《Gravara's Living Codex》 Prologue: The Curious Wanderer Kaito "Kai" Haruto had always been a wanderer. Not in the aimless, drifting-through-life kind of way, but in the curious, can¡¯t-sit-still-because-there¡¯s-too-much-to-see kind of way. Ever since he was a kid, he had an insatiable need to explore¡ªforests, tidepools, abandoned shrines covered in moss. If something looked mysterious, he had to check it out. His grandfather, an ecologist, had encouraged this curiosity, teaching him everything he knew about nature. By the time Kai was in high school, he could identify bird calls, track animals, and even tell what kind of storm was coming just by watching the clouds. It was no surprise, then, that he chose to study biology. His dream? To travel the world, documenting rare creatures and ecosystems, creating a documentary and an encyclopedia that would capture the beauty of nature in a way that books and statistics never could. That was the plan, at least. For now, he was still just a university student, juggling coursework with weekend hikes and late-night research. But the excitement of discovery never faded. Every new species, every strange phenomenon, every uncharted path¡ªhe wanted to see it all. Kai tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, waiting for the light to turn green. His phone, mounted on the dashboard, buzzed with an incoming message. James: Tell me you¡¯re not doing anything dumb today. Kai smirked and picked up the phone, quickly typing back. Kai: Define dumb. A reply came almost instantly. James: Dumb as in ¡°going alone into the middle of nowhere to find a bird.¡± Kai: It¡¯s not just any bird. It¡¯s a Scarlet-Tailed Jay. James: Oh wow, a bird. How life-changing. Kai rolled his eyes and set the phone back down as the light changed. He made a turn onto the road leading toward the forest. A few minutes later, his phone buzzed again, but this time James was calling. Sighing, Kai hit the speaker button. ¡°What?¡± James didn¡¯t waste time. ¡°Dude, I swear, you have some kind of death wish. Why are you always wandering into forests alone?¡± Kai chuckled. ¡°Because someone¡¯s gotta document all the cool stuff before people like you destroy it with snack wrappers and bad decisions.¡± ¡°Hey, my bad decisions have never harmed the environment,¡± James shot back. ¡°And seriously, don¡¯t you ever think about, I don¡¯t know, not walking straight into potential bear territory?¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°It¡¯s not the bear season.¡± ¡°Not the point. Look, man, I get it, you¡¯re passionate about this stuff. But one of these days, you¡¯re gonna find something weird and regret it.¡± Kai turned into the forest rest area, parking his car. ¡°Appreciate the concern, Mom. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± James groaned. ¡°At least check in later. If I don¡¯t hear from you by tonight, I¡¯m calling in a search party.¡± Kai smirked as he grabbed his backpack. ¡°Noted. Try not to cry if I find the bird before you.¡± ¡°Just don¡¯t die, bird boy.¡± ¡°Love you too, James.¡± Kai ended the call. The steady hum of the engine faded as Kai pulled into a parking lot just outside of the forest. Gravel crunched beneath the tires as he eased the car into a parking spot, cutting the ignition. The sudden silence was jarring. No city noise, no passing cars¡ªjust the rustling leaves and distant chirps of birds hidden in the canopy. He leaned back in his seat, stretching his arms before glancing at the dashboard clock. 3:42 PM. Plenty of time before sunset. Grabbing his backpack from the passenger seat, he swung the door open, stepping into the crisp forest air. The smell of damp earth and pine-filled his lungs. This was the kind of place he felt most at home¡ªuntamed, unpredictable, full of life. Kai locked the car, adjusted the straps of his backpack, and set off down the narrow dirt trail leading deeper into the woods. The forest was alive with movement. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting golden patterns on the ground as a light breeze whispered through the leaves. As he walked, he kept an eye out for anything interesting. Within minutes, he spotted a flash of red darting between the trees. A Scarlet-Tailed Jay¡ªrare, especially this far north. Kai grinned, watching as the small bird landed on a branch, ruffling its deep blue feathers. Not bad. Maybe today¡¯s hike won¡¯t be a total bust after all. Further along, he noticed fresh deer tracks imprinted in the damp soil. He followed them for a short distance, eventually spotting the creature itself¡ªa young buck, grazing in a sunlit clearing. Its ears twitched as it sensed him, and in an instant, it bolted, disappearing into the undergrowth. Kai exhaled, shaking his head. Skittish as ever. He continued his trek, noting the variety of flora around him. Wild mushrooms, twisted vines, towering trees with bark peeling in strange patterns¡ªeverything told a story. The deeper he went, the more his surroundings shifted. The usual sounds of birds and insects became subdued, the air growing oddly still. That was when he noticed it. A break in the trees ahead¡ªa rocky outcrop, almost hidden by thick foliage. It wasn¡¯t marked on any of the hiking maps he had studied. Curiosity tugged at him. Alright. Just a quick look. Kai pushed through the underbrush, stepping into the clearing. Before him stood the entrance to a cave¡ªexcept there was no actual entrance. Just a solid rock wall, smooth and unnatural, like something had sealed it shut. Yet, something felt¡­ off. A faint, almost imperceptible shimmer rippled across the surface, distorting the air around it. And from beyond the rock, he could feel it¡ªsomething strange. A draft, cold yet warm at the same time, carrying an otherworldly energy. His fingers twitched. Logic told him to turn back, but his instincts¡ªhis curiosity¡ªurged him forward. He reach out. The cave was colder than Kai expected. A damp, mineral scent clung to the air, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed through the stone walls. His footsteps were slow and careful, his headlamp casting a soft glow on the uneven ground. At first, it was just an ordinary cave¡ªstalactites hanging from above, rough walls shaped by time. Nothing special. But as he moved deeper, something felt off. The air changed. Kai stopped, rubbing his arms as a shiver ran down his spine. It was a strange kind of cold¡ªnot the usual underground chill, but something deeper, unnatural. Yet at the same time, there was warmth, as if two opposite forces were colliding around him. ¡°Okay¡­ that¡¯s weird.¡± He exhaled, watching his breath mist in front of him. His body told him to turn back, but his curiosity pulled him forward. The tunnel walls gradually smoothed out, losing their rough, jagged texture. It was almost as if they had been shaped by something. Then, up ahead, a faint glow flickered. Kai¡¯s breath caught in his throat as he stepped into a vast chamber. The ceiling stretched impossibly high, vanishing into darkness, while the walls curved in a perfect circle, polished like glass. And at the very center¡ª A massive crystal pillar stood, pulsing with a soft, ethereal light. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. The crystal shimmered between white and blue, its glow shifting like the surface of water under moonlight. Tiny sparks of energy flickered along its surface, and the strange warmth-cold sensation intensified. Kai swallowed hard, his fingers twitching at his sides. Every instinct screamed that he had found something important. Something not of this world. ¡°What are you¡­?¡± Slowly, cautiously, he stepped closer, reaching out¡ª And the crystal shone. Blinding light erupted from its core, swallowing everything in pure, overwhelming radiance. Kai barely had time to gasp before his world turned white. Then darkness Into The Unknown The first thing Kai noticed was the silence. Not the peaceful kind¡ªthe kind that pressed against his ears, unnatural and suffocating. No rustling leaves, no chirping birds, no distant hum of life. Just¡­ nothing. His body felt heavy. Not in the way exhaustion usually did, but like his limbs were filled with lead. His eyelids fought against him as he tried to open them. His head throbbed. His back ached. Everything felt off. What¡­ happened? Kai groaned and shifted, or at least tried to. His body barely responded. His fingers twitched against cold, hard stone. The air smelled damp, with a faint metallic tang. Where¡­ am I? Memories trickled in sluggishly. The forest. The cave. The strange light from the crystal pillar. That overwhelming brightness¡ªlike staring into the sun¡ªuntil everything faded to black. Had he passed out? A slow breath in. His ribs protested the movement as if he had been lying there for hours. Or longer. Kai forced his eyes open. Darkness. Not complete darkness, though¡ªthere was dim, bluish light filtering through what looked like an opening in the distance. A cave? It took a moment for his vision to adjust. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like jagged teeth, and rough stone walls loomed around him, enclosing him in an unfamiliar cavern. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Not good. His thoughts were sluggish, but one thing was clear¡ªhe wasn¡¯t where he was supposed to be. And something felt wrong. Not just the unfamiliar surroundings, but something about his own body. It took him a moment to pinpoint it. Am I... tired? It didn¡¯t make sense. Not in a normal way. Sure, he had been hiking before entering that cave, but this wasn¡¯t regular exhaustion. His muscles felt too heavy, too unresponsive. Almost like he had weights strapped to every inch of his body. He blinked up at the rocky ceiling. Maybe¡­ I should just sleep a bit more. His limbs weren¡¯t cooperating, and his thoughts were still sluggish. His best bet was to rest until he had the energy to figure things out. He shut his eyes again, ignoring the gnawing sense of unease at the back of his mind. Time Passed... Kai wasn¡¯t sure how long he had been out this time, but when he stirred, something was different. The cave wasn¡¯t as bright anymore. The bluish glow from the entrance had dimmed, stretching shadows across the uneven walls like creeping fingers. He frowned. The light¡¯s fading¡­ that means¡­ His brain, sluggish as it was, finally pieced it together. It¡¯s getting dark. That realization sent a jolt of urgency through him. If this was a cave¡ªand all signs pointed to yes¡ªthen when the sun went down, the temperature would drop fast. And considering how his body already felt like a sack of bricks, freezing to death wasn¡¯t exactly off the table. Kai clenched his jaw and forced himself to move. His muscles whined in protest, but after an embarrassing struggle, he managed to push himself up onto his elbows. Progress. Sort of. Then, a deep, hollow sound echoed through the cavern. Grrrrrrroooooowwwl. Kai paused. He had heard that sound before. Many times. His stomach. ¡°¡­Right. Food. That¡¯s another problem.