Celestial Descendant

As the bandits departed from the sombre remnants of the Rivermarch battlefield, the dense trees of the Felmoor Forest loomed ahead, their twisted branches interlacing above like a canopy of shadows. The air grew cooler, the earthy scent of damp soil mingling with the crispness of the leaves. The boy trudged along in silence, feeling the weight of uncertainty and confusion swirl within him.

Kael led the way, his boots crunching softly on the underbrush. “Keep your eyes peeled. Felmoor is known for its monsters,” he said, glancing back at his companions. “You can’t let your guard down, even against the smaller ones. They might seem harmless, but they can pack a surprising bite if cornered.”

Thug 1 nodded, adjusting his pack. “Last time I was here, a group of us stumbled upon a nest of goblins. They were setting traps everywhere, and before we knew it, we were knee-deep in trouble.”

Thug 2 chuckled darkly. “Goblins aren’t the worst of it, though. If we run into one of those larger beasts, we’ll have a real problem on our hands. They’re smart and work together. You never see them coming until it’s too late.”

The boy listened intently, trying to absorb the snippets of knowledge they shared. Each piece of information formed a mosaic of the world beyond his current experience, filled with dangers and uncertainties.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the shadows grew longer, and the undergrowth rustled with unseen life. The bandits continued their conversation, this time about the forest’s reputation.

“I’ve always thought Felmoor had a charm to it, despite its dangers,” Thug 1 mused, glancing up at the dense canopy. “It’s like the forest has a life of its own. You can almost feel the magic in the air, even if it’s not always safe to explore.”

Kael snorted dismissively. “Charm? I’ll take safety over charm any day. These woods can swallow you whole if you’re not careful. Just remember, the further we go in, the more we’re stepping into territory that could belong to anything—goblins or worse.”

Felmoor Forest was infamous for harbouring various monsters, classified into ten distinct ranks. Ranks 1 and 2 were the most common within its depths. Rank 1 monsters, weaker than the average male human, were typically not aggressive, only attacking when threatened. Creatures like horned rabbits and slimes were prevalent, often prey for the more formidable beasts that roamed the forest.

In contrast, rank 2 monsters were equal to an average human in strength and possessed enough intelligence to use tools and work in groups. Goblins and lizardmen were among these creatures, often laying traps to ambush unsuspecting travellers. Encountering a rank 3 monster—a creature larger than a man that could wield magic—was rare in these woods, as they tended to claim dominion over areas with greater resources.

Pressing onward, the boy felt the rope binding his hands, a constant reminder of his new reality. He tugged at it absentmindedly, a gesture born from confusion rather than discomfort. His mind wandered, grappling with the sights and sounds of the forest. The rustling leaves and distant animal calls felt both foreign and familiar, evoking a strange mix of fear and curiosity.

The path wound through the trees, and with each step, the forest seemed to envelop them, a living entity full of secrets waiting to be uncovered. The boy observed his surroundings, taking in the interplay of light and shadow, the way the air shifted with each passing breeze, and the vibrant greens and browns that made up the world beyond the bandits’ crude laughter and gruff banter.

Moving deeper into the Felmoor Forest, the atmosphere shifted from tense uncertainty to a slight easing of their apprehensions. The sounds of rustling leaves and distant animal calls filled the air, while the path ahead twisted and turned beneath the dense canopy of trees. They walked for some time, the boy silent and observant, still grappling with the unfamiliar sensations and the binding of the rope around his wrists.

Suddenly, Kael halted, raising a hand for silence. The other bandits stopped short, their breaths catching as they peered into the underbrush. Just ahead, two horned rabbits grazed peacefully, their small bodies nibbling at the tender grass, oblivious to the presence of the humans nearby.

“This is our chance,” Kael whispered, a predatory glint in his eyes. “We need food before night falls.

“I’ll go for the one on the left,” whispered Thug 1, his gaze locked on the rabbit.

“I’ll take the one on the right. Can’t let it slip away,” Thug 2 chimed in, his grip tightening on his bow.

“Good. Shoot on my mark,” Kael ordered, anticipation palpable in his tone.

The boy watched intently, curiosity igniting within him. The rabbits were surprisingly cute, their little noses twitching, but the air crackled with tension as the bandits prepared to hunt.

“On three,” Kael murmured. “One… two… three!”

Two arrows flew throu gh the air, slicing the space between them and the rabbits. Thug 1’s arrow struck true, hitting the first rabbit with a soft thud. It dropped to the ground, lifeless, while the second rabbit, startled, bolted in the opposite direction.

“Damn it! You missed!” Kael shouted, frustration boiling over. “What were you aiming at?”

“It slipped! I swear!” Thug 2 cursed, fumbling with his bow.

Before Thug 2 could react, Kael snatched the bow from his hands, irritation etched on his face. “I’ll do it myself!” he growled, drawing an arrow from his quiver. In one swift motion, he loosed the arrow, striking the fleeing rabbit, which collapsed in a flurry of fur and dirt.

As Kael approached the fallen creatures, he began to skin the rabbits with deft hands. The boy watched, transfixed. At first, the sight of the two rabbits—one lifeless and the other being gutted—didn’t stir fear within him; it was simply a series of strange motions unfolding before his eyes. But as the blood pooled on the forest floor, a sense of unease gnawed at him.

Kael’s knife glinted as it sliced through flesh, and the boy’s eyes widened in a dawning realization. This was death, raw and unfiltered. The stark finality struck him like a thunderbolt, and his heart raced—not out of fear, but from the heavy weight of understanding that began to settle upon his small shoulders.

Memories of his brother flashed through his mind, images of laughter and warmth suddenly overshadowed by the coldness of loss. His brother was gone, left behind on the battlefield. The implications of that thought seeped into his consciousness, turning the boy’s expression from curiosity to horror.

Overwhelmed, he began to panic, the weight of his newfound understanding crashing over him like a wave. He screamed, flailing on the ground, trying to escape the realization that life could be snuffed out so easily.

“Hold him down!” Kael shouted, his voice urgent. The bandits rushed to pin the boy, covering his mouth to stifle his screams before the noise could attract the attention of any lurking monsters. Despite their combined efforts, the boy struggled with a strength that far surpassed their own, his frail form belied by a terrifying power.

“Damn it, he’s stronger than he looks!” Thug 1 grunted, grappling with the boy’s flailing limbs.

Kael’s patience wore thin as the boy continued to fight against their grip. “Enough!” he snapped, his expression hardening. With a swift motion, Kael struck the boy on the side of his head, knocking him out cold.

As the boy slumped into silence, the bandits exchanged uneasy glances, the forest around them growing quiet once more. The lesson had been learned—the fragility of life, the abruptness of death—but it was a lesson the boy would struggle to comprehend fully for some time to come.