The Forsaken Heir: Rise of the Shadow Monarch

Chapter 7: The Wandering Mercenary

The forest was silent once the assassin disappeared.

Kael remained where he stood, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. The shadows surrounding him slowly sank back into the ground, as though they had never existed.

His legs finally gave out.

He collapsed onto one knee, gripping the earth to keep from falling face-first into the leaves.

The surge of power was gone.

In its place came exhaustion unlike anything he had ever felt.

His shoulder burned where the assassin's blade had cut him. Blood continued to seep through the torn fabric of his shirt, and every breath sent a sharp ache through his ribs.

"So... this is the price," he muttered bitterly.

He forced himself to stand.

Staying still wasn't an option.

The king had placed a fortune on his head. Sooner or later, more hunters would come.

He staggered deeper into the Emerald Forest.

---

Hours passed.

The sun climbed overhead, but little light reached the forest floor. Ancient trees towered above him, their thick branches weaving together like a roof.

Kael's vision blurred.

He hadn't eaten in days.

His body had reached its limit.

Just as he leaned against a tree for support, a low growl echoed from somewhere ahead.

His heart skipped.

Another growl answered.

Then another.

From the bushes emerged three massive dire wolves.

Unlike ordinary wolves, these creatures stood nearly as tall as a horse. Their black fur bristled, revealing rows of jagged teeth.

The largest one stepped forward, golden eyes fixed on Kael.

It could smell the blood.

Kael slowly backed away.

"No..."

The wolves spread out, cutting off every escape route.

His hand instinctively reached for the shadows.

Nothing happened.

The Shadow Core remained silent.

"I don't have enough strength..."

The largest wolf lunged.

Kael threw himself aside just in time.

Its jaws snapped shut where his neck had been moments earlier.

He grabbed a broken tree branch and swung it desperately.

The branch shattered against the beast's skull.

The wolf barely flinched.

It snarled, preparing to strike again.

Kael clenched his fists.

"So this is really how I die..."

A sharp whistle sliced through the air.

Before the wolf could move—

Thud!

An arrow buried itself deep in its eye.

The beast let out a pained howl before collapsing lifelessly onto the ground.

The remaining wolves froze.

Another arrow flew.

Then another.

Each found its mark with deadly precision.

Within seconds, all three beasts lay motionless.

Kael stared in disbelief.

Heavy footsteps approached from between the trees.

A broad-shouldered man emerged, carrying a massive greatsword across his back. He wore weathered leather armor reinforced with steel plates, and an old scar stretched from his left temple to his jaw.

His dark hair was tied loosely behind his head, and his beard showed streaks of gray despite a body that still radiated strength.

He looked to be in his late thirties.

The stranger glanced at the dead wolves before snorting.

"They've been getting bolder."

Kael instinctively stepped back.

"Who are you?"

The man ignored the question.

Instead, he walked straight toward the fallen wolves and retrieved his arrows one by one.

"Waste of good arrows," he muttered.

Only after collecting the last one did he finally look at Kael.

"You look terrible."

Kael almost laughed.

"I've had a rough few days."

"I noticed."

The stranger's eyes drifted to the dried blood on Kael's clothes, the broken chains around his wrists, and the deep cuts covering his body.

"You won't survive another day without treatment."

Kael hesitated.

"I can manage."

The man raised an eyebrow.

"Can you?"

As if to prove him wrong, Kael's knees buckled.

Darkness crept into the edges of his vision.

Before he hit the ground, the stranger caught him by the shoulder.

"You really are stubborn."

Kael looked up.

"Why... help me?"

The man sighed.

"I haven't decided if I'm helping you."

With surprising ease, he lifted Kael onto his shoulder.

"Besides, leaving you here would only feed more wolves."

They walked in silence for nearly an hour.

Eventually, they reached a small campsite hidden beside a rocky stream.

A simple tent stood near a crackling fire.

The stranger carefully lowered Kael onto a rolled blanket before rummaging through a leather pack.

He produced clean bandages, herbs, and a small flask.

"This will sting."

Before Kael could ask what he meant, the man poured the liquid over his wounds.

"AAH!"

Fire spread through every cut.

The stranger didn't even blink.

"If you can scream, you're not dying."

Kael gritted his teeth until the pain eased.

"You're not very comforting."

"I'm not trying to be."

Despite his rough tone, the stranger worked with practiced hands, cleaning and wrapping each wound carefully.

"You've done this before," Kael observed.

"A few hundred times."

"You were a soldier?"

The man was quiet for a moment.

"Something like that."

When the bandaging was finished, he tossed Kael a piece of dried meat.

"Eat."

Kael accepted it gratefully.

It wasn't much, but after days without proper food, it tasted like a feast.

The stranger sat across the fire, sharpening one of his arrows.

For a long while, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Kael broke the silence.

"You still haven't told me your name."

The man looked up from his work.

"Darius."

"Darius...?"

"Darius Kane."

Kael nodded.

"I'm Kael."

"I know."

The answer made Kael stiffen.

"You know who I am?"

Darius gave a small, unreadable smile.

"The whole kingdom knows who you are by now."

Kael lowered his gaze.

"I didn't steal the relic."

"I know."

Kael's head snapped up.

"You... believe me?"

"I didn't say that."

Darius slid the arrow back into his quiver and leaned forward, studying Kael's face with unusual intensity.

His gaze lingered on Kael's silver eyes.

Then it shifted to the black mark on his left hand.

For the first time since they had met, Darius's calm expression cracked ever so slightly.

He stared at the mark as though he had seen it somewhere before.

After a long silence, he asked quietly,

"Kael..."

"...who are your parents?"