¡± Okay, survival mode¡ªactivate. Step one: assess your resources. His backpack. Kai¡¯s gaze flicked around the cavern, scanning the rocky ground. I had it before, right? If he still had it, he¡¯d at least have his emergency rations, a flashlight, and maybe even a lighter¡ªbasic survival gear. Enough to last until he figured out what was going on. He searched. Minutes passed. Nothing. His stomach twisted¡ªnot just from hunger, but from the creeping realization that it wasn¡¯t just missing. It was nowhere. Not near the walls. Not in any corner. Had he dropped it in the forest? Or¡­ had it vanished along with everything else? Kai exhaled slowly, pressing a hand against his forehead. Okay, don¡¯t panic. Panicking won¡¯t help. Another deep breath. Another attempt to calm the gnawing unease in his gut. Then, because humor was his only coping mechanism, he muttered dryly, ¡°Guess I am isekai¡¯d, huh?¡± The joke echoed in the empty cavern. Yeah, didn¡¯t make him feel any better. He was alone. No food. No supplies. His body felt weirdly weak. And he had no idea where he was. As he debated his next move, a new sound cut through the silence. Soft. Light. Careful. Footsteps. Kai¡¯s breath caught. ¡­He wasn¡¯t alone. Little Creatures The footsteps were soft, nearly silent. If Kai hadn¡¯t been straining his ears, he might not have noticed them at all. His breath hitched. Someone was here. His eyes flicked toward the cave entrance, but the dimming light made it hard to see beyond a few meters. Shadows stretched along the cavern walls, shifting ever so slightly. Kai forced himself to sit up, ignoring the ache in his muscles. His instincts screamed at him¡ªSay something! But his throat was dry, and his brain hadn¡¯t caught up with the situation yet. Then, from the darkness, she appeared. A small figure, barely reaching his chest if they were standing side by side, stepped into view. A child? No¡ªsomething about her posture, her presence, felt too composed. Too precise. She wore a dark cloak, the hood pushed back just enough to reveal pale hair and sharp, watchful eyes. She was carrying something in her hands. Kai swallowed, suddenly very aware of how defenseless he was. The girl tilted her head slightly, studying him. ¡°¡­Uh, hey,¡± Kai tried, his voice rasping. ¡°You lost too, or am I trespassing in your evil lair?¡± No response. Her gaze flicked downward, scanning him¡ªhis weak posture, his trembling hands. Then, without a word, she took a step closer. Kai tensed. ¡°Whoa, wait¡ª¡± She crouched down, setting something on the ground between them. A batch of fruits. Kai blinked. ¡°...Huh?¡± It was round, about the size of a grapefruit, with a rough metallic-looking shell. He had never seen anything like it before. The girl pushed it toward him slightly, then rose to her feet. Kai hesitated. His throat was parched, his stomach gnawed at him, but still¡ªmystery cave fruit? That seemed like a gamble. He looked back up at her. ¡°You¡­ giving this to me?¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. She didn¡¯t nod. Didn¡¯t shake her head either. Just stood there, watching. Kai let out a weak chuckle. ¡°Not much of a talker, huh?¡± Again, silence. Then, as quickly as she had come, she turned and vanished into the darkness. Kai scrambled to prop himself up. ¡°Wait¡ªhey! Who are you? Where am I?¡± No answer. Only the distant echo of footsteps faded away. Kai stared after her, then looked down at the strange fruit she had left behind. ¡°¡­Well. That was creepy.¡± His stomach rumbled again. ¡°¡­And inconveniently timed.¡± He sighed. Against his better judgment, he reached for the fruit. Kai rolled the strange fruit in his hand, still unsure if this was a terrible idea. But his stomach made the decision for him. ¡°Alright, mystery cave fruit. Either you kill me, or I survive and regret nothing.¡± He bit down. A sharp zing spread across his tongue¡ªlike licking a battery, but somehow¡­ pleasant? His whole body tensed from the shock, but then a strange warmth spread through his limbs. The sluggishness in his muscles eased, like a fog lifting from his brain. He exhaled. ¡°Weird¡­ but not bad.¡± Feeling slightly more alive, Kai forced himself onto his feet. His legs wobbled, but he managed to steady himself. Now that his head wasn¡¯t spinning from hunger, he could actually look around properly. The cavern was vast, jagged rock formations stretching toward the ceiling. But what caught his eye was the rubble near the center¡ªa pile of something broken. Kai frowned and shuffled closer, careful with his footing. As he reached the shattered remains, his stomach twisted. It was crystal. Large fragments of what must have once been a towering pillar were scattered across the ground. They had lost their color, their once-brilliant glow reduced to dull, lifeless shards. Kai swallowed. ¡°Did I¡­ break this?¡± His mind replayed the moment before he blacked out¡ªthe blinding light, the sheer force of it. Had touching the crystal done something? He crouched, brushing his fingers over the smooth remnants. The air around them felt off, like static still lingering after a lightning strike. Then, something moved. Kai jerked back, eyes snapping toward the rubble. One of the smaller pieces had shifted, revealing something underneath. A small, round object. ¡°¡­An egg?¡± Carefully, he reached out and picked it up. It was smooth, almost glass-like, yet surprisingly warm to the touch. As he turned it in his hand, a faint glow pulsed from within. Kai¡¯s pulse quickened. ¡°Okay, glowing eggs¡ªprobably not normal.¡± The glow brightened. Kai froze. ¡°Uh¡­?¡± A thin crack split across the shell. His breath hitched. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re¡ªwait, are you hatching right now?!¡± The egg trembled, tiny fissures spreading across its surface. Then, with a soft pop, a fragment fell away¡ªfollowed by a tiny, wiggling creature. Kai¡¯s eyes widened. It looked like an axolotl. If axolotls were sky-blue, slightly translucent, and floating. The tiny creature blinked at him with large, star-like eyes. Then, with an almost lazy motion, it hovered into the air. Kai watched in awe as the tiny axolotl drifted in the air, its translucent blue body shimmering faintly. The way it moved¡ªgraceful, effortless, like it belonged to the air more than the ground¡ªwas mesmerizing. The little creature spun in place, its frilled gills fluttering, almost as if it were testing its newfound freedom. It let out another soft trill, tilting its head at Kai in curiosity. Kai ran a hand through his hair, still trying to process what he was looking at. ¡°You really are something else, huh?¡± He glanced at the shattered remains of the crystal pillar. It had been blinding, like staring into the sun itself¡ªso bright that it burned the moment into his memory. And yet, from that brilliant radiance, this tiny creature had been born. Like dust scattered from a dying star. Kai¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°¡­Stardust.¡± The creature chirped. He grinned. ¡°Yeah, that fits, doesn¡¯t it? You were born from that crystal that lit up like a miniature sun¡ªso, Stardust.¡± The little axolotl twirled midair, clearly pleased with its new name. Kai chuckled. ¡°Alright, Stardust. Let¡¯s figure out what the hell we just got ourselves into.¡± Kai let out a long sigh, rubbing his face. ¡°Okay¡­ nvm, it¡¯s dark already. We should sleep.¡± He looked around the cavern, then at the pile of crystal rubble. ¡°Not like I have a better plan anyway.¡± He lowered himself onto the rocky ground with a groan. The cold immediately seeped into his skin, making him shiver. ¡°Great. No blanket, no fire¡­ Maybe there¡¯s something I can use to keep warm.¡± As he mulled over his miserable situation, a soft glow flickered beside him. Kai turned his head. Stardust, who had been lazily floating nearby, was now glowing¡ªred. The warmth radiating from its small body washed over Kai like a gentle campfire, chasing away the chill in the air. Kai blinked. Then blinked again. ¡°¡­Are you serious?¡± He held out a hand, feeling the comforting heat. ¡°You¡¯re like¡­ a floating space heater?¡± Stardust trilled, bobbing in the air like it was pleased with itself. Kai exhaled a laugh, shaking his head. ¡°You know what? Maybe the first day won¡¯t be so bad after all.¡± The Weight of a New World Kai stirred, feeling an unfamiliar weight pressing down on his body. His muscles ached, as if he had been carrying a heavy pack for hours. His mind was slow to catch up, but instinct took over first. Assess the situation. He opened his eyes to the dim light of the cave. The rocky ceiling loomed overhead, its jagged stalactites shorter than expected. His brows furrowed. That wasn¡¯t normal. He wasn¡¯t a physics major, but something felt off. His hands ran over his own body, checking for injuries. Nothing serious¡ªjust some soreness. Next, he glanced down at his clothes. Casual hiking shirt, cargo pants, and his trusty hiking shoes. Everything was intact¡­ but his backpack was missing. "Damn it," he muttered. That pack had food, water, and survival gear. Without it, his situation just got a lot harder. Alright, focus. Priorities¡ªshelter, food, water. The cave could work as shelter for now, but food and water were immediate concerns. Just as he was about to stand, a soft chirping sound reached his ears. Stardust. The tiny creature floated lazily toward him, still half-asleep, its gills fluttering with each slow breath. Kai let out a small chuckle, his tension easing just a bit. "Good morning, little star" he said, gently scratching its head. Stardust blinked at him with drowsy golden eyes. Kai exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Alright. Today¡¯s goal¡ªfind food and water." Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. He pushed himself up, legs still heavy from the strange gravity. Whatever world he had landed in, he had a feeling survival wasn¡¯t going to be easy. Kai took a deep breath, steadying himself as he stepped toward the mouth of the cave. His body still felt heavier than it should, but he forced himself to move. One step at a time. As he emerged into the daylight, a rush of cool mountain air filled his lungs. And then¡ªhis breath hitched. The world before him was nothing short of breathtaking. A vast ocean of pine trees stretched across the mountainside, their gray-green needles shimmering under the morning sun. Wildflowers bloomed in bursts of color between the rocky slopes, swaying gently in the breeze. And far beyond, the landscape faded into towering peaks, their tips swallowed by mist. But his eyes kept drifting back to the horizon¡ªto the thing that defied all logic. A massive, shimmering wall loomed in the distance, rising into the sky like an endless waterfall frozen mid-fall. It moved, but not like water¡ªit rippled, bending the light around it as if the very air was warped. Kai exhaled. "Yeah¡­ that¡¯s definitely not normal." A soft chirp pulled him from his thoughts. Stardust peeked out from his scarf, golden eyes blinking at the scenery. Kai smirked. "You seein¡¯ this too, little star?" He let out a short laugh. "Well, I guess everything¡¯s weird now. Might as well roll with it." He carefully picked his way down the rocky slope, each step testing his balance. The gravity here still wasn¡¯t normal¡ªheavier than Earth, but not impossible to move in. He just had to get used to it. As he descended, the terrain grew trickier, shifting from solid rock to patches of grass and uneven dirt. He slowed his pace, taking in the little details around him¡ªthe way the wind whistled through the pines, the distant call of some unseen creature, the occasional rustling of underbrush. Then he saw it. A mountain goat. Or at least, something like one. It stood perpendicular to the cliffside, completely unbothered by the sheer drop below. Its hooves seemed to cling to the rock like magnets, its thick fur blending in with the gray stone. The creature turned its head toward him, narrow eyes watching him with mild curiosity. Kai blinked. "Okay¡­ what the hell?" The goat let out a low huff, then resumed munching on a tuft of grass growing from a crack in the cliff. Kai shook his head, rubbing his temple. "Right. Gravity-defying goats. Sure. Why not?" Stardust let out a soft trill, seemingly amused. Kai chuckled. "Don¡¯t laugh, you¡¯re just as weird as everything else here." He continued downward, keeping a cautious eye on his footing. As much as he wanted to gawk at every strange thing he saw, survival came first. After what felt like an eternity of careful steps, he finally reached level ground. The forest entrance loomed before him, its towering iron-gray pines stretching toward the sky like silent sentinels. Shadows pooled beneath their branches, casting the path ahead in dim light. Kai exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Alright. Food and water." He stepped forward, disappearing into the trees. Between Metal and Hunger Kai moved carefully through the forest, his footsteps muffled by the soft earth beneath him. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp soil, mixed with something faintly metallic. His eyes wandered, taking in the sheer abundance of flowers growing between the roots of the massive trees. It wasn¡¯t just the usual reds and yellows¡ªthere were blues that gleamed like cobalt, deep greens with a bronze sheen, and rusty browns that shimmered under the dappled light. Kai crouched beside a cluster of copper-colored blossoms, brushing his fingers against the petals. They felt¡­ strange. Not quite like normal flowers¡ªstiffer, almost like thin sheets of metal. He frowned. "Okay, that¡¯s weird." He plucked a petal and rubbed it between his fingers. A faint, powdery residue coated his skin, leaving behind a metallic scent. Stardust peeked out from his scarf and trilled softly. "You smell it too?" Kai muttered. He wiped his fingers on his pants and stood, scanning the trees. Something felt off. It took him a moment to realize what. Silence. No birds. No distant chirping. Just the whisper of wind through the iron-gray pines. Kai exhaled through his nose. "That¡¯s¡­ unsettling." He was so used to forests being alive with sound¡ªbirds, insects, the occasional rustling of small animals. But here? Nothing. Just the eerie quiet and the soft creaking of tree branches. Still, he pushed forward. He needed food and water. Kai crouched low, his eyes scanning the forest floor. The sheer variety of plant life was overwhelming¡ªvivid blooms of cobalt, copper, and deep rust-red swayed gently in the breeze, their metallic hues catching the filtered sunlight. It was beautiful, surreal even. But right now, beauty wasn¡¯t his priority¡ªfood was. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. His stomach growled again, a loud and insistent reminder. ¡°Alright, focus, Kai,¡± he muttered. ¡°The girl had to have found it somewhere nearby.¡± His eyes darted from tree to tree until something familiar caught his attention. At the base of a thick, gray-barked pine, a cluster of bulbous pods rested against the roots, half-buried in the soil. His breath hitched. ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Kai rushed forward, crouching beside the pods. They were identical to the one the girl had given him¡ªround, firm, with a dull, iron-gray shell. Excitement surged through him as he reached for one, only to stop mid-motion. Something was off. Unlike the one he had eaten before, these were sealed shut, their surface covered in a waxy, semi-transparent layer. He pressed his fingers against one. It was firm¡ªtoo firm. He tried digging his nails into the outer layer, but it didn¡¯t give. ¡°Unripe?¡± He frowned, turning the pod over in his hand. The one she gave me wasn¡¯t like this... So, I need to wait for these to crack open? That wasn¡¯t good. He needed food now, not in a few days. Sighing, he placed the unripe pod back down and kept moving. He wandered deeper into the forest, carefully observing every tree, bush, and patch of undergrowth. Then¡ª There! Nestled between two gnarled roots, another cluster of pods. But this time, they looked different. The outer layer had hardened into a dry, brittle shell. Unlike the others, these weren¡¯t glossy¡ªthey had a dull, fractured texture, almost like dried clay. Kai reached for one, feeling the weight in his palm. If the first batch was unripe, then maybe¡ª He turned toward the nearest rock and, without hesitation, slammed the pod against it. The shell cracked instantly, splitting open with a satisfying crunch. Inside was the exact same fibrous fruit he had eaten before. ¡°Yes!¡± Without wasting a second, he grabbed more, shoving them into the side pockets of his cargo pants. They were slightly bigger than his palm, but the pockets stretched enough to hold a decent amount. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s one problem down,¡± he muttered, patting his now slightly bulging pockets. ¡°Now let¡¯s see what else I can find.¡± As he continued foraging, something else caught his attention¡ªclusters of small, glowing amber berries nestled within a tangled bush of thorny branches. The way they pulsed faintly in the dim light was almost hypnotic. Kai plucked one carefully. It was oddly warm in his hand. But the moment he loosened his grip¡ª THUMP. The berry dropped straight to the ground, sinking slightly into the dirt. ¡°¡­What?¡± Frowning, Kai bent down and tried lifting it again. The moment it left his palm, it slammed back into the earth like a miniature lead weight. "Why the hell is this thing so dense?" Stardust, now fully awake and nestled in the folds of Kai¡¯s scarf, let out an amused chirp. ¡°Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, little guy.¡± Kai sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Not edible unless I want to break my teeth, I guess.¡± He gave the heavy fruit one last glance be fore stretching his sore limbs. ¡°Alright, food secured. Next up¡ªwater.¡± Between Patient and Predator Kai wandered the forest for hours, his eyes scanning every rock and crevice for even a hint of water. The sun now hung high in the sky, its light transforming the metallic forest into a shimmering landscape of silver and green. Yet, despite his efforts, no sign of water emerged¡ªonly the silent, unyielding expanse of Ironveil¡¯s rugged terrain. Frustrated, he paused. His stomach grumbled, and his mind, ever resourceful, spun an idea. Maybe those strange mountain goats know where water is hiding. He remembered the peculiar creature he¡¯d seen earlier¡ªa mountain goat clinging to a cliffside as if defying gravity itself. With cautious hope, Kai began to search for it. After searching for a while, Kai finally spotted the strange goat¡ªa creature clinging to the rocky cliff as if defying nature itself. He paused for a moment, watching it intently. Then, as if on cue, the goat began its slow, deliberate movement along the edge. Kai followed closely, careful not to disturb the animal. For several minutes, the goat led him along a narrow path, its hooves clicking softly on the stone. Suddenly, it halted. Kai stopped too. He waited in silence¡ªten long minutes with nothing happening. Growing restless, Stardust became visibly bored. The tiny axolotl began to fly in gentle circles around Kai¡¯s head, its playful chirps echoing in the still air. Twenty minutes passed, and Stardust, exhausted by its own antics, finally settled to sleep on the edge of Kai¡¯s scarf. Thirty minutes had elapsed. Kai let out a heavy yawn and muttered, "Maybe I should have just searched for the water source myself." Then, just as he was about to lose patience, the goat shifted slightly¡ªonly to do something entirely unexpected. It let out a loud, unmistakable fart. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Kai¡¯s eyes widened in horror and disbelief. ¡°Really? Thirty minutes of waiting just for a¡ª¡± He paused, incredulous, ¡°for a fucking fart?¡± He chuckled bitterly, adding, ¡°If I had a nickel for every thirty minutes I waited for a fart, I¡¯d have two nickels. Not a fortune, but still¡­¡± He trailed off, his laughter mingling with exasperation. Shaking off the absurdity, Kai refocused on his goal. The mountain goat, now on the move, trotted steadily along a rocky path. Kai decided to follow, thinking it might lead him to a water source. The creature¡¯s slow, deliberate pace allowed Kai to match its steps without risking too much exposure. After a short while, the goat led him to the edge of a river. Kai¡¯s heart leapt as he saw clear water gushing along a narrow channel. He hesitated, careful not to disturb Stardust¡ªstill sound asleep on his scarf¡ªbefore cautiously stepping forward. The current was swift, but the river wasn¡¯t treacherous. Kai traced the water upstream and noticed it originated from higher on the mountain¡ªa natural spring, likely pure and safe. Driven by thirst and the promise of relief, he knelt by the bank and dipped his hand into the cool flow. The water was refreshing, almost electric in its clarity, a stark contrast to the dry, oppressive heat that had built up over the day. He drank deeply, feeling the liquid surge life back into him after a long day without proper hydration. Just as Kai began to relax by the river, a sudden commotion shattered the fragile calm. The mountain goat, which had been quietly drinking from the stream, froze¡ªits eyes widening in terror. For a heartbeat, time seemed to stall before the creature bolted, its hooves drumming a rapid staccato on the rocky bank. "Wait¡ª" Kai shouted, instinctively reaching out, but his call was swallowed by a menacing sound from behind a nearby clump of rocks. Out of the shadows, a wolf-like animal emerged, its four sharply pointed ears twitching as it locked onto the fleeing