exposed flank of the bear with the intent to pierce through.


    But the creature was more than just a bloodthirsty brute. In a lightning-fast reflex, it spun around, presenting its back covered in venomous spikes. Mata cursed and halted his attack just in time, stopping a mere fraction of a second before a fatal mistake.


    Yahiko, on the other hand, did not remain idle. Seizing a brief opening, he darted to the beast¡¯s flank and drove his blade into its underbelly, where the fur was thinner. But the weapon, too short and ill-suited for such an opponent, inflicted only a shallow cut. A thin stream of dark blood beaded from the wound, but the bear didn¡¯t even react. Yahiko leaped back before the creature could retaliate, his heart pounding furiously.


    That was the signal.


    Without a word, the two friends launched themselves at the beast, unleashing a synchronized assault of terrifying precision. Their coordination was flawless¡ªas if they instinctively anticipated each other¡¯s moves. Even though they had never fought together against a common enemy, they knew each other by heart.


    Their combined strength didn¡¯t simply add up.


    It exploded, multiplying far beyond the sum of their individual talents. Their coordination went beyond mere complementarity¡ªit was instinctive, almost organic, shaped by years of friendship and mutual training, despite their young age.


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    Mata, a relentless self-taught fighter, had honed his body and reflexes through sheer, ceaseless effort. Yahiko, on the other hand, was an intuitive prodigy, a fighter with razor-sharp instincts and lightning-fast decisions. They had learned from no master, followed no recognized school of combat. And yet, before them, no classical fighting style could predict their movements.


    Every strike from one was anticipated by the other. Every dodge opened the way for a counterattack, every feint created an opportunity amplified by the presence of his partner. It wasn¡¯t a martial dance, but a chaotic symphony of attacks and evasions, where their synchronization made their assault three, even four times deadlier.


    Yet, despite this perfect harmony¡­


    It wasn¡¯t enough.


    Before them, the bear wasn¡¯t just brute force. It was a war machine, a monster born from chaos and survival, sharpened by years of battle and slaughter. Where any other creature would have been overwhelmed by the relentless pressure of their attacks, it adapted. It blocked with almost cynical precision, dodged with disconcerting speed, and endured their strikes as if they were nothing more than gusts of wind against a rock.


    And when it counterattacked¡­ it was carnage.


    Every movement of the bear was a death sentence. Its paws struck with the force of a tree trunk ripped from the ground by a storm, its fetid breath vibrated in the air like a grim omen. Yahiko and Mata survived only by last-second dodges, brushing against death with every passing instant. Every avoided blow bought them a fraction of a second more to live, but their endurance was crumbling. Their breaths grew shorter, their muscles heavier.


    They weren¡¯t winning.


    They weren¡¯t even fighting.


    They were merely struggling to survive.


    Their focus was absolute. Their bodies burned with effort. Their breath became shallower.


    At this pace, they wouldn¡¯t last.


    The bear, however, did not weaken. Worse¡ªit was growing angrier. Every failed attack fueled its mounting rage. Its roars made the air tremble, its ferocity intensified.


    And they both knew it.


    Time was against them.


    Amid the chaos of brutal exchanges, frantic dodges, and devastating blows, Mata managed to formulate a plan.


    It required extreme concentration, as he had to keep evading and countering at a relentless pace. He absolutely had to find a way to turn the tide of the battle¡ªor at the very least, buy a few precious seconds.


    His gaze met Yahiko¡¯s. A simple nod sealed their mutual understanding.


    Making a perilous decision, Mata chose to take a hit. He relied on the toughness of his body and the flat of his sword to absorb some of the impact, while slightly stepping back at the moment of contact to disperse part of the force.


    But he had underestimated the bear¡¯s colossal strength. The instant the blow struck him, a searing pain shot through his entire being. Despite his preparation, the sheer force of the attack crushed his muscles and sent tremors through his bones, as if they were on the verge of shattering under the pressure.


    At that very moment, as Mata took the full brunt of the bear¡¯s strike, Yahiko was positioned behind it, ready to counterattack. But suddenly, in a movement as unexpected as it was brutal, the beast swung its hind paw directly at his face, its razor-sharp claws whistling through the air.


    Yahiko had never seen a bear attack like that¡ªsince when did these creatures use such maneuvers?! Taken off guard, he had no choice but to dodge at the very last second. His foot landed on the beast¡¯s massive paw¡ªan error he realized too late. Under his boot, he felt the raw power of a monster born to kill. A shockwave coursed through his entire leg, his muscles trembling under the pressure. His knee buckled from the impact, a sharp pain shooting through his thigh. He toppled backward, hurled like a ragdoll. The snow barely cushioned his fall as he rolled for several meters, his breath knocked out by the shock.


    A shiver of dread ran through him. This bear¡­ it wasn¡¯t just a wild beast.


    It was a monster.


