Chapter 5: Environmental Encounter
Swoosh.
There he was… Medrus Miro. Appearing out of thin air once more, as if called by the very wind itself. But this time, his destination was different. It shimmered with an eerie, sacred calm.
Medrus stood at the edge of a wide, misty valley, holding Lucky in his arms. The puppy was still fast asleep. Below them, silver trees circled a clear spring, their leaves rustling like soft wind chimes. Sunlight shone through the branches, making the whole clearing glow like the land was alive.
Lucky stirred, ears twitching.
"We're here," Medrus murmured, kneeling to set the pup down on a patch of thick, emerald moss. "Don't worry, Lucky. No tricks this time. This… Is real."
The puppy blinked lazily, then sniffed the air. His tail gave a slow, uncertain wag. No panic. No confusion. Just stillness.
Around them, the air shimmered. A nearly invisible dome rose above the trees, as delicate as a soap bubble, humming faintly. It was a protective barrier—one of the last of its kind.
The moment Lucky's paws met the moss, the world seemed to take notice. The breeze hushed. The birds fell silent. A quiet ripple passed across the valley, like a held breath.
"Behold… The Safe Zone," Medrus whispered. "One of only seven left. A place untouched by the chaos of Amora. You'll be safe here. I swear it… On my family's name."
He lingered a moment longer, resting a hand on Lucky's small frame, then closed his eyes. "You won't be able to follow him here… But you'll live. And you'll be free."
Behind him, a branch snapped.
"I wondered when you'd show up," Medrus said without turning.
From the trees stepped a woman with short, silver hair like torn silk. She wore a weathered green cloak that shimmered with dew, and her sharp gray eyes held years of knowledge and sorrow. She moved like someone trained to be forgotten.
"Talking to dogs now? You really are losing it."
Medrus didn't turn. "How long have you been watching, Sorei?"
"Long enough to see you turn mentor. The man who threatened the noble king of Amareth, now a teacher? Never thought I'd live to see that."
Medrus smirked faintly. "You'll like the kid. His name's Zylus."
Sorei raised a brow. "Does he cry a lot?"
"Only when it matters."
Sorei's expression softened, just a little. "That's better than most."
Medrus finally turned to her. His face was calm, but there was tension beneath it. "Keep Lucky safe. He's all my student has left."
Sorei nodded solemnly. "I know the rules. Nothing gets in. Nothing gets out."
Medrus gave one final glance at Lucky, now curled peacefully into the moss, tail flicking in a dream.
"Take care of him."
And then he vanished.
Whisked away on a breeze.
(Zylus POV)
Zylus stood in a wide meadow ringed with tall trees, arms raised toward the streaking light above. The sun filtered through branches like shattered glass, warm and golden. But the warmth didn't reach him.
He missed Lucky. Missed the soft shuffle of his paws, the warmth against his side. Somewhere out there, Lucky was safe… But not with him.
No crying. That was the deal. He'd already cried enough when they parted.
But now… It was just him. Him and the silence. And the silence was loud.
The leaves whispered. Birds chirped high above. A soft breeze moved through the trees like a gentle song. Without Medrus, everything felt more intense, like the world was watching him. Testing him.
Then, Zylus remembered the task he had at hand. He needed to learn about Amora. More than that, he had a task his sensei gave him. His first task…
Zylus lowered his arms. "Connect to the environment," he muttered. "That's what Sensei said."
He looked around, eyes narrowing. Grass. Trees. Rocks. He stepped forward, brushing his hands through the grass. The blades were cool, moist with dew. For a moment, something tingled in his fingertips.
"Wait… Is that… Amora?" He paused, heart racing.
Nothing.
He shook his head. "Nope. Just grass."
He tried again, this time digging his fingers into the dirt. Cold soil packed beneath his nails.
"Still nothing," he grunted. "I'm just dirty now."
In frustration, he stomped over to a nearby oak tree and wrapped his arms around it.
"Come on. Give me Amora!" Zylus desperately screamed. "This would be so embarrassing if someone heard me," Zylus whispered.
A voice behind him snorted.
"Well, I saw that. And I don't think it's embarrassing. It's actually pretty impressive."
Zylus jumped back from the tree and spun around, fists raised.
A boy stood between two crooked trees, barefoot and calm. He wore a tunic made of bark-woven fabric, soft and rough at once, and a satchel dangled from his shoulder, bouncing gently as he moved. His hair was dark red and a mess of curls, wild and wind-tangled, and his golden eyes were sharp but curious. Watchful and… Unreadable.
