Chapter 10 — Midnight Hunt
The moon hung low, casting silver streaks through the Valemont estate.
Aiden quietly slid from his bed, careful not to disturb the creaking floorboards or the soft breaths of his sleeping parents.
He moved to his wardrobe, pulling on a dark cloak and carefully pulling the hood over his head, hiding his face in shadow. Tonight, he would test himself.
Tonight, the forest would teach him what the library could not.
From the corner of the hallway, Yuki's eyes snapped open.
He had been patrolling, as always, when he noticed a small shadow slipping past the light of the moon through the long corridors. He froze.
That's Aiden… at this hour?
Curiosity and instinct warred within him.
Yuki silently moved toward the window, peering through the silver light to see the young master disappearing into the night.
His senses sharpened — I need to see where he goes. I need to know what he's doing.
Stepping lightly, a shadow among shadows, Yuki followed, keeping his distance yet never losing sight of Aiden as he left the manor behind and entered the waiting darkness of the forest.
The forest loomed before Aiden, dark and restless.
He had heard stories of the beasts that prowled here — creatures twisted by magic, predators that hunted anything smaller than themselves. Perfect for real combat experience. Perfect for him.
A faint breeze carried the scent of damp earth and pine, and Aiden's heart raced with anticipation.
This was different from practice in the library or even the training ground.
Here, every misstep could cost him more than pride — it could cost him blood.
Halfway to the tree line, a shadow shifted in the hallways behind him.
Deeper into the forest, Aiden heard the low growl of a nearby creature.
A mass of black fur, glinting eyes, and jagged claws stepped into the moonlight.
A Dark Wolf, its body writhing with black tendrils of corrupt energy, emerged from the shadows.
Its low, guttural snarl reverberated in Aiden's chest.
This was no ordinary beast.
Aiden's hands ignited with a faint fire, his fingers tracing a circle of dark energy on the ground.
He exhaled slowly, centering himself, and stepped forward.
The wolf lunged.
The battle began in a blur of movement.
The wolf was fast — faster than Aiden anticipated.
His fire lashed out, biting at its legs, while his dark chains snaked around its limbs, trying to restrain it.
The creature howled in fury, snapping and thrashing against his bindings.
Each attack drained him more.
His breathing grew heavier.
Sweat slicked his brow as he dodged claw strikes, countering with bursts of fire and dark tendrils. His small frame strained under the effort.
He was still learning, still inexperienced — yet his mind worked faster than his body, predicting the wolf's movements, adjusting traps, luring it into disadvantageous positions.
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. His fire flickered weakly, dark energy pulsating in his veins, until at last, with a final burst, the chains tightened, binding the wolf completely. Exhaustion clawed at him, his arms trembling.
The wolf sank to the ground, panting and snarling, powerless.
Aiden stood over it, chest heaving, ready to deliver the final blow.
He had won — but barely. His mana was nearly spent, his body screaming with fatigue.
Then, a rustle in the bushes. Another set of glowing eyes.
Another Dark Wolf, larger and more aggressive than the first, lunged toward him.
Aiden froze. His mana was gone. He had nothing left.
He could feel the darkness of fatigue threatening to drag him under.
There was no way he could fight this one. He closed his eyes, ready to meet death.
A whisper of movement, sharper than a blade cutting through the night, and the wolf's momentum froze mid-leap. A quiet, almost unseen shadow moved with impossibly precise speed.
Yuki.
Before Aiden could comprehend, Yuki had struck — his hand precise, his strength lethal.
The wolf's neck snapped in a single, fluid motion.
It fell silently, the corrupt energy dissipating with a hiss.
Aiden opened his eyes, still panting, staring at Yuki standing calmly among the trees, as if the encounter had been nothing more than a passing breeze.
His expression was neutral, unreadable, but the weight of what he had just witnessed pressed heavily on Aiden's mind.
"You… you killed it… so easily," Aiden whispered, awe and shock tangled in his voice.
Yuki's eyes flicked toward him, sharp and measuring. "I've been protecting you your whole life.Never forget: the world doesn't wait for strength to catch up."
Aiden's chest rose and fell rapidly. Fire and dark energy still pulsed faintly in his veins, a reminder of what he was capable of — and of how far he still had to go.
Beside him, Yuki's presence was a silent guarantee: he had an ally, a protector… but also a warning.
Tonight had taught him more than any library or training ground ever could.
The forest returned to its quiet, shadows stretching long and silent. And in the distance, the moon shone as if approving the night's harsh lessons.