    Mata, on the other hand, didn¡¯t even need to feign pain. The sheer power of the strike tore him off the ground, sending him flying through the air before he crashed violently onto the frozen earth, the impact ripping the air from his lungs.


    Barely had he hit the ground when the bear, merciless and unrelenting, lunged forward to finish him off.


    Fighting against the numbness and the pain pulsing through his limbs and chest, Mata snapped back to his senses and, in a last desperate effort, pushed himself up with difficulty, adrenaline surging through his veins. In one perfectly calculated, desperate leap, he jumped over the pit trap they had dug earlier, hoping the bear would plunge straight into it.


    But the beast halted abruptly. It had not charged blindly as he had hoped. Instead, it sniffed the air, scrutinized the ground with a piercing gaze, then locked its icy eyes onto him.


    ¡ª That bastard¡­ it smelled the trap, Mata growled through gritted teeth.


    The next instant, the monstrous beast leaped¡ªa prodigious jump that defied all logic for a creature of its size. Its massive body soared over the pit as if it didn¡¯t exist, and in the blink of an eye, it was already crashing down where Mata had stood just a fraction of a second earlier.


    But Mata, driven by raw survival instinct, rolled to the side at the last moment, narrowly escaping the titan¡¯s impact. The snow erupted under the bear¡¯s weight, sending a cloud of white billowing into the air.


    He didn¡¯t have time to savor his dodge.


    In one fluid and relentless motion, the bear followed through, its colossal muscles contracting as it pivoted with terrifying agility. In an instant, it was already upon him, its gaping maw and deadly claws poised to strike the young man down.


    Yahiko, still dazed, pushed himself up with difficulty, his body battered and his mind racing. His eyes locked onto the scene, a shiver of dread running down his spine. He was too far. He would never make it in time.


    Mata was going to die.


    His mind screamed, his body burned with exhaustion, and yet, one thought took hold of him: he had one last chance. One insane gamble. Pure madness. If he failed, it would all be over.


    He reached deep within himself, desperately searching for that strange energy he still struggled to understand. But this time, he didn¡¯t try to create a copy. He had neither the strength nor the time.


    He let everything he had left explode.


    An invisible wave burst from his body, a sudden and uncontrollable release of that mysterious energy. The air around him trembled, as if space itself twisted under the sudden pressure.


    The bear, moments away from striking Mata down, froze.


    Its animal instinct, sharpened by years of battles, sensed something inexplicable. A danger it couldn¡¯t see. Its gaze briefly shifted toward Yahiko, fixing on an invisible point beyond the boy.


    Mata, gasping for breath, then saw what he hadn¡¯t noticed until now¡ªthe bear¡¯s underbelly.


    Its one and only weak point.


    Drawing from the last remnants of his strength, he raised his sword and plunged the blade into the beast¡¯s exposed abdomen. The creature let out a deep growl of pain, but its hide was so thick, its flesh so dense, that the sword¡ªof average make¡ªsnapped under the pressure before reaching its heart.


    Mata was consumed by rage.


    Screaming, he grabbed the broken half of his blade and stabbed it repeatedly into the monster¡¯s belly, avoiding the area where the poison sac lay. He struck again and again, unleashing all his fury, until, at last, the bear collapsed with a final, agonized groan.


    Silence fell.


    Mata, his breath erratic, swayed on his feet as he stared at the bear¡¯s lifeless corpse. The adrenaline was fading, replaced by a dull pain spreading through his limbs.


    He couldn¡¯t feel his fingers. His arms were heavy. His body trembled with exhaustion. He tried to take a step¡­ but his legs gave out beneath his own weight. He fell to his knees, panting, his gaze still locked onto Yahiko.


    The latter lay motionless in the snow.


    Unmoving.


    Blood marred the pristine white around his head. A crimson trail trickled from his nose and his closed eyes.


    For a second, Mata thought he was dead.


    But as he focused¡ªat the cost of a painful effort¡ªhe noticed a thin wisp of vapor escaping from Yahiko¡¯s lips. A breath. Weak, irregular¡­ but still there.


    A mix of relief and exhaustion washed over him. He wanted to move, to make sure his friend would hold on, but his body refused to respond. His muscles were locked in place, his breath short, and he felt himself slipping away, unable to make another move.


    So he remained there.


    Lying in the snow, utterly drained. His blurred vision fixed on Yahiko, while the icy bite of the night was already creeping into his skin.


    Everything had come down to a thread.


    This time, they had won.


    But at what cost?

 Chapter 6 - Shadows on the Snow

    The cold was still there¡ªicy and oppressive¡ªbut not as biting as he had imagined. Yahiko painfully opened his eyes. His skull throbbed under a nagging pressure, and his numb body refused to move, frozen by a stiffness that had seeped into his very muscles.


    He took a deep breath; the heavy air filled his lungs, saturated with a pungent odor of dried blood, mixed with the scent of damp, thick fur. All around him, everything was dark. Too dark.


