Navi sat on top of a dead creature, exhausted.
His body was covered in blood, his sword still in hand. Wounds ran across his arms and chest as he stared up at the sky.
A man called out to him.
"You're not going to let that rot there, are you?"
"Mind your own business!" Navi snapped.
After a while, Navi stood and tried to lift the creature onto his back.
"Argh… damn, this thing's heavy," he muttered.
He dragged it through the streets. People stared at him—not with admiration, but with disgust.
"Move faster! You're bringing bad luck!" a shopkeeper shouted.
Navi shot back immediately,
"And you're giving us bad oxygen just by breathing!"
The shopkeeper scoffed.
Navi glanced at the sky again.
Grandpa… this is my tenth kill. Are you proud of me?
Two students walking nearby whispered to each other.
"Isn't he the grandson of that grumpy old man?"
"They look the same… and he's carrying a beast too. Covered in blood…"
Navi heard them.
For a moment, his expression dimmed.
Then he smiled.
"Hey, ladies," he called out, "wanna sleep with me tonight?"
"Ew! He's just as disgusting as he looks!"
They walked away.
Navi didn't respond.
After a long walk, he finally reached the shop.
"Ugh… FINALLY!"
He kicked the door open.
"HEY!"
The shop owner looked up, annoyed.
"What is it?"
"I brought you a Likha," Navi said. "I don't know the species, but it had a core. I should get at least 1 zyrah silver."
The shop owner examined the corpse carefully.
Then—
"300 liyren copper."
"…WHAT?! It had a core!"
"Which you destroyed."
"I had to! It kept regenerating!"
"I've told you many times," the shop owner said coldly. "If you're selling me a Likha, the core has to be intact. And look at the skin—can I even make leather out of this?"
He turned away.
"300 liyren copper. Sell it or bury it."
Navi clenched his jaw.
He had no choice.
"…Fine. Just give me my payment."
Navi left the shop, annoyed, and headed toward the market.
After a while, he spotted something in a narrow street.
A kid… being beaten.
"Hey! That's a kid!" Navi rushed forward. "What are you doing?! Three men against one?"
One of the men glared at him.
"Yeah. This kid stole 3 kharan bronze. Now get lost before you get beaten too."
"Wait—wait," Navi said quickly. "I'll give you… 200 liyren that's 2 kharan but in coins. Just leave him alone."
The men looked at each other… then smirked.
"Heh. Fine."
They took the money.
Before leaving, one of them kicked the kid in the stomach.
"Hey! That was unnecessary!" Navi snapped.
"You're still in debt, kid!" one of them said. "You're lucky someone stupid helped you."
They left.
Navi rushed to the kid's side.
"You okay, kiddo?"
The boy coughed.
"Y-yeah… thank you…"
"Next time, don't steal," Navi said. "Not many people here will help you."
"I didn't intend to…" the kid said weakly. "I was looking for work. They hired me to cut grass… but they didn't pay me. I needed money for my sister's medicine…"
Navi paused.
"…That's rough."
He reached into his pocket.
"Here. Take this—its 100 liyren copper."
"N-no… you don't have to…" the kid protested.
"I'm not giving it," Navi said. "I'm lending it. Pay me back when you can. My name's Navi. What's yours?"
"…Jiro."
"Nice name."
Suddenly, two kids ran over.
"Hey! What are you doing to our brother?!"
One of them started hitting Navi's arm.
"Hey—!"
"Stop!" Jiro coughed. "He helped me!"
The kids froze.
"O-oh… sorry, sir…" one of them said.
"It's fine," Navi replied.
They helped Jiro up.
Before leaving, one of them looked back.
"Thank you… sir."
Navi smiled.
A real one.
"…Oh shit."
Navi suddenly turned and ran.
By the time he reached the market, it was almost night.
"Hey—hehe—Linda!" he called out, exhausted.
The shop owner was closing.
"What is it, kid?"
"Uh… do you know what a monkey eats—"
"I don't have time for your stories!" she snapped. "And no, I'm not lending you anything!"
"I kinda helped a kid…" Navi scratched his head. "Gave my money away…"
She sighed, annoyed.
"…For fuck's sake."
She tossed him three fish.
"Take it and leave. You're bad luck."
Navi grinned.
"Thanks!"
He ran home.
A dog greeted him, barking happily.
"Hey, hey, buddy!" Navi smiled. "Here's your food. How was your day?"
The dog licked his almost healed wound.
"Don't worry," Navi said softly. "I heal fast."