goat. In a heartbeat, it lunged with predatory ferocity, jaws snapping down with a force that echoed off the stone and sent a shudder through Kai''s very core. Kai''s heart pounded in his ears as he watched, frozen in terror. "No... please, no..." he whispered, his voice trembling. He attempted to retreat slowly, each cautious step heavy with dread. But fate¡ªor perhaps his clumsy nerves¡ªbetrayed him when a loose pebble slipped from his grasp, clattering loudly on the rocks. The sound was like a gunshot in the still air. Kai whipped around to see not one, but a dozen wolf-like creatures emerging from the underbrush, their eyes glowing with a predatory hunger. Their synchronized movements and low, menacing growls sent a chill down his spine, the oppressive atmosphere closing in like a vice. Panic clawed at him as he backed away, every muscle screaming to run. His mind raced for a plan, for any escape, but terror left him paralyzed. In that crushing moment of fear and uncertainty, one thought rang clear amid the chaos: "James is right, my luck is terrible." Shadow In the Pines Kai¡¯s breath hitched as the pack of wolves slunk forward, their eyes glinting in the shifting sunlight. Their low growls rumbled through the iron-laced trees, sending waves of dread through his already exhausted body. His legs moved before his mind caught up. He ran. The ground was uneven, loose rocks shifting under his weight as he bolted through the trees. The gravity worked against him, his limbs burning with every frantic step. Behind him, the wolves didn¡¯t charge all at once¡ªonly one followed at first, trotting leisurely, its eerie patience more terrifying than an outright chase. Kai''s lungs burned, his legs numb with exhaustion, but he forced himself forward. His only hope was the towering Ironbark Pine just ahead¡ªa behemoth of a tree, its bark dark and unyielding like metal. If he could just reach it, maybe he could catch his breath, maybe the wolf would lose sight of him. He threw himself behind the thick trunk, pressing his back against its cold surface. His breath came in ragged gasps, his heart hammering like a drum in his ears. Stardust trembled beside him, clinging to his shoulder, its tiny body shivering in fear. Seconds stretched. Silence. Then¡ªcrack. A soft footstep on the dry leaves. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Kai¡¯s stomach turned to ice. He barely dared to breathe as the realization hit him¡ªthe wolf knew he was here. It wasn¡¯t charging. It wasn¡¯t snarling. It was waiting. Playing. A heavy exhale came from the other side of the tree, followed by the deliberate crunch of slow, measured steps circling the trunk. The wolf was toying with him, savoring the hunt. Kai¡¯s fingers dug into the Ironbark¡¯s ridges. He turned his head slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of the predator¡¯s shadow slipping through the undergrowth, moving unnervingly slow. Then¡ªnothing. He strained his ears, but the world had gone eerily silent. Even Stardust stiffened, sensing something unnatural. A flicker of movement. Infront of him, deeper in the forest, a shadow shifted between the trees. Too quick to make out. Too deliberate to be the wind. "Oh no¡­ it¡¯s already there," Kai whispered through gritted teeth, forcing himself back into a sprint. The moment he moved, the wolf reacted. No more games¡ªit lunged forward in a full sprint, closing the distance in seconds. Kai pushed his body harder, but every step felt like his bones were splintering under the crushing gravity. His vision blurred, his breath came in short gasps, and then¡ªpain. It hit him like a hammer to the leg. A sharp crack shot through his right leg, and before he could even register the agony, his legs gave out. He collapsed onto the ground, his entire body screaming in protest. "Come on¡­ get up¡­ don¡¯t give up now." The thought barely formed in his head before another wave of pain crashed over him. He tried to stand, his arms trembling, but his body refused to obey. His muscles felt like dead weight, his mind slipping into the haze of exhaustion. The wolf slowed. A deep, rumbling growl rumbled through the air as it loomed over him, savoring the final moment. Kai clenched his teeth and forced himself to move¡ªif he couldn¡¯t run, he could crawl. But it was useless. The wolf was already upon him. Its eyes locked onto his, full of cold, merciless hunger. Then, it lunged. Kai threw up his arms, bracing for the impact¡ª SHNK! A streak of red light cut through the darkness. A glowing arrow, its tip burning like embers, pierced straight into the wolf¡¯s skull. The beast barely made a sound as it crumpled, its lifeless body hitting the ground with a dull thud. Kai lay frozen, his mind barely processing what had just happened. The rest of the pack, startled by the sudden attack, let out wary growls before retreating into the shadows, leaving their fallen kin behind. The world blurred as exhaustion overtook him. His body, too battered to fight anymore, surrendered to the inevitable. As his vision faded, the last thing he saw was that same shadow from before¡ªwatching. Closer now. Silent. Waiting. A Strange Welcome Kai awoke to voices¡ªsome hushed, some tense. His body ached, but he was lying on something surprisingly comfortable. As his vision adjusted, he took in the surroundings. He was inside a house¡ªnot large, but sturdy. The foundation was stone, seamlessly blending into wooden walls reinforced with metal beams. A warm, flickering light cast soft shadows across the room. Before he could gather his thoughts, a voice piped up beside him. "Oh, you''re awake." Kai turned his head. A young boy sat nearby, tinkering with a strange device. His copper-colored hair was tousled, his cobalt-blue eyes filled with curiosity rather than concern. He gave Kai a quick glance before returning to his work, as if his guest was more of a mild curiosity than a cause for alarm. In the background, an argument brewed. "You can''t just bring in every wounded creature you find," a deep voice said. It wasn¡¯t harsh¡ªjust firm, measured, like someone used to making tough decisions. The girl standing before him, silver-haired and silent, met his gaze without flinching. "He needed help." Her voice was quiet, but there was a finality to it. The older man exhaled through his nose, rubbing the bridge of it. "That¡¯s not the point, girl. You don¡¯t know what he is, where he¡¯s from, or if he¡¯s dangerous." The boy spoke up without looking up from his contraption. "If he was dangerous, he¡¯d have attacked by now. Or died." Kai twitched. "I''m right here, you know." That got all their attention. The girl immediately stepped forward and knelt beside him, scanning his face with a quiet intensity. Up close, her green eyes gleamed like moss in the firelight. Kai swallowed, feeling strangely small under her gaze. "Uh¡­ hey?" The older man stepped forward too, and that was when Kai got his first real look at him. He was broad-shouldered, built like a man who had spent his entire life in battle. His beard was streaked with gray, his sharp gaze weathered yet steady. Unlike the boy¡¯s casual curiosity or the girl¡¯s quiet intensity, this man¡¯s eyes were calculating¡ªmeasuring. Kai barely had time to react before a crossbow was leveled at him. Not in a panicked or aggressive way, but with the calm precision of someone who had done this before. "I¡¯ll ask once. Who are you, where are you from, and what exactly are you?" Kai swallowed hard. His body still felt sluggish, his limbs uncooperative, but his mind was sharp enough to understand that any wrong answer could make this a very short conversation. "I¡ªI''m¡­ Kai. Kaito Haruto." Silence. The older man¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. "That¡¯s not a name from these mountains." Kai let out a breath. "Yeah, I figured. Look, I don¡¯t know where I am, or how I got here. One minute I was exploring a cave, the next I woke up in a world where gravity wants to kill me." The boy snorted. "Sounds about right." This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Kai turned to him. "And you are?" The boy grinned. "Bram Ironhart. Engineer, genius, and certified survivor of my sister''s death glares." He jerked a thumb at the girl. "This is Thara. She doesn¡¯t talk much." Thara gave a small nod. Kai looked between them. "Ironhart? So you''re siblings?" "Twins," Bram confirmed. "She¡¯s five minutes older, but I¡¯m at least five times smarter." Thara elbowed him in the ribs. Kai turned back to the older man, whose crossbow had lowered slightly but not entirely. "And you?" A beat of silence. Then¡ª "Durgan Ironhart. Their grandfather." Kai stiffened. "Oh. That explains the ''I''m in charge'' energy." Bram stifled a laugh. Durgan sighed, rubbing his forehead. "You¡¯ve got a mouth on you, boy." Kai shrugged weakly. "It''s a survival tactic." The air in the room shifted slightly. Durgan studied him for another moment before finally lowering the crossbow completely. "Fine. You stay until you recover. After that, we¡¯ll see." Kai sighed, stretching his arms as he adjusted his position on the sofa. His body still ached from the days of struggling in the cave, but at least now he was warm and comfortable. The Ironhart home was simple yet sturdy, built of solid rock and wood, and filled with the rich scent of smoldering coal. The warmth from the fireplace soaked into his skin, making him realize just how cold he had been before. Across from him, Bram was still tinkering with some kind of small machine, occasionally glancing up at Kai with open curiosity. Thara, sitting beside him, remained quiet as usual, her moss-green eyes studying him. Then, just as Kai was about to ask when Durgan and Bram had returned, something small and blue slipped out from his scarf. A tiny yawn filled the room. All three dwarves froze. Kai barely had time to react before Bram shot up, nearly knocking over his chair. Thara¡¯s eyes widened, and even Durgan, who had just entered the room, stopped mid-step¡ªhis usual steady presence suddenly laced with tension. ¡°What in the deep halls is that?¡± Bram whispered, his cobalt eyes locked onto the small floating creature. Kai blinked, confused by their intense reactions. ¡°Uh¡­ Stardust?¡± The Ironhart family didn¡¯t move. Stardust, completely unaware of the chaos it had caused, hovered lazily in the air, stretching its tiny glowing limbs before nestling against Kai¡¯s neck with a satisfied hum. Durgan finally broke the silence. ¡°¡­A spirit.¡± His voice was quiet, but there was a weight to it. Thara¡¯s fingers twitched, as if she wanted to reach out but wasn¡¯t sure she should. Bram, meanwhile, pointed at Stardust with a look of pure disbelief. ¡°You¡ªyou have a spirit?! How?! Only elders or the blessed can have one!¡± Kai frowned. ¡°Spirit?¡± Durgan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb, lad. Where did you get that thing?