Chapter 6

Eli did not sleep well that night.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw flashes of the forest—shadows moving between trees, glowing eyes watching from the dark, and that suffocating pressure tightening around his chest.

And Kieran.

Standing there like none of it fazed him.

Calm.

Dangerous.

Certain.

Eli groaned quietly and turned over on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

“…What have I gotten myself into?” he muttered.

The mark on his neck tingled faintly, like it was reminding him that everything that happened wasn’t a dream.

It was real.

Too real.

He sighed and sat up, running a hand through his hair.

Part of him wanted to ignore everything—to pretend none of it existed. But the moment that thought crossed his mind, the familiar sensation returned.

That pull.

Subtle.

Persistent.

Still there.

Still leading him in the same direction.

Toward the forest.

“…Yeah, I figured,” Eli said under his breath.

He didn’t even try to fight it this time.

By the time Eli stepped into the forest again, the sun had barely begun to rise.

The early morning light filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the ground. It should have felt safer than night.

But it didn’t.

Not anymore.

Now, the forest felt like something he had already crossed a line into—something he couldn’t just walk away from.

Eli shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked deeper in.

“…This better not be a waste of time,” he muttered.

“You’re late.”

Eli stopped.

He hadn’t heard Kieran approach.

But there he was.

Leaning casually against a tree, arms crossed, like he had been waiting for a while.

Eli frowned.

“…I didn’t agree to a time.”

“You still came late,” Kieran replied.

Eli rolled his eyes.

“Good morning to you too.”

Kieran didn’t react.

Of course he didn’t.

Eli sighed and stepped closer.

“So what now?” he asked. “You said something about training.”

Kieran straightened slightly.

“Yes.”

Eli crossed his arms.

“…Training for what exactly? Fighting those people?”

“Yes.”

Eli blinked.

“That’s it? Just ‘yes’?”

Kieran walked past him slowly.

“You don’t react fast enough. You don’t observe your surroundings. And you hesitate.”

Eli turned to follow him, frowning.

“Well, excuse me for being human.”

“That won’t save you.”

Eli opened his mouth to argue—

But stopped.

Because he knew Kieran was right.

And that made it more annoying.

“…Fine,” Eli muttered. “So what do I do?”

Kieran stopped and turned to face him.

“For now?”

A brief pause.

“Don’t think.”

Eli blinked.

“…What?”

“React.”

“That makes no sense.”

Kieran didn’t explain further.

Instead—

He moved.

Fast.

Eli barely saw it coming before Kieran was right in front of him.

“Whoa—!”

Instinct took over.

Eli raised his arms just in time to block Kieran’s strike.

The impact wasn’t full force—but it was enough to send him stumbling backward.

“What the hell?!” Eli snapped.

“You blocked it,” Kieran said calmly.

“Because I panicked!”

“Exactly.”

Eli glared at him.

“That’s not a compliment.”

“Again.”

Before Eli could respond, Kieran moved once more.

This time, Eli tried to focus.

Watch.

Predict.

But Kieran was too fast.

Eli barely managed to step aside before losing his balance and nearly falling.

“Okay, this is unfair!” he complained.

Kieran stopped.

“You’re watching my movements too late.”

Eli straightened up, breathing slightly harder now.

“Well, yeah. You move like a ghost!”

“Then stop looking for movement.”

Eli frowned.

“…What does that mean?”

Kieran stepped closer—but slower this time.

“Read intent,” he said.

Eli blinked.

“Intent?”

“Yes.”

Kieran lifted his hand slightly.

“Before I move, there’s a moment. A shift. That’s what you watch.”

Eli narrowed his eyes.

“…That sounds complicated.”

“It isn’t,” Kieran said. “You’re overthinking.”

Eli scoffed.

“You literally just told me not to think.”

“Exactly.”

Eli stared at him.

“…You’re impossible.”

Kieran didn’t respond.

He simply stepped back slightly.

“Again.”

Eli groaned.

But he got into position anyway.

“Fine. One more time.”

Kieran moved.

This time—

Eli focused differently.

Not on the movement.

But on Kieran himself.

The way his shoulders shifted slightly.

The way his weight leaned forward just before he attacked.

And for the first time—

Eli reacted earlier.

He raised his arm before the strike fully came.

The impact still pushed him back—but he didn’t stumble as badly.

Kieran stopped.

“…Better.”

Eli blinked.

“…Wait. Seriously?”

“Yes.”

Eli let out a breath, surprised.

“Huh.”

A small, satisfied feeling settled in his chest.

“…I actually did something right.”

Kieran didn’t comment further, but he didn’t deny it either.

Eli straightened slightly.

“…Okay. Again.”

Kieran’s eyes flickered briefly.

But he nodded.

They repeated it.

Again.

And again.

Each time, Eli failed less.

Moved faster.

Adjusted quicker.

He still wasn’t good.

Not even close.

But he wasn’t completely helpless anymore.

And that mattered.

After several rounds, Eli finally stepped back, breathing heavily.

“Okay—okay, break,” he said, holding up a hand. “I’m not dying on my first day of training.”

Kieran stopped immediately.

Eli bent slightly, hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.

“…This is harder than it looks,” he muttered.

“You’re improving,” Kieran said.

Eli glanced up at him.

“…You’re not just saying that?”

“No.”

Eli exhaled slowly.

“…Good.”

A small silence settled between them.

But this one felt different.

Less tense.

Less hostile.

Eli straightened up again after a moment.

“…So what happens if I actually get good at this?” he asked.

Kieran looked at him.

“You survive longer.”

Eli rolled his eyes.

“Wow. Very encouraging.”

Kieran’s gaze softened just slightly.

“It’s realistic.”

Eli shook his head slightly, but there was a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“…You really don’t know how to motivate people, do you?”

“No.”

Eli huffed a small laugh.

“…Figures.”

He glanced around the forest briefly.

For the first time since everything started—

It didn’t feel as overwhelming.

Still dangerous.

Still unknown.

But not completely out of his control anymore.

Eli looked back at Kieran.

“…Same time tomorrow?”

Kieran nodded once.

“Yes.”

Eli hesitated for a second.

Then said:

“…Alright.”

And just like that—

Something shifted again.

Not the bond.

Not the danger.

But Eli himself.

Because this time—

He wasn’t just reacting.

He was preparing.