Chapter 9

Eli didn’t go to the forest the next day.

For the first time since everything started—

He stayed home.

Not because he wanted to.

But because his body demanded it.

Every part of him still ached from training and the constant tension of being on alert. His arms felt heavier, his legs slower, and even his head throbbed slightly.

“…I deserve one day off,” he muttered, lying flat on his bed.

But even as he said it—

He knew something was wrong.

The silence felt too loud.

And that pull in his chest—

It was still there.

Faint.

But present.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”

He turned to his side, frowning.

It wasn’t as strong as when Kieran was close.

But it hadn’t disappeared either.

It just… lingered.

Like a reminder.

Eli sighed.

“…I’m not going today.”

The moment he said it—

The pull tightened slightly.

Eli froze.

“…Don’t start.”

He sat up slowly, pressing a hand against his chest.

“This is my life, not yours.”

The feeling didn’t disappear.

But it didn’t get worse either.

It just stayed.

Persistent.

Eli exhaled slowly.

“…Fine. Stay there then.”

Later that afternoon, Eli stepped out to clear his head.

The village felt normal.

Comfortingly normal.

People moved about their day, talking, laughing, going about their routines like nothing strange existed in the world.

Like there were no hidden dangers in the forest.

Like no one was being chased or hunted.

Eli shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked.

“…This feels better,” he admitted quietly.

No pressure.

No enemies.

No Kieran.

That thought made him pause slightly.

“…Yeah. No Kieran.”

And yet—

His chest felt… off.

Not painful.

Just—

Empty.

Eli frowned immediately.

“…Okay, no. That’s weird.”

He shook his head and kept walking.

“Definitely not getting used to that.”

“Eli?”

He stopped.

That voice—

Soft.

Familiar.

Eli turned.

And for the first time that day—

His expression relaxed.

“Charlotte?”

She smiled as she walked toward him.

Charlotte.

Warm brown eyes.

Gentle presence.

The kind of person who made things feel normal just by being there.

“It’s been a while,” she said.

Eli scratched the back of his neck slightly.

“Yeah… I’ve just been busy.”

“That’s surprising,” she teased lightly. “You don’t usually disappear like that.”

Eli let out a small laugh.

“…Yeah, well. Things changed.”

Charlotte tilted her head slightly, studying him.

“…You look different.”

Eli blinked.

“Different how?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “More serious, maybe?”

Eli paused.

“…That obvious?”

She smiled softly.

“A little.”

Eli exhaled.

“…It’s nothing. Just… stuff.”

Charlotte didn’t push.

That was one of the things Eli liked about her.

She didn’t force things.

Didn’t demand answers.

She just… stayed.

“Well,” she said gently, “you should at least say hi sometimes. People will think you vanished.”

Eli chuckled slightly.

“…I didn’t think anyone would notice.”

“I did,” she said simply.

Eli blinked.

For a second—

He didn’t know what to say.

“…Oh,” he said.

Charlotte smiled again.

“Are you free right now?”

Eli hesitated.

The forest.

Kieran.

Training.

Then—

He shook his head slightly.

“…Yeah. I am.”

Charlotte’s smile widened just a little.

“Good. Walk with me?”

Eli nodded.

“Sure.”

They walked side by side through the village.

Talking.

Nothing serious.

Nothing complicated.

Just simple things.

And for the first time in days—

Eli felt normal again.

No tension.

No pressure.

No strange pull—

Wait.

Eli frowned slightly.

It was still there.

Faint.

But now—

It felt different.

Not pulling him forward.

But…

Reacting.

Eli’s steps slowed slightly.

“…That’s new.”

“What is?” Charlotte asked.

Eli shook his head quickly.

“Nothing.”

But his chest tightened slightly.

As if something was—

Uncomfortable.

Watching.

Eli glanced around subtly.

Nothing.

Everything looked normal.

And yet—

The feeling didn’t go away.

Far from the village—

At the edge of the forest—

Kieran stood still.

His gaze fixed in one direction.

Unmoving.

Unblinking.

The bond pulsed faintly.

Different from before.

Unstable.

Unsettled.

Kieran’s expression darkened slightly.

“…What is this?”

The feeling was unfamiliar.

Unpleasant.

Sharp in a way he didn’t like.

It wasn’t danger.

It wasn’t pain.

It was something else.

Something—

Intrusive.

Kieran’s jaw tightened slightly.

“…He’s not alone.”

The realization settled quickly.

And with it—

Something else followed.

Something colder.

He turned slightly toward the direction of the village.

His gaze sharpened.

“…Who?”

Back in the village—

Charlotte laughed softly at something Eli said.

Eli smiled.

Relaxed.

Comfortable.

“…I missed this,” he admitted.

Charlotte looked at him.

“Then don’t disappear again.”

Eli nodded slightly.

“…Yeah.”

But at that exact moment—

The pull in his chest tightened suddenly.

Sharp.

Uncomfortable.

Eli winced slightly.

“…What—”

“Eli?”

“I’m fine,” he said quickly.

But he wasn’t.

Because this time—

The feeling wasn’t guiding him.

It was reacting.

Like something didn’t like what was happening.

Eli frowned.

“…This is getting annoying.”

Charlotte looked concerned.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

Eli forced a small smile.

“Yeah. Just a headache.”

But deep down—

He knew.

Something had changed.

And somewhere—

Someone felt it too.