Inside the dimly lit tent, the canvas walls rustled softly in the night breeze. Rei sat cross-legged on the worn rug, while Kaiser sprawled on a pile of blankets across from him, a playful grin tugging at the corner of his lips. The flickering lantern cast long shadows between them, painting their faces with warmth.
Rei leaned back, his Chaos Scepter resting against his shoulder. "It's a long story," he murmured, his voice low and a little weary. "But I guess you deserve to know. After all, you've always been there."
Kaiser grinned. "Go on. Tell me everything."
Rei inhaled, then began. He recounted
how he'd met Tenko—how he'd stumbled across the little creature caged by a cruel bandit and couldn't bear to leave it there. Then he spoke of the strange, otherworldly experience that followed. He described the sensation of being sucked into a mental dimension where he faced a monstrous entity—one so powerful that it had to be sealed within the scepter he now carried. His eyes flickered with a mix of regret and determination. "It's still there," Rei murmured. "Caged inside the scepter. I can feel it watching sometimes."
Kaiser sat forward, eyes wide with astonishment. "You really did all that? That's incredible! And you created the revolutionaries, too?"
Rei gave a faint, tired smile. "Yeah. We needed to make a difference."
Kaiser leaned back with a low whistle. "Man… you've been through so much. Well, I guess it's my turn to tell you about my adventure." He laced his fingers behind his head, his expression softening with a hint of nostalgia. "After you left… it was just me and Lyla."
His gaze turned distant as memories flooded back. He could almost see the past as clearly as if it were unfolding before him. He and Lyla, sitting under the old maple tree in the village square, their books open, pages fluttering as they pored over spells and theories of sorcery.
Kaiser's voice softened. "We promised ourselves… we'd get stronger. We wanted to prove to you that we were strong enough to stand by your side when you came back."
He could hear Lyla's voice echoing from those days. "Yeah," she had said, her eyes alight with determination.
Together, they had practiced tirelessly, trying to master a complex sorcery spell—an enormous fireball that could obliterate even the toughest monsters. But their efforts had often ended in smoky explosions and charred sleeves. They'd laughed, cried, and kept trying.
Time passed, and soon it was Kaiser's naming ceremony. The entire village gathered, just as they had for Rei's. There were songs, dances, and food that filled the air with rich aromas. Kaiser remembered the joy he'd felt when he received gifts—especially the three from Rei.
The first was a thick book on Quantum Physics and Space, a subject that had always fascinated Kaiser with its mysteries of the universe. The second was a text on Frequencies and Resonances, expanding his understanding of elemental harmonies. And the third… a muffler, woven from soft, sturdy fabric, which Kaiser had immediately wrapped around his neck, treasuring it like a shield of friendship.
Lyla's gifts came next—three different sets of clothing, each carefully chosen. One for traveling, one for formal occasions, and one purely for comfort. Kaiser's heart had swelled with happiness that day.
But joy was fleeting.
The very next morning, Kaiser returned from fetching a bucket of water from the village well. He found his father and mother waiting in the yard, their expressions unreadable. He barely had time to set down the bucket when his father's fist slammed into his gut, sending him sprawling across the ground. The wind rushed out of his lungs, and pain exploded in his abdomen.
His mother sobbed quietly, her hands trembling. His father's voice was cold and final. "You're ten now. It's time to leave. This is your farewell ceremony—just like Rei's."
A bag containing his belongings was tossed near him. Kaiser's hands shook with fury and hurt as he grabbed it. Without a word, he turned away. He wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing him cry.
The road out of the village was unusually quiet—likely because Rei had recently captured the bandits who once plagued these paths. Kaiser's journey was, for once, uninterrupted. He made his way to Hensilk Town, though calling it a 'town' felt generous. The settlement was little more than a scattering of ramshackle buildings and a two-story Hunter Tower.
Determined, Kaiser went straight to the tower to register as a hunter. The process was simple, and soon his name was inked into the records. But reality quickly set in. The jobs were meager, and the pay barely covered his room at the local inn. For a month, Kaiser hunted whatever he could—slimes, goblins, wild boars—but the income was pitiful.
Then came the fateful day.
Kaiser had been tracking a Dark Grizzly, a magical beast known for its mastery of metal magic. When it appeared, he charged with reckless determination, slashing with his sword. But the beast's hide shimmered with metallic armor, and his blade glanced off harmlessly. Snarling, Kaiser switched tactics, hurling fire blasts to chip away at the Grizzly's defenses. The beast curled up like an armadillo, enduring the flames.
Just when Kaiser thought he was gaining the upper hand, the Grizzly uncurled with a ferocious growl. It shed its metal plating, exposing vulnerable flesh—but only for a moment. Before Kaiser could strike, the Grizzly conjured massive metal claws and lunged toward him.
Kaiser braced himself, raising his sword in a desperate defensive stance. But then—
A figure appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.
"Yeah, this one will do," the man said casually, and with a single, effortless sword strike, he severed all of the Grizzly's claws in one swift motion.
Kaiser's jaw dropped. The swordsman was tall and broad-shouldered, his blade gleaming faintly in the dim light of the forest.
Before Kaiser could recover, the Dark Grizzly roared, coating itself in armor once again and rushing forward.
"Look behind you!" Kaiser shouted.
Without so much as a flinch, the swordsman pivoted and sliced cleanly through the Grizzly's metallic body, bisecting it with a flash of steel. The beast collapsed with a heavy thud, lifeless.
Kaiser stood frozen, awe and confusion warring within him.
The man turned to him, offering a faint smile. "My name's Vanfred," he said. "And we should have a talk."