C4 Chapter 4 – The Boy Beneath the Ashen Peaks (Part 4)

The roar echoed through the Ashen Peaks. It was unlike the cry of any beast Kael had ever heard.

It carried no rage. No hunger. Only...

Authority.

As though an ancient king had merely opened his eyes after a long slumber. The mountain itself trembled. Pebbles rolled down the slopes. The stream beside them rippled violently before becoming perfectly still once again.

Kael instinctively placed one foot forward.

The old man raised a hand.

"Don't."

His voice was calm. Yet it carried a weight Kael had never heard before.

Kael stopped.

"Elder..."

"What was that?"

The old man gazed toward the distant peaks.

"I don't know."

Kael looked surprised.

"You... don't?"

The old man smiled faintly.

"Young man."

"The older one becomes..."

"...the more one realizes how little one truly knows."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Then the old man pointed toward the woven basket.

"You've collected enough Moon Dew Herbs."

"Your village needs them."

"You should return."

Kael nodded.

He was about to lift the basket when—

Crack.

A branch snapped somewhere deep within the forest. Kael immediately turned. The old man didn't. Another crack. Then another. Something large was moving through the trees. The air grew heavy. Even the insects fell silent.

Kael slowly gripped the handle of his hunting knife. His heartbeat remained steady. The old man observed him from the corner of his eye.

No panic...

Good.

A pair of golden eyes suddenly appeared between the trees. A heartbeat later, the creature emerged. It was a massive mountain wolf, nearly twice the size of an ordinary horse.

Silver-grey fur covered its body, scarred by countless battles. Its fangs gleamed like polished ivory. A long crimson scar stretched across its left eye. Kael's pupils narrowed.

"Ironfang Wolf..."

The strongest predator of the Ashen Peaks' lower forest. Adult hunters always traveled in groups when such beasts were rumored nearby. Yet this one... Looked different.

Its eyes weren't filled with the usual savage hunger.

Instead...

They seemed confused. It ignored Kael completely. It ignored the old man as well. Its nose lifted into the air, sniffing repeatedly. As though searching for something.

Or...

Someone. The old man's expression became unreadable.

So...

Even the mountain guardians have sensed it.

The wolf suddenly turned toward Kael. Their eyes met. Time seemed to stop. The beast took one cautious step forward. Then another.

Kael stood his ground. He knew running would only trigger the predator's instincts. His grip on the knife tightened. The wolf stopped only three paces away. It stared directly into Kael's amber eyes.

Then...

Something impossible happened. The enormous beast slowly lowered its head. Not in exhaustion. Not in fear. In respect. Kael froze.

"...What?"

The wolf let out a low whine. Its tail lowered. For a single heartbeat... It looked less like a predator... And more like a loyal guardian greeting its master.

The old man's eyes widened almost imperceptibly.

The Bloodline...

Even dormant...

The ancient guardians recognize it.

Before Kael could react— The wolf suddenly jerked its head toward the distant Third Ridge.

Its ears flattened. A deep growl rumbled in its throat. Not directed at Kael. At something far beyond. The ground trembled again. A second roar erupted. This one was much closer.

The mountain wolf took three hurried steps backward. Its proud body actually trembled.

Without another sound, it turned and fled into the forest at astonishing speed. Kael stared after it.

"I've... never seen an Ironfang Wolf run away."

The old man's face became grave.

"Because neither have I."

Silence returned.

But it was no longer peaceful. The mountain felt...

Awake.

The old man suddenly reached into the sleeve of his worn robe. From within, he withdrew a small object wrapped in faded blue cloth. It was no larger than Kael's palm.

"I was wondering..."

"...how much longer I would have to keep this."

He held it out.

"Take it."

Kael hesitated.

"Elder, I can't accept something valuable."

The old man laughed.

"You haven't even seen it."

"Still."

"My mother always said..."

"...never accept gifts that cannot be repaid."

For a brief instant, something flickered across the old man's face.

A mixture of sadness...

Pride...

And memory.

"Then consider it..."

"...a loan from an old traveler."

Kael finally accepted the bundle. The cloth was surprisingly warm. As though someone had been holding it only moments before. He carefully unfolded one corner. Inside rested an ordinary-looking pendant carved from dark jade. It bore no jewels. No gold. No sign of wealth. Only one ancient symbol.

A circle. Surrounded by eight tiny stars.

Kael traced the symbol with his finger.

"I've never seen this before."

"You weren't supposed to."

The old man answered so quietly that Kael almost thought he had imagined it. Just then—

The pendant pulsed once. Only once.

A faint silver light flashed beneath the jade. Kael blinked. The light vanished. The pendant became ordinary again. The old man smiled as though nothing had happened.

"It seems..."

"...it doesn't dislike you."

Kael laughed awkwardly.

"I don't think pendants have opinions."

"No."

The old man replied.

"Most don't."

Far above the Ashen Peaks...

Hidden behind drifting clouds...

An invisible formation that had slept for sixteen years emitted a hairline crack. No thunder echoed. No lightning flashed. No one on the Seven Continents noticed. Except seven ancient beings seated upon seven heavenly thrones.

At exactly the same moment... All seven slowly raised their heads. Their expressions changed. One whispered only two words.

"...The Seal."

Another completed the sentence.

"...has begun to break."