Caspian jumped from tree branch to branch without any noise on the prowl for his next target. The forest itself was a lush, with towering trees that harbored all kinds of life big and small.
The greenery stretched as far as the eye could see with yellow streaks of sunlight piercing through the many leaves. As the wind breezed throught the forest the underbush rustled and danced. It was all the boy knew. The birds chirped peacefully until Caspian landed on the final branch, sending them scattering into the sky.
Below, a boar sniffed the ground, oblivious to the predator lurking above. Caspian's tail twitched with excitement as he crouched, muscles coiled like springs. In a flash, he leapt from the branch, his heel crashing down with such force that the boar's skull cracked before it even realized what had happened.
He wasn't far from home, dragging the dead animal by its tusk for half an hour until he reached the small hut. No one was there to greet him—not anymore. It didn't take long for Caspian to skin the beast and hang it over the fire. This one would last him three days, maybe. He always ate like a king, or so his grandpa used to say
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Bela had been traveling for weeks now—first by plane to another part of the country, then watching civilization thin out as she ventured deeper into the forest. She rode her scooter through the narrowing paths, her anxiety growing with every mile. The great creatures, once only discussed in biology class, became terrifyingly real the farther she went. Stories of men and women devoured by them haunted her thoughts, but she stayed resolute. Her father was beyond human medicine now, and this was her only hope.
She stared at the device in her hand, the screen displaying nothing more than an arrow indicating her position and a blinking dot marking the location of the next Star Shard. '700 meters,' she murmured, her lips trembling as anxiety tightened its grip. She glanced ahead, her heart pounding. 'Please, just be there… and not in some beast's stomach. She road of with her scooter
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Caspian had just finished storing the rest of the boar meat in the smokehouse, the rich scent of curing meat lingering in the air. Now, he stood in a sunlit field, the golden rays warming his brown skin as he practiced his fighting moves. He wore a light blue gi, the fabric worn but well-maintained, with a black belt tied securely around his waist. His hair was a wild, frizzy mess of black strands that stuck out in every direction, resembling a crow's nest more than actual hair. It was as untamed as the boy himself—a force of nature in human form.
He jabbed the air a few times, his fists cutting through the stillness with precision. Then, with a sudden spin, he launched into a sharp kick, the motion fluid and powerful. He repeated the sequence, his movements growing faster and more intense with each repetition. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, glistening in the sunlight as they rolled down his face.
Wiping them away with the back of his hand, Caspian closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the sun and the cool breeze on his skin.
'That was enough warming up, he thought, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The real training was about to begin
He focused inward, feeling the chi spread through his body like warm water. His muscles tensed, solid and pumped, as the energy surged through him. Chi had always come naturally to him—even as a child, he could effortlessly find a base stage that felt comfortable for his body. It was something unusual, according to Grandpa, and it had left his brother, Spike, seething with jealousy.
Caspian opened his eyes, his gaze locking onto a familiar tree. He knew this one well, and it knew him. Its bark was beaten and scarred, covered in scratches and fist marks that had barely worn it down over the years. It stood strong and unyielding, one of the thickest trees in the area. The last time Caspian had challenged it was months ago, and he had been too weak to take it down. But now… now he was a different man
Caspian rushed toward the tree, his movements a blur of speed and power. He started with a solid kick, the impact reverberating through the trunk like a thunderclap. Without pause, he followed up with a flurry of rapid punches, each strike landing with precision and force.
The tree, once a formidable opponent, now felt as fragile as straw now. His fists tore through the bark, sending splinters flying in every direction.
It didn't bother him, every advance thrilled him—the crack of wood, the shudder of the trunk, the sheer power coursing through his body. He could feel himself growing stronger with every strike, his chi surging like a wildfire.
With one last punch, the tree groaned and began to crack, tilting forward in slow motion. Caspian leapt back, dodging the falling giant with effortlessly. The tree hit the ground with a deafening thud, the impact shaking the earth beneath his feet.
Dust and leaves swirled around him as he stood there, breathing heavily but grinning from ear to ear.
"I did it," he thought, his heart pounding with exhilaration. "I'm stronger now. Much stronger."
A high-pitched scream tore through the forest, shattering the tranquility. Caspian spun around, his reflexes sharp as he leapt back and immediately dropped into a defensive stance. His eyes scanned the area, muscles coiled and ready for whatever threat had emerged.
There, standing frozen, was a girl. Her long, curly black hair cascaded to her shoulders, tied back into a ponytail with a yellow band holding it in place. Her hands were raised defensively, one clutching a strange device and the other gripping a gun. Caspian had seen guns before—rarely, in the village—but they never ventured this deep into the forest.
She was dressed differently, too. While the village girls wore loose, brown dresses, this girl's attire was sleek and practical: blue pants, a black t-shirt, and a leather jacket that clung tightly to her frame. Behind her a black backpack that was big on her back. It was unlike anything Caspian had seen before.
A brief silence hung between them, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the wind.
"There was no reason to scream," Caspian said, his voice calm but firm.
The girl twitched, as if snapping out of a trance, and before Caspian could react, she raised the gun and fired. Three shots rang out, the sound echoing through the area.
Caspian recognized the danger instantly. His chi surged through him, heightening his reflexes and making him faster than any ordinary human. With a single step, he sidestepped the first bullet, the projectile whizzing past him harmlessly. The second bullet followed, and he twisted his body with fluid grace, narrowly avoiding it as it sliced through the air.
