The sun hadn't risen yet.
Darkness still held the sky, heavy and quiet, stretching across the horizon like something unwilling to let go. The world was still, but not silent. There was always sound—wind brushing against wood, distant rustling in the trees, the quiet breathing of a house that had yet to wake.
Eli's eyes opened.
He didn't move right away.
He simply stared at the ceiling.
"…Fourteen."
The word left his mouth quietly, almost like a test. Like he was making sure it was real.
For years, everything had been preparation.
Observation. Learning. Waiting.
Now… it started.
No more slow growth.
No more holding back.
This was the point where things changed.
His fingers slowly curled against the blanket.
"…It begins now."
He sat up.
The room was dim, lit only by the faint gray of early morning leaking through the window. His body had changed—not drastically, but enough. Stronger. Faster. More responsive.
Still human.
Still far from what he once was.
But no longer weak.
He stood up from the bed, feet touching the cold floor.
Tap…
Tap…
Each step toward the door was quiet, controlled.
No hesitation.
The door creaked open slightly.
Eli stepped out.
The hallway was empty, but he could hear movement from the other room.
His father was already awake.
Of course he was.
Eli walked toward the sound, each step steady.
When he entered the room, his father didn't turn immediately. He stood near the table, tightening the grip on a worn training blade.
"…You're up early," his father said.
Eli didn't respond right away.
Instead, he walked forward, stopping a few steps away.
"…I'm going to the forest today."
Silence.
His father slowly turned.
Their eyes met.
There was no childish excitement in Eli's gaze.
Only focus.
Only intent.
"…You've been going to the forest," his father said carefully.
Eli shook his head.
"No."
A pause.
"…Not like this."
His father studied him.
Longer than usual.
Then—
"…You're serious."
Eli nodded once.
"I'm not going there to observe anymore."
Another pause.
"…I'm going to hunt."
The word hung in the air.
Heavy.
Final.
His mother, who had been listening from the doorway, stepped in quietly.
"You're still young," she said softly.
Eli looked at her.
"I know."
"…Then why now?"
Eli's eyes didn't waver.
"Because if I don't start now… I'll fall behind."
That wasn't something a normal child would say.
His parents knew it.
They had always known there was something… different about him.
But they never pushed.
Never questioned too far.
His father exhaled slowly.
"…Come outside."
The air was cold.
Damp.
The ground still carried the night's chill as they stepped into the training yard.
Eli stood in the center.
His father walked toward the weapon rack.
"…If you're going to hunt…"
He picked up a wooden sword.
"…Then show me."
He tossed it.
Eli caught it cleanly.
No fumble.
No hesitation.
"Attack me."
Eli moved.
STEP—!
Fast.
Faster than before.
The wooden sword cut through the air—
SWOOSH—!
His father reacted instantly—
CLACK—!!
Wood collided with wood.
Eli's strike was stopped.
But—
"…!"
His father's eyes narrowed slightly.
The force.
It was stronger.
Eli didn't stop.
He shifted his weight—
STEP—!
Second strike—
SWOOSH—!
His father blocked again—
CLACK—!
But this time—
Eli twisted his wrist mid-impact.
The angle changed.
The blade slid—
SCRAPE—!
—and redirected.
His father stepped back.
"…You've improved."
Eli didn't answer.
He moved again.
Faster now.
More aggressive.
STEP—STEP—!
Strike—
SWOOSH—!
Block—
CLACK—!
Another—
SWOOSH—!
Block—
CLACK—!
Eli's breathing stayed controlled.
But his eyes—
They were different.
Focused.
Sharp.
Watching every movement.
Calculating.
His father suddenly stepped in—
THUD—!
A direct counter.
Eli's eyes widened slightly—
"…!"
He shifted—
STEP—!
Barely dodging.
The strike brushed past his shoulder.
"…That was close…"
He muttered under his breath.
His father heard it.
"…Still talking during a fight?"
Eli adjusted his grip.
"…Helps me think."
He lunged again—
SWOOSH—!
His father parried—
CLACK—!
But Eli stepped inside—
Too close—
"…!"
His father's eyes widened—
Eli drove forward—
THUD—!
A body check.
His father slid back half a step.
Silence.
For a second.
Then—
His father smiled slightly.
