The boys, sprawled on the ground, tried to catch their breath.
Lior felt a wave of relief. They had escaped certain death.
It didn't last long.
A frantic scream echoed through the trees, snapping Lior to attention.
He turned his head toward Fenric.
The boy was curled up on the snow, clutching his head, fingers digging tightly into his hair—too tightly.
"No—I don't want to die," he sobbed. "Please... no more. I want to go home."
Lior rushed to him and shook his shoulders. "Get a hold of yourself," he snapped. "We still need to get far away from that thing."
Fenric looked up at him. There was a glint of rage in his eyes.
"You," he spat, grabbing Lior's collar. "All of it. This is your fault."
His eyes brimmed with tears. "I'm going to die here," he sobbed, "all because of you."
He choked back a sob. "What about my mother? She's waiting for me. Unlike you, I have someone who loves me."
Lior's expression soured.
Then came a slap.
Fenric toppled onto the snow, stunned.
"Yes, it's my fault," Lior said coldly, his eyes fixed on the boy. "I'm sorry."
He adjusted his collar, turned away, and added, "Now if you're done, let's go."
Bending to pick up his Odachi, he muttered, "And you'll have to explain a few things later."
Fenric slowly rose to his feet. He rubbed his cheek, which still stung from the blow, and followed in silence.
They walked without direction. Neither spoke.
Elaren's Veil was a maze of towering trees, shapeless blue fog, and endless snow-covered ground.
Damn it, Lior thought. No clue where to go.
"This is as far as we go for now," he said eventually, not bothering to look back.
"There." He pointed to a small clearing. "We'll camp there tonight."
They cleared the snow quickly, revealing a patch of frozen soil, and placed a few logs in the center.
"Give me the scroll," Lior said, extending his hand.
Without a word, Fenric opened his pack and handed over a small parchment.
Lior read the bold letters inked across it: Kindlechant.
He sighed and tore the scroll.
Flames erupted, instantly igniting the firewood.
What a shame. Only three left.
The boys sat across from each other, faces lit by flickering orange light. The fire crackled softly, filling the silence.
Then Fenric spoke, voice low and regretful.
"Lior… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to blame you. It's just—"
"It's fine," Lior interrupted, still staring into the flames. "You were right. I shouldn't have brought us here."
He looked up, his gaze sharp. "Now explain. What did you mean earlier?"
Fenric stood and walked over. He knelt before Lior.
"This lowly servant greets the Young Master of the Kazuragi family."
Lior blinked but kept his face blank.
"Young Master," he repeated, quietly. "So I'm the heir?"
Fenric avoided his eyes. "Strictly speaking—yes."
Lior exhaled. "Complicated, I assume?"
"Yes," Fenric said. "You were disowned and sent here. I was ordered to accompany you as your servant."
Lior paused, processing the truth.
"Alright. You can stand."
Fenric quickly returned to his spot.
"Your mother," Lior asked, "She's a servant too?"
Fenric nodded, a somber expression on his face.
"Alright," Lior said. "I understand the situation a bit better now."
Kazuragi Lior, huh… Not bad, he thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
He wanted to probe further, but a sound in the distance froze him.
Something approached—fast.
Branches snapped. The thudding of heavy steps grew louder.
Lior grabbed his Odachi. Fenric drew his blade as well.
Lior gave Fenric a look. The boy nodded in return.
A towering beast crashed into the clearing.
"That's the Bone-backed Stag?" Lior asked, brow furrowed.
Fenric's voice shook. "Yes. As far as I know."
Bone-backed Stags resembled massive elk, but their antlers were obsidian—jagged and sword-sharp, veined with a faint glow. Their backs were ridged with protruding, rib-like spines, bleached and curved. Between the bones, thick slate-colored hide stretched like cracked marble. Their eyes shimmered silver in the dark.
The world held its breath.
Only the fire crackled.
The beast moved.
It charged, head lowered.
In a blink, it was upon them.
They leapt aside. The beast slammed into a tree, ripping away a chunk of bark.
Shit, that was close, Lior thought. He sprinted toward the scattered supplies and grabbed three scrolls.
I really didn't want to waste these...
His eyes snapped to Fenric, who was now being chased.
Fenric darted between trees, making sharp, evasive turns—but the beast was too fast.
Then Fenric's foot slipped.
He crashed into the snow.
The Stag saw its chance. It lowered its head, obsidian antlers angled toward the fallen boy.
Then it stopped.
A piece of parchment floated before it.
And then came a sword.
A boy soared through the air, Odachi raised.
One slice—the parchment split cleanly as the blade cut through with vicious speed.
A spark.
For a moment it blinded the monster.
Then a few more, and the blade caught on fire.
The sword didn't stop.
It cut.
The wind only fanned the burning sword. Like nature itself aided the boy
He cleaved through the beast's eyes.
The Stag shrieked, tossing its head wildly.
Lior landed and dashed toward Fenric. He snatched the boy's short sword.
The flames on the Odachi dimmed.
Odachi in his left, kodachi in his right, a scroll clutched in his teeth—Lior lunged again.
Just shy of the beast, he hurled the kodachi.
It sank into a tree beside the creature, startling it.
Blinded, the beast the turned its head for a moment.
That moment was all it took.
What a fool.
Lior threw the scroll, letting it flutter downward.
As it drifted beside the Stag's neck, he sprang forward, gripping the Odachi in both hands.
He stabbed through the scroll, into flesh.
The parchment burned.
So did the sword.
So did the beast.
The flames engulfed its thick hide. The Bone-backed Stag wailed, thrashing in panic.
It turned to flee, but its vision failed it.
Fenric watched in awe, speechless.
Lior stood, smiling faintly, eyes lit by fire.
"An Dormant... killing a Bone-backed Stag," Fenric whispered, stunned. "With nothing but a sword and two Kindlechant scrolls..."
The beast collapsed at last.
The fire faded.
It still breathed, though barely.
Lior approached slowly.
The beast's eye was slashed. Its neck gushed dark blood, more ink than crimson.
Lior knelt beside it and dipped a finger in the blood. He tasted it.
Bitter, he thought.
The Odachi was still lodged in the beast's neck. Its breath came ragged.
Lior rose and wrapped his fingers around the hilt.
"Well, that was fun. Don't you think?" he said with a crooked smile.
But instead of pulling it free, he slashed sideways.
The blade ripped through flesh.
Blood sprayed. The creature's life faded from its silver eyes.
Lior turned to Fenric, face speckled in black.
"Looks like we'll have meat tonight," he said warmly.
Fenric gulped and nodded, fear still frozen in his eyes.