¡± Kai shifted uncomfortably under the old dwarf¡¯s sharp gaze. ¡°I¡­ found it.¡± ¡°Found it?¡± Durgan repeated, his tone unreadable. Kai sighed. ¡°I woke up in a cave. There was this weird crystal pillar, and then¡­ it crumbled. Stardust was inside an egg that was left behind.¡± Bram looked like his entire world had just been flipped upside down. ¡°An egg? Spirits don¡¯t come from eggs!¡± Kai hesitated. He had assumed Stardust was just some kind of magical creature, but now¡­ ¡°Wait¡ªwhat exactly do you mean by ¡®spirit¡¯?¡± Durgan studied him for a long moment before exhaling deeply. He crossed his arms, his weathered face unreadable. ¡°Spirits are rare. Ancient. Not just any beast or magical creature¡ªtrue spirits are fragments of this world¡¯s will, bound by its laws.¡± Kai swallowed. That sounded a lot more complicated than he expected. Bram nodded rapidly. ¡°And they don¡¯t just show themselves to anyone! Most of the time, all people see of them are glowing dots, flickering in the distance.¡± Kai blinked, glancing at Stardust, who was happily floating beside him, its tiny translucent fins waving gently. ¡°Wait¡­ so you guys don¡¯t actually see Stardust?¡± Thara shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ a floating light.¡± Kai¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. He saw Stardust clearly. Durgan¡¯s gaze was sharp. ¡°You can see its full form?¡± Kai nodded slowly. Another silence filled the room. Then, Bram gasped dramatically and pointed at Kai again. ¡°You¡¯re blessed!¡± Kai nearly choked on his own breath. ¡°Wait, what?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the only explanation!¡± Bram declared. ¡°Only those who are chosen by a spirit can see their true form! That means you¡ª¡± Durgan cut him off with a quiet but firm ¡°Enough.¡± Bram immediately shut his mouth. Durgan rubbed his temples before fixing his gaze back on Kai. ¡°Lad, this isn¡¯t something to take lightly. If this is truly a spirit, then it means you¡¯ve been marked.¡± ¡°Marked?¡± ¡°It chose you,¡± Durgan said simply. ¡°For what reason, we don¡¯t know. But a spirit doesn¡¯t attach itself to someone without purpose.¡± Kai swallowed. That¡­ was kind of a lot to take in. Stardust, blissfully unaware of the heavy conversation, let out another soft yawn and nuzzled against Kai¡¯s cheek. ¡°¡­Right,¡± Kai muttered. ¡°Well, Stardust doesn¡¯t seem to care about any of that.¡± Bram stared at the tiny glowing creature with pure fascination. ¡°Can I touch it?¡± Kai glanced at Stardust. ¡°Uh¡­ I guess?¡± Bram hesitated before slowly reaching out. His finger passed straight through the creature. The boy yelped, pulling his hand back. ¡°Wha¡ª?! It¡¯s not solid!¡± Kai chuckled. ¡°Yeah, Stardust kind of does what it wants.¡± Durgan exhaled sharply, rubbing his face before shaking his head. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about this later. Right now, it¡¯s best we eat and rest.¡± Kai couldn¡¯t agree more. He needed food before his brain melted. As if on cue, the rich, savory scent of stew filled the air. Bram immediately brightened, turning towards the kitchen. ¡°Oh yeah! Food!¡± Thara, still quiet, walked over and placed a steaming bowl in front of Kai. He stared at it. A deep, rich broth, filled with chunks of dark meat, thick root vegetables, and herbs. The aroma alone made his mouth water. His stomach growled loudly. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know what this is,¡± Kai admitted, picking up the spoon, ¡°but I need it.¡± The first bite hit his tongue. Instant warmth. A rush of deep, savory umami, slightly smoky but balanced with rich herbal undertones. The meat¡ªtender, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Kai devoured it. Bram watched in awe. ¡°Whoa. You eat like you just escaped starvation.¡± Kai didn¡¯t even answer. He was too busy shoveling more food into his mouth, savoring every bite like it was the best thing he¡¯d ever eaten. Thara¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile. Durgan chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°Well, at least you¡¯ve got an appetite.¡± Kai barely paused to breathe. This was the best thing that had happened to him all week. At least, until he had to deal with the fact that he was apparently ¡®marked¡¯ by a spirit. But that was tomorrow Kai¡¯s problem. Right now? He had soup. Little Body, Big Heart Warmth. That was the first thing Kai noticed. Not the searing heat of a summer afternoon, but the kind that settled deep into his bones¡ªcomfortable, steady. The kind that made getting up feel like the hardest thing in the world. He groaned, slowly blinking awake. Sunlight poured through the small wooden window, casting golden beams across the sturdy walls and rough stone floor. The sun was already at its highest. ¡°Damn¡­ I overslept.¡± He tried to move, but a dull ache pulsed from his right leg. It wasn¡¯t sharp anymore¡ªjust a lingering soreness. The last thing he remembered was running from the Iron Claw, the sharp sting of pain as he tripped, and then¡­ He glanced down. His leg was wrapped in fresh bandages. The scent of crushed herbs lingered in the air, faint but sharp. Someone had taken care of him. His eyes adjusted to the dim interior of the Ironhart family home. The room was small but solidly built, the wooden beams thick enough to withstand an avalanche. A few hunting tools hung on the walls, along with shelves stacked with books and strange metallic parts¡ªprobably Bram¡¯s work. Then, movement. Across the room, Thara sat quietly on a low stool, her hands carefully grinding something in a small wooden bowl. She was focused, her dark silver hair tucked behind her ear, her expression calm and unreadable. For a moment, Kai just watched her. She hadn¡¯t noticed he was awake¡ªor if she had, she wasn¡¯t acknowledging it. Then, as if sensing his stare, she finally spoke. ¡°¡­You should eat.¡± Her voice was soft but firm, carrying the same quiet confidence as before. She didn¡¯t look up from her work. Kai sighed. ¡°Morning to you too.¡± ¡°It¡¯s noon.¡± ¡°Right. Afternoon to you too.¡± A tiny smirk tugged at her lips before she quickly hid it. Kai carefully sat up, testing his leg. It still ached, but it felt better than yesterday. Maybe it was the bandages. Maybe it was the weird paste she had used. Either way, he wasn¡¯t complaining. --- A small wooden plate was placed beside him, holding a chunk of bread, dried meat, and some kind of fruit. Kai reached for it. ¡°Did you¡ª¡± Thara was already back to grinding herbs, completely ignoring him. ¡°¡­Guess I¡¯ll take that as a yes.¡± He took a bite of the fruit¡ªIronpod, if he remembered correctly. The first time he ate one, he almost spat it out. It tasted like licking a battery, but now, he was getting used to it. Silence settled between them. Not awkward, but¡­ expectant. Kai glanced at Thara again. She was still working, but there was a certain gentleness in her actions. A quiet patience. ¡°¡­Thanks.¡± She finally looked up, tilting her head slightly. ¡°For what?¡± Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°For taking care of me.¡± Thara blinked. For a moment, she didn¡¯t answer. Then¡ª ¡°You would¡¯ve done the same.¡± It wasn¡¯t a dismissal, nor was it modesty. It was just a fact. Kai smiled. ¡°Yeah. I would¡¯ve.¡± A small, almost imperceptible nod. That was enough. --- The silence didn¡¯t last long. A familiar chirping noise came from above, followed by a blur of pale blue and glowing gills. Stardust twirled in the air, circling Kai¡¯s head like an excited child. His tiny body wobbled as he floated, his tail flicking left and right as if trying to get Kai¡¯s attention. Kai chuckled. ¡°Alright, alright, I see you.¡± But before he could say anything else¡ª A black shadow swooped down. Kai barely had time to react before something landed on his shoulder, a sudden weight throwing him off balance. He flinched, expecting sharp talons to dig into his skin, but they never came. Instead, there was only a single, steady pressure. Turning his head, he found himself face-to-face with a crow¡ªno, Thara¡¯s crow. Up close, Kro was unlike any bird Kai had ever seen. His glossy black feathers were ruffled in some places, dull in others, as if time itself had weathered him down. A long scar ran across his left eye, a faded line of silver against the dark. But what caught Kai¡¯s attention most was his leg¡ªor rather, the lack of one. Kro balanced on a single clawed foot, gripping Kai¡¯s shoulder with surprising ease, his missing limb a quiet testament to a past Kai could only guess at. The crow cocked his head, intelligent eyes gleaming, before flapping his wings once¡ªjust enough to make Stardust squeak and loop around Kai¡¯s head in a frantic circle. That was all it took for Thara to start laughing. A quiet, breathy sound at first, but then it grew¡ªlight, unrestrained, real. Before Kai could react¡ªpeck! ¡°OW¡ªwhat the hell, a crow?!¡± Across the room, Thara suddenly burst into laughter. Kai blinked. That was the first time he had ever heard her laugh. It wasn¡¯t just a small chuckle¡ªit was real, bright and unrestrained. She covered her mouth, trying to hold it in, but her shoulders shook. Kai narrowed his eyes at the smug crow now flapping circles around him. ¡°Oh, you think this is funny?¡± Thara finally managed to speak between giggles. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ just¡­ Kro never does that.¡± Kai glanced at the crow, who was now perfectly mimicking Stardust¡¯s movements. The two creatures twirled together in the air¡ªone glowing, one dark, a strange little aerial dance. Kai groaned. ¡°Great. First, I get a floating lizard. Now I have a bullying bird.¡± Thara grinned, a small but genuine smile. ¡°I think he likes you.¡± Kai muttered, ¡°Or he enjoys tormenting me.¡± ¡°¡­Both, probably.¡± And just like that, something shifted. The air felt lighter, the tension gone. For the first time, Thara wasn¡¯t just the quiet girl who treated his wounds¡ªshe was laughing, teasing, letting her guard down. --- They sat together, watching Kro and Stardust loop through the air. The light-hearted moment slowly faded into something softer. Kai stole a glance at Thara. She was still smiling slightly, but her fingers had drifted to the worn string wrapped around her wrist. She ran her thumb over it absently. ¡°¡­I¡¯ve had Kro since I was little,¡± she murmured. Kai didn¡¯t say anything. He just listened. ¡°He never leaves my side. He was there when my mother¡­¡± Her voice hitched¡ªjust slightly. She didn¡¯t need to finish. Kai saw the way her fingers tightened around the string. The silence stretched. Then, finally¡ª ¡°She was strong,¡± Thara whispered. ¡°I wanted to be just like her.¡± Kai leaned back against the wooden wall. ¡°I think you already are.¡± Thara blinked, caught off guard. ¡°You¡¯re strong,¡± Kai said, ¡°but not just because of her. You¡¯re strong because you care. Even if you don¡¯t always say it.¡± She looked down. ¡°Bram says I don¡¯t talk much.