Later, Navi lay on his bed. The dog rested on his stomach.
"Wanna hear my story, Sigil?" Navi smiled.
The dog wagged its tail.
"Hehe… alright. So today, I fought a dangerous Likha near a cave in the north of the island! It was strong… but only gave me small scratches. Of course—I'm stronger."
He chuckled.
"And then two girl confessed to me… but you know me, I rejected her."
He paused.
"Oh—and I helped a kid! Three grown men were beating him… can you believe that? That's messed up, right, Sigil?"
Navi stared at the ceiling.
"…Yeah."
"…That's how it went."
After a while, he fell asleep.
The Next Day
Navi woke up and headed to the door—
But stopped.
He heard voices outside his door.
"…Are you gonna knock, or should I do it?"
"Shut up, Ulap! I'll do it!"
Navi smirked slightly… then suddenly opened the door.
"WAH—!"
"AAH!"
The kids jumped back.
"…Jiro?" Navi raised a brow.
"Y-yes, Sir Navi…" Jiro said nervously. "We came to thank you…"
Another kid stepped forward.
"My name is Ulap. This is Gab… and Shiela. We didn't thank you properly yesterday."
Navi looked at the girl.
"So this is your sick sister?"
"Yes… she insisted on coming," Jiro said.
"That's sweet," Navi smiled. "But you don't have to thank me."
"We brought food…" Jiro said, holding it out.
Navi paused… then gently pushed it back.
"Eat it with your siblings. I've got enough."
"Please, Sir—"
"Nope," Navi said. "Eat it."
are you sure, sir? jiro ask.
am i look poor? hehe, eat it with your siblings. navi smiled awkwardly.
"…Okay," Jiro nodded. "But I'll repay you someday."
"Yeah, you will," Navi smirked.
The kids left.
thank you again sir! ulap shouted.
Navi watched them go.
Then sighed.
"…I should've taken the food."
His stomach growled.
"…Too late now."
after a while.
He grabbed his sword.
"Alright… time to hunt."
The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
Navi walked deeper and deeper, scanning his surroundings.
No tracks… no scent… nothing.
He frowned.
"How did you find Likha again, Grandpa…?"
He sat beside a tree.
Then—
Rustle.
Navi's grip tightened on his sword.
Something moved in the bushes.
He stood slowly.
"…Come out."
A small figure stepped out.
"…A cat?"
Navi relaxed slightly.
"In the middle of the forest?"
He turned to leave.
Then—
Something lunged at him from the side.
"—!"
Navi ducked—but too late.
Claws ripped across his back.
"AGH!"
He stumbled forward.
Another shadow moved.
A second creature.
"Two…?!"
The first one lunged again—Navi raised his sword just in time, blocking its jaws.
Teeth scraped against the blade.
"Get off—!"
He kicked it away.
It staggered—
But the second one attacked.
It bit into his leg.
Deep.
"AAARGH!"
Blood spilled as muscle tore.
Navi fell to one knee.
His breathing turned erratic.
Don't panic… don't panic…
He gripped his sword tighter.
The first creature jumped on him again—pinning him down.
Its jaws inches from his face.
Navi struggled, holding it back with his blade—
While the other kept biting his leg.
Pain shot through his body.
He almost lost control.
No… don't just stab blindly…
He forced himself to stay calm.
Waited.
Watched.
Then—
An opening.
In one swift motion—
He sliced upward.
The first creature's head fell.
He twisted—
And cut the second one's neck clean.
Silence.
Navi collapsed on the ground.
"…hah… hah…"
His body trembled.
But they were dead.
"…I… did it…"
He let out a shaky breath.
Then slowly tore his shirt and wrapped his injured leg.
"…Damn…"
His vision blurred.
"…Grandpa…"
He leaned back—
And everything went dark.
After an hour, Navi woke up.
His body felt weak, his mind still blurry. For a moment, he didn't understand where he was—then it hit him.
The fight.
The two Likha.
He quickly searched his body for wounds. There was dried blood everywhere… but no open injuries.
"…I've never been injured like this before," he muttered.
Groaning, he forced himself to stand. His legs trembled, nearly giving out, but he steadied himself. He dragged the two creatures closer and hoisted them onto his back.
"Urrgh… this is heavy…"
Step by step, he made his way out of the forest.
By the time he reached the town, his vision was already dimming.
He stumbled toward the shop and barely made it to the doorstep before collapsing.
The door burst open.
"Kid?!"
Through his fading vision, Navi saw the shop owner rushing toward him—
Then everything went black.