"…Good."
They reset.
"Again."
This time—
His father attacked first.
SWOOSH—!
Fast.
Eli's eyes sharpened—
"…He's faster than before…"
He shifted—
STEP—!
Dodged.
Barely.
"…Damn… that speed…"
Another strike—
SWOOSH—!
Eli raised his sword—
CLACK—!
The impact pushed him back—
SKID—!
"…!"
His arms trembled slightly.
"…Strong…"
He adjusted his stance.
"…I can't match him head-on…"
His father attacked again—
SWOOSH—!
Eli didn't block.
He moved sideways—
STEP—!
Then forward—
STEP—!
Closing distance again.
"…Got you—"
His father countered—
THUD—!
A hit landed on Eli's side.
"…Tch—!"
Eli stumbled—
But didn't fall.
He gritted his teeth.
"…That hurt…"
He stepped back.
Breathing slightly heavier now.
"…He's not holding back…"
His father lowered his sword.
"…That's enough."
Eli exhaled slowly.
"…You're ready."
His mother stepped forward.
"…But not for anything dangerous."
Eli nodded.
"I know."
His father walked over and reached into a wooden chest.
He pulled something out.
Wrapped.
Old.
Worn.
He walked back.
And handed it to Eli.
"…You'll need something better than wood."
Eli unwrapped it.
Inside—
A simple sword.
Not special.
Not powerful.
But real.
Metal.
Sharp.
Eli held it.
The weight—
Different.
Balanced.
Cold.
Real.
"…This is…"
"…A basic blade," his father said.
"…It's yours."
Eli looked at it.
Then—
He smiled slightly.
"…It'll do."
His mother stepped closer.
"…Don't go too far."
"…Stay near the outer forest."
"…And if something feels wrong—leave."
Eli nodded.
"…I will."
He turned.
Walked toward the gate.
Each step—
Steady.
CREAK—
The gate opened.
And Eli stepped out.
The path to the forest wasn't far.
But today—
He didn't rush.
Step…
Step…
Each movement was deliberate.
"…Feels different…"
He muttered.
The same road.
The same trees.
But now—
There was weight behind it.
"…This is where it starts…"
He reached the edge of the forest.
The air changed immediately.
Cooler.
Sharper.
Alive.
Eli stepped inside.
Leaves crunched under his feet.
CRUNCH…
CRUNCH…
He paused.
Closed his eyes.
"…Listen…"
Wind.
Leaves.
Movement.
"…Something's there…"
His eyes opened.
Slowly.
To his right—
A bush shifted.
Eli's grip tightened on the sword.
"…Not rushing…"
He whispered.
He stepped forward.
Slow.
Controlled.
CRUNCH…
The bush moved again—
Faster.
"…!"
Eli reacted—
STEP—!
He raised his sword—
A creature burst out—
Small.
Fast.
Sharp teeth.
SKREE—!!
Eli's eyes widened—
"…Fast!"
It lunged—
WHOOSH—!
Eli moved—
STEP—!
Barely dodging.
"…That was close…"
The creature turned instantly—
Too fast.
"…No delay…"
It lunged again—
WHOOSH—!
Eli raised his sword—
CLANG—!
The impact pushed him back—
SKID—!
"…Strong too…"
He adjusted his stance.
Breathing steady.
"…Alright…"
The creature circled him.
Low.
Fast.
"…It's watching…"
Eli didn't move.
"…Waiting for an opening…"
The creature lunged again—
Eli stepped forward this time—
STEP—!
"…Got you—!"
SWOOSH—!
His blade cut across—
SLASH—!
The creature screeched—
SKREE—!!
It stumbled—
But didn't fall.
"…Still alive?!"
It lunged again—
Desperate.
Eli twisted—
STEP—!
Then—
SLASH—!!
This time—
Clean.
The creature dropped.
Silence.
Eli stood still.
Breathing.
"…First one…"
He looked down at it.
"…Not that strong…"
"…But fast…"
He crouched.
Examining it.
"…So this is how it starts…"
He stood back up.
"…I need more…"
He looked deeper into the forest.
Dark.
Unpredictable.
He tightened his grip on the sword.
"…Let's see what else is out here…"
And with that—
Eli stepped deeper into the forest.
The hunt had begun.