The forest no longer felt like a prison.
But it wasn't safe either.
Elian walked a few steps behind the man, his eyes never leaving him. Every movement the man made felt precise—too precise. Even without wind, without sound, he moved as if the world bent around him.
"Are you just going to follow me in silence?" the man said suddenly.
Elian frowned. "You're the one who said 'come.'"
A faint smirk appeared.
"And yet you still don't trust me."
"I shouldn't," Elian replied.
"Good," the man said.
That answer caught Elian off guard.
They continued walking.
The deeper they went, the stranger the forest became. The trees grew thinner, taller, their branches almost completely still—like they had been frozen in time.
No animals.
No sound.
Not even the rustle of leaves.
"Where are we going?" Elian asked.
"Out," the man replied.
Elian sighed. "That's not helpful."
The man stopped walking.
Elian nearly bumped into him.
"For someone who has lost everything," the man said calmly, "you ask very small questions."
Elian's expression hardened.
"…Then give me a real answer."
The man turned slightly.
"For now, we are going somewhere the sky cannot easily see you."
Elian's chest tightened.
"Something is watching me… right?"
A pause.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No comfort.
Just truth.
Elian looked down.
"…Great."
They walked again.
After some time, the forest began to change.
The stillness… faded.
A faint breeze brushed against Elian's cheek.
He froze.
"…you're back," he whispered.
The wind returned—weak, but present.
"Yes…"
Relief flooded his chest.
"I thought you were gone…"
"Not gone… just… distant…"
Elian exhaled slowly.
Ahead, the man stopped again.
This time, he turned fully toward Elian.
"We're leaving the boundary," he said. "From here on… it will return."
Elian glanced around.
The trees were thinner now, and beyond them—
Open land.
The man stepped forward.
The moment he crossed—
The wind surged.
It rushed back violently, swirling around Elian like it had been waiting. His clothes fluttered, his hair lifted, and for a brief second—it felt like everything was alive again.
"Elian!"
"I know, I know," he said, almost smiling.
But the moment didn't last.
The man raised his hand slightly.
The wind… split.
Half of it continued flowing around Elian.
The other half—
Stopped.
Elian's eyes widened.
"You can… cut it?"
The man lowered his hand.
"I can interrupt it."
Silence fell for a brief moment.
Then—
"Elian…"
The wind's voice turned serious again.
"They are moving."
His expression shifted instantly.
"Who?"
"The ones above."
Elian looked up.
The sky was clearer now—but something about it felt wrong.
Too still.
Too quiet.
"They have seen you."
A chill ran through him.
The man stepped forward again.
"Then we don't have much time."
Elian looked at him.
"…You knew this would happen."
The man didn't deny it.
"Why are you helping me?" Elian asked again, more serious this time.
The man stopped.
For a moment—
The world felt still.
Then he spoke.
"Because if you die now…"
He turned slightly, his eyes sharp.
"…this world loses its only chance."
Elian froze.
"…What do you mean?"
The wind whispered softly—
"He is not lying."
Elian's heart pounded.
"Chance for what?"
The man looked up at the sky.
"For balance."
A distant rumble echoed above them.
Not thunder.
Something worse.
The clouds—far beyond the horizon—began to twist again.
"They're coming back," Elian said.
"No," the man replied calmly.
"They never stopped."
The wind surged violently around Elian.
"Elian… you must grow stronger… fast…"
He clenched his fists.
"…Then teach me."
Silence.
The man looked at him carefully.
Measuring.
Deciding.
"…Very well," he said.
A faint shift in the air.
"From this moment on," the man continued,
"You will stop being a child."
Elian's gaze hardened.
"…Good."
The wind rose.
The sky darkened.
And far above—
Something watched.
This time—
Elian didn't look away.