Paths Beyond

I have gone back to 2500-3000 words for this story. Recent chapters have been filled with action and have given me plenty to write about, but the next few will be more calm. I hope you enjoy.

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"So, who are the closest to me in talent?" Keen asked, his tone carrying the weight of expectation.

"Brawl, myself, Shot, Wild, and then Spider," Elder replied curtly. "I suppose now that Spider is gone, Serene will rise among the hunters. There are others, but with no real experience against beasts—let alone people—we should focus on them first."

"And the resources?" Keen pressed. "Those ten Central Organs. How should we divide them?"

Elder's gaze shifted briefly to Grey before answering. "If what Grey says is true, he'll need to guide us. He can sense aura in ways none of us can. Grey, you'll tell us who among us is closest to breaking through—who has the best chance. Those people will share their resources with you so you can help push them over the edge."

"We still need to carve up that lightning beast," Keen said, his voice lowering with calculation. "Maybe we'll even get another Heart of Radiance if we're lucky."

Grey hesitated, glancing between Elder and Keen before speaking. "I… I don't think it's about luck."

Both men turned to look at him, their eyes expectant.

"It's just…" Grey's words faltered for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. "With something like a Hooded Horn, the aura—it's not that deep. Even the mantis, with all its power, didn't give off such an intense glow. But when I found those two strangers… one of them, Drake, was holding something he called a Demon Core. A Central Organ. And I was following an especially vibrant thread of light to find them."

Grey shifted his weight, his fingers absently brushing the hilt of his knife. "I don't think it's a coincidence that their group had so many. They weren't like me—not exactly—but they had some way of knowing. They could tell which creatures carried the most valuable resources. Like the lightning beast. Like the wolf."

He hesitated again, his voice softening as he tried to put the pieces together. "Their auras were… different. They burned brighter, almost volatile. And when they were close to… I don't know, evolving, or reaching some kind of threshold… it was like everything in them condensed into one sharp point of energy. A core."

The silence hung heavy for a moment before Keen spoke, his voice measured. "So, what you're saying is… the closer someone—or something—is to breaking through, the more intense their aura becomes. Almost like a flame burning brightest before it goes out."

Grey nodded slowly. "Yeah. Something like that, and I think that the demonic beast at the entrance has one."

Elder crossed his arms, his brow furrowed in thought. "If that's true, it means these strangers didn't just stumble across power—they hunted it. Purposefully. And if we're to compete, Grey, you'll need to sharpen this skill of yours."

Keen's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Well then, seems like you're more important than ever, Grey."

Grey swallowed, feeling the weight of their expectations settle on his shoulders. "I'll do my best. But… I think we'll need more than just sight."

Elder's gaze lingered on Grey for a long moment before he spoke. "Then we'd best make sure to work together to figure it out. We'll prepare accordingly."

Keen added, "That's enough for now. Let's head back and explain things to the others. Someone's going to have to fetch Wild. Hopefully, she's pulled herself together by now."

Elder stepped forward, pulling the necklace from around his neck. He pressed it against the faintly glowing seal on the door. With a soft click, the locking mechanism disengaged, and the door creaked open slightly.

"Let's move," Keen said.

The group stepped out, and before they left, Elder turned back and held the necklace to the doorframe once more. With a sharp snap, the seal reactivated behind them, locking the door securely.

They proceeded back to where Shot and Brawl were recovering, stopping briefly to pick up the Central Organs they had left earlier.

When they arrived, Keen wasted no time. "Root, Charge—head to the entrance and dismantle that monster. Look for a Heart of Radiance. There's a good chance it's in there. Fleet, go get Wild. Use whatever means necessary to get her here."

Elder stepped forward, handing the Demon Cores to Keen. "I'll go with him. He can't get back in without me anyway. I'll convince her."

Keen gave a firm nod. "Good. Make sure she understands how important this is."

Root, Charge, Fleet, and Elder departed swiftly, their footsteps fading into the hallway. The soft echoes left behind an uneasy silence in the room. Shot and Serene remained close by, but their focus turned inward as Keen turned his attention fully to Brawl.

"Alright, Brawl. Quit napping," Keen said, his voice carrying a sharp edge.

Brawl, half-submerged in the dark liquid, let out a long groan. "Can't you leave me in peace, Keen? I've earned this after everything we've been through."

Shot shook her head with an amused smirk, and Serene stifled a soft chuckle, her earlier shock fading slightly.

