The first thing he felt—
Was weight.
Not pain.
Not cold.
Just… heaviness.
Thalren's eyes opened slowly.
A white ceiling.
Blurred.
Unfamiliar.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Didn't think.
Didn't react.
Then—
A sharp sting ran through his arm.
"…He's awake."
A voice.
Distant at first.
Then closer.
Clearer.
Footsteps approached.
Thalren turned his head slightly.
A man stood beside the bed, wearing a long coat marked with a symbol he didn't recognize.
Behind him, two others watched in silence.
"…You're lucky," the man said calmly. "Another minute, and you wouldn't be breathing."
Thalren said nothing.
His throat was dry.
His body… heavy.
"…Where…?" he managed.
"Virella Port," the man replied. "Hunter medical wing."
A pause.
"…Hunters…" Thalren repeated quietly.
"So you've heard of us."
No answer.
Instead—
Thalren slowly pushed himself up.
Pain followed instantly.
His muscles resisted.
"…Don't," the man said. "You're not in condition to move yet."
But Thalren ignored him.
His eyes scanned the room.
Simple.
Clean.
Temporary.
Not a place to stay.
"…Food," he said.
One of the hunters blinked.
"…That's your first concern?"
Thalren didn't respond.
Moments later, a tray was placed beside him.
He ate.
Slowly at first.
Then faster.
Not messy.
Not rushed.
Just efficient.
Like someone used to surviving.
The room remained silent as they watched him.
Observing.
Measuring.
---
"…You were alone out there," one of them said.
No response.
"…That area isn't safe."
Still nothing.
Then—
"…Why were you there?" the man in front asked.
Thalren finished eating.
Set the tray aside.
"…I left."
A simple answer.
But incomplete.
"…Left where?"
A pause.
"…An island."
Silence followed.
Not because of the answer—
But because of how he said it.
Like it no longer mattered.
---
The man's gaze lowered.
To the necklace.
The crystal.
Faint.
But pulsing.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…That relic…"
Another hunter stepped closer.
"…It's strange…"
The first man didn't reply immediately.
He kept looking at it.
Carefully.
As if trying to confirm something.
Then—
"…I've seen something like that before…"
The others looked at him.
"…Where?"
A pause.
His gaze shifted slightly.
Distant.
Searching.
Then—
"…No…"
A quiet murmur.
"…It shouldn't be here."
The room grew still.
"…What do you mean?" one of them asked.
He looked back at them.
Calm.
But firm.
"…Forget it."
A beat passed.
Then—
"…Just keep an eye on him."
---
Thalren stood up.
This time—
Fully.
Unsteady.
But standing.
"…I'm leaving."
The words were quiet.
Final.
The man frowned.
"…You're in no state to—"
"I don't have the right to stay."
The interruption was calm.
But absolute.
A brief silence followed.
Then—
"…You'll die out there," one of them said.
Thalren stepped forward.
Each step heavy.
But controlled.
He stopped near the door.
"…Death can wait…"
A pause.
"…I still have something to fulfill."
Something in his voice—
Didn't sound like a bluff.
---
"…What's your name?" the man asked.
Thalren didn't turn.
"…Thalren."
Nothing more.
No hesitation.
No explanation.
The door opened.
Then closed.
---
Silence remained.
The second hunter exhaled.
"…That kid…"
But the first man didn't respond.
His eyes were still fixed on the door.
Then—
Slowly—
They shifted.
Back to where the faint glow had been.
"…That relic…"
A pause.
His expression hardened slightly.
"…It shouldn't be in the hands of a nobody."
The others frowned.
"…You think he's dangerous?"
A moment passed.
Then—
"…I don't know yet."
His gaze moved toward the window.
Toward the sea.
"…But if I'm right…"
A quiet breath.
"…then things just got complicated."