Chapter 8

The forest didn’t feel safe anymore.

Not even during the day.

Eli realized that the moment he stepped in again the next morning.

The air was quieter than usual—but not peaceful. It felt like something was missing. Or worse… like something was hiding.

He adjusted his jacket slightly as he walked, eyes scanning the trees this time instead of just following the path.

“…I’m starting to get used to this,” he muttered.

That thought alone bothered him.

Just a few days ago, he wouldn’t have stepped anywhere near this place at night, let alone return willingly.

Now?

He was coming back on his own.

Training.

Fighting.

Getting involved in things he didn’t even understand.

“…This is crazy,” he sighed.

“You’re distracted again.”

Eli stopped immediately.

“…You need to stop doing that.”

Kieran stood behind him, like always.

Silent.

Unnoticed until he chose otherwise.

Eli turned, frowning slightly.

“One day you’re going to actually scare me to death.”

Kieran didn’t react.

“You’re not paying attention.”

Eli rolled his eyes.

“I just got here.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

Eli exhaled slowly.

“…Fine. What now?”

Kieran didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, his gaze shifted past Eli.

Sharp.

Focused.

Eli noticed the change instantly.

“…What?” he asked.

Kieran stepped forward slightly.

“Stay close.”

Eli frowned.

“…That doesn’t sound like training.”

“It’s not.”

That was enough to make Eli’s chest tighten.

“What do you mean it’s not?”

Kieran didn’t respond.

His attention was fixed on the forest around them.

Listening.

Sensing.

Eli swallowed slightly.

“…They’re here again, aren’t they?”

A pause.

Then—

“Yes.”

Eli felt that familiar unease crawl up his spine.

“…Great.”

His body tensed automatically now—something he hadn’t been able to do before.

At least that meant the training was working.

A little.

The forest shifted.

Not visibly.

But Eli felt it.

That same pressure from before.

Like the air itself was tightening.

“…I hate this part,” he muttered.

A branch snapped somewhere to the left.

Eli turned instantly.

Too fast.

Too reactive.

“Wrong,” Kieran said quietly.

Eli frowned. “What?”

“Don’t chase sound.”

Another movement came from the right.

Eli forced himself not to turn immediately this time.

His breathing slowed slightly.

“…Then what do I do?”

“Wait.”

Eli clenched his jaw.

Waiting felt worse.

More dangerous.

Because it meant trusting something he couldn’t see.

Then—

A voice.

“So he’s already improving.”

Eli’s head snapped forward.

A figure stepped out from between the trees.

Then another.

And another.

Three of them.

Just like before.

But this time—

They didn’t attack immediately.

They watched.

Eli felt his chest tighten again.

“…Why do they keep looking at me like that?” he muttered.

“Because you’re the target,” Kieran replied.

Eli shot him a look.

“…Not helping.”

One of the men stepped forward slightly.

“You’re adapting faster than expected,” he said, looking directly at Eli.

Eli frowned.

“I don’t even know you.”

The man smiled faintly.

“But we know you.”

Eli didn’t like that.

Not one bit.

Kieran stepped slightly in front of him again.

Blocking.

Protecting.

Eli noticed it immediately.

Something about that action—

He didn’t comment on it this time.

“Leave,” Kieran said.

His voice was calm.

But colder than before.

The man chuckled softly.

“You really don’t like sharing, do you?”

Kieran didn’t respond.

But Eli felt it.

That shift.

That subtle change in the air around Kieran.

Like something darker was surfacing.

The man’s gaze flickered between them.

“…It’s stronger now,” he said. “The bond.”

Eli frowned.

“…Can you people stop talking about that like I’m not here?”

No one answered him.

That annoyed him more.

The man took another step forward.

“Let’s test it again.”

Eli’s body reacted instantly.

This time—

He didn’t freeze.

He stepped back.

Positioning himself.

Just like Kieran had shown him.

Kieran noticed.

But didn’t say anything.

The attacker moved.

Fast.

Eli’s eyes widened—but this time, he didn’t panic.

He watched.

Not the movement.

The intent.

Just like Kieran said.

The moment the man shifted—

Eli moved.

He dodged.

Barely.

But enough.

The attacker’s hand brushed past him instead of hitting him directly.

Eli stumbled slightly but didn’t fall.

“…Okay—okay, I did that,” he breathed.

Kieran moved immediately after.

Intercepting the attacker with force.

The impact sent the man backward.

Eli stepped back again, breathing unevenly.

His heart was racing—but not from pure fear this time.

Adrenaline.

Focus.

“…I’m actually doing this,” he whispered.

Another attacker came from the side.

Eli saw it.

This time—

He reacted faster.

He turned, blocking instinctively.

Not perfect.

But not useless.

The force still pushed him back, but he stayed on his feet.

Kieran noticed that too.

His movements became sharper.

More aggressive.

As if Eli improving—

Triggered something in him.

The fight ended faster this time.

The attackers retreated again.

But not without one last glance.

At Eli.

“…He’s changing,” one of them said quietly.

Then they were gone.

Silence returned.

Eli stood there, breathing hard.

“…I didn’t die,” he said.

Kieran turned toward him.

“You improved.”

Eli blinked.

“…You keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true.”

Eli exhaled slowly.

“…Feels strange.”

Kieran stepped closer.

The pull in Eli’s chest reacted again.

Strong.

Steady.

Eli frowned slightly.

“…This thing is really not going away, is it?”

“No.”

Eli sighed.

“…Of course not.”

Kieran’s gaze lingered on him longer than usual.

Watching.

Carefully.

As if confirming something.

Eli noticed.

“…What?”

Kieran didn’t look away.

“You’re adapting.”

Eli shrugged slightly.

“I don’t have a choice.”

A pause.

Then Kieran said quietly:

“You do.”

Eli frowned.

“…Then why does it feel like I don’t?”

Kieran didn’t answer.

But something in his expression changed again.

Something deeper.

Harder to read.

Eli looked away first this time.

“…Let’s just continue tomorrow,” he said.

Kieran nodded once.

But as Eli turned to leave—

Kieran’s gaze didn’t follow the forest.

It stayed on Eli.

Watching him walk away.

Longer than necessary.

And for the first time—

There was something unmistakable in his eyes.

Not just attention.

Not just focus.

Something closer to—

Possession.