"Who are you?!" Zylus snapped, eyes narrowing. "How long were you watching me? What do you want?"
The boy raised his hands in mock surrender. "Easy. I'm about your age. I'm not gonna hurt you. I just had a question." The boy tilted his head. Zylus didn't relax.
Zylus didn't lower his fists. His shoulders were tense, jaw clenched. "Don't sneak up on people. Especially not here."
"Noted," the boy said unfazed. "You're not from here, are you?"
Zylus gave him a sharp look. "I… No. I'm not."
The boy smiled. "I'm Ren. Ren Merrin. From Mire Valley. You look tired."
Zylus shrugged. "Not tired enough to lose to someone like you."
"You're funny. I like you. Be my friend."
Zylus blinked. "You can't just decide that."
"Well… Yeah, I can."
"Why's that?"
Ren tilted his head slightly. "Wind users. Ring a bell? The infamous family that helped end the magic beast invasion a few years ago? The ones that raided Mire Valley- my hometown?"
Zylus shook his head. "Nope. Not at all. No clue."
Ren's eyes lit up. "Interesting. Finally, someone who doesn't treat me like a freak because of my family."
Zylus slowly lowered his stance. "Zylus. Zylus Hiashi. That's my name."
"Nice name," Ren said with a grin. "So, you're training too? Trying to connect to the land?"
"Trying. Not succeeding. Why are you here, anyway?"
"Ren's tone shifted slightly, more informative. "Since you don't know much about my family, here's the short version. We're considered the most powerful wind users on the continent of Elarion. Wind responds best where it flows freely, so places like this- Mount Carmel are ideal for training."
Zylus raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly are you trying to accomplish here?"
"Accomplish? Depends on the day. What about you?"
Zylus scoffed. "Say that to my weirdo of a sensei who dropped me out here alone."
Ren chuckled. "Sensei, huh? Interesting."
Before Zylus could respond, a sharp rustle split the air.
Both boys froze.
Zylus slowly turned his head. "...What was that?"
Ren's golden eyes narrowed. "I don't know. But the wind… It's pulling back. Holding its breath."
Zylus blinked. "What does that mean?"
Ren's voice dropped to a hush. "It means something bloodthirsty is nearby. The wind only acts like this when it senses killing intent." He reached for his satchel, his fingers trembling slightly. "My older brother taught me that when we trained on Mount Thorn."
Zylus slammed the tree, heart hammering. "Do we run?"
"Too late. Grab a weapon. Now."
Zylus spotted a jagged branch resting on the grass. He snatched it up, the bark biting into his palm. "Is this good enough?"
Ren didn't answer. He was focused, eyes closed, the faint breeze around him twisting unnaturally, as if waiting for his command.
Zylus watched him, then muttered, "Is that… Normal?"
Still no answer.
Then-
A shrill chitter tore through the stillness.
A blur burst from the underbrush. Low to the ground, limbs coiled like springs, violet eyes glowing with hunger. Its body was sleek, sinewy, somewhere between a rodent and a predator from a nightmare.
"Skivven!" Ren barked.
Zylus barely moved in time. The beast lunged, claws swiping inches from his face. He dropped to the ground, rolled, and came up swinging. The branch struck the creature's side.
"Okay, what the hell is a Skivven?!" Zylus shouted.
"No time!" Ren shouted back, pulling a slender dagger from his satchel. The wind surged around him, lifting strands of his hair.
The beast hissed and circled. Its muscles twitched.
It leapt again.
Zylus swung with everything he had.
CRACK.
The branch snapped in two.
The Skivven landed, crouched, its glowing eyes locked onto him. Saliva dripped from its fangs.
Zylus froze.
Weaponless.
Exposed.
His breath caught in his throat, shallow, ragged. The world felt like it narrowed to a pinpoint, every sound stretching out, echoing in his skull. The pounding of his heartbeat drowned out of the wind.
Time felt strange, slower, heavier. Like the air itself had thickened, trapping him in place.
Zylus locked eyes with the Skivven.
"I can't outrun that. Can't block it. Can't-"
His fingers trembled. His legs begged to run. But where?
Is this how far I've come? Zylus thought bitterly, hands trembling. Dammit. Dammit all.
He gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to flinch. His muscles screamed to run. His instincts begged to hide.
But there was no running. Not from this.