Keen leaned against a nearby table, his arms crossed. A faint smirk tugged at his lips, but his eyes remained sharp and serious. "So, about our deal… You might end up with ten Central Organs all to yourself. You sure you want to keep napping? Not to mention there might be another Heart waiting for you."

At the mention of the Heart, Brawl practically shot upright in the cauldron, water sloshing around him. Shot, expecting this, pressed a hand against his chest to hold him back down.

"Easy, boss," she said with a grin. "If you rush off now, you'll never get to enjoy them. More for me, honestly…" She let go of him, leaning back casually. "Actually, scratch that. Keen might swipe them first if you're not paying attention."

Brawl huffed, sinking back into the cauldron with a scowl, swearing he heard a clincking of a tongue next to him.

"So… they're all mine?" Brawl asked cautiously.

"Well, they're yours to decide what to do with," Keen said, his tone steady. "But there are going to be some changes."

"Oh?" Brawl's brow arched slightly, curiosity flickering behind his tired eyes.

"Grey will share in every single one. There are reasons for this, and I'll explain later. But for now, you'll have to trust me."

Brawl's sharp gaze shifted to Grey. His voice was low, but every word carried weight. "Never liked you much, kid. You're a good hunter, sure, but… you act like you've got something to hide. Like you're always one step away from walking out on us. You think we don't notice? You think we can't see the act? You're just a kid. What gives you the right to take from the rest of us?"

Grey froze, the words hitting him harder than he'd expected. His gaze flickered between Keen, Shot, and Serene before settling back on Brawl. The room felt heavier, the crackle of the fire filling the silence. He had grown up around these people and his entire life, he hadn't trusted them and obviously it had done damage to the relationships.

"You're right," Grey said quietly. "I'm sorry."

He hesitated, his voice trembling slightly before he pushed forward. "I… I can't explain it very well because I barely understand it myself. But I've had this ability since I was young. It's… it's helped me survive. Helped me hunt. And now, I think it can help all of us—not just me. I'm not trying to keep secrets. I just… don't know how to explain something I don't fully understand."

Brawl stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. His shoulders shifted slightly, as though he were carrying a weight he hadn't acknowledged until now.

Before he could respond, Shot jabbed him lightly in the side. "That's enough, big guy. Can't you see he's being honest? You're always so gruff. If people didn't know you better, they'd think you actually cared about what others think."

"Didn't even talk to Keen after—Ow!" Shot winced as Brawl pinched her under the water, cutting her off mid-sentence.

Serene let out another soft chuckle, her smile more relaxed this time, and even Keen allowed himself a brief moment of amusement.

Keen straightened, his sharp gaze sweeping across the group. "That's enough for now. We've got work to do, and every one of us needs to trust each other if we're going to make it through this."

"Alright, fine," Brawl relented with a grunt. "Grey, you'll get a share of every Central Organ—and the Heart, if there is one."

"As for who uses it—" Brawl started, but Keen cut him off smoothly.

"Actually, I might have left something out earlier." Keen's smile was sharp, predatory. "Grey will decide that too."

Brawl's face twisted like someone had struck him with a stone. "So no promise?"

"No promise," Keen replied, his smile tightening like a noose.

For a moment, it looked like Brawl might lurch out of the cauldron and challenge Keen right then and there—a fight that would surely end poorly for both of them. But Grey spoke before the tension could snap.

"Brawl," Grey said, his voice steady but soft. "You'll get the first one. The Heart, if we find it. I think… I think you could break through. Like Keen did."

Brawl stared at him, his brows drawn low. Then he sank back into the liquid with a heavy sigh. "I take it back."

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the conflict they were sure would follow.

"I do like you, kid," Brawl said gruffly, and a collective sigh of relief passed through the room.

"Grey," Keen said, seizing the moment. "Have you… connected with everyone here?"

"No, not yet," Grey admitted. "Shot and Wild are left."

"Connected?" Serene asked, her curiosity evident. But Keen waved her off with a small shake of his head.

"After Brawl, who do you think is next?" Keen pressed on.

Grey hesitated, his brow furrowing as he thought. "Well, Elder, for one. But without seeing Shot or Wild…" He gestured toward the cauldron. "I don't know. The only one I've seen with potential close to yours is Brawl. His aura—it's… it's dyed red. Deep, heavy. Like it's locked in place. I don't think he can get stronger without help. With the Heart, maybe one, two more people could follow after him. But it'll take far more than it took for Brawl."

"Not that I want to call myself weak," Brawl added with a smirk, "but if we're talking raw talent… I haven't felt myself grow stronger in years."

