Kaito woke up feeling something was off. It was early morning, the sun barely rising, but a sense of unease gnawed at him. He lay in his bed at the inn, the faint whisper of wind through the trees stirring an unsettling feeling deep inside him. His instincts, sharpened through many battles in the wild, screamed that he wasn't alone. He could sense eyes on him.
He glanced around the room. Nothing seemed out of place, but the feeling persisted.
"Master," Kaito thought to himself, furrowing his brow. "I feel like someone's watching me, it's same like I'm in the forest."
His master's voice responded in his mind, steady and calm. "You're right, kid. Someone's definitely watching you."
Kaito sat up, his senses still on high alert. "Where is he?"
"He's inside the inn, somewhere. Wearing a black robe," his master replied, his tone more thoughtful now. "Be careful, Kaito. Keep your guard up."
Kaito's curiosity flared. He stood up and stretched, opening the door slowly. His footsteps creaked across the floor as he descended the stairs, scanning the room. His eyes immediately locked onto a figure sitting in the far corner of the common room.
A tall figure, cloaked in a black robe, sat quietly, watching the room with an unreadable expression. Kaito couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity, but there was something about the person that didn't fit.
"Is that him?" Kaito asked, still unsure.
"Yeah, that's him," his master replied, his voice tinged with something like amusement.
Kaito studied the figure carefully. The person's ears—long and pointed—stood out starkly, confirming what Kaito had suspected. The figure was an elf, much like the ones he had seen in the fantasy books he'd read.
"He's an elf, isn't he?" Kaito mused aloud, his voice barely above a whisper.
His master's voice in his head chuckled. "Kid, how do you know that? You've never seen an elf up close before."
Kaito smirked to himself. "Maybe I'm just that smart."
His master let out a short laugh. "Right. Well, stay on your toes. Elves are a tricky bunch."
Kaito kept his eyes fixed on the figure. The elf hadn't moved, but there was something in the way he carried himself—calm, collected, and deliberate—that told Kaito he wasn't just an ordinary adventurer. Suddenly, the elf stood, as fluid as a shadow, preparing to leave. Without a word, he started walking toward the door.
Kaito's heart skipped a beat. There was something off about the way he left. A feeling of unease settled in Kaito's chest.
"Is he leaving?" Kaito asked, still staring after the elf.
"Seems like it," his master responded. "Don't get too attached, kid. Not everyone who watches you is an enemy."
Kaito exhaled sharply. "I don't know why, but I just feel uncomfortable seeing him leave. Like something's… not right."
"Don't overthink it. You'll figure it out eventually," his master replied, his voice calm and steady. "Let's focus on the breakfast. You have things to do today."
After a hearty breakfast, Kaito made his way to the Adventurers' Guild. He had a simple quest—kill ten goblins in the forest.
When he entered the guild, the lively chatter of adventurers filled the air. He walked up to the counter, where a young girl with short brown hair and bright green eyes handed him a quest sheet.
"Kill ten goblins in the forest. Requirements: C-rank," she said cheerfully. "The reward is 2 gold."
Kaito glanced at his adventurer card. He was a B-rank now. A simple task for him.
"I'll take it," he said, sliding the card across the counter.
The girl raised an eyebrow but accepted it. "Good luck, B-rank adventurer."
With that, Kaito headed out into the forest. The trees towered over him, the air thick with the scent of earth and moss. Silence hung heavy in the air, and Kaito's senses were on edge. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched again.
"Master, I feel it again. Someone's watching me," Kaito thought, scanning the surroundings.
"Trust your instincts. Stay alert," his master replied, his voice calm but with an underlying note of caution.
Kaito flexed his fists, feeling the familiar surge of power in his muscles. As a fighter, he didn't need weapons to deal with most threats. His body was his weapon, his strength and speed allowing him to overpower opponents with ease. His eyes darted through the trees, trying to pinpoint the source of the sensation. The feeling of being watched was persistent, like a shadow following his every move.
"Show yourself!" Kaito called out, his voice firm.
There was a rustle in the underbrush. From behind a tree, a figure emerged. The same elf from the inn, now standing casually, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
"Hey, kid," the elf greeted, his voice surprisingly calm.
Kaito's fists clenched, ready to strike if necessary. "You again. What do you want?"
The elf's lips curled into a small grin. "I'm not here to hurt you. My name's Lorian."
Kaito narrowed his eyes. "Why have you been following me?"
Lorian leaned against a nearby tree, his posture relaxed. "I've been watching you ever since last night. You're different from the other adventurers. I wanted to see how you handled yourself."
Kaito's suspicion grew. "And what does that mean? You're just watching me for fun?"
Lorian chuckled softly. "Not for fun. Just curious. You're more interesting than I expected."
Kaito flexed his fingers, the muscles rippling as he prepared himself in case things took a turn. "I don't trust people who sneak around in the shadows. Are you planning to do something, or is this just a game to you?"
Lorian's eyes gleamed with a strange light, but he remained calm. "I'm not here to play games. I just wanted to see what you're capable of. Maybe we'll see where this goes."
Kaito studied him carefully, not lowering his guard. "If you're going to stick around, don't get in my way. I don't like being watched."
Lorian's grin widened. "Don't worry, kid. I'll stay out of your way. For now."
Before Kaito could respond, Lorian turned and disappeared into the trees, leaving Kaito with more questions than answers.
Little did Kaito know, the elf he had just met wasn't who he thought. Lorian was, in fact, a she, though Kaito had no way of knowing that. The elf's disguise—a flat chest and short stature—gave the appearance of a young boy, and Kaito had no reason to suspect otherwise. Lorian's interest in Kaito was more than curiosity, and her reasons for observing him were far from innocent.
Kaito, however, was focused on his mission for now, unaware that this strange encounter was only the beginning of something much larger.