¡± Kai smirked. ¡°Yeah, I noticed.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to. It¡¯s just¡­ most people don¡¯t understand me. Not the way she did.¡± Kai nodded. ¡°Yeah. I get that.¡± She turned to him, eyes searching. ¡°You do?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± he said simply. ¡°Sometimes, words aren¡¯t enough. Sometimes, people listen, but they don¡¯t really hear you.¡± Her fingers curled slightly around the string on her wrist. Then, a quiet breath. ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± Kai didn¡¯t say anything¡ªhe just gave her a small, reassuring pat on the shoulder. Kai exhaled, rubbing his face. ¡°What am I even talking about? I¡¯m not some wise old man or a philosopher¡­ I¡¯m just a guy who got lost, fell on his face, and now gives life advice like I know things.¡± Thara giggled. Kai frowned. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s so funny?¡± Thara shook her head, her shoulders still trembling with suppressed laughter. ¡°Nothing¡­ just, you sound like Bram when he tries to explain his ¡®genius¡¯ inventions.¡± Kai groaned. ¡°Great. Now I feel even less qualified.¡± He leaned back, his eyes wandering over the room¡ªuntil they landed on something that looked very out of place. A half-assembled contraption sat on the shelves, wires hanging loosely, gears exposed, and a tiny glowing crystal wedged into the middle like an afterthought. It looked like a crossbow had tried to fuse with a junkyard and lost. ¡°¡­Uh, what is that?¡± Kai pointed, suddenly more concerned for his safety. Thara followed his gaze, then let out a long-suffering sigh. ¡°That¡­ is one of Bram¡¯s ¡®masterpieces.¡¯¡± She made air quotes. Kai raised an eyebrow. ¡°It looks like it¡¯s going to either change the world or explode in my face.¡± ¡°Both are equally possible,¡± Thara deadpanned. Kai took a cautious step away. ¡°And what¡¯s it supposed to be?¡± ¡°A self-reloading crossbow.¡± Kai blinked. ¡°Oh. That actually sounds useful.¡± Thara crossed her arms. ¡°It would be. If it didn¡¯t jam, misfire, and sometimes¡ªoh, I don¡¯t know¡ªcatch fire.¡± Kai gave her a slow nod. ¡°So what I¡¯m hearing is, it¡¯s a portable firework that occasionally shoots bolts?¡± Thara sighed dramatically. ¡°You should¡¯ve seen Bram¡¯s last attempt. He swore it was ¡®almost ready,¡¯ fired it, and instead of reloading, it just¡ª¡± she waved a hand, mimicking an explosion. ¡°Poof. Smoke everywhere.¡± Kai snorted. ¡°So, he basically invented a disappearing act?¡± Thara tilted her head, thinking. ¡°Actually¡­ yeah. Maybe I should tell him to market it as a magician¡¯s tool instead.¡± Kai chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°Honestly, respect. The guy doesn¡¯t give up, huh?¡± Thara sighed again, but this time, there was a small, fond smile tugging at her lips. ¡°Nope. And he won¡¯t until it works.¡± Kai smirked. ¡°Sounds like a certain crossbow-wielding, battle-trance girl I know.¡± Thara raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you comparing me to Bram?¡± Kai grinned. ¡°Hey, I meant it as a compliment.¡± She narrowed her eyes at him, but there was no real irritation¡ªjust mild amusement and maybe even a little pride. For a while, they just sat there, the weight of their earlier conversation replaced by something lighter, something easier. Maybe, for now, that was enough. Kai sat with his back against the wooden wall, listening to the quiet sounds of the house. Thara had fallen silent again, but it wasn¡¯t the same kind of silence as before. It w asn¡¯t heavy. It wasn¡¯t distant. It was comfortable. Outside, the wind whispered through the trees. The sky was beginning to darken. He hadn¡¯t even realized how much time had passed. Guess I¡¯ll be staying here a little longer. The Little Genius The next morning, Kai woke to the scent of something cooking. His body felt lighter¡ªbetter than the day before. As he stretched, he noticed the small wooden table had already been set. A plate of steaming food sat in the center, next to a cup of something that smelled vaguely sweet. Across the table, hunched over a pile of gears, wires, and what looked like a very stubborn piece of crossbow engineering, was Bram Ironhart¡ªface scrunched in deep concentration. Kai sat up, stretching. ¡°Morning.¡± Bram barely looked up. ¡°More like late morning. If you slept any longer, I¡¯d have to check if you were still breathing.¡± Kai smirked, picking up his fork. ¡°Oh, so I was saved by the mercy of a dwarf prodigy? I¡¯ll have to write a thank-you letter.¡± Bram waved a hand dismissively. ¡°Nah, just eat before Thara finds out I gave you food first.¡± Kai froze mid-bite. ¡°Wait, where is she?¡± ¡°Training with Grampa.¡± Kai raised an eyebrow. ¡°And you didn¡¯t join them?¡± Bram let out an exaggerated sigh. ¡°It would be rude to leave a guest by himself.¡± Kai narrowed his eyes. ¡°Right. That¡¯s totally why.¡± Bram didn¡¯t answer¡ªbecause at that moment, he was too busy fiddling with a half-built crossbow. Kai chewed, watching the dwarf twist a small crank with an impressive level of frustration. He swallowed. ¡°Still working on that, huh?¡± Bram let out a dramatic groan. ¡°It¡¯s so close to working! I just can¡¯t get the reload mechanism to sync properly!¡± Kai leaned forward. ¡°Self-reloading crossbow, right?¡± Bram nodded rapidly. ¡°Imagine it! No more fumbling for bolts! No more losing tension between shots! Just fire, crank, fire again!¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Kai picked up a piece of fruit and inspected the contraption. ¡°Hmm¡­ What if instead of making it fully automatic, you just make it easier to reload while adding more power?¡± Bram blinked. ¡°Wait. Like what?¡± Kai shrugged. ¡°Like a compound crossbow" Bram squinted at Kai. ¡°Alright, explain this ¡®compound crossbow¡¯ thing. And make it quick¡ªI have a breakthrough to build.¡± Kai smirked. ¡°Alright, listen up, genius. Right now, your crossbow relies on raw muscle strength to draw the string back, right?¡± Bram nodded. ¡°Obviously.¡± Kai picked up a piece of string from the workbench and held it taut. ¡°But what if I told you that instead of pulling against the full weight of the draw, you could use a system of pulleys and cams to reduce the effort while increasing power?¡± Bram frowned. ¡°Wait, pulleys? You mean, like¡­ leverage?¡± Kai snapped his fingers. ¡°Exactly! Think of it like this¡ªif you just yank on a bowstring, you need a lot of strength. But if you use cams and pulleys, they store and release energy more efficiently. Less effort, more power.¡± Bram¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°So you¡¯re saying¡­ I could increase bolt velocity while making reloads smoother?!¡± Kai grinned. ¡°Bingo.¡± Bram froze for a full second. ¡°That¡ªTHAT¡¯S BRILLIANT!¡± Bram shot up from his seat so fast he nearly knocked over his tools. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I think of that?!¡± Kai grinned. ¡°Because you¡¯re too obsessed with making things do all the work for you.¡± Bram ignored him, already rushing toward a side door. ¡°To the workshop! I need to test this!¡± Kai raised an eyebrow, watching as the kid practically flew across the room. ¡°¡­What age are you again?¡± Bram threw open the door. ¡°Twelve!¡± Kai laughed, shaking his head as he grabbed another bite of his meal before following. Kai stepped into Bram¡¯s workshop¡ªand immediately felt like he had walked into a different era. The walls were lined with half-finished inventions¡ªstrange mechanical tools, small gear-driven contraptions, even a weird one-wheeled device that looked like it was supposed to be a bicycle but was missing the important part where it doesn¡¯t throw the rider off instantly. Kai whistled. ¡°You actually live here, don¡¯t you?¡± Bram, already gathering materials, nodded proudly. ¡°I sleep in my room. But this¡ªthis is where the real work happens.¡± Kai walked over to a cluttered shelf, picking up what looked like¡­ a tiny catapult. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Bram barely glanced up. ¡°Automatic rock-thrower.¡± Kai raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why?¡± Bram shrugged. ¡°Why not?¡± Kai turned the tiny catapult in his hands. ¡°¡­Does it work?¡± ¡°Depends. Define ¡®work.¡¯¡± Kai put it back very carefully. Then he noticed something else on the shelf¡ªa small, brass-colored device with a trigger. It almost looked like a miniature harpoon gun. He picked it up. ¡°Okay, what about this?¡± Bram glanced at it. ¡°Ah! That¡¯s my Grabbing Claw Prototype II!¡± ¡°¡­ II?¡± ¡°Yeah, the first version kinda¡­ exploded.¡± Kai immediately put it back. ¡°Right. Not touching that.¡± Bram huffed. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that bad.¡± Kai gave him a look. ¡°Bram. You lost your eyebrows for a week.¡± ¡°¡­It was a learning experience.¡± Kai snorted. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s call it that.¡± Bram crossed his arms, looking at Kai thoughtfully. ¡°You know, you¡¯re way more fun to talk to than Grampa. He just tells me what¡¯ll get me killed.¡± Kai smirked. ¡°That¡¯s called being responsible.¡± Bram grinned. ¡°Boring.¡± Kai shook his head, chuckling. Yeah. He definitely felt like a little brother. Then Bram clapped his hands together. ¡°Oh yeah! You haven¡¯t even seen the whole house, have you?¡± Kai blinked. ¡°Uh¡­ no?¡± Bram smirked. ¡°Well, come on then! You¡¯re living here, so you gotta know where all the good hiding spots are!¡± Kai raised an eyebrow. ¡°Hiding spots?¡± Bram¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ll see.¡± And with that, he dragged Kai out of the workshop and into the rest of the house. Kai had a feeling this was going to be a long¡ªbut entertaining¡ªtour. A House Full of Secret Kai had no idea what he had just signed up for. Bram¡¯s ¡°house tour¡± started off simple enough. He led Kai down the main hallway, pointing out doors with a casual wave, as if this were a normal house and not the home of an eccentric dwarven family. ¡°This one¡¯s the kitchen¡ªpretty normal. This one¡¯s the storage room. That one¡¯s Thara¡¯s room, and¡ª¡± Bram stopped in front of a door, then turned to Kai with a serious expression. ¡°This... is my room.¡± The way he said it, Kai half-expected something dramatic¡ªlike a giant vault door or glowing warning signs. Instead, Bram just shoved the door open. Kai immediately took a step back. It was chaos. Absolute chaos. Papers covered every surface, gears and springs littered the floor, and half-built machines sat in various states of disrepair. There was something that looked like an upside-down crossbow mounted on the wall, a helmet with a built-in candle holder, and even a tiny wooden automaton frozen mid-step, as if it had stopped working mid-escape attempt. The worst part? Even the bed wasn¡¯t spared. Kai pointed. ¡°Bram.¡± Bram grinned. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a wrench under your pillow.