    A shiver ran down his spine. The space was tight, oppressive. The air felt stagnant, almost unbreathable.


    He tried to move, but a low ceiling kept him from sitting up fully.His heart raced. Was he buried under the snow? Trapped in a crevice?


    He blinked, searching for something to anchor him in the darkness.Above him, a massive shape blocked almost all of his view, letting through only a thin sliver of pale light.Little by little, his foggy mind pieced together the puzzle.It wasn''t a snow slide that had buried him, nor a natural trap that had shut him in.It was the bear.Its colossal body, frozen in death, blocked the only exit.


    Yahiko swallowed with difficulty. How had it come to this?


    A few hours earlier¡­Mata was panting, his body on fire. Every muscle screamed in protest, but he couldn''t stop.Yahiko lay unconscious, vulnerable. And they were still in enemy territory.It wasn''t just the cold that threatened them. The scent of blood filled the air¡ªheavy, lingering. It would inevitably attract other boreal bears¡­ or worse.


    Mata clenched his teeth. He had no choice.They would both die if he did nothing.


    He took a few moments to recover, steadying his breathing, ignoring the burning pain radiating through his muscles. Then he moved toward Yahiko, pulled one of his friend''s arms over his shoulder, and hoisted him up as best he could.


    He moved forward slowly, dragging him through the snow. A hundred meters away, on the mountain''s slope, he spotted a natural indentation beside a small rock ledge. It wasn''t a shelter, nor a cave, but there were some thick shrubs dense enough to hide his friend while he secured the area.


    With great care, he laid Yahiko down among the branches, making sure he was properly supported and wouldn''t suffer further from the cold. Then, without wasting a second, he returned to the scene of the battle. There, he retrieved their shovels, his broken sword, and their bag, before turning his gaze to the massive corpse of the bear.


    Dragging it to the rock ledge was nothing short of a feat. Every step in the snow was torture, each movement reigniting the pain in his already battered muscles. But he had no choice.


    He clenched his teeth and pushed on, pulling and dragging the carcass forward, inch by inch, through the freezing night.


    After what felt like an eternity, he finally reached the place where he had left Yahiko. Out of breath, he knelt down for a few moments, his face twisted in pain, his body screaming.


    But he wasn''t done. They now needed shelter.


    The wind bit into his skin, and the temperature kept dropping rapidly. Mata knew they wouldn''t survive the night without protection from the cold.


    Shaking with exhaustion, he grabbed a shovel and got to work. He dug a hole in the snow, deep enough for them to take refuge in. Beneath the powder, a compact layer of ice put up tough resistance. Mata persevered, striking the steel against the hard surface and gradually clearing the accumulated snow.


    Each movement tore a groan of pain from him, his aching muscles protesting every effort.


    Once the cavity was wide enough, he lined the bottom with pine branches and dry moss, creating an insulating layer to prevent direct contact with the frozen ground. Only then did he carefully lower Yahiko into it, making sure he was settled properly.


    But the temperature kept falling. It wouldn''t be enough.


    His eyes turned to the bear. Its massive body was no longer a threat, but a resource. For this freezing night, it could offer them precious protection against the wind and biting cold.


    With care, Mata dragged the carcass and tipped it onto its side, positioning the most intact flank against the hole. That way, the insulating fur would block the icy gusts, while the gaping wounds and poisonous spikes would stay out of reach. He made sure to pierce a small opening in the snowy wall to allow for ventilation and avoid a buildup of CO2.


    Finally, he collapsed beside Yahiko, his body broken from exhaustion. His eyelids shut almost instantly.


    At dawn...When Yahiko fully regained consciousness, a strange sensation washed over him. His head was buzzing, his body heavy, but the crushing pain from the day before had faded. He blinked, trying to gather his thoughts, then took a slow breath.He was alive.


    The shock of that realization washed over him like an icy wave. He remembered the fight, the bear''s roar, his own scream of despair as he saw Mata about to be crushed. He remembered the biting cold, the blood, the burning adrenaline... Then nothing.


    But now, he was breathing. His heart was beating. His body, though sore, could still move.


    His gaze slowly swept over their makeshift shelter, searching for his friend in the darkness.


    Mata was there, lying on his side, his broken sword resting not far from him, his breathing calm but his face marked by exhaustion. For a moment, a familiar tension seized Yahiko¡ªwhat if he didn''t wake up? But before the fear could take hold, Mata stirred slightly, half-opening a tired eye and muttering in a hoarse voice:


    ¡ª Took you long enough¡­


    A mix of relief and gratitude washed over Yahiko. He let out a trembling breath, finally realizing how close they had come to death.


    They were alive. Both of them.


    Thanks to Mata.


    But the respite would be short-lived.


    They had to get back.


    With a bear to bring along.


