Karis' eyes landed on the book peeking from Lucas' clothes. She narrowed her gaze and pointed at it. "That's… an academy book. But how did you get this? Only academy students receive them."
Lucas' eyes lit up with curiosity. "You know about this book?"
Karis nodded, her voice turning softer. "Yes. It's a book for compulsory education. Anyone who wants to enter the academy gets one to prepare for the entrance exam… but how did you find it?"
Lucas hesitated for a moment before replying, "Some people passed through the forest one day. They dropped it, and I picked it up. I've been learning from it ever since." His grip on the book tightened. "I just wanted to know more about everything."
Karis gave a small smile, impressed by his determination. "If you're so hungry for knowledge, why not go to the academy?"
Lucas' mind suddenly froze. The academy… a place full of warriors, knowledge, and powerful figures.
He could feel his heartbeat quicken as a thought struck him—that would be the perfect place to learn more about the hero… to become stronger… to find the truth about his mother.
I can't defeat the hero by staying in this forest.
His mind raced with possibilities until a sudden realization hit him. Mom.
His body jolted, and without another word, he shot to his feet. "I'm late! Mom is waiting!"
He turned and bolted toward the forest.
Karis, startled by his sudden urgency, called out, "Lucas! What happened?"
But he didn't stop. As he ran, his voice trailed behind him, "Sorry! We'll talk later—my mom is waiting!"
Karis stood there, watching him disappear into the dense trees. A strange warmth spread in her chest. Whoever is waiting for him… he must love them deeply.
Moments later, Darian emerged from the shadows, carrying an armful of fruits. His eyes darted around. "Where's that kid?"
Karis kept her gaze on the path Lucas had taken and replied in a quiet voice, "He went home… someone is waiting for him."
Darian scoffed, dropping the fruit onto the ground. "Tch. Whatever."
Chloe crossed her arms, annoyance flashing across her face. "What about us? It's late! We need to go home too!"
Karis turned to her with a calm smile. "We're not going anywhere. We'll set up camp here. I don't travel at night, and no monster will come close—not with a A-ranked beast just killed in this area."
Chloe frowned, but Karis' reasoning was sound. A quiet night under the stars was better than an ambush in the dark.
As they prepared to rest, Karis couldn't shake off the feeling that Lucas was different. There was something about him… something more than what he let on.
Then Chloe lifted her chin high, placing her hands on her hips. "I will not spend the night in this filthy forest. This is no place for a noble girl like me."
Darian smirked, his voice dripping with mockery. "Then go home, princess. No one's stopping you. Just don't expect us to fight off the monsters while you waltz your way back."
Chloe shot him a glare. "Hmph! I don't need any of you to escort me. I'll go alone. Just wait here."
With that, she turned on her heel and strode off, her pride practically radiating from every step. But the moment she took a few steps into the darkness, a deep, guttural growl echoed through the trees. Then another. And another. The air felt heavy, the chilling howls of unseen creatures surrounding her like ghostly whispers.
Chloe froze. Her confident posture crumbled in an instant. Her heartbeat thundered in her chest.
Then—crack!
A branch snapped behind her. She spun around, eyes wide, and before she even realized it, she was sprinting back toward the group.
Darian burst into laughter the moment she stumbled into their camp, gasping for breath. "What's wrong, noble girl? You look pale," he teased, his grin wicked. "Don't tell me you got scared?"
Chloe straightened herself quickly, smoothing out her dress as if that would erase her embarrassment. With an exaggerated sigh, she waved her hand dismissively. "I just… thought that if I left and something attacked, no one would be here to protect you. That's why I came back. It has nothing to do with fear."
Darian rolled his eyes. "Right. Sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night, your highness."
Karis chuckled, shaking her head. "Enough, both of you. Let's set up camp. I don't know why, but I feel good tonight."
As they started making their tents, a quiet sense of camaraderie settled over them.
Meanwhile, deep in the forest…
Lucas sprinted through the trees, his breath ragged but steady. His feet barely touched the ground as he weaved between towering trunks, his mind racing as fast as his body.
"I got so late because of them… Mom's going to kill me!"
The thought sent a fresh wave of adrenaline through him, pushing his legs faster. He could already picture her stern face, her arms crossed, her foot tapping impatiently against the ground.
How could I let this happen?
Finally, through the thick trees, the outline of his home came into view. His chest tightened with guilt.
And there, standing just outside the house, was his mother.
Waiting.
Her figure was still, her face unreadable in the dim light of the moon.
Lucas came to an abrupt halt, his feet rooted in place, his breath catching in his throat. His heart hammered in his chest as he looked at the figure before him. His mother, standing just outside their home, the dim moonlight casting long shadows across her form.
He swallowed hard, voice trembling with uncertainty. "I can… I can explain why I'm late. But… Please, drop that stick."
His mother's gaze softened for a fleeting moment, but she didn't lower the stick. Her voice, when it came, was slow and heavy with something Lucas couldn't quite place. "My precious boy… Come here. Tell me why you're so late. Tell me what's really happening."
The fear in her voice made Lucas flinch. But as he took a cautious step back, something in him shifted. He had to ask. "Why do you have that stick? And why are you coming towards me like that?"
His mother froze. The stick quivered in her hand, as if the weight of it had suddenly become too much for her. The tears that had been threatening to spill finally fell, streaking down her face. She let the stick fall to the ground with a soft thud, her trembling hands clasped together in despair.
Without another word, she sank to the steps of the house, her sobs raw and gut-wrenching. "What else can I do?" she cried, her voice breaking. "You never listen, Lucas! I'm terrified every time you leave, and now, every time you come back late… I don't know what's happening to you. I'm scared of losing you."
The raw emotion in her voice hit Lucas like a physical blow. He stood there, stunned, his throat tight, but the next thing he knew, his feet were moving. Without thinking, he rushed forward, throwing his arms around his mother and holding her tightly.
"I'm sorry, Mom," Lucas whispered, his voice cracking. "I didn't mean to make you worry. I just… I just went out to find a monster. That's why I got so late. I never wanted to hurt you."
His mother's sobs quieted slightly as she felt the warmth of his embrace. She pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, her face tear-streaked but still full of love. "Promise me, Lucas," she whispered, voice still shaky, "promise me that you'll never go so far again. That you'll stay close. I can't bear the thought of losing you."
Lucas took a deep breath, holding her gaze with newfound resolve. He cupped her face gently, wiping away the tears that had stained her cheeks. "I promise, Mom," he said softly, his heart aching for her pain. "I'll never go so far again."
A small smile tugged at his lips, though it was tinged with sadness. "Now, let's go eat. I'm starving."
She nodded, her smile tentative but grateful, and together they made their way inside, the door creaking closed behind them.
---
As they sat down to eat, the warmth of the fire in the hearth seemed to melt away the tension that had been clinging to them both. But Lucas couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing, that something more was waiting just beyond reach.
He picked at his food, his mind still racing. Finally, with a deep breath, he broke the silence. His voice was soft, hesitant, but the words he had been holding back seemed to weigh more than anything else.
"Mom…" he began, his eyes avoiding hers for a moment. "I… I want to go to the academy. I want to become stronger."
There was a long pause. His mother's hand stilled mid-motion, her face falling into a troubled expression.