As they lay on the cold, bloodstained ground, catching their breath, the silence of victory was finally settling in. The scent of iron and scorched earth filled the air, mixing with the fading mist of magic. Their bodies ached, their minds still processing the brutal fight.
Then, a sudden burst of laughter shattered the quiet.
Darian, the swordsman, shot up, grinning wildly, his amber eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Damn, that was fun!" he shouted, stretching his arms. "I haven't felt this alive in a long time. We should do this again!"
The others turned to him, some still gasping for air, while Karis gave him an exhausted glare. But Darian's gaze quickly locked onto Lucas.
"Hey, you." He pointed at him. "What exactly is your role? You're clearly a leader—you were the one giving orders. But I can't figure you out."
Lucas, still seated, ran a hand over his sweat-drenched forehead. He could feel Darian's intense stare, the hunger for battle behind his words.
"I want to fight you," Darian said, his grin widening. "You're strong. If I beat you, I'll get even stronger."
Lucas exhaled sharply, his voice cold and firm.
"No."
The simple word hung in the air, cutting through Darian's excitement like a blade.
Lucas stood up, brushing dirt from his clothes. His body ached, but his mind was sharper than ever. "I don't fight for fun. And I don't fight without reason."
He turned his back to them. "I'm leaving."
Then, he hesitated, glancing over his shoulder. His voice dropped into something almost softer, but still resolute.
"Remember this—you're all strong. You just need guidance. Stop fighting among yourselves. Instead of blaming each other, learn from your mistakes. Next time, work as a team from the start."
With that, Lucas took a step forward, ready to disappear into the forest.
But then—
A soft voice stopped him. "Wait."
It was Karis.
He wasn't loud or commanding this time. His voice carried something else—a quiet understanding.
"Didn't you say you'd talk to us after the fight?" Karis asked, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips.
Lucas stiffened. He had said that.
"Darian doesn't really mean to challenge you," Karis continued. "He just gets excited when he meets someone strong."
Lucas clenched his fists. The words echoed in his mind.
Excited to fight… Strong opponents…
Once, that had been him.
Once, he had fought without reason, without purpose.
Once, he had killed without even realizing it.
The memories of his past life flashed through his mind—bloodied hands, lifeless eyes, a thirst for battle that had consumed him.
Lucas inhaled slowly. Then, for the first time since the battle ended, he turned fully toward them.
A flicker of something almost like a smile ghosted over his lips.
"Fine. I'll talk."
Darian grinned like a child getting a new sword. "Hell yeah!"
Lucas narrowed his eyes. "But no personal questions."
Karis raised two fingers in the air. "Alright, promise. No personal questions."
With a quiet sigh, Lucas walked back toward them and sat down, feeling the warmth of the fire, the weight of tired bodies, and—just for a moment—the strange comfort of company.
The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the tired group. The battle was over, but something new had begun—their first real conversation.
Karis, still wearing a gentle smile, turned to Lucas. "Now that you're sitting with us, let's introduce ourselves properly." His voice was warm, welcoming. "As you already know, I'm Karis, the leader of this team. I'm fifteen."
Lucas, who had been quietly observing the group, tilted his head slightly.
"What's your skill?" he asked, his voice even but curious.
Suddenly, the air around them stiffened. The relaxed chatter faded, and the others exchanged glances—some surprised, others almost wary.
Lucas, sensing the shift, felt his stomach twist. His gaze darted between them. "Did I… say something wrong?" His voice dropped, uncertain. "I just asked about a skill."
Then, Karis let out a small chuckle, his smile returning as he shook his head.
"You're really something, Lucas," he said, his tone light yet affectionate. "They're not mad at you. It's just… where we come from, asking about someone's skill is considered offensive. Most people don't share that information unless they trust you completely."
Lucas blinked. "Oh… I didn't know." His voice grew quieter, almost ashamed. "Sorry if I made anyone uncomfortable."
Karis patted his shoulder lightly, his voice full of understanding. "No harm done. Just be careful who you ask in the future."
Lucas nodded, still feeling a tinge of guilt. "I will. I didn't mean to upset anyone."
To break the awkwardness, Karis gestured toward the girl sitting beside him. "This here is Chloe."
The girl, who had been quietly listening, finally lifted her chin with quiet confidence. Her silver hair glowed softly in the firelight, and her ice-blue eyes held a calm, calculating look.
"She's thirteen," Karis continued. "She awakened her role and skill last year. She's from a noble family and specializes in ice magic."
Lucas frowned slightly, the term unfamiliar to him. "Noble family?" His voice carried a genuine curiosity. "What does that mean? Is it something important?"
Chloe's lips curled into a small smirk. "You're really not from around here, are you?" She stood up slightly straighter, her expression carrying a hint of pride.
"Being from a noble family means that my lineage is directly tied to the king," she explained. "It means wealth, power, and respect. Nobles are at the top of society."
Lucas processed her words carefully. "So, it's like rulers and leaders from my past life…" he thought to himself.
His gaze lingered on Chloe for a moment longer before he muttered, "That's… interesting."
Chloe tilted her head slightly, studying him. "You really don't know much about how this world works, do you?"
Lucas looked down, his expression unreadable. "No. But I'll learn."
"And lastly, this is our warrior," Karis said, nodding toward the brooding figure sitting apart from the rest. "His name is Darian. He's always a little angry because he wants to become stronger."
Lucas shifted his gaze toward Darian, studying his tense posture and the way his fingers curled tightly around the hilt of his sword. Something about him felt... familiar. Lucas spoke calmly, his voice steady yet firm.
"Why do you need to be so powerful?" he asked. "Power alone only brings destruction."
Darian's grip on his sword tightened even more, his knuckles turning white. His eyes burned with resentment as he snapped, "You're just a kid. Stay in your place and don't lecture me about power. You have no idea what it means to need strength in this world."
With a sudden movement, Darian pushed himself to his feet. His frustration was boiling over, and the last thing he wanted was to be questioned by a boy he had just met.
"I'm going to find something to eat," he muttered, his voice laced with irritation. Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
Lucas watched him go, his gaze unreadable. Then, he turned to Karis and said quietly, "He has a reason for wanting power. I could see it in his eyes."
Karis sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… Darian has his own struggles. But he's still part of the team."
There was a moment of silence before Karis gave Lucas a warm smile. "We've told you about ourselves. Now it's your turn. Tell us something about you. We're friends now, right?"
Lucas hesitated for a moment, his fingers curling into his palm. The word friend sounded so foreign to him. Finally, he spoke, his voice quieter than before.
"My name is Lucas. I live in this forest."
Karis frowned slightly. "Why? Do you have a reason for staying here?"
Lucas lowered his gaze. "I do... but I can't tell you everything. You must promise not to tell anyone in the kingdom about me."
Chloe leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "Why? What are you hiding?"
Karis gently raised a hand, stopping her from pressing further. "I understand," he said reassuringly. "We won't tell anyone about you. You have my word."
As Karis spoke, his eyes suddenly caught a glimpse of something peeking from Lucas' clothing—a book, its edges slightly worn. He tilted his head, intrigued.
"That book… what is it?" Karis asked. "Do you study? How did you even get something like that out here?"
Lucas immediately tensed, instinctively trying to conceal it. But after a moment of hesitation, he slowly pulled it out. The cover was slightly damaged from years of use, but inside, the pages were filled with complex symbols and carefully handwritten notes.
It was the book he had studied every night, the one that helped him sharpen his skills in secret.
Karis and Chloe leaned in slightly, their curiosity growing.