    Yahiko stretched as best he could within the cramped shelter, shaking off the fatigue that still weighed on his limbs. Mata had already drifted back to sleep, this time deeply, as if, after watching over him all night, he was now passing the baton.


    It was Yahiko''s turn to take care of their survival.


    He watched his friend for a moment, noting the exhaustion carved into his features, his slow and steady breath. Mata had risked his life to protect him, fighting against the cold, fatigue, and danger. He deserved a few extra hours of rest.


    He sat for a moment longer, his mind still foggy.


    He tapped his arms and legs to ease the lingering cold clinging to his muscles, then slowly stood and carefully stepped out of the shelter.


    The morning air was still freezing, but less biting than the previous nights. The silence was unsettling... Nothing moved around him.


    Yahiko scanned the surroundings, looking for any sign of life, something to hunt. His stomach growled, a harsh reminder that hunger would be their next enemy.


    He had to stay close to keep watch over the shelter¡ªand Mata¡ªwhile searching for something to prepare a makeshift meal.


    After an hour¡ªor maybe two¡ªYahiko returned, firmly holding a brown hare he had managed to catch nearby. He made his way back to the rocky hollow near the hole where Mata was still sleeping and quickly set about building a fire. Gathering a handful of dry twigs and bark, he struck two stones together until a small spark appeared.


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    On the way, he had also collected a few pine needles. He dropped them into their canteen, which he had filled with snow, and placed it over the flames. It would give them a hot drink, rich in nutrients¡ªperfect for regaining strength before the day ahead.


    Once the fire was well-established, he began skinning the hare with practiced ease, peeling off the fur in a few precise motions. Then, he skewered the carcass on a hazel branch to give it a distinctive flavor and set it over the flames, letting it roast slowly.


    The scent of roasted meat with hints of hazel smoke filled the cold air, permeating their shelter with its mouthwatering aroma. Yahiko watched the flames dance over the wood, listening to their calming crackle, while his thoughts drifted toward the day ahead.


    But just as he was getting lost in thought, a noise in front of him caught his attention.


    The bear''s carcass moved.


    Yahiko gave a faint smile as he saw Mata emerge from the shelter. One might''ve thought it was the bear crawling out of its den. Mata pulled himself out of the hole slowly, his face still marked by exhaustion, but looking visibly better than when he''d first woken up.


    ¡ª Damn... that smells good, he grunted, running a hand over his tired face.


    He sat heavily next to Yahiko, his eyes fixed on the grilled meat as if it were the most beautiful thing he''d ever seen.


    Without waiting any longer, they shared the meal in silence, savoring every bite of the still-smoking rabbit on its improvised skewer. The warmth of the pine needle drink spread through their bodies, a brief moment of respite after the hell they had endured the day before.


    Finally, Yahiko broke the silence:


    ¡ª I really thought we weren''t going to make it¡­


    His voice was calm, but the weight of the previous night still lingered in his words. He looked up at Mata, trying to catch his gaze. His friend, sitting cross-legged, was absently turning a piece of wood between his fingers, looking deep in thought.


    ¡ª Same here... Mata whispered. Until the very end, I was sure we were done for.


    A silence settled between them. Not a heavy silence¡ªrather, the quiet of two survivors truly realizing how close to death they had come.


    ¡ª Just like the old legends said¡­ These aren''t just regular bears, Yahiko said after a moment. They''re¡­ deadly.


    ¡ª And incredibly resilient, Mata added. I gutted it, broke it, stabbed it... It should''ve died long before.


    Yahiko slowly nodded.


    ¡ª I tried using that power¡­ to create a copy of the bear, like I do with birds. But it was too big, too heavy¡­ It burst out all at once, I lost control. Couldn''t stop it. Like an explosion.


    Mata furrowed his brow slightly.


    ¡ª Yeah, I saw that. It completely froze the bear. Gave me an opening¡­ But I seriously thought you were dead.


    Yahiko ran a hand over his face, recalling that crushing sensation.


    ¡ª Sorry, I was desperate¡­ I acted without thinking. And it drained me in a second.


    Mata nodded.


    ¡ª It knocked you out, but without it, we''d be dead.


    A silence settled between them. Yahiko exhaled, thoughtful.


    ¡ª Yeah¡­ But if I can''t control it, it might end up being more useless than anything else.


    ¡ª Then you''ll have to learn, that''s all!


    A brief silence floated between them. Yahiko eventually nodded.


    ¡ª Yeah¡­ Easy to say¡­


    Then, switching to a more pragmatic tone, he said:


    ¡ª We need to deal with the bear.


    Mata raised an eyebrow, shrugging.


    ¡ª You want us to drag it back to the village?


    ¡ª Impossible, it''s way too heavy. And its meat is saturated with poison¡­ we can''t do anything with it. We''ll take the fur and the dorsal spikes. The tips are filled with poison¡ªit could be useful to the village, especially for defense during the coming nights. We''ll distribute them, and we''ll keep the poison pouch.


