The Shattered Star

The first light of dawn filtered through the dense canopy of trees, bathing the forest in a soft, golden glow. Ren Takamura stretched, his body still aching from the previous day's events. Bell was already awake, securing his sword and packing a small satchel.

"Ready to head to Baldour City?" Bell asked, glancing at him.

Ren nodded, rubbing the stiffness from his neck. "Yeah. Lead the way."

They began their journey, the sounds of rustling leaves and chirping birds filling the cool morning air. Ren's gaze wandered as they walked—the towering trees with their gnarled roots, patches of wildflowers swaying in the breeze, and sunlight piercing through the dense foliage. The serenity clashed with the chaotic thoughts swirling in his head, yet the beauty of the forest offered a small reprieve.

Bell broke the silence. "You're lucky I was nearby, you know. Most people wouldn't have made it through the night, let alone a fight with that wolf."

Ren smirked, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Yeah, I'll remember to send you a thank-you card."

Bell chuckled, his armor clinking softly as he adjusted the strap of his satchel. "Good luck finding paper out here."

The City Gates

As the hours passed, the forest gave way to open fields. Rolling hills stretched out before them, dotted with patches of wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze. In the distance, Ren spotted tall stone walls rising against the horizon, their tops bristling with watchtowers and banners bearing the sigil of Velnar—a golden lion on a crimson field. Beyond the walls, the spires of Baldour City reached toward the sky, their tops glinting in the sunlight.

Ren's eyes widened as awe mixed with apprehension. "That's Baldour City?"

"That's it," Bell confirmed. "Biggest trading hub in the Velnar Kingdom."

The closer they got, the more vibrant the activity became. Merchants shouted their wares, carts laden with goods creaked along the cobblestone road, and travelers of all kinds—knights, farmers, scholars—pushed through the bustling crowd. The air buzzed with energy, a stark contrast to the quiet of the forest.

"First time in Baldour City?" Bell asked, noticing Ren's lingering gaze.

Ren nodded, taking in the sight of people moving with purpose and determination. "It's… a lot to take in."

As they approached the gate, the guards standing watch snapped to attention. One of them, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a weathered face, stepped forward, his steel breastplate glinting in the sunlight.

"Stop. State your business," the guard said firmly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

Bell stepped forward, a grin spreading across his face. "Relax, Erwin. It's me."

Erwin's stern demeanor softened for a moment as he nodded. "Bell, good to see you." But his gaze quickly shifted to Ren, narrowing as it lingered on the sleek tail swaying behind him. His eyes darkened, and his lips tightened into a frown. "Your friend's a hybrid? And a demon-elf at that?"

The murmurs spread like wildfire through the crowd.

"Is that really a demon-elf hybrid?"

"What's he doing here? They don't belong on our soil."

"Get that monster away from the city!"

Ren flinched at the word "monster," his tail twitching involuntarily as a wave of whispers and stares crashed over him. A woman pulled her child closer, her face pale with fear. A merchant spat on the ground, glaring at Ren as though he'd brought a plague.

"How did he even make it past the Ashenwood?" another voice hissed.

Bell's jaw tightened, his expression hardening. He placed a firm hand on Ren's shoulder, shielding him from the growing hostility. "He's with me, Erwin," Bell said, his tone calm but steely. "No trouble here."

Erwin hesitated, his gaze flickering between Ren and Bell. "Even so, it's my duty to ensure Lord Harland's orders are followed. With tensions rising between Velnar and the Spade Kingdom, we can't take any chances. You'll both need to come with me to the Knights' Investigation Department for verification."

Ren's shoulders sagged with unease as they followed Erwin through the gate. The stares and whispers didn't stop, their venom lingering in the air.

The bustling energy of the city faded as they entered the northern part of Baldour City. Beyond the walls, sprawling medieval-style military camps came into view. Rows of neatly aligned tents flapped in the breeze, and soldiers sparred in training grounds under the watchful eyes of their instructors.

Ren's eyes wandered to the trainee soldier dorms nearby. The stone buildings were plain but sturdy, their small, rectangular windows and wooden doors giving them a utilitarian appearance. Groups of young soldiers milled about, cleaning weapons or hauling supplies.

Inside the investigation department, the air was cooler and carried the faint scent of burning wood and damp stone. Erwin guided them down a dimly lit corridor until they reached a room where a knight in a black uniform stood waiting. His silver insignia marked him as a captain, and his sharp features conveyed an air of authority.

"This is Captain Darius," Erwin said, stepping aside.

Darius's piercing gaze swept over Bell and landed on Ren. He studied him with unsettling precision, his eyes narrowing at the sight of his tail.

"You've brought an unusual one this time, Bell," Darius remarked, his tone calm but probing.

Bell offered a lopsided grin. "Figured you'd find him interesting."

Darius's gaze didn't waver as he addressed Ren. "What's your name?"

"Ren Takamura," Ren replied, his voice steady despite the weight of Darius's scrutiny.

"Takamura," Darius repeated thoughtfully. "Doesn't sound local. Where are you from?"