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Kai pointed again. ¡°And a half-built gauntlet next to your blanket.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Kai sighed. ¡°Do you even sleep here?¡± Bram waved him off. ¡°Sometimes.¡± Kai just shook his head. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve seen enough. Let¡¯s go before something explodes.¡± Bram led him to the next room¡ªThara¡¯s. The contrast was staggering. Where Bram¡¯s room was a war zone, Thara¡¯s was¡­ well, normal. Neat, organized, and weirdly peaceful. A sturdy wooden bed sat in the corner, and there was even a small perch near the window, clearly made for Kro. Kai¡¯s eyes landed on a tiny wooden carving of a wolf sitting on the nightstand. Bram leaned in. ¡°She carved that when she was seven. First thing she ever made.¡± Kai smiled. ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°She still does stuff like that sometimes. Usually for gifts.¡± Bram smirked. ¡°I never get any, though.¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Kai chuckled. ¡°Maybe because you nearly burned her room down that one time?¡± Bram winced. ¡°Okay, that was an accident.¡± Kai just gave him a look. Bram coughed. ¡°A-anyway! Moving on!¡± They left the room, and Bram gestured toward another door. ¡°That one¡¯s Grampa¡¯s.¡± Kai reached for the handle, but Bram grabbed his wrist instantly. ¡°Off-limits,¡± Bram said, suddenly serious. Kai raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah. Trust me, you don¡¯t wanna go in there. It¡¯s, like, sacred old-man territory. He might actually kill you.¡± Kai put his hands up. ¡°Alright, alright. Noted.¡± Bram nodded, satisfied. ¡°Good. Now, onto something way cooler.¡± He led Kai down the hallway and into the kitchen, which, compared to everything else, was shockingly normal. Wooden counters, a large stone stove, pots and pans hanging on hooks¡ªit felt warm and lived-in. ¡°Nothing special here,¡± Bram admitted. ¡°Just food, really.¡± Kai gave him a look. ¡°Yeah, like a kitchen is supposed to have.¡± ¡°Psh, boring.¡± Bram waved him along. ¡°Come on, the real fun part¡¯s next.¡± He led Kai toward the end of the hallway, then suddenly stopped in front of a bookshelf. Kai raised an eyebrow. ¡°...What?¡± Bram grinned. ¡°Check this out.¡± With a dramatic flourish, he pulled a hidden lever behind one of the books. The bookshelf creaked¡­ then slowly swung open, revealing a hidden passageway. Kai blinked. ¡°...Are you serious?¡± Bram beamed. ¡°Yup.¡± Kai stared at the passageway. Dark. Mysterious. Slightly ominous. Then he sighed. ¡°Of course you have a secret room.¡± Bram laughed. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll show you my collection!¡± Kai hesitated. ¡°Should I be worried?¡± Bram didn¡¯t answer. He just dragged Kai inside. The hidden room was cramped, with only a single lantern hanging from the ceiling. But the real concern was the shelves¡ªstacked full of dangerous-looking inventions. Kai¡¯s eyes darted across the room. There was a crossbow with three barrels, a gauntlet covered in gears, and something that looked like a miniature cannon. Kai pointed at it. ¡°What is that?¡± Bram grinned. ¡°That? Oh, just an experimental¡ª¡± Before he could finish, something ticked. Kai immediately stepped back. ¡°Nope. Nope, I¡¯m out.¡± Bram laughed. ¡°Relax! Nothing¡¯s gonna¡ª¡± BOOM. A puff of smoke erupted from the corner. Something fell off a shelf. Kai turned to Bram. Bram coughed. ¡°...Okay, mostly nothing.¡± Kai just shook his head. Bram grinned. ¡°So? Cool, right?¡± Kai sighed. ¡°Bram.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I am never stepping foot in this room again.¡± Bram just smirked. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Despite himself, Kai couldn¡¯t help but laugh. This house was insane. But¡­ he kinda liked it. After escaping the room of imminent danger, Kai found himself once again in Bram¡¯s workshop. This time, though, there was a purpose. The compound crossbow. Bram was already digging through piles of gears, springs, and metal plates, muttering excitedly to himself. ¡°Okay, okay¡ªso if I reinforce the arms, add a pulley system here¡­ yeah, yeah, I see it! I see it!¡± Kai sat on the workbench, watching. ¡°You see something, alright.¡± Bram turned to him, eyes shining. ¡°This is brilliant! Why didn¡¯t I think of this before? A compound crossbow¡ªless effort, more power, smoother draw! It¡¯s so simple, but so genius!¡± Kai smirked. ¡°Yeah, well, don¡¯t give me too much credit. I just remembered it from my world. You¡¯re the one actually building it.¡± Bram grinned. ¡°Damn right I am.¡± Kai chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°Alright, what do you need me to do?¡± Bram pointed. ¡°Hold that piece.¡± Kai grabbed it. ¡°Like this?¡± ¡°Yeah. Now don¡¯t move, I need to¡ª¡± CLANG. The metal slipped from Kai¡¯s hand, knocking into a set of tools, which then toppled a small canister off the shelf. Kai barely had time to register the ominous hissing noise before¡ª BOOM. A small puff of smoke erupted, covering the workshop in a fine layer of black soot. Silence. Bram coughed. Kai, now thoroughly covered in soot, slowly turned to him. ¡°¡­Was that supposed to happen?¡± Bram blinked, then burst out laughing. Kai groaned, wiping his face. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a no.¡± Bram was dying. ¡°Pfft¡ªy-you should see yourself right now¡ª¡± Kai gave him a look. ¡°Oh yeah? Well, you¡¯re the one who designed it, genius.¡± Bram wiped a tear from his eye. ¡°Alright, alright¡ªlet¡¯s try again. This time, don¡¯t touch anything explosive.¡± Kai snorted. ¡°No promises.¡± They spent the next few hours working. Kai, despite having zero engineering knowledge, tried his best¡ªwhich mostly involved handing tools, holding parts, and not breaking things. Bram, on the other hand, was in his element. He sketched designs, adjusted mechanisms, and muttered equations under his breath. Every now and then, he¡¯d explain something to Kai¡ªwho nodded along, only understanding half of it. It was fun. They talked, they laughed, and only blew something up twice. And by the time the sun had set, the prototype was finally coming together. Kai leaned back on the couch, stretching. ¡°Alright¡­ I have no idea how that works, but it looks cool.¡± Bram yawned. ¡°Yeah¡­ this is gonna be awesome¡­¡± He slumped down next to Kai, blinking sleepily. ¡°¡­You¡¯re totally gonna pass out, aren¡¯t you?¡± Kai asked. Bram mumbled something unintelligible. Kai smirked. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a yes.¡± Within minutes, Bram was out cold. Kai chuckled to himself. He wasn¡¯t far behind, honestly. As his eyes drifted shut, he heard the front door creak open. Footsteps. Then¡ª ¡°Seems like they had fun.¡± Durgan¡¯s voice. Deep. Amused. A small chuckle. Thara. Kai was already half-asleep, but he could swear he saw Durgan¡¯s faint smile before everything faded into dreams. A Warm Place/Home Kai¡¯s consciousness drifted somewhere between awake and asleep. A faint voice echoed in the distance¡ªmuffled, almost melodic. ¡°¡­Kai¡­ Kaaaiii¡­¡± His ears slowly adjusted, the voice growing clearer¡ª ¡°KAI¡ª!¡± THUD. Kai jolted awake just in time for Bram to crash onto the couch next to him. ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready, sleepyhead!¡± Bram announced, already yanking at Kai¡¯s sleeve. Kai groaned, rubbing his eyes. ¡°Huh¡­? I slept through all that?¡± The sun was already setting, casting a warm orange glow through the windows. The scent of roasted meat and spices filled the air, making his stomach growl. Usually, he just ate on the couch¡ªa comfortable, lazy routine he had fallen into. But today¡­ he felt like joining the table. The dining table was already set. The food looked simple but rich, the kind of hearty meal that filled both the stomach and the soul. Durgan sat at the head of the table, eating in calm silence, unfazed by the chaos unfolding between the twins. Bram, ever the mad scientist, was trying to test their prototype crossbow on the dining table¡ªwinding it up while balancing it on the edge. Thara, eyes twitching, reached over to stop him. ¡°Put. That. Down.¡± Bram grinned. ¡°Relax, it¡¯s safe! See¡ª¡± CLUNK. The bowstring snapped back suddenly. A spoon went flying. It hit the wall with a loud thunk and stayed embedded there. Kro, perched beside Thara, barely glanced up from his meal before continuing to eat, completely unfazed. Thara sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. ¡°This is why Grandpa tells you not to bring inventions to the table.¡± Bram crossed his arms. ¡°Tch. He just doesn¡¯t appreciate science.¡± Kai, watching this unfold, suddenly laughed. It was warm. Chaotic. Lively. It felt like home. Not just a house¡ªbut a home. The way his own family used to be. For a brief moment, he could almost see it¡ªhis father teasing his mother, his grandfather shaking his head in amusement. The warmth of shared meals, the bickering, the laughter, the love. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. He hadn¡¯t realized how much he missed it. A bright, genuine smile spread across his face. And for a second¡ªjust a second¡ª The room fell silent. Bram and Thara froze. Even Durgan, ever the quiet observer, looked up from his meal. Kai blinked. ¡°¡­What?¡± Bram tilted his head. ¡°Nothing. Just¡­ haven¡¯t seen you smile like that before.¡± Thara nodded slightly. Kai hesitated, then scratched the back of his head, feeling a little self-conscious. ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s nice, y¡¯know? Being here.¡± Bram grinned. ¡°Of course it is! You¡¯re in the presence of the great Bram Ironhart!¡± Thara rolled her eyes. ¡°Shut up and eat.¡± Durgan gave a quiet chuckle before taking another bite. The moment passed. The warmth remained. And together, they enjoyed their meal. ______________________ Kai lay awake on the couch, staring at the wooden ceiling. Sleep wouldn¡¯t come. Maybe it was the gravity. He had slept a lot since coming here¡ªmaybe his body was just adjusting. Or maybe¡­ it was something else. He sighed, rolling onto his side. The house was quiet now. The warmth of dinner had faded into the cool hush of night. Something small stirred against his chest. Kai glanced down. Stardust had curled up beside him at some point, the little axolotl-like creature floating lazily in the air. Tiny, bioluminescent specks drifted around him like scattered stardust¡ªan ethereal glow in the darkness. Kai smiled faintly, reaching up to gently rub the soft frills on his head. Stardust let out a sleepy trill, nuzzling closer. ¡°¡­You¡¯re really not from my world either, huh?