    Mata gave a crooked smile.


    ¡ª Works for me.


    They finished their breakfast, slowly regaining their strength. Once they were satisfied, they got to work. Still sore, Mata focused on the bony growths, carefully breaking their natural anchors to recover a dozen of the poisonous spikes. He tied them around his waist with a rope, making sure none of them touched his skin. Yahiko, meanwhile, used his blade to cut into the bear''s thick hide and carefully separated the fur, doing his best not to damage it.


    On their way back, the two boys walked through the snow, retracing the path to the village. The crisp air stung their faces, but the physical effort allowed them to retain some warmth despite the freezing temperatures.


    ¡ª We''ll need to pick up the plant for the poison recipe, Yahiko noted after a moment of silence.


    ¡ª The one you told me about on the way here?


    ¡ª Yeah. And also the ice block for my mother.


    Mata let out a sigh.


    ¡ª After all that, it''s a miracle we haven''t forgotten why we came out here in the first place.


    They looked at each other, exchanged a small smile, and let out a tired laugh.


    After a few hours of walking, Yahiko moved at a steady pace, making sure Mata, still weakened, could keep up without too much difficulty. When they reached a spot where the snow was thinner, he suddenly stopped.


    ¡ª We''re almost there, he said. The plants are just behind that grove, in a small clearing.


    ¡ª Tell me more about this plant, Mata replied.


    ¡ª It''s called Lethe''s Tear. It''s a rare plant, and its root has specific properties¡ªit acts as a catalyst. It enhances the poison''s adhesion. Mixed with the bear''s venom, it makes the substance thicker and more stable. Once applied to a surface, the poison dries very quickly when exposed to air, which makes it ideal for coating blades or arrows.


    Mata gave an impressed whistle.


    ¡ª That''s something. But how do you plan on handling the poison without getting yourself poisoned?


    ¡ª That''s where old Gribou comes in. He''ll help us figure it out.


    Mata didn''t answer, visibly satisfied with the explanation.


    Without another word, they veered slightly toward the wooded area where Yahiko remembered spotting, in the past, the dark leaves and small purple flowers of the plant.


    The ground was hard, frozen on the surface, but beneath, the humus remained soft and slightly damp, protecting the roots intact. Yahiko crouched down and carefully began to dig them up, making sure not to damage them to preserve their full effectiveness.


    ¡ª Got it? Mata asked, scanning the area.


    ¡ª Yeah, I think we have enough. Let''s head back.


    On the way back, as they crossed the small grove beneath a canopy of trees lining the path, something caught Yahiko''s attention. He stopped abruptly, staring at the ground ahead. Mata, focused on his stride, walked a few steps past him before turning around.


    ¡ª You okay?


    Yahiko hesitated for a brief moment, then pointed to a specific spot on the path.


    ¡ª See that branch¡­ and those drops of black blood?


    Mata squinted. He noticed a broken twig on the ground, along with traces of dark blood. He immediately made the connection to the bears.


    His expression froze.


    ¡ª That''s bear blood¡­? he asked, tense.


    Yahiko nodded.


    ¡ª I placed that branch up high, balanced, on the way out, he murmured.He pointed to some low-hanging foliage, right at head height.


    ¡ª I wedged it here, between these branches. It could only fall if something passed by after us¡­


    A shiver ran through Mata. He raised an eyebrow, hesitated. He didn''t want to ask, but couldn''t help himself.


    ¡ª Why''d you do that?


    ¡ª I wanted to know¡­ if someone was following us.


    A heavy silence settled between them.


    ¡ª And?


    ¡ª I''m not sure¡­ but I don''t like it.


    He fell silent for a few seconds, his tone darker, then continued:


    ¡ª This morning, at dawn, when I came out of the hole to look for food, I walked along the edge of the boreal bear territory. Just a few steps from where we fought last night, I found signs of a massive struggle. The ground was torn up, snow and shrubs completely wrecked. I didn''t get any closer¡ªjust to be safe.


    He paused, his gaze hardening.


    ¡ª What shocked me the most, despite the violence of the fight¡­ was that there was only one trace of black blood. A clear trail, stretching several meters.


    He looked up at Mata.


    ¡ª Not drops, not splashes¡­ a real track. Like a body had been dragged that far. A bear, most likely.


    He swallowed hard, his throat tight.


    ¡ª And that trail led straight toward the heart of their territory.


    Mata struggled to swallow.


    ¡ª It chilled me to the bone¡­ But at the same time, who would be crazy enough to venture into the very heart of their domain? That beast had no chance of coming out alive.


    He slowly shook his head, eyes fixed on Mata, his expression hardening.


    His friend''s face darkened as well.


    Gripped by a deep doubt, he realized they had to act¡ªfast.


    Erasing their tracks had now become a matter of urgency.