Ren hesitated, but he forced himself to answer. "I… don't remember. I woke up near the Ashenwood. Everything before that is a blur."

Darius raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "I see. And yet you managed to survive long enough for Bell to find you. A demon-elf hybrid wandering so far west without gear or supplies… Strange, don't you think?"

Ren swallowed hard. "I guess so," he said cautiously.

Darius's lips thinned as he turned sharply. "Come with me. Let's see what the stones have to say."

The heavy wooden door creaked open, revealing the chamber in all its eerie glory. The circular room was lined with polished stone walls, the ten glowing stones embedded evenly around its circumference radiating distinct hues. Each stone seemed alive, its aura pulsing faintly with latent energy. The air inside the chamber was different—thicker, charged with an almost tangible tension.

Ren stepped in hesitantly, his boots scuffing against the smooth floor. The knights behind the observation glass whispered among themselves, their voices low but filled with curiosity and unease.

"That tail… definitely a demon-elf hybrid."

"They're rare, but why would one come this far west?"

"I don't trust it. You know the stories about demon bloodlines."

The whispers weren't meant for him, but they cut deep nonetheless. Ren felt his tail twitch behind him, betraying his nervousness. He tried to ignore the murmurs, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand, but the weight of their words hung over him like a shadow.

Darius stood in the center of the room, his expression unreadable as he gestured toward the platform. "Step onto the dais," he commanded, his voice calm but firm.

Ren hesitated, glancing at Bell, who gave him a small nod of encouragement from the sidelines. Taking a deep breath, Ren stepped onto the circular platform at the center of the room.

"Stand still," Darius said, moving to the edge of the chamber. His sharp gaze didn't waver, watching Ren like a hawk.

The moment Ren's feet settled on the platform, the stones began to glow brighter. Their hum intensified, a low, resonant sound that seemed to echo within Ren's chest. Each stone pulsed with a distinct rhythm, their colors casting shifting shadows along the walls. The air grew heavier, charged with energy that prickled against Ren's skin.

Ren's fists clenched at his sides, his breathing shallow as he braced himself. The hum of the stones grew louder, their vibrations thrumming through the chamber like a heartbeat. He could feel their energy probing at him, searching for something—something he didn't understand.

And then… nothing.

The stones' glow dimmed, their hum fading into silence. The room grew eerily quiet, the sudden absence of sound almost deafening.

Behind the glass, the knights' murmurs turned to confusion.

"Nothing?" one of them said, disbelief coloring his voice. "That's impossible."

"Even the weakest resonate with something," another muttered. "What does it mean?"

"Maybe he's suppressing his energy," a third suggested, though the doubt in his tone was clear. "Or… maybe he doesn't have any."

Ren's heart pounded as he stared at the stones, their dormant state mocking him. He could feel the knights' eyes on him, their curiosity shifting to suspicion. His tail swayed involuntarily, a reminder of the part of him that marked him as different, as other.

Darius stepped forward, his boots echoing against the floor. His sharp gaze swept over Ren, his expression unreadable.

"You're either the most ordinary person I've ever encountered," Darius said slowly, his voice carrying an edge of skepticism, "or something entirely beyond our understanding."

Ren swallowed hard, his throat dry. "What does it mean?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Darius didn't answer immediately. He turned to the knights behind the glass, his gaze sharp. "Document this as an anomaly," he instructed. "Keep it confidential until further notice."

One of the knights hesitated. "But Captain, if he's—"

"Do it," Darius interrupted, his tone brooking no argument. His gaze returned to Ren. "This isn't over. Whatever you are, whatever this means, it'll come to light eventually."

Ren felt a chill run down his spine, but he forced himself to stand tall. He couldn't show weakness—not here, not now.

Darius stepped closer, his imposing figure towering over Ren. He handed him a leather card holder containing an identification card. "Take this. It's your proof of verification. Don't lose it."

Ren nodded, slipping the card into his pocket. He hesitated, then asked, "What happens now?"

Darius regarded him for a long moment, his gaze weighing, measuring. Finally, he said, "You're not trained. Whatever brought you here, you won't last long in this world without skills. Join the guild's training camp. It starts in a week. If you survive the four months, you'll leave stronger—and maybe with a few answers."

Ren's chest tightened. "Training camp?"

Darius's lips thinned. "Yes. It's not a place for the faint-hearted. But if you're serious about surviving, it's your best chance. Take it or leave it."

Ren glanced at Bell, who nodded slightly, his expression unreadable. Turning back to Darius, Ren straightened his shoulders. "I'll do it."

Darius gave a curt nod. "Good. Now get out of here before I change my mind."

Ren stepped off the platform, his legs trembling slightly as the tension began to drain from his body. As he moved toward the door, the whispers of the knights followed him like a shadow.

"A demon-elf hybrid with no resonance… What kind of creature is he?"

"Whatever he is, he doesn't belong here."

Ren clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he pushed the words aside. He had no answers for them—or for himself.

