The forest fell silent.
Not peaceful—
but tense.
Like everything was waiting… for something to break.
The hunters stood across from them, their presence heavier now, darker. The air itself felt wrong, like it was being twisted by something unseen.
Alina swallowed hard. "Why does it suddenly feel… colder?"
"Because they're done playing," the boy said quietly.
"Great," she muttered. "Love that for us."
The wind circled her, faster now, restless.
"Focus."
"I'm trying!"
"No—you're panicking."
She glared at the voice in her head. "Of course I'm panicking!"
"Then use it."
Before she could respond—
The hunters moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
One of them vanished and reappeared in front of the boy, a blade of light forming in their hand. He barely had time to react, raising his arm as a force burst outward, blocking the strike—but the impact pushed him back hard.
"Hey!" Alina shouted.
The second hunter rushed her.
Instinct took over.
The wind surged, spiraling around her like a shield. The attack slammed into it,
scattering into fragments of light.
Her eyes widened.
"I blocked it…"
"Good," the voice said. "Now push."
"I don't know how!"
"Yes, you do."
Another strike came—closer this time.
Alina raised her hand without thinking.
The wind answered.
A powerful gust shot forward, stronger than anything she had done before, slamming into the hunter and sending them crashing into a tree.
Her breath caught.
"I—"
"Don't stop!" the boy yelled.
She turned just in time to see him struggling against the other hunter. His power flared again, but this time—
It flickered.
He was getting tired.
No.
They were going to lose.
Something inside her snapped.
The wind roared.
Not wild.
Not chaotic.
Controlled.
For the first time.
It gathered around her, swirling tighter, sharper, responding to her will instead of her fear.
"I said…" her voice steadied, her eyes locking onto the hunters,
"Back. Off."
The storm exploded.
A massive wave of wind tore through the clearing, ripping leaves from trees and forcing both hunters to their knees. The ground cracked beneath the pressure, the
air screaming with power.
Everything stopped.
Silence.
The hunters slowly rose.
But this time—
They didn't attack.
"…So it's confirmed," one of them said.
"The Wind's Chosen."
Alina froze.
The words echoed in her chest.
"The… what?"
The second hunter looked at her, voice colder than before.
"You don't even know what you are."
The boy stepped forward slightly. "That's enough. You've seen what you came for. Leave."
A pause.
Then—
"…This isn't over," the first hunter said. "We will return."
And just like that—
They were gone.
The pressure vanished.
The forest breathed again.
Alina's legs gave out, and she dropped to the ground, shaking.
"…I almost died," she whispered.
"Almost," the boy said, walking over.
She looked up at him. "You too."
"Yeah. But we didn't."
He offered his hand.
After a second, she took it.
He pulled her up easily.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then—
"…You said you were looking for me," she said quietly. "Why?"
He hesitated.
Then sighed.
"…Because if I didn't find you first, they would."
"That's not an answer."
"No," he agreed. "It's not."
She crossed her arms. "Then give me a real one."
He studied her for a moment… then finally said:
"My name is Kael."
She blinked. "That's it? That's your answer?"
A small smirk appeared on his face.
"For now."
She stared at him… then let out a frustrated sigh.
"You're really annoying."
"And you're still alive because of me."
"…Fair."
A small silence settled between them.
But it wasn't awkward.
Just… new.
Alina looked at her hands, remembering the power she felt—the storm, the control, the way the wind obeyed her like it knew her
"The Wind's Chosen…" she whispered.
Kael's expression turned serious.
"Yeah," he said quietly.
"That's what you are."
She looked at him.
"…And what does that mean?"
He met her eyes.
"It means," he said,
"your life is never going back to normal."
The wind stirred softly around them.
Not as a warning.
But as if it agreed.