    Without wasting a second, Yahiko tossed the pine-needle infusion flask to Mata.


    ¡ª Pour half of it on your clothes.


    ¡ª What?! We''ll freeze to death!


    ¡ª We''ll have to grit our teeth¡­ but this will mask our scent.


    Mata didn''t even argue this time and obeyed. The infusion gave off a strong resinous smell as it soaked into the fabric. Their scent, now muffled, would blend with the conifers surrounding them.


    Yahiko did the same, carefully dampening his own clothes. He also made sure to pour some on the ground, turning the surface into dark, soaked mud. Then, without a word, he gestured for Mata to slip into a bush to the right.


    With a swift motion, Yahiko grabbed a pine branch and swept the ground, erasing their footprints as best he could. Once the job was done, they immediately took off.


    After a few minutes of walking, Yahiko gave the signal.


    Without hesitation¡­ they turned back!


    Anyone else would''ve called that decision insane. They had already erased their tracks, masked their scent, and were likely fleeing from a deadly threat¡­ so why go back?


    Because they were missing a crucial piece of information.


    The most important of all: identifying their pursuer.


    If Yahiko was right¡­ If that creature had truly come out of the bears'' territory alive and started hunting them¡­


    Then they didn''t stand a chance.


    Unless they understood what was tracking them.


    If they wanted to survive, they needed information. The slightest lead, the smallest exploitable clue¡ªsomething that would allow them to make decisions accordingly.


    No matter the danger. They had to be sure.


    Hearts pounding, they discreetly retraced their steps, following the path they had taken, hidden among the bushes.


    Mata moved cautiously, eyes sharp, until a detail stopped him dead in his tracks.


    His pupils dilated.


    His gaze froze, locked in silent horror.


    His legs trembled. One second too long trying to understand.


    Then, without a word, he collapsed backward, crashing heavily into the snow, breathless.


    Yahiko, startled, nearly tripped, barely avoiding falling onto his friend.


    He lowered his gaze, looked at the ground¡­ and immediately understood what had paralyzed Mata.


    He hadn''t soaked the ground here just to erase their tracks.


    He had set a trap for their pursuer.


    The idea was simple but effective: by wetting the earth, he hoped to capture a footprint from whatever was tracking them. A clue that could reveal the nature of their predator.


    But the moment his eyes fell upon the mud, his legs gave out.


    A sudden weakness swept over him, as if his own weight had become too much to bear.


    He recognized that footprint.


    It was etched into his memory forever, and now, it was here¡ªpressed into the damp earth, clear, indelible.


    The same one they had seen near the forest by the village.


    Death was on their trail.

 Live or Die

    A freezing shiver ran down his spine. Yahiko didn''t even think. He bolted.


    Mata reacted instantly, following his friend without a word. In a flash, everything came rushing back¡ªthe oppressive presence, the chilling fear that had paralyzed them near the village. It was her. And they knew it.


    Against that thing, they were nothing. Just prey. If she caught up to them¡­


    Their flight was immediate. Instinctive. Don''t look back. Don''t slow down. The cold air tore at their lungs, but their legs refused to stop.


    Branches scratched their faces, the snow swallowed their steps, but they felt nothing anymore. Only urgency. Only fear.


    Yahiko stumbled over a root hidden beneath the powdery snow, swaying dangerously. Mata caught him with a sharp motion, nearly falling himself. Falling meant losing time¡­ and getting closer to certain death.


    They had to find shelter, regain control. The village. They had to reach the village.


    Their bodies protested with every stride. Despite a few hours of sleep and a makeshift meal that morning, they clearly hadn''t had time to recover. Every movement reminded them how the fight against the bear had drained their strength. They were weakened, and this chase had come at the worst possible moment.


    Yahiko''s thoughts raced, colliding in panicked chaos. How long had they been tracked? Since they left the village? Or had that thing only noticed them after the battle with the bear?


    His heart pounded wildly as a chilling memory resurfaced. That monster¡­ it had to be him. The one who had slaughtered a polar bear and dragged its corpse into the heart of its own territory¡­ and walked out alive.


    A creature strong enough to survive in their domain and make it out unharmed. Yahiko shivered violently, a cold far worse than the snow creeping into his bones.


    The only thought that brought a sliver of comfort¡ªhowever small¡ªwas that they had erased their trail. No footprints left at their initial path, they had veered off through the bushes, taking a parallel route. No distinct human scent, masked by the pine needle infusion. If that thing relied on those signs to track them, then maybe¡­ maybe they had a chance to lose it.


    Only the crunch of snow beneath their feet broke the stifling silence. Yahiko glanced behind: nothing. Not a shadow.


    They kept running. One minute. Two. Five. Still nothing.Silence reigned. No snapping branches behind them, no heavy breathing at their backs. Just the muffled crunch of snow beneath their steps.