But the third bullet was too close to dodge. It struck him square on the forehead, the impact knocking him back a few steps. He staggered, his hand instinctively flying to the point of contact as a sharp pain radiated through his skull. Only Spike and Grandpa had ever managed to make him feel this kind of sting.
When he pulled his hand away, a few smears of red stained his fingers. Tiny droplets of blood rolled past his eyes and fell of his chin, a rare sight for someone who rarely bled. The wound was minor—nothing more than a scratch—but it was a reminder of his limits. Still, no bullet could seriously harm him when his chi flowed through his body.
Caspian wiped his forehead again, his eyes locked on the girl. She stood with her legs slightly turned inward, her device now lying forgotten on the ground. Both hands gripped the gun tightly, her knuckles white from the strain. But Caspian didn't sense malice in her—only fear.
Doesn't mean you just get to shoot me, he thought, a flicker of annoyance crossing his mind. Her stance told him she wasn't done; she was going to shoot again.
And she did.
The gun barked, the bullet slicing through the air. But Caspian was already moving, his chi-fueled speed carrying him forward in a blur. He ducked under the shot, closing the distance between them instantly.
Before she could pull the trigger again, he snatched the gun from her hands, his movements so fast they were almost invisible.
The girl froze, her wide eyes staring at him in shock. Caspian held the gun loosely, his eyebrows knitting at the sight of the weapon.
"'You shouldn't shoot kids," Caspian said, more matter-of-fact than angry. "Especially when they didn't do anything."
The girl stood frozen, her chest rising and falling rapidly, her deep breaths audible in the now quiet forest. Her wide eyes darted between Caspian and the gun he held so casually. "Most kids I know don't break trees in two like they're twigs," she stammered, her voice trembling slightly. She glanced at his forehead, where a faint smear of blood marked the bullet's impact. "And most kids I know don't get shot in the head and live to tell the tale."
Caspian studied her, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. She was at least two heads taller than him, but she didn't look like an adult—more like someone caught in a situation far beyond her comfort zone. "Well, then you're lucky I'm not like most kids,' he said, a bit playfull "Others would've been pissed off."
He handed the gun back to her, his movements deliberate and unhurried. "I'm Caspian," he said, his tone shifting to one of quiet authority. "You're not from here."
Bela holstered the gun with shaky hands, her anxiety still evident in the way she fumbled with the strap. "I'm Bela," she said, her voice steadier now but still tinged with nervousness.
She took a deep breath, as if gathering her courage. "I've come here looking for something called a Star Shard."
Caspian tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. "A Star Shard?" he repeated, curious, one of his eyebrows rising. His commanding air a bit more relaxed.
"Yes," Bela continued, keeping her distance, "You know... from the legends," she stared at Caspian for a moment of conformation. He tilted his head curiously and when she saw that he wouldn't answer, her eyes fell on the ground searching for something, crouching to grab the device she held earlier.
Caspian watched with interest as she tapped it, and suddenly, the thing lit up. His eyes widened slightly as showed the square screen to Caspian
"My tracker says that a Star Chard is closeby, do you have any idea where that could be?". Caspian barely heard what she said. He studying the device closely, taking it out of Bella's hand for a closer inspection. He kept turning it from one end to the other as Bela stood by, she seemed to have calmed. The device was smooth to the touch, square and sleek.
In the middle of the screen was a was a arrow and close to the arrow was a blinking dot. Something about it seemed alive, he held it in different ways as if would make more sense if he did that. "This thing shows you were it is?" He gave it back to Bella, "Yeah"
she smiled, "I made it myself you know. It can pick up the strange energy signals of a star shard, allowing me to track them from different countries!" She stood tall, eyes closed as she held her chest.
This tracker was interesting but it still didn't answer the real question, "I still don't know what a star chard is."
This time it was Bella it was Bella was left dumbfounded, "You really don't know." When Caspian shook his head she sighed, "I guess i have to show you."
Instead of keeping her distance, she pulled her backpack off, her movements less tense. She rummaged through it before pulling something out.
The object in Bela's hand looked like a broken piece of a stone orb, its surface still smooth and faintly glowing. A warm wave of energy brushed against Caspian's face as he stared at it, the mythical aura unmistakable. He recognized it instantly.
It was similar to the fragment his grandpa had kept at home. That piece still sat on a shelf, occasionally studied by Caspian during moments of boredom or nostalgia.
Caspian took a few steps back, his stance firm and his eyes narrowing as he watched Bela. "What do you want with that?" he demanded, his voice sharp but controlled.
Bela's eyes lit up, her earlier anxiety replaced by excitement. "So you do know it!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands to her chest. "Have you seen it? Can you please show it to me?" She closed the distance between them, her earlier caution disapearing.
Caspian stepped back, still guarded as he eyed her suspiciously. "It's my grandpa's," he said firmly. "You can't have it."
Bela's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, she looked genuinely taken aback. She pursed her lips, her determination unwavering. "Then can I see your grandpa? Please?"
Caspian looked away, his expression darkening. "You can't," he said quietly, the words carrying a weight that even he hadn't fully processed.
"'Oh, come on!' Bela threw her hands up in frustration, the girl who had been trembling with fear moments ago now standing with her hands on her hips. "Can you at least show me where the shard is? Please? I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."
Caspian sighed, smacking his teeth as he turned to walk away. But before he could take more than a few steps, he felt Bela grab his hand. "Please, please, I really need it, Caspian," she pleaded, her desperation evident. "Just to see it, alright?" She nodded eagerly, her eyes wide with hope.