Keen nodded, his expression turning sharp with determination. "Alright. If we find a Heart of Radiance, Brawl and Grey will start. Grey will work with Brawl to increase his talent."

"To do what to me?" Brawl interrupted, eyes narrowing.

Keen ignored the protest. "To help him break through. Like I did. Then we'll focus on the next person with the most potential."

Before more could be said, footsteps echoed down the hall. Five figures entered—Wild, accompanied by Elder, Fleet, Root, and Charge. In Elder's hand was a glowing crystal, its light casting sharp, radiant reflections across the stone walls.

Wild stormed forward, her voice sharp and demanding. "I was told we're planning revenge on that old monster."

All eyes turned to Elder, who let out a tired sigh. "You said 'convince her.' I'm too old for arguments. You figure out how to keep her here."

Wild's fierce glare locked onto Keen. "Well? When are we going?"

Keen stepped forward to meet her gaze. "Going? Wild, I know you've lost a lot. We all have. But if you charge off now, you'll die. Alone. And Spider, and your squad—they'll never get justice. Not if you rush out and fail."

Wild's shoulders tensed, her lips trembling as if she wanted to argue. But her voice failed her. She knew he was right. No one would be avenged—not Spider, not anyone—if she walked out of the hall and vanished into the Prowling Forest alone.

"Good," Keen said softly. "We'll prepare. We'll do this right. And when the time comes, we'll all face him. Together."

The firelight flickered, shadows dancing across their tired faces as Wild stepped back, defeated but resolute.

Elder cleared his throat. "We'll all stay here until Brawl and Shot recover. Your clothes will be replaced, and you'll have time to clean yourselves. After that, we begin. Grey…" Elder's gaze locked onto him. "We'll all be counting on you."

The weight of those words hung heavy, but Grey nodded solemnly.

"Everyone get some rest," Elder finished. "I doubt any of us have slept in over a day."

The exhaustion was palpable as the group began to disperse. Shot and Brawl remained in the cauldron, their breathing steady as the liquid worked its slow magic. The others found their own corners of the great hall, laying down on whatever scraps of comfort they could find.

Grey settled against a cold stone wall, away from the others. He let out a slow breath, his head leaning back, eyes staring at the faint flicker of light on the ceiling.

But before he could close his eyes, Serene appeared beside him. She dropped to the ground, sitting close enough that their shoulders nearly touched.

"How are you doing?" Grey asked quietly.

Serene smiled faintly, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Probably the same as you."

"Not great?" he guessed.

"Not great," she admitted softly.

A silence stretched between them, comfortable but heavy with unspoken fears.

"What's going to happen tomorrow?" Serene asked. Her voice wavered slightly. "Is Brawl going to be like Keen?"

Grey hesitated before answering honestly. "I don't know. I think I can help… but all of this, it's just my guess. I don't know how much I can actually do alone."

Serene scooted a little closer, her shoulder brushing against his now. They leaned back, their backs pressed against the same cold stone.

"You're not alone, Grey," Serene said softly. "We all came back. Together. From… from everything out there. And we'll keep going. No matter what happens next."

Her voice trembled slightly, and Grey could tell she was holding back tears. He turned his head slightly, just enough to see her profile in the dim firelight.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

Serene closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath, leaning her head back against the stone. For a while, they just sat there, side by side, sharing the weight of exhaustion, fear, and fragile hope.

For now, that was enough.

At some point in the quiet hours of the night, exhaustion finally claimed Grey. His head had dipped slightly, his chin resting against his chest. The flickering fire cast soft shadows over his face, the tension in his brow smoothed away by sleep.

When he stirred faintly, he realized his head was resting against something warm—soft yet steady. He blinked blearily and realized Serene had shifted closer during the night. Her head was gently tilted to rest against his shoulder, her breathing soft and even, her hand loosely resting near his arm.

For a moment, Grey froze, uncertain if he should move or let her be. But as the faint warmth of dawn began to spill into the great hall, he let himself relax, leaning his head lightly against hers.

The silence around them felt different now—not hollow or heavy, but… peaceful.

Serene shifted slightly in her sleep, a faint smile curling at the corner of her lips as she murmured something unintelligible. Grey's chest tightened, not with fear or uncertainty, but with something softer. Something he didn't have words for.

He closed his eyes again, letting the fragile moment linger just a little longer.

And for a brief, fleeting moment in the stillness of the morning, the weight of everything—the monsters, the Doctrine, the impossible task ahead—felt just a little lighter.

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I am working on another series alongside this one, I will release it soon. I hope you enjoyed, please comment, like, and follow.