    After what felt like an eternity¡ªor maybe an hour¡ªtheir pace began to slow. Mata glanced over his shoulder. Still nothing. His heart was still pounding in his chest, but a faint glimmer of hope began to rise.


    "I think¡­ we lost her," he murmured, more to himself than to his friend.


    Yahiko didn''t answer right away, still caught in the grip of anxiety tightening around his chest.Mata, on the other hand, spoke aloud, as if everything was finally clicking into place in his mind.


    "Yahiko¡­ now that we know what it is, the real danger¡­ the fear of a fight to the death against a polar bear¡­"


    He took a breath, searching for the right words.


    "What we felt the other day, near the forest¡­ it was worse. A level above."


    His gaze hardened, and he continued, more quietly:


    "Polar bears are supposed to be the ultimate predators in this region. Even the most seasoned hunters rarely come back unscathed¡­ and yet, we killed it. At a cost, sure, but we did it."


    He paused, breathing heavily, then looked at Yahiko with a new kind of intensity.


    "But that thing¡­ From what you told me, it slaughtered an adult bear. Alone. Then dragged its corpse right into the heart of their territory¡­ and walked out alive."


    His fingers tensed involuntarily. He shook his head, shivering at the thought.


    "And that footprint¡­ it''s nothing like an animal''s. Not human, either."


    He swallowed hard, and his voice dropped a notch, as heavy as the sentence he was delivering:


    "That thing¡­ it''s a Yoka?."


    His expression left no room for doubt.


    "I''m sure of it."


    A heavy silence settled between them.


    Yahiko didn''t say anything, but the thought drove itself into his mind like a cold blade.


    They kept walking, their steps still quick but more measured. The urgency remained, but a faint hope was beginning to grow.


    The village wasn''t far now. Just one more valley, then the frozen lake¡­ and they''d be there.


    Mata exhaled, a weight slowly lifting from his chest.


    "We''re almost there¡­" he whispered.


    Beside him, Yahiko nodded, his breathing still heavy.


    "Yeah¡­ We¡ª"


    A strange sensation froze him.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Like a cold current rushing through his body. A shiver, a sense of dread¡­ then warmth. A warmth that wasn''t supposed to be there.


    Yahiko slowly looked down.


    A hand. A small, clawed hand piercing through his side.His mind took a fraction of a second to understand.Then the pain exploded.His breath caught. His legs buckled. A metallic taste filled his mouth.He tried to speak, but all that came out was a trickle of blood.


    Mata, puzzled by his friend''s sudden stop, turned his head.What he saw froze the blood in his veins.


    A small, grayish, clawed hand was sticking out of his stomach, trembling slightly, as if excited by the sensation of pierced flesh.A wave of dizziness crushed him. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees, breathless. His body refused to obey, paralyzed between pain and incomprehension.


    Mata didn''t even have time to think.


    His body reacted before his mind.


    A roar of rage escaped him as he dropped the poisoned spikes he had been carrying, catching one mid-air.


    Without thinking, he lunged at the figure that had appeared behind them.


    A monster. Small, twisted, but relentless.His improvised weapon sliced through the air, aiming straight for the creature''s heart.It didn''t even need to look at him.


    The thing simply raised a hand.With a swift motion, its claws shattered the poisoned spike into a rain of fragments.Mata didn''t even have time to be surprised.


    The monster grabbed him violently by the throat and, in one fluid move, drove a kick straight into his chest.The impact was a brutal shock.


    Mata''s breath caught instantly as a sickening crack echoed through his ribcage.His body was thrown backward, flying several meters before violently crashing onto the frozen ground of the valley.The sound of his body slamming against a tree trunk was the last thing he heard before darkness consumed him.


    Yahiko gasped, his eyes widening under the sheer pain that seared through his side.The clawed hand was still there, its icy skin a stark contrast to his burning blood.With a trembling breath, he turned his head.


    In the distance, Mata lay motionless, his body barely visible in the thick snow.A shiver of horror ran through him.Where did we go wrong? How did it find our trail so easily?


    In a desperate surge of survival, he tore himself from the monster''s grip and dove forward, worsening the gaping wound.A wave of agony exploded in his abdomen as he crashed into the snow.He crawled instinctively, leaving behind a crimson trail, each movement feeling endless.


    Then, in one final effort, he rolled onto his back.


    And he saw it.


    It was small, barely taller than an eight-year-old child, but its very presence chilled the blood.Its parchment-like skin, a sickly gray, seemed stretched too tightly over its sharp bones, as if hastily stitched onto a body it didn''t belong to.Its arms were disproportionately long, ending in black, curved claws, each as sharp as a blade.Its thin, knotted legs looked built for speed, and its feet, oddly arched, sank slightly into the ground as if designed to adapt to any terrain.


    But it was its face that froze Yahiko in terror.


    A mouth far too wide, split to the ears, revealed a row of uneven teeth¡ªsome too long, others broken or sharpened to points.Its jaw snapped several times, producing a dry click that echoed through the icy valley walls, amplified by the surroundings like a grim warning.


