Kael's tunic was still patched but it was cleaner now, his boots was stuffed with rags to fit. He felt good—strong, focused. He still wasn't having the best life, but something had changed. He was finally getting used Mara's absence, he was understanding and accepting that she was gone, and there was nothing he could do to change that.
However, he could help pursue her dreams. Mara had always wanted to protect people, to become a beastwarden. That was the path he chose.
He was going to rise to the peak, and change this cruel world that abused orphans, this cruel world, this heartless systems that took siblings away from each other. The world hadn't given him anything, but he vowed to give it everything.
The pendant bounced as he walked, a reminder of what he was working for.
Then a voice cut through the trees, sharp and ugly.
"Well, look who's playing hero." Thom stepped from the shadows, Rigg behind him, they both seemed smaller than Kael remembered.
Thom's eyes were mean, his knuckles bruised like he'd been punching trees.
Rigg shifted, clearly uneasy, but he didn't speak. Mara growled, but Kael tapped her flank—guard, not attack.
"What do you want, Thom?" Kael's voice was steady, bored even. He wasn't the kid Thom had kicked bloody weeks ago.
Thom spat, stepping closer. "I Saw you with Lila. Cozy, huh? You think you're hot shit now, runt? Hanging out with my girl?"
Kael's jaw tightened. His girl? He had nothing to do with Lila but...She wasn't anyone's.
"She helped me. That's it. Move on."
Thom laughed, cold. "Helped you? She's slumming it, feeling sorry for the orphan. You're nothing, Kael. No family, no mana, no chance at Cresthaven."
He cracked his knuckles, grinning. "You seemed to have forgotten that. And now, I'm gonna remind you."
Kael stared at him for a moment, then he turned, walking away. Mara followed him, a bounce in her footsteps that annoyed the hell out of Thom.
Thom wasn't done. He bent down, picking up a rock. A cruel smile painted his face.
A rock sailed past Kael's head, grazing his ear. Kael paused as memories of that day flooded back into his memory. That was it, the start of his sister's death. It had all started with this asshole throwing rocks at him.
Seeing his reaction, Thom laughed out loud. "Now here, does that remind of you of something?" He paused, then he stepped closer, sticking out his tongue. "Here, let me give you a clue..."
"Beast meat..."
Mara snarled, and Kael spun around, anger clear in his face.
"Back off, Thom."
"Make me," Thom said, lunging. His fist swung, it was fast, but Kael was faster.
After spending weeks on end in the forest, he was a natural instinct now. He was steadily getting tuned to fight scenes. These beasts were stronger and faster, not to talk of a human kid like Thom.
Kael stepped to his side, his hand flew up at light speed, grabbing Thom's wrist and twisting, hard.
Thom yelped, stumbling, and Kael shoved him back, he wasn't even breathing hard.
Rigg stepped forward, hesitant. "Thom, come on, let's go—"
Thom pulled his hand away forcefully from Rigg's grip, his face looking as serious as ever.
He got up slowly, wiping the dust off his clothes. He stared at Kael.
"You've been building muscle and learning martial arts...Runt?"
Kael didn't reply.
Thom nodded. "Let's see how your martial arts fare against...
This!"
Razorquill!
The ground shuddered, and Kael's gut dropped. A beast materialized beside Thom—a Razorquill, C-rank. Kael knee this beast too well, it had beaten him up the last time they met.
Kael knew he could take it on now, but something was different still. He was hiding Mara's powers and his abilities.
Guess he couldn't hide them for long now.
The Razorquill's eyes were beady, mean, and its claws scraped the dirt, ready to shred.
Mara's ears flattened, her Ember Pulse heating the air, but Kael held up a hand.
"Easy, Mara."
Maybe he could still salvage this.
He faced Thom, looking as calm as ever.
"You're really this stupid?"
"Stupid?" Thom grinned, nasty. "I'm gonna carve you up Razorquill, get him!"
The beast lunged, it's quills rattling like a warning. Kael dove left, rolling on the floor as claws gouged the earth where he'd stood.