As she turned, Sky shouted her name.

  “Leave him alone. He’s exhausted from the fight—couldn’t even fully wake up,” she said. “I’ll wake him. For now, help the others.”

  ‘Seems like she likes Aisha a lot... must remind her of her mother,’ Sky thought, watching Dakota head toward Aisha’s room with determination written all over her face.

  Sky continued her work, placing things where they belonged and dragging the wood aside. It took time, but she got it done.

  ‘I should be training more. I almost lost him because of overconfidence,’ Sky thought, her fist clenched tight. “A Wilder—guess there are more. But I’m not smelling good,” she muttered, displeased with her own scent.

  “Want to join?” Sky asked, her eyes on the Nyrrak. “So you only hate me, huh, Alph.”

  The Nyrrak raised its ears at the name. When Sky walked toward it, the creature backed away, taking a few steps and looking over its shoulder every time.

  “I don’t have time for this,” Sky said, turning away.

  Anjali was just stepping out of the house when she saw it—black fur, huge body, that unmistakable presence.

  ‘That’s… that’s a Nyrrak,’ she thought. Her legs weakened instantly. Tears rolled as fear flooded her body. She stared deep into its dark eyes—no, she was lost in them, seeing things that made her forget everything.

  It stepped closer. Panic surged.

  ‘Shout—no, keep quiet. Don’t move—no, run. The door… the door… but—’

  “Alph. That’s the name I gave her,” a voice said, a gentle hand on her shoulder.

  “I can’t say she’s friendly, but she’s alright around us.”

  “Only you, Ben… and maybe Dakota. Not me,” Sky said, her clothes still wet from bathing.

  “You mean… it’s like yours?” Anjali asked as her mind finally began to clear.

  “Not exactly. Look—she’s retreating. Guess why,” Ben said, smiling.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “A hint: it’s because of Sky,” Sky added, walking toward them. “And you woke up. I’m a bit surprised.”

  “Yeah. I remembered hearing a howl yesterday, but you were still sleeping,” Ben said, rising from his squatting stance.

  ‘A howl… and I didn’t hear it?’

  “Is that so? But Anjali, didn’t Aisha tell you about the Nyrrak? We spoke about it yesterday,” Sky said, letting the howl issue slide.

  Shame hit Anjali. Ben had seen her crying.

  “Grandma knew about it… that old hag,” she muttered.

  Ben laughed and stepped away, knowing drama was brewing between those two.

  ---

  They hurried their morning routines and gathered at the table. Bread and soup for breakfast.

  “Aisha, I’ve heard you’d like to have us over,” Sky said, swallowing a small chunk of bread.

  “Yes. I would like to repay you. And little Dakota seems to have heard about the place,” Aisha replied.

  “Anjali? We don’t want to intrude,” Sky asked.

  “Please. We would like to have you over,” Anjali said with a smile.

  “Ben? You good with that?” Sky asked.

  “If everyone’s going, I’m following. Not bad to see new places,” Ben said around a mouthful of bread.

  “Then it’s settled. We’re going for a journey,” Sky said, standing up.

  ---

  ‘It’s been quiet for a whole month… did I finally lose them?’ a man thought.

  Tall, pale-skinned, not very muscular.

  “Hey, can I order?” another man said, breaking his thoughts.

  “Forgive me. What do you need?” he asked, his smile fading with each word.

  “A gate opener in Olskaard. Fancy meeting two in Zurehn, but hey…” the second man said, also white, calm, too calm. “Bad hideout though. The capital’s crawling with bounty hunters. But that’s why it works.”

  He looked behind him, scanning the room.

  “I’m sorry, man, but I can’t let you finish that spell,” he said, noticing the subtle movement of the other guy’s lips.

  “The spell wasn’t for me. It was for you. You’ll get what you deserve… what you wanted me to do… what I tried not to do. I’m done running. I hope you like fighting monsters…” the man said.

  The smile vanished from the second man’s face.

  A flash. Steel.

  The head hit the ground.

  Blood spread across the floor.

  The bar erupted into tension—everyone on edge.

  “Gate opener,” the man said calmly. “Instead of fighting me, you should get ready. You might find out if the rumor is true.”

  He stood and walked toward the corpse.

  No one spoke.

  “Ever seen him before?” one man whispered.

  “A white guy with a scar on the back of his neck? Short hair? No.”

  “Yeah… I’m not staying. I’m out,” another said, and the rest began leaving.

  ---

  “Guild Master, you called for me,” a man in his mid-twenties said.

  “Kent,” the Guild Master began, his eyes on a buff black man with almost no hair and a sword on his back. “Forgive the sudden call… but there’s an outbreak.”

  “I’ve been notified that some gates have opened up. I’d like you to deal with anything happening in Karthmere.” the guild master said.

  “Julien, what about him?” Kent asked.

  “He’ll be taking care of what’s outside since he’s on the kingdom walls. He might also need to assist Valtherion Kingdom,” the Guild Master replied, his brown eyes blinking in that familiar, tired rhythm.

  In a flash, Kent was already at the window, looking across at the next building, the people down below not even noticing him.

  “Prepare my reward. This time, I would like the knights to help with my little city—just in case.”

  And with that, he vanished into thin air.

  “Great power, huh…” the Guild Master muttered, turning toward the door.

  ---

  It had been a week or so since Azeya rescued Sherlyn, but today her eyes were stuck on something in the sky—something falling.

  “Yeah… that might not be good,” she said, already calculating the crash site.

  “Forgive me, but I have something to report,” a maid said from behind. She was wearing the standard maid outfit, hands clasped.

  “And what’s that?” Azeya asked without turning.

  “Huhh… mmm… Leon,” she said, and the hesitation pulled Azeya’s full attention.

  “Leon? Is he calling for me?”

  “No… him and Karl… are nowhere to be found. They were in the sitting room before they vanished.”

  “That’s strange… but it’s Leon. It might be gate-related,” Azeya said as she started walking.

  I’ll check them out in a day or so, she thought.

  ---

  “Know what? I’ve been thinking.”

  “What?” Sherlyn asked, her eyes on Ryke, who was kneeling and

  breathing through the burn of training.

  “This feels like a holiday,” Ryke said, wiping the sweat off his face.