The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
Not the peaceful kind of silence where leaves whispered gently in the wind—
but the kind that followed after something had already happened.
Something violent.
Something final.
Broken branches lay scattered across the ground. Faint marks carved into tree trunks told stories of blades and magic colliding. Here and there, pieces of armor rested half-buried beneath dirt and fallen leaves.
The war had not spared this place.
Even now—
the forest still remembered.
A man moved quietly between the trees.
His steps were light.
Measured.
The worn cloak around his shoulders brushed softly against the air as he walked, a small satchel hanging at his side.
Juluis.
His eyes scanned the surroundings carefully—not out of fear, but out of habit.
He had come to the forest for something simple.
Food.
The cabin was running low.
And the boy—
Sora—
ate more than he expected.
"…Troublesome," Juluis muttered under his breath.
Still—
his pace slowed.
Not because he found what he was looking for.
But because—
he felt something.
A presence.
Faint.
But clear.
Juluis stopped walking.
The wind shifted.
Leaves rustled softly above him.
"…Not an animal."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
It wasn't hostile.
But it wasn't normal either.
It felt…
controlled.
Juluis changed direction.
Quietly.
Carefully.
Step by step, he followed the presence deeper into the forest.
Past broken trees.
Past the scattered remains of old battle marks.
Until—
he heard it.
Water.
A soft stream flowing gently over smooth stones.
And beside it—
someone sat.
A boy.
Around the same age as Sora.
Dark hair, slightly damp, falling over his eyes.
His clothes—
once elegant—
were now torn and stained with dirt and dried blood.
But what stood out the most—
was how still he was.
He sat at the edge of the stream, one hand submerged in the water.
The surface rippled.
Not from movement.
But from something else.
Juluis watched carefully.
The water around the boy's hand moved unnaturally—
flowing against the current.
Twisting.
Obeying.
Without command.
Without effort.
"…I see," Juluis murmured quietly.
The boy spoke.
Without turning.
"You've been watching for a while."
Juluis didn't deny it.
"…You noticed."
The boy slowly lifted his hand from the water.
The ripples stilled instantly.
Then—
he turned his head.
Their eyes met.
Calm.
Clear.
And far too composed for a child standing in the aftermath of war.
Juluis studied him.
No panic.
No fear.
Just awareness.
"…You shouldn't be alone out here," Juluis said.
The boy looked back at the stream.
"I'm not lost."
His voice was steady.
Controlled.
Juluis stepped closer.
"You're not?"
"No."
A pause.
"…I just don't have anywhere to go."
Silence settled between them.
The forest breathed quietly.
Juluis glanced at the boy's clothes again.
Even torn—
they carried a certain quality.
A symbol barely visible beneath the dirt.
Royal.
"…Where is your family?" Juluis asked.
The boy didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
he dipped his fingers back into the stream.
The water moved again.
Gently this time.
Like it was listening.
Then he spoke.
"…Dead."
No hesitation.
No tremble.
Just a fact.
Juluis watched him carefully.
"…You're certain."
The boy nodded once.
"I saw it."
The way he said it—
made it clear.
There was nothing left to question.
The forest fell silent again.
Even the wind seemed to hold itself back.
Juluis exhaled slowly.
"…What's your name?"
The boy paused.
Then answered.
"…Johan."
Juluis nodded.
"…Johan."
He let the name settle.
Then—
"…What will you do now?"
Johan's eyes returned to the stream.
For the first time—
there was a slight pause in his composure.
Not emotion.
Not weakness.
Just—
uncertainty.
"…I don't know."
The answer was quiet.
Almost distant.
Juluis studied him for a moment longer.
Then—
he turned slightly.
"…Come with me."
Johan didn't move.
"…Why?"
Juluis didn't look back.
"…Because you're alive."
The same answer.
Simple.
Uncomplicated.
Johan stared at the water.
The surface reflected the sky above.
Clear.
Unmoving.
Then—
he slowly stood up.
The water behind him stilled completely.
Without a word—
he followed.
The two figures walked through the forest.
Side by side.
Not speaking.
Not rushing.
Just moving forward.
Leaves crunched softly beneath their feet.
The forest gradually thinned.
Light broke through the trees.
And ahead—
a small clearing came into view.
At its center stood a wooden cabin.
Quiet.
Simple.
Unremarkable.
Johan's eyes lingered on it briefly.
"…Someone lives here?"
Juluis answered calmly.
"…We do."
Johan frowned slightly.
"We?"
Juluis stepped forward and opened the door.
"…You'll see."
Johan followed.
The door creaked softly as it opened.
Warm light from the fireplace spilled out into the fading daylight.
And inside—
a boy with white hair sat near the fire.
Sora.
He looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a moment—
neither spoke.
Sora tilted his head slightly.
"…Who's that?"
Juluis stepped inside.
"…Someone who'll be staying here."
Sora blinked.
"…Another one?"
Johan raised an eyebrow.
"…Another?"
Sora stood up.
He walked closer.
Curious.
Unfiltered.
"…You look weird."
Johan stared at him.
"…You talk too much."
Sora frowned.
"…You sound annoying."
Johan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You look untrained."
Sora pointed at him.
"…You look like you'd lose in a fight."
Silence.
Juluis closed the door behind them.
"…This is going to be troublesome."
The two boys stood facing each other.
Different.
Opposite.
Yet standing in the same place.
Under the same roof.
Unaware—
that this moment…
was the beginning of something far greater than either of them could understand.