Morning Steel & Bruises

  The morning sun rolled lazily over Hearthspring’s rooftops, golden and peaceful.

  The training field behind the Hearth of Flavor Inn was… significantly less peaceful.

  Kael swung his wooden training sword with explosive enthusiasm.

  Yava tapped his wrist with a wooden stick.

  “You’re attacking straight ahead. That’s wrong.”

  Kael scowled. “Then teach me how to hit something that isn’t there!”

  From the kitchen doorway, Dael shouted:

  “You hit the idiot holding the sword, not the sword itself!”

  Yava nodded.

  “Correct. Cut the hand holding the blade.

  Or redirect the strike with a small parry, then stab.

  A one-handed sword uses precision, not brute force.”

  He stepped behind Kael and adjusted his elbow.

  “Don’t swing at the post.

  Bait your opponent.

  Make him commit.

  Then move a hair’s breadth—just enough to dodge—

  and cut the exposed arm.”

  Kael blinked.

  “…That actually makes sense.”

  Eryn scribbled notes like a frantic scholar.

  Borgas nodded wisely (he understood nothing).

  Yava stepped back.

  “Again. And this time—use your brain before your muscles.”

  Kael grinned.

  “That’s the hardest part, Master.”

  Nearby, Eryn adjusted a handmade slingshot strapped to his arm. He inhaled—

  THWIP!

  A pebble pierced a wooden ring twenty meters away.

  Eryn pumped his fist—

  Then the slingshot recoiled and smacked him in the forehead.

  “OW—why does engineering hate me…?”

  Borgas punched a practice post with his new steel vambraces.

  BAM.

  A crack spread through the wood.

  Another—through the vambrace itself.

  He winced. “I think I broke something.”

  Yava nodded. “Two things, actually.”

  “Wh-what two—?”

  “Never mind.”

  Dael leaned against the porch rail, sipping broth.

  “You’re all hopeless,” he announced proudly.

  “But at least you’re my hopeless.”

  The trio glared.

  Our Lunch

  A little later, Dael vanished casually into the forest.

  “Where are you going?” Kael asked.

  “Hunting,” Dael replied. “We need lunch.”

  “Rabbit?”

  “No.”

  “Deer?”

  “No.”

  “Then wh—”

  The forest answered:

  BOOOOOMMMM—!!

  KRAAAAKK! KRAAAAK!

  Trees toppled like dominos.

  Leaves burst into the air.

  Kael, Eryn, and Borgas froze.

  Dael emerged dragging a boar the size of a wagon—steam rising from its fur, tusks broken.

  “Wait—where have you been?” Kael asked.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “Monster hunting,” Dael deadpanned. “We need lunch.”

  “Rabbit?”

  Dael stared at him.

  “No gods damn it. GIANT. BOAR.”

  He tossed it down. The earth shook.

  “Help me chop it. And save the hide—we can use it for armor.”

  Eryn whispered to Kael:

  “Wow. He wasn’t even carted once.”

  “Carted?” Kael repeated.

  Eryn waved it off.

  Someone Watching

  On a slanted rooftop near the inn, a shadow crouched low.

  My name is Miu.

  Kunoichi of the East.

  Loyal blade of the Divine Scientist, Jin.

  I was ordered to observe.

  Not fight.

  Not meddle.

  Observe.

  She scribbled in a small notebook:

  Target: Yava — threat level uncertain. Possibly cosmic.

  Target: Dael — culinary threat level catastrophic.

  She watched the trio train.

  Kael flailing.

  Eryn bruising himself.

  Borgas annihilating a tree.

  She paused.

  “…They look… happy.”

  She shook her head violently.

  “No, Miu. No getting attached.”

  She peeked again—

  And froze.

  Yava’s head tilted ever so slightly.

  Dael stopped stirring his broth.

  Both turned—just enough to face her rooftop.

  Yava narrowed his starlit eyes.

  Dael squinted.

  Dael whispered,

  “…We’ve got a rat.”

  Yava added calmly,

  “A giant, hairless rat… wearing clothes.”

  Dael nodded, serious.

  “Yep. Definitely a rat.”

  Miu nearly fainted.

  “…They SEEN me?! How?!”

  The Bounty Proclamation

  The town bell tolled.

  Villagers gathered in confusion.

  Then a rider on a black stallion entered the square—armor gleaming black and gold, cloak crimson.

  His mustache curled like twin scythes—vibrating with inflated authority.

  Lord Malrik Veynar, Left Hand of Serath.

  He raised a parchment high.

  “People of Hearthspring!” he boomed.

  “By decree of His Majesty, King Arduin Eryndor—A BOUNTY HAS BEEN ISSUED!”

  He unfurled it dramatically.

  WANTED — DEAD OR ALIVE

  Yava, the Divine Merchant — 10,000 Gold Coins

  Dael, the Divine Chef — 10,000 Gold Coins

  Their Three Accomplices — 5,000 Gold Coins Each

  The crowd gasped.

  “Ten thousand…?”

  “That’s a fortune!”

  “We’d never work again!”

  “Catch them before someone else does!”

  Kael clenched his jaw.

  Eryn trembled.

  Borgas shifted closer to Mira and Lio.

