Crown of Sparks

Ar frowned and gripped the letter tighter.

The second letter was from Thomas. He reported on the latest developments at the old warehouse that Ar and Clau had burned down earlier. According to Thomas, Baron Bartemus' thugs had never returned to the place since the incident. The charred building now stood silent, a silent monument to the small resistance they had put up.

Baron Bartemus' threats did not stop there. Letters with warnings and threats continued to arrive at the orphanage, as if to ensure that they would never feel safe.

Ar stood in the corner of the room, his eyes staring intently at a crumpled piece of paper in his hand. The harsh words written on it felt like daggers piercing his patience. His jaw clenched. Baron Bartemus wanted to control the Floressia District by any means necessary, including violent expulsion.

"If he wants to play," Ar thought coldly, "I will make sure that this is his last game."

The next morning, in the backyard of the orphanage, the morning sun shone on the dewy grass. Ar saw Mother Laila tending to the flower garden. The old woman was carefully pruning the withered branches, her hands moving slowly.

Ar came closer with Clau. "Mother, Clau and I are going hunting in the forest. Is there anything Mother wants you to buy at the market later?" he asked in a light tone, as if nothing was bothering him.

Mother Laila stopped her work for a moment and wiped the sweat from her brow with her sleeve. "When you go to the market, ask me to buy a big bottle of milk. The supply in the cupboard is running out."

Ar nodded and so did Clau. But before they turned to leave, Ar added. "Mother, can you wait for us at the District Chief's house this afternoon? Invite all the other children as well."

Mother Orphanage looked at her with raised eyebrows. "What's wrong?"

Ar just smiled slightly but did not answer. But Mother Laila was not easily fooled. The woman's sharp eyes caught something different in her gaze. It was no ordinary invitation.

Mother Laila stepped closer, her wrinkled but strong hands gripping Ar and Clau's shoulders. "You're not planning anything dangerous, are you?" Her voice was soft, but full of concern. "Don't do anything like that fire again. I'm afraid something might happen to you."

The old woman's warm embrace enveloped them. For a moment there was silence, and neither Ar nor Clau knew how to react. The harsh world had shaped them into people who rarely received this kind of affection.

Ar let himself sink into the moment, feeling the warmth that was so strange and yet disturbed something inside him.

But he couldn't stay there for long.

Ar and Clau left the orphanage and headed for the forest as planned. They walked side by side along the main road, their shoes making a soft thud on the dry ground.

Several villagers, recognizing them, greeted them warmly.

"You guys! Finally out hunting again, huh?" called a young man carrying a basket full of the harvest.

Ar replied with a small nod and a slight smile. Clau, on the other hand, just waved without saying anything, her face as calm as ever.

As they passed the market, the air was filled with the aroma of spices and the loud voices of merchants shouting at each other to offer their goods. Ar glanced briefly to one corner of the market where Bibi Garcia's small cart stood firmly in its usual spot. The old woman was busy tending to the meat on her stall, but when she saw Ar and Clau, she stopped for a moment.

"Are you going to hunt in the forest again?" she asked, her voice hoarse but full of warmth.

"Yes, Aunt Garcia," Ar replied politely.

Aunt Garcia smiled in satisfaction, then shook her head slightly. "This is good. The meat of other hunters is not good. Only your catch looks succulent and fresh. Auntie is looking forward to it."

But his expression quickly turned serious as he added, "Oh, and be careful. Lately, Channelers from Kaelith have been hunting in the woods near our district. I don't know what they're looking for, but it can't be good."

His tone was one of obvious displeasure. His wrinkled face showed a mixture of sadness and pent-up anger.

Ar nodded slightly. He could understand the concern, but decided not to prolong the conversation.

"Thank you, Auntie. We'll be careful," he said simply.

After saying goodbye, they continued on their way, leaving the increasingly noisy market behind.

When they finally left the center of the district, the atmosphere had quieted down. The cobblestone streets they walked were now flanked by bushes and low trees, bringing them closer to the forests where they usually hunted.