***

The corridor outside the chamber felt oppressively quiet, the echoes of the knights' murmurs still ringing in Ren's ears. Every step he took felt heavier, his mind looping back to the hushed tones of disbelief and the way Darius's sharp gaze had lingered on him, dissecting him as if he were an anomaly that defied logic.

"Done?" Bell's voice broke through the haze, his casual tone at odds with the tension that clung to Ren like a second skin. Bell leaned against the wall, arms crossed, but his green eyes searched Ren's face, betraying his concern.

Ren nodded, though the tightness in his chest remained. "Yeah," he said, his voice quieter than he intended. "It was… strange."

Bell fell into step beside him as they exited the building, his curious glance lingering. "Strange how?"

Ren hesitated, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "The stones didn't react to me. At all. Darius said it's unheard of."

Bell's brows shot up, his easy demeanor slipping for a moment. "Not even one? That's… odd. Even the weakest resonate with something—at least one element."

"I know," Ren muttered, his jaw tightening. "It felt like they were waiting for me to explode or something. Like I was some kind of… threat."

Bell let out a low whistle, his expression unreadable. "Well, if Darius told you to join the training camp, it might not be such a bad idea. You'll learn something useful there, maybe even figure out what's going on with you."

Ren managed a faint smirk. "What, and have them stare at me like I'm some freak for four months?"

Bell grinned. "Better than being dead, right?"

As they stepped out into the bustling streets of Baldour City, the noise hit Ren like a wave. Merchants hawked their wares with practiced enthusiasm, children darted between carts and horses with playful shrieks, and travelers moved with purpose through the cobblestone maze. Yet amidst the liveliness, Ren felt the weight of eyes on him.

It started as subtle glances, a flicker of recognition followed by averted gazes. Then came the whispers, sharp and cutting.

"Is that him? The demon's spawn they brought through the gate?"

"I heard he didn't even resonate with the stones. He's probably cursed."

Ren's tail twitched involuntarily as a group of women hurried past, their faces pale with thinly veiled disgust. A man spat on the ground as they walked by, muttering under his breath.

"They should've left him in the Ashenwood. No place for his kind here."

Ren's fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms. His tail lashed behind him in a motion he couldn't control, drawing more stares. Each whispered word, each averted gaze, felt like a dagger sliding under his skin.

Demon's spawn… cursed… no place here…

The words echoed in his mind, louder than the bustling streets. His breathing quickened, the familiar weight of guilt settling in his chest. Haruto's face flashed in his mind—the friend who had sacrificed everything to save him. Why am I here? Ren thought bitterly. Why did I survive if this is all that's left?

"Don't let it get to you," Bell said suddenly, his tone quieter but firm. Ren glanced at him, surprised to find Bell's expression unreadable.

"They don't understand," Bell continued. "People fear what they don't know. That's all this is—fear."

Ren's voice was bitter as he muttered, "Feels a lot like hate."

Bell didn't respond immediately, his gaze fixed ahead. "You'll get through it. We both will. You're not the first hybrid to get stared at, and you won't be the last."

Ren didn't answer, the bitterness clinging to his throat like a stone.

The streets grew quieter as they reached a less crowded district. The buildings here were simpler, their stone facades softened by flower boxes and well-worn cobblestones. Bell's house, nestled between two similar structures, was modest but inviting. A small garden of herbs grew by the door, their faint aroma mixing with the smell of burning wood from nearby hearths.

"Home sweet home," Bell said, unlocking the door and stepping inside. He placed his sword against the wall near the entrance, motioning for Ren to follow.

The interior was cozy, a stark contrast to the chaos of the city. A large wooden table occupied the main room, surrounded by mismatched chairs. A stone hearth crackled softly, casting warm light across shelves lined with books and trinkets.

"You live here alone?" Ren asked, his voice softer now that they were away from the stares.

"Yeah," Bell replied, shrugging out of his light armor. "Not much, but it works."

He led Ren to a small guest room at the end of the hall. The bed was simple but clean, a neatly folded blanket resting on top.

"This'll be your room for tonight," Bell said, leaning against the doorframe. "Get some rest. You've had a long day."

Ren nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Thanks," he said quietly.

Bell disappeared down the hall, leaving Ren alone with his thoughts. The muffled sounds of the city filtered through the small window, a constant reminder of the world outside. Ren lay back, staring at the ceiling as the events of the day replayed in his mind—the stares, the whispers, the elemental chamber, Darius's words.

The house was silent save for the occasional creak of the wooden floorboards. Ren's body felt heavy, but his mind refused to quiet. Just as he began to drift off, a strange sound broke the silence.

[Ding!] [Progress… 100%.]

Ren shot up, his heart pounding as the mechanical voice echoed in his mind. It wasn't the sound that unsettled him but the feeling that came with it—a faint, inexplicable sense of… completeness. His eyes darted around the dark room, but nothing seemed out of place.

'What the hell was that?' Ren thought, his breathing shallow as he tried to make sense of the sound.

The voice hadn't come from outside. It was inside him.