When Navi opened his eyes again, he was lying on a worn sofa.
His vision slowly cleared. He sat up—and froze.
Stacks of cash were placed on the table in front of him.
"There's your payment."
The shop owner stood nearby, arms crossed.
"You did a good job, kid. No damage to the core. Clean body, no unnecessary cuts…"
He nodded slightly.
"That's how you kill it. One clean strike to the head."
Navi blinked, still trying to process everything.
"How long was I out?"
"About an hour," the shop owner replied. "And I'm paying you 35 vetha gold. Fifteen each… plus five extra for doing it properly."
Navi's eyes widened.
"Oh—shit! Sigil!"
He grabbed the money in a panic.
"I gotta go! Thanks!"
Before the shop owner could say anything else, Navi was already running out the door.
The man chuckled, watching him leave.
"…Clever kid."
He glanced toward the empty space beside him.
"Can you see him, Seraphiel?"
Navi rushed toward the market.
But when he got there—
Closed.
"Oh, come on…!"
"Ser Navi?"
Navi turned around.
"Ulap?"
The boy stood there, slightly out of breath.
"What are you doing out here?" Navi asked.
"I was looking for my brother," Ulap said. "Jiro said he'd be home this afternoon, but… he still hasn't come back."
Navi frowned slightly, then scratched his head.
"I was trying to buy food for my dog, but everything's closed…"
"Oh!" Ulap perked up. "I know a place!"
"…You do?" Navi said.
"Yeah!"
"Then lead the way!"
They walked through dimly lit streets.
"Why are you out this late anyway?" Navi asked.
"I told you," Ulap replied. "I'm looking for Jiro."
Navi nodded.
After a while, they reached a small open stall. Navi quickly bought what he needed.
Then, without warning, he pulled out money and handed it to Ulap.
"Here."
Ulap froze. "…Ser Navi?"
"Take it. Ten vetha gold."
"I—I can't—"
"Yes, you can," Navi cut him off. "Think of it as… a loan. Buy medicine for your sister. And food. All of you need it."
Ulap stared at the money.
Then his hands started shaking.
"T—thank you… ser…"
Tears streamed down his face.
"I promise—I'll repay you someday—thank you—!"
He suddenly hugged Navi.
"Hey, hey… it's alright," Navi said awkwardly. "Don't cry. People might think I'm bullying you or something."
Ulap laughed weakly, wiping his tears.
"Thank you, ser… I'll go now."
Navi waved as the boy ran off.
Now alone, Navi walked through the quiet streets, arms full of supplies.
"…I've never had this much money before," he muttered.
As he approached his home, his thoughts drifted.
I've always wondered… what's beyond the sea…
His grandfather's voice echoed in his mind.
"Beyond this island… there are creatures far worse than what you know."
"No one survives out there, that's why you need to be stronger, if you want to go out there, navi."
"…But what do they look like?" Navi whispered.
"Are they bigger than my house…?"
A sudden bark snapped him out of it.
"Oi—Sigil!"
The dog rushed toward him, tail wagging wildly.
"Sorry I'm late. Had to deal with a big one today."
Sigil happily licked his leg.
"Yeah, yeah—I brought you food. Eat up."
After feeding Sigil, Navi began preparing his own meal.
Then—
knock knock
He paused.
"…Who would come here this late?"
knock knock knock
"Alright, alright! I'm coming!"
He opened the door.
Three men stood outside.
"Good evening, Navi," one of them said.
Navi squinted.
"Cameron?"
"I'm glad you remember me."
"You're the one who wanted to buy my grandpa's sword," Navi said bluntly. "If that's why you're here, the answer's still no. My grandpa died anyway."
Cameron hesitated.
"…Seraphiel… is gone?"
"…Yeah."
A brief silence followed.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Cameron said quietly.
Navi shrugged. "It is what it is."
Then he moved to close the door.
"And yeah—I'm not selling it."
"Wait," Cameron said.
"If you ever reconsider, I'd gladly buy it from you."
He stopped Navi from closing the door completely.
"And by the way, Navi… outside this island, the thing your grandpa was always saying about this isla—"
He suddenly froze.
His expression twisted in confusion.
What—? Why can't I speak—?
For a moment, no sound came out.
Then—
"…I can talk again…?"
He frowned.
That damned old man…
He exhaled.
"…We should get going," he said to his companions.
Then he looked back at Navi.
"Have a good night."
"Yeah," Navi replied.
As the carriage rolled away, Navi muttered to himself—
"…Not happening, Cameron."