His steps slowed slightly, though. Aunt Garcia's words were still echoing in his mind.

Channelers from Kaelith.

Those nobles had always used their power and status to oppress Ethel. This inequality had gone on for too long, so ingrained that no one dared to fight back.

Ar gritted his teeth.

They finally reached the edge of the forest, but Ar had no intention of entering the forest through the main gate. The entrance was heavily guarded by Level 2 and 3 Channelers, people with powers far beyond the average Ethel Channeler. Fighting them was out of the question, at least for now.

Instead, Ar directed his steps to the other edge of the fence, a part that was more hidden from the eyes of the guards. He paused for a moment, staring at the large fence that towered in front of him. Barbed wire wrapped around the top, while a faded warning sign strictly prohibited unauthorized entry.

But all this meant nothing to Ar.

Without waiting any longer, Clau moved first, pulling to the side of the road and uncovering the dense undergrowth. Behind it, an old wooden plank covered something. Without hesitation, Clau lifted the board, revealing a small hole beneath the sturdy wooden fence.

Ar crouched down and examined the gap. The fence was topped with steel wire that should have been electrified, but he knew for sure that the power was dead in that one section. He had broken it himself, a little secret known only to him and Clau.

Without wasting any time, the two crawled through the hole. Their small bodies allowed them to fit through without much difficulty. When they reached the other side of the fence, Ar stood up and brushed the dust from his clothes. Clau did the same before covering the hole with a wooden plank to make sure their tracks would not be easily discovered.

The forest seemed darker than usual in the morning. Although the sun was still shining, the density of the leaves and the tall trees made it difficult for the light to penetrate, creating long shadows that moved with their every step. The air felt heavier here, carrying the scent of wet earth and old trees.

Ar walked ahead, his hand occasionally brushing aside twigs or leaves that blocked the path. Behind him, Clau walked silently, her eyes constantly scanning her surroundings.

"Watch out for the twigs," Ar whispered without turning around.

Clau just snorted softly and stepped over large tree roots that stuck out of the ground. One careless step could scratch her skin or tear her clothes, which could be a problem in a place like this.

But sharp branches were not what worried Ar the most.

Magic Beasts could indeed be a threat, but the creatures he was most wary of were Dark Magic Monsters. They were not ordinary beasts, they were creatures born from the mists of darkness, hunters who knew no mercy.

Once their blood was smelled, a fight was inevitable.

Ar suddenly stopped.

Clau, who was walking right behind him, almost bumped into him. "Brother, what's wrong?" she whispered quietly.

Ar didn't answer right away. A deep frown appeared on his forehead as he activated his hearing with his Essential Power. He tried to pick up the presence of common animals around them, squirrels, birds, or maybe forest mice. But all he found was... emptiness.

Strange.

"I feel nothing," he muttered more to himself. "Ordinary animals... it's like they're all gone."

Clau looked at him confused. "How is that possible?"

Ar shook his head slowly, unable to give a definite answer. But his gut told him one thing: something was wrong.

Back away?

No. That wasn't an option.

Instead of turning back, he walked deeper into the forest, towards the place he had always avoided: the heart of the forest.

The deeper they went, the harder the journey became. The trees around them grew so dense that there was barely a gap for light to pass through. The sun was still high in the sky, but here, in the shadow of the towering ancient trees, the world seemed dim and silent.

Only the sound of their footsteps on the wet ground accompanied their journey.

Clau finally broke the silence. "Why are we here?" There was a hint of doubt in his voice.

"It's the only way to find out what's going on." Ar's voice was deep and calm, but there was a hidden tension behind it.

They continued walking. Time seemed to slow down as the darkness closed in.

Then something changed.

At first it was just a faint sound, like the whistling of the wind carrying an echo from afar. But as they drew closer, the sound became something more tangible.

A clang.

Metal against metal.

Accompanied by a low growl that echoed through the air.