The night was still deep in the heart of the forest.
The moon hung in the sky, casting faint silver light that slipped between the thick branches of the trees.
The air was cold, filled with the sounds of nocturnal insects.
Adam stood on top of a large rock, breathing slowly.
His body was tired after the battle that had ended just minutes earlier.
On the ground in front of him lay the massive body of the forest beast, stretched out motionless.
Its dark hide was covered in wounds, and its final breaths had stopped moments ago.
Adam wiped the sweat from his forehead.
This wasn't the first time he had fought a monster in the forest…
But this beast had been stronger than any creature he had faced before.
He bent slightly, catching his breath.
Then he took out his small notebook from his leather bag.
He opened a new page.
And wrote calmly:
Forest Beast – Type Unknown
High physical strength
Medium speed
Weak point: Lower right side of the neck
He paused for a moment.
Then closed the notebook.
He looked at the beast's body again.
Two years ago…
He would have run the moment he saw a creature like this.
But now…
He had managed to fight it… alone.
He lifted his head toward the sky.
Two years had passed since that night.
Since Sophia's scream.
Since the blood.
Since that small hand that stayed holding his.
Adam clenched his fist slightly.
"I'm still weak…" he whispered to himself.
He knew it.
Every time he remembered the Prince who attacked the academy…
He felt the distance between them was still immense.
But he was no longer the same child.
The Strange Feeling
Suddenly…
He froze.
His body stiffened for a moment.
That feeling returned.
That strange sensation…
As if someone was watching him.
Adam didn't move.
His eyes slowly scanned the forest.
The trees were still.
The wind was light.
But his instinct had never been wrong before.
Something…
Or someone.
Was hiding in the darkness.
He tightened his grip on his sword.
"Who's there?"
His voice was calm… but cautious.
No answer came.
Long moments passed.
Then—
A faint rustle.
The sound of a foot touching a dry leaf.
From between the trees…
A shadow appeared.
Adam narrowed his eyes.
The shadow took one step closer.
Then another.
Until it finally stepped into the moonlight.
Adam froze in place.
The person standing before him was not a student from the academy.
Nor a hunter.
Nor even an ordinary human.
Tall.
Slender but strong body.
A long black cloak falling to the ground.
And his eyes…
They glowed with a strange light in the darkness.
The stranger gave a faint smile as he looked at the dead beast's body.
Then he looked at Adam.
And said quietly:
"Not bad… for a fifteen-year-old kid."
Adam's grip on the sword tightened.
"Who are you?"
The stranger didn't answer immediately.
He just smiled wider.
Then he said one sentence that made Adam's heart stop for a moment:
"I've been watching you… since the first time you entered this forest."
The wind passed between the trees.
The moon disappeared behind a black cloud.
And the darkness grew deeper.
But Adam didn't know yet…
That this night
Would be the beginning of something far greater than he could imagine.