The morning air in the forest was cool and still, carrying with it the scent of wet earth and leaves. Sunlight slipped gently through the tall canopy above, forming narrow golden beams that danced across the ground.
Keyla stood in a small clearing surrounded by towering trees. Her long black hair, dark as night, was tied tightly behind her head. In her hands she held a set of throwing knives—snives, as she liked to call them.
A wooden target had been placed against a tree trunk.
Her eyes narrowed.
Whoosh.
The knife flew through the air and struck the center of the target with a sharp thunk.
She didn't celebrate. She simply reached for another.
Whoosh.
Another perfect strike.
For the next several minutes she continued throwing, each blade striking closer to the center than the last. Her movements were smooth, precise, almost mechanical. Ten years of relentless training had carved discipline into her bones.
She drew another knife, paused—
—and suddenly felt a presence.
Her body reacted instantly.
She spun around, another knife already between her fingers.
But the tension in her shoulders eased when she saw who it was.
Her father.
Don Aragon sat quietly on a fallen tree trunk nearby, his large arms folded across his chest as he gazed into the distance. He hadn't made a sound when he arrived.
Keyla lowered the knife.
"Father," she said gently, walking toward him. "Are you alright?"
Don blinked, as if pulled from deep thought.
"Of course I'm alright," he answered with a smile.
Seeing his smile, Keyla smiled too and sat beside him on the log.
For a moment neither spoke. The forest rustled softly around them.
Then Keyla tilted her head and suddenly asked,
"Father… when are you getting married?"
Don froze.
He slowly turned toward her with a stunned expression.
"What?"
Keyla leaned back casually.
"Dearest Papa, don't look at me like that," she said teasingly. "Ever since I've known you, you've always been alone."
Don scratched his beard, still bewildered.
"Well… yes, but—"
"That's not fair," Keyla continued seriously. "You're getting old."
Don's eyes widened.
"Old?!"
"Yes, old," she said bluntly. "And we need people around you. Besides, finding a wife shouldn't be hard. You're very handsome."
Don stared at her as if she had grown a second head.
Keyla leaned closer, studying his face.
"Which reminds me… why aren't you married?"
Don coughed awkwardly.
"I just… never really thought about it."
Keyla narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Or did you lose her?"
Don slapped his knee loudly.
"Damn brat! Lose her? I didn't lose anybody!"
Keyla burst into laughter.
Don shook his head helplessly.
"I'm not married because I've been busy," he grumbled. "Wars, duties, responsibilities…"
He looked at her again and sighed.
"But you're right about one thing."
Keyla raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"I should probably find a wife."
Keyla nodded seriously.
"Good."
Then she grinned.
"Because I don't want to walk around worrying about your old bones."
Don barked out a laugh.
"You insolent child."
They both laughed together.
After a moment, Don's expression softened.
"Speaking of time," he said slowly, "there's something I need to tell you."
Keyla immediately became attentive.
"It's been ten years," he said.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Yes… it has."
"You've learned everything I can teach you," Don continued. "Every form. Every weapon. Every discipline."
He looked at her with pride.
"You're stronger than most soldiers in the empire."
Keyla blinked.
Then he finished.
"It's time for you to leave the forest."
The words hung in the air.
"Tomorrow," he said gently, "we move to my mansion."
Keyla stared at him quietly for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"Okay."
Don blinked.
"You're not upset?"
"Why would I be?" she asked casually. "It's been ten years. I suppose the world hasn't stopped turning."
Don chuckled.
"Actually… some things have changed."
"Oh?"
"Your big brothers from the group home," he said. "Some of them are married now."
Keyla's eyes lit up.
"Really?!"
"Yes."
"And others?"
"Some joined the army," Don replied. "A few of your sisters also got married."
Keyla clapped her hands happily.
"That's wonderful!"
"And two of them work at my mansion now," Don added.
Keyla blinked.
"You never told me that."
Don shrugged.
"You were busy becoming a monster."
She smirked.
"Well, I suppose I'll see them soon."
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
Then suddenly she stood up.
"Father!"
"What?"
"I'm going hunting."
Don raised an eyebrow.
"Hunting?"
She grinned.
"I'll bring them a feast tomorrow."
Don nodded.
"Be careful."
Keyla saluted playfully.
"Yes, General."
Then she turned and disappeared into the forest like a shadow.
---
She ran through the trees with breathtaking speed.
Branches bent beneath her steps as she moved from trunk to trunk, her body gliding through the forest like a spirit.
Her destination lay deep in the western forest.
The territory of the giant wild boars.
These beasts were enormous—nearly a head taller than a grown man. Their hides were thick as armor, and their tusks could rip open a horse with a single charge.
But Keyla had hunted them before.
After traveling for nearly an hour, she arrived at a narrow clearing between two massive trees.
Perfect.
She knelt and began preparing a trap.
From a pouch at her waist, she pulled out thin white threads.
They looked delicate.
But they were not.
These strings were made from the veins of special forest leaves, carefully woven together by Keyla herself.
They were razor sharp.
Invisible unless seen from the right angle.
She stretched the thread between two trees, tightening it carefully.
Anyone charging through would never notice it.
And when they did—
It would be too late.
After preparing several traps along the path, she climbed onto a high branch and waited.
Not long after, she saw one.
A gigantic boar grazing near the trees.
Keyla drew her bow.
Her arrow gleamed.
TWANG.
The arrow shot forward and struck the beast's shoulder.
The boar roared in fury.
Keyla immediately leapt from the tree and ran.
The boar charged after her, its enormous hooves shaking the earth.
She glanced back and fired another arrow.
THUNK.
It pierced deeper this time.
The boar screamed in rage and ran faster.
Keyla sprinted toward the trap zone.
Closer.
Closer.
Then—
The boar burst between the two trees.
For a brief moment nothing happened.
Then—
SHHHK.
The thin strings sliced through its legs like invisible blades.
The boar collapsed violently as its limbs were nearly severed.
Dust exploded around its massive body.
Keyla walked forward calmly.
The beast still struggled.
She lifted her spear.
"Rest."
The spear plunged downward.
Straight through its heart.
The boar twitched… then went still.
Keyla wiped her spear clean and smiled.
"Perfect.
Carrying the enormous beast on her shoulders, she walked back toward the bamboo house.
The journey took nearly two hours.
When she arrived, the sun had already begun to set.
Don looked up when he saw her returning.
And nearly choked.
"You brought… an entire boar?!"
Keyla dropped it onto the ground proudly.
"For the feast."
Don shook his head in disbelief.
"You've become terrifying."
Keyla laughed.
Together they worked to prepare the meat.
Keyla carefully removed the hide, cleaned the meat, and began roasting it over a large fire.
The delicious scent soon filled the forest.
They sat quietly beside the fire as night fell.
The flames crackled softly.
Don looked at her.
"Tomorrow," he said, "you return to the world."
Keyla stared into the fire thoughtfully.
"Yes."
But there was no fear in her eyes.
Only determination.
Because the girl who had entered the forest ten years ago…
was no longer a child.
And the world was about to meet Keyla Aragon.