  Before the murmurs died down, a woman stepped forward.

  Her voice shook—not with fear, but resolve.

  “My Lord Malrik… I must protest.”

  Villagers turned.

  Mira.

  She bowed her head, respectful yet firm.

  “These men… they protected us. That is the truth. They are not criminals.”

  Malrik’s mustache froze.

  He knew that voice.

  “…Mira?”

  His tone sharpened to a blade.

  Mira straightened.

  “I know I have no right to speak of noble affairs anymore, but—”

  “Oh, you have no rights indeed,” Malrik hissed.

  “Lady Mirasha Elmsworth…”

  The crowd stiffened.

  Kael blinked. “Lady…?”

  Eryn whispered, “This explains everything…”

  Borgas simply stared.

  Mira inhaled.

  “I surrendered that title long ago—when I married for love. I am only Mira now.”

  Malrik sneered.

  “Yes. The noble daughter who disgraced her family by eloping with a baker. I recall the scandal very well.”

  Mira flinched—but stood her ground.

  “My Lord… please. Punishing innocent men is—”

  “You dare interrupt me?”

  Malrik’s mustache twitched violently—like two enraged antennae.

  “You, a fallen noble, speak as though we are equals? You, who shamed your lineage? You, who spat on your heritage?”

  Mira’s hands trembled.

  “My Lord… I only speak because I must. This bounty will destroy lives.”

  Malrik snapped.

  “Enough.”

  He pointed at her.

  “NEW BOUNTY! 1,000 GOLD COINS—FOR THE FORMER LADY MIRA!”

  Gasps.

  Whispers.

  Children cried.

  Lio gripped Mira’s skirt in terror.

  Malrik wasn’t done.

  He pointed at Lio.

  “And 1,000 GOLD COINS FOR THE BOY.”

  Mira froze.

  “No… please—”

  Malrik smiled coldly.

  “You wished to stand with fugitives? Then share their fate.”

  Surrounded

  The villagers—driven by fear, desperation, and greed—began closing in.

  Bounty hunters climbed from rooftops.

  Adventurers drew their weapons.

  Kael grabbed his sword.

  Yava touched his shoulder.

  “No.”

  Kael froze.

  Dael stepped forward, ladle held like a divine weapon.

  Malrik watched smugly.

  “Seize them.”

  Villagers surged forward.

  Eryn panicked—but reacted.

  “Kael! Borgas! Eyes closed!”

  “What—?”

  PSSHHHH!!

  A clay sphere shattered on the ground, exploding into a burning cloud of spicy smoke.

  “MY EYES!”

  “WHAT IS THIS—??”

  “It BURNS—!!”

  Eryn shouted proudly:

  “It’s a non-lethal disorientation bomb! Very safe! Mostly!”

  Dael screamed from behind:

  “WHAT DID YOU STEAL FROM MY KITCHEN?!”

  Eryn ignored him.

  He raised his arm—triggering a device.

  WHOOSH—TTCHAK!

  A weighted net shot out and pinned a hunter to the ground.

  Kael gasped.

  “Bro—what? Since when?!”

  Eryn squeaked,

  “I panic-invented!”

  Awakening — The Titan Within

  A bounty hunter charged Mira.

  Borgas moved instantly.

  Something inside him snapped.

  His pulse thundered.

  His breath turned to steam.

  His muscles swelled—growing, twisting, expanding.

  His vambraces cracked apart.

  His frame doubled.

  Veins glowed faintly.

  Kael stumbled back.

  Eryn screeched.

  “HE’S AWAKENING—!!”

  Borgas roared—

  “STOOOOOOP!!”

  He smashed his fist into the ground—

  KRRRAAAAAAACK!

  Shockwaves hurled people aside.

  Mira shielded Lio.

  Villagers tumbled.

  Wagons exploded.

  Borgas staggered, half-conscious.

  “I… can’t… control… it…!”

  He swung wildly.

  He stomped—splitting the earth.

  Mira cried his name.

  Then—

  Yava stepped forward.

  Calm.

  Certain.

  He placed a single hand on Borgas’ forehead.

  “Breathe.”

  The awakening subsided.

  Borgas collapsed into Yava’s arms, tears streaking his cheeks.

  Goodbye Hearthspring

  Malrik tilted his head, amused.

  “My, my… the cub has claws.”

  Dael pointed his ladle at him.

  “GET OUT, YOU MUSTACHE DEMON!”

  Malrik twitched his mustache proudly.

  “I’ve done enough. The rest is up to your neighbors.”

  He rode away, cloak fluttering.

  Yava looked at Dael.

  Dael nodded.

  “We leave tonight.”

  Kael carried unconscious Borgas.

  Eryn gathered his smoking gadgets.

  Dael looked at his beloved Hearth of Flavor one last time.

  Mira hugged Lio tightly.

  “Go,” she whispered. “Before they return.”

  They slipped through Hearthspring’s eastern gate as dusk fell.

  Behind them:

  fear.

  smoke.

  ruined peace.

  Ahead:

  the forests that led to Albion.

  Yava murmured:

  “A storm is coming. We must reach shelter before it breaks.”

  High above, Miu watched silently.

  Then vanished into the trees.