    Its eyes, entirely black, shone with a ravenous gleam.They weren''t just inhuman. They were empty.As if nothing human or comprehensible lived behind them.


    Yahiko trembled violently, but it wasn''t just from pain or fear.


    There was something else.


    An overwhelming weight crashed down on him.


    An invisible, oppressive pressure twisted his insides and crushed him into the snow.A sickening force emanated from the creature¡ªan indescribable energy that crept over him, seeping into his very flesh.Yahiko couldn''t see it, but he felt it¡ªa suffocating presence, as if something invisible was trying to swallow him whole.It was as though the air itself was tainted by its presence.


    He wanted to scream, but his throat stayed clenched shut.


    His primal instinct was screaming.


    Run. Now.


    And yet, he couldn''t.His body refused to move.Yahiko felt his mind tilt under the weight of the oppression.


    Then...


    A brutal shock slammed into his skull.His vision burst into black and red blotches. The next instant, searing pain tore through his side, dragging a strangled gasp from his throat.


    He was being dragged.


    Lying on his back, he felt the icy snow scraping beneath him, frost slicing into his skin, stones and branches battering his already broken body.Each jolt reignited the agony in his open wound, as if something was digging through raw flesh.


    His breath grew erratic.


    As he was hauled mercilessly across the ground, he passed by his friend¡­ and his heart stopped.


    Mata lay there, motionless.


    Abandoned.


    The monster didn''t care.


    It had left him there like a discarded piece of trash.


    A wave of terror exploded in Yahiko''s gut.


    He could now feel the cold, unrelenting grip around his ankle¡ªthe Yoka?''s gnarled, dry fingers dragging him effortlessly.An even deeper wave of panic surged through him.


    No.No, no, NO!


    In a desperate reflex, he grabbed the curved blade at his belt, gripped it so tightly his knuckles turned white, then swung it in a sharp motion.He brought it down on the creature''s fingers.


    A sharp crack.


    His own hand trembled from the impact.The Yoka?''s skin hadn''t even been scratched.


    Yahiko''s eyes widened in horror.He struck again. Once, twice, three times.


    Nothing.


    The monster didn''t even slow down.


    His breathing quickened. His stomach twisted.


    He couldn''t escape¡­ nor harm this thing.


    So what now?


    He struggled, thrashed like a trapped animal, but the monster''s grip reigned supreme, crushing his ankle.Each strike of his blade bounced off its skin, the shockwaves shooting up his arm.


    His fingers tightened around his weapon.


    No¡­ It wasn''t supposed to end like this.


    A jolt, followed by a sudden burst of speed from the monster, tore a groan from his lips.The snow around him blurred past, absorbing the thin stream of blood still trickling from his wound.


    Then, suddenly, the demon stopped.


    Yahiko felt the grip on his ankle loosen.He froze, heart pounding against his ribs like a war drum.


    Silence fell again, heavy and omnipresent.


    He blinked, trying to understand where he was.


    The Yoka? had dragged him to a depression along the hillside¡ªa small rocky clearing hidden by twisted trees.A natural trap, isolated, out of sight.


    The creature''s foul stench burned his nostrils.


    Then a dreadful sound tore through the frozen silence.


    A shrill cry rose, slicing through the air like an invisible blade.The monster''s howl echoed across the valley, vibrating with pure savagery.


    It was a cry of preparation.


    Of exaltation.


    He was going to devour him.


    Panting, Yahiko slowly raised his eyes to the creature. Only one thought crossed his mind¡ªraw, implacable.


    "I refuse to die like this."


    He clenched his teeth, pain radiating through his body like burning poison. His trembling hand pressed against his gaping wound, but he ignored it.


    "Not now. Not like this."


    He dropped to one knee, fighting the dizziness, and slowly rose. Hot blood ran down his side, but he tightened his grip on the curved blade. His fingers clenched around the handle, his breath short and ragged, but his gaze¡­His gaze blazed with a wild light¡ªunstable, untamed.


    The monster stared at him for a moment, then burst into a guttural laugh¡ªa distorted, grotesque sound that echoed among the rocks. A cruel laugh. A laugh of utter contempt.


    An insect refusing to die.


    In response, a bitter smile stretched across Yahiko''s bloodstained lips. A fierce light flickered in his eyes, making him, for a fleeting moment, resemble a demon himself.


    He had nothing left to lose.It was him or me.


    He knew his chances of survival were close to zero. Normally, if the odds were too low, he would never engage in such a fight. But this time, he had no choice...


    And as long as he could breathe¡­ anything was still possible.


    But if I have to die¡­ I swear I''ll take it down with me.


    His foot sank slightly into the snow.


    There was no more hesitation. No more fear.


    Only one last choice to make.


    Live or die.


    Then he moved.