¡± Kai murmured. Stardust blinked up at him, round eyes reflecting the dim light. Kai exhaled, shifting carefully so he wouldn¡¯t disturb him. His thoughts wouldn¡¯t settle. He needed air. Carefully, he slipped out of the couch, making sure Stardust stayed nestled in place. The little creature let out a small, questioning chirp but didn¡¯t follow. Kai stepped outside. The Ironhart home sat on the outskirts of the forest, the edge of the mountains stretching far beyond the tree line. The night sky above was vast¡ªdotted with thousands of stars, far clearer than anything he had ever seen on Earth. Kai took a deep breath, letting the crisp mountain air fill his lungs. It helped. Then¡ª "What bothers you, kid?" A low, steady voice came from behind him. Kai turned. Durgan sat on a sturdy wooden chair, positioned just outside the house. A steaming cup of herbal tea rested in his hands, and his gaze was fixed on the distant horizon. Even at night, even in stillness, the old dwarf carried an air of strength. Kai hesitated, then walked over and sat beside him. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The wind carried the faint rustle of leaves. Then Kai said quietly, ¡°You really care about them, don¡¯t you?¡± Durgan took a slow sip of tea. ¡°More than anything.¡± Kai glanced at him. ¡°Their parents¡­¡± Durgan¡¯s fingers tightened around the cup. ¡°¡­Died,¡± he said simply. The weight of the word settled in the air between them. Durgan took a slow breath, as if pulling up old memories from the depths of his mind. ¡°It was an unfortunate night. The Colossus left its territory.¡± Kai stayed silent, letting him speak. "That night, the Ironhart family was up in the mountains.¡± A faint smile flickered at the edges of his lips. ¡°Looking for a good spot to see the Southern Lights.¡± Kai¡¯s heart ached at the image¡ªa family outing, full of excitement, cut short by tragedy. ¡°They were only seven,¡± Durgan continued, voice steady but heavy. ¡°Too young to understand. Too young to lose everything.¡± Kai looked down at his hands. ¡°I know the feeling.¡± Durgan turned his gaze to him. Kai swallowed. ¡°I lost both of my parents too. No one knows why¡­ or how. One day they were there, the next¡­¡± He exhaled. ¡°Gone.¡± Durgan watched him, his sharp eyes softer than usual. ¡°My grandfather took me in.¡± Kai managed a small, bitter chuckle. ¡°He was strict. Always made me study, always dragged me outside. At the time, I thought he was just tough on me¡­ but now, looking back, I think he just didn¡¯t want me to feel alone.¡± Durgan didn¡¯t respond immediately. He let the silence sit¡ªnot uncomfortable, not empty, but understanding. Then, his voice came low and steady. ¡°And yet, something still weighs on you.¡± Kai¡¯s hands clenched slightly. ¡°¡­I want to go home.¡± His voice was barely above a whisper. Durgan said nothing, letting Kai speak. ¡°I have friends. I have people waiting for me.¡± A familiar face flashed through his mind¡ªJames, cracking a joke as they walked home from school, always teasing but always there. His grandfather. His only remaining family. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m scared,¡± Kai admitted. ¡°I don¡¯t know where I am. I don¡¯t know how I got here.¡± His breath hitched slightly. His eyes stung. ¡°¡­Tell me,¡± he murmured, ¡°where am I, exactly?¡± Durgan took a slow sip of his tea before answering. ¡°Ironveil Peaks.¡± The name carried weight, ancient and immovable. Kai let it settle in his mind. Then, finally, he breathed out: ¡°¡­Another world, huh.¡± Durgan gave a slight nod. For a while, they just sat in silence. Then¡ª A small, soft glow floated from the doorway. Kai turned to see Stardust hovering in the air, his bioluminescent specks flickering softly in the night. He let out a quiet chirp, then drifted toward Kai¡¯s shoulder, curling against his neck. Kai chuckled, reaching up to stroke his head. ¡°Guess you couldn¡¯t sleep either, huh?¡± Stardust let out a quiet trill in response, his warmth settling against Kai¡¯s skin. Durgan eyed the little creature thoughtfully. ¡°That thing hasn¡¯t left your side since you woke up.¡± Kai exhaled, glancing at the small axolotl nestled against him. ¡°Yeah¡­ he¡¯s been with me since I got here.¡± Durgan hummed. ¡°A companion, then.¡± Kai looked at Stardust, watching the way his faint glow pulsed like a slow heartbeat. ¡°¡­Yeah,¡± he murmured, softer this time. ¡°Something like that.¡± Durgan took another sip of tea before giving a small nod. ¡°A good sign.¡± Kai tilted his head. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Durgan didn¡¯t answer immediately. He simply gazed out at the distant peaks, the glow of the moons casting silver light over the mountains. Then, finally, he murmured, ¡°You¡¯re not as lost as you think.¡± Kai blinked. The words settled into his chest, deep and steady. For the first time in days, the weight in his heart felt just a little lighter. Kai stood. ¡°¡­I¡¯m leaving tomorrow.¡± Durgan raised an eyebrow. Kai turned to face him, determination settling in his expression. ¡°I¡¯ve healed. And I¡¯m keeping my promise to Thara.¡± Durgan studied him for a long moment. Then, with a small, approving nod, he took another sip of tea. Kai turned toward the house, stepping back inside. As the door quietly closed behind him, Durgan exhaled softly, staring into the stars. ¡°¡­You¡¯ll find your way, kid.¡± From above, the sky stretched endlessly. And nestled against Kai¡¯s shoulder, Stardust glowed gently¡ªlike a tiny piece of the cosmos itself, quietly lighting the way. Last Day As A Guest Kai stood at the door, his hand hovering over the handle. He had expected this moment to feel different¡ªlike relief, maybe even excitement. Instead, hesitation weighed on him. Leaving meant moving forward. It meant returning to his journey. But for the first time since arriving in this world, he wasn¡¯t sure if he wanted to. The warmth of the Ironhart home lingered behind him¡ªhearty meals, chaotic dinners, laughter that felt real. A home. His grip tightened. He took a breath and prepared to step out¡ª ¡°Please¡­ don¡¯t go yet.¡± The voice was small. Fragile. Kai froze. He turned, finding Thara standing behind him, gripping the hem of her sleeve. Her usual cold stare wavered, uncertainty flickering in her sharp eyes. Bram and Durgan weren¡¯t surprised. Bram sighed dramatically, arms crossed. ¡°Well, this Compound Crossbow is still a prototype.¡± Durgan let out a slow breath, shaking his head. ¡°¡­I suppose it was inevitable.¡± He met Kai¡¯s gaze, his voice softer than usual. ¡°You can stay.¡± Something inside Kai cracked. He didn¡¯t think¡ªhe just moved. Without hesitation, he pulled all of them into a hug. Bram yelped, caught off guard. ¡°Oi¡ª!¡± Thara stiffened but didn¡¯t pull away. Even Durgan, gruff and stubborn, didn¡¯t protest. For a long moment, they stood like that. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Kai exhaled, a mix of relief and something deeper settling in his chest. Maybe this wasn¡¯t just a stop on his journey. Maybe it was something more. Kai barely had time to process the warmth still lingering from the hug before Durgan cleared his throat, stepping back. ¡°Well, boy,¡± the old dwarf muttered, rubbing his beard. ¡°If you¡¯re staying, you¡¯ll need a place to sleep. But this house is full.¡± Kai blinked. Wait. I didn¡¯t think about that. Before he could offer to sleep outside like some kind of stray animal, inspiration struck. His eyes darted to Bram. ¡°¡­What about the secret room?¡± The reaction was instant. Bram¡¯s entire body tensed. His golden eyes narrowed in pure betrayal. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t.¡± Kai grinned. ¡°I would.¡± Durgan, who had been mid-thought, turned sharply. ¡°Secret room?¡± Bram immediately stepped back, raising his hands defensively. ¡°Wait, wait, WAIT¡ª¡± But it was too late. Kai, now seeing his golden opportunity for payback, started marching toward the back of the house. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll show you!¡± Bram lunged to stop him, but Thara caught him by the collar, dragging him back effortlessly. ¡°TRAITOR!¡± Bram wailed. ¡ª The moment Durgan saw the hidden basement room, his expression darkened. Rows of unfinished blueprints lined the stone walls, along with spare crossbow bolts, metal scraps, and¡ªoh. Explosives. Durgan exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temples. ¡°Bram.¡± Bram shrank under his grandfather¡¯s gaze, looking anywhere but at him. ¡°Uh. I can explain?¡± Durgan¡¯s eye twitched. Kai, now realizing he may have just set off a chain reaction, cleared his throat. ¡°A-Anyway! Uh, if I clean it up, I can stay here, right?¡± Durgan gave him a sharp glance but sighed. ¡°¡­Fine.¡± Kai grinned, only for Bram to elbow him in the ribs. ¡°I hate you,¡± he muttered. ¡ª Later that day¡­ Kai was scrubbing dust off the stone walls when Bram, still sulking, muttered something under his breath. ¡°Snitch.¡± Kai smirked. ¡°Oh, come on. I did you a favor. You shouldn¡¯t be storing explosives under your house.¡± Bram crossed his arms, pouting. ¡°I had everything under control.¡± Kai snorted. ¡°Uh-huh. Sure.¡± Before Bram could argue, a deep voice rang from the hallway. ¡°Thara, I¡¯m going out.¡± Kai barely registered it¡ªuntil the next part. ¡°And we¡¯re out of herbal tea. Can you buy some for me, sweetie?¡± Silence. Kai froze mid-motion, nearly dropping the brush in his hand. He slowly turned his head to Bram. ¡°¡­Did he just say¡ª?¡± Bram met his gaze with a knowing look. ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°Sweetie?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Kai¡¯s mind blanked. Durgan, the gruff, no-nonsense, crossbow-sniping legend of a dwarf, had just¡ª Bram sighed. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I know. You think he¡¯s all tough, but Thara¡¯s his favorite. He calls her that when no one¡¯s around.¡± Kai stared in disbelief. Is this real life? Bram gave an awkward cough. ¡°I mean, he cares about us too, obviously.¡± Kai wasn¡¯t sure what was more shocking¡ªthat Durgan had a soft side, or that Bram felt the need to clarify. ¡ª Still lost in thought, Kai stepped into the living room just as Thara was adjusting her crossbow straps. ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked. ¡°Town.¡± Kai blinked. ¡°Wait, there¡¯s a town nearby?¡± Thara gave him a blank stare. ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Kai processed this. An actual town. With people. Stores. Maybe even normal food. And he hadn¡¯t seen it yet?! Before he even realized it, words tumbled out of his mouth. ¡°Can I come?¡± Thara hesitated. ¡°You¡¯ll slow me down.¡± Kai clutched his chest. ¡°Ouch.¡± Bram, who had wandered into the room, smirked. ¡°She¡¯s not wrong.¡± Kai ignored him, turning back to Thara. ¡°Come on, I need to see it at least once. I¡¯ll be useful, I promise!¡± Thara stared at him for a long moment. Then, with a small sigh, she turned to leave. ¡°¡­Do what you want.¡± Kai grinned. ¡°Yes!¡± Bram shook his head. ¡°Rest in peace, Thara.¡± Kai ignored him, already following Thara out the door. He had no idea what to expect, but one thing was certain¡ª He was finally going to see more of this world.