Two days passed quickly, the inevitable return of winter creeping closer with each breath of chilled wind. The trees had begun to shed their last leaves, and the air carried a sharper edge, hinting at the cold to come.
For the most part, the group spent their time discussing strategies, carefully planning how to bring down the King Wolf Tiger with precision and as little risk as possible. This hunt would be different. Everyone was included. Everyone was needed.
They even had to include Kael, despite the risks.
'Seems like the hunt is getting closer.'
Kael sat with his arms crossed and eyes closed, leaning against a tree a short walk from the main camp.
'They're taking a gamble, trying to take down this King Wolf Tiger…'
He let his thoughts drift.
The group had completed missions together for years now, and each one of them was confident in their abilities. Even so, they had discussed the upcoming hunt with uncharacteristic seriousness. And the decision to include a newcomer like Kael could only mean one thing. They weren't sure they could win.
Team chemistry was vital for combat efficiency. The four of them working in perfect sync had value, but it still didn't outweigh the benefit of bringing another capable Luminaire into the fight.
His thoughts were shattered as a voice reverberated through the forest.
"Kael, come here for a moment."
Adam's voice rang out openly, confident that Kael was within earshot.
Kael sat in silence for a few moments, then rose to his feet and made his way back toward the camp where the four of them stood around the campfire.
"What's your take on all this so far, Kael?" Adam asked once he arrived.
Kael's gaze sharpened as he looked at him.
"It's a solid plan," he said, his tone calm and steady. "You all seem confident in your skills and preparation. But there are still variables we need to be cautious of."
"What kind of variables?"
Adam responded without hesitation.
The question was innocent enough, normal, even, in a group planning a dangerous hunt. But Kael knew better. Adam was testing him. It wasn't just about tactics. He was gauging Kael's insight, trying to get a read on his mindset, maybe even his intentions. A less experienced Luminaire might not have noticed the layers behind the words. Kael had expected something like this from the start.
He sighed inwardly before replying.
"Well… first, the most obvious. A King of any species doesn't just wake up as a king one day. It's safe to assume this one has some kind of motes resting in it. That's our biggest unknown, and our greatest threat."
He let his gaze drift to the campfire, its flames dancing quietly in the center of their camp, the light flickering in his emerald eyes. For a moment, he said nothing, simply watching the fire twist and crackle. Then he continued.
"Secondly, we have no idea how many wolves the King Wolf Tiger commands," Kael continued. "As you know, there could be close to a hundred under its control. I haven't been active in the planning sessions, but have you considered that? And if so, what's the plan?"
He ended with a question, offering nothing more than necessary.
"Not bad," Adam said, nodding, clearly satisfied with the response.
Elara sat nearby on a log, resting her chin in her hand, quietly observing the exchange.
Adam went on.
"These are variables we can't afford to ignore." He inhaled sharply before continuing. "You're right. The motes inside the King are the biggest unknown. But they're also the one thing we can't plan for."
Kael's eyes remained fixed on the fire as he listened, the flickering flames mirrored in his gaze.
"As for how many wolves it commands? It won't matter. We've spent the last few months saving up for a mote that'll make that part easy."
Kael raised an eyebrow, turning to look at him.
'So that's it.'
The pieces began to fall into place. He'd doubted whether the four of them could actually take the King down, but he hadn't expected them to go this far. Purchasing a specialized mote just for this battle, they weren't just confident. They were all in.
"We've planned and rested for a few days now. I believe we're ready to begin the hunt," Adam said, crossing his arms. "The only thing left is for you and Elara to scout out the King and bring him here."
"Me and Elara?"
Kael frowned slightly. He wasn't sure how they were supposed to manage that. Elara was a scout, yes, but luring a King Wolf Tiger back to their camp was far from simple.
Adam nodded.
"Mhm. Elara has the mote we purchased. With it, the two of you should be able to draw it here."
"I see…"
Kael's gaze shifted toward Elara, who was still seated on the log nearby. Her head rested in her hand as she silently watched the two of them speak, her expression unreadable.
A hint of happiness stirred in Kael's chest, he would finally have time alone with Elara.
The next hour passed as each one was doing preparations. The group gathered their belongings and readied themselves in their own way. The sun was still low in the sky, not yet reaching midday, its light filtered through the trees in soft golden beams.
"You ready?"
Elara turned to Kael, a smile forming on her lips.
Kael looked at her and returned the expression with one of his own.
"As ready as anyone can be when going up against a King, I guess."
Elara chuckled softly and waved for him to follow.
"Come on then, let's go."
As they moved through the forest, the atmosphere between them grew lighter. Their conversation drifted from economics to favorite colors, peppered with quiet laughter and exchanged smiles.
Around the halfway point, his tone shifted.
"So, how exactly does the mote keep us from having to worry about the other wolves?"
He laughed gently as he asked, as if the idea itself was too good to be true.
Elara hesitated. The sudden shift caught her off guard. Her steps slowed just a little.
She wasn't sure it was her place to explain. Motes were personal, an extension of a Luminaire's power and identity. Most kept the details guarded, not out of secrecy, but survival. The less others knew, the better. But even beyond that, this one wasn't truly hers.
Yes, the mote rested within her inner realm now, and it was hers to wield, but it was Adam who had saved for it, and Adam who had chosen to entrust her with it.
"I…" she started, eyes flicking forward again. "I'm not sure I should be the one to explain it."
"Oh… no worries. Trust me, I know how valuable it is to keep them secret."
A soft, forced laugh escaped Kael's lips, as if trying to smooth over the tension without drawing attention to it. He turned his gaze forward, the humor fading, a flicker of sorrow etched in his expression.
Elara watched him quietly. She caught that brief glimpse of hurt—small, but real—as though the fragile trust they had started to build had cracked. Her teeth pressed against her lower lip as she looked down at the forest floor, steps slowing for just a moment.
Then she made a decision.
"It's actually quite a rare mote," she said suddenly, a gentle smile tugging at her lips.
She had chosen to tell him. Not just because she didn't want the bond between them to weaken, but because it was Kael. After nearly two weeks of traveling together, she felt the connection between them. Subtle, unspoken… but there.
"It is?"
Kael responded enthusiastically.
Elara chuckled.
"Yes, it really is. It took Adam almost two years of searching before he found one that could do what he needed."
Kael looked at her, eyes sparkling with amazement.
"Woah."
"It's called lure mote," she explained. "It creates illusions based on a beast's, or human's, past experiences. It bends their senses, making them follow the user's will for a short time. In this case, I'll use it to draw the King Wolf Tiger toward the ambush site."
Kael listened intently, his expression thoughtful.
'So that's why they were so confident. With this, they can lure the King to the perfect spot and bring it down before the rest of the pack even realizes what's happening.'
His gaze shifted forward, his expression turning serious for a moment before softening as he looked back at Elara.
"That really is an incredible mote. I'm glad we have it."
Elara nodded, pleased not only with the plan, but with her decision to share it. She felt lighter somehow, and closer to Kael than before.
After their exchange, they continued through the forest for another hour, speaking casually about various topics, until Elara suddenly raised a hand, signaling Kael to stop.
"What's up?"
She didn't respond right away. After a moment, she answered in a hushed tone.
"This is where the Wolf Tiger's pack territory begins. From here on, we'll need to move more quietly."
Kael gave a small nod.
"I'll follow. Lead the way."
She returned the nod and began moving again, her steps lighter now, more deliberate.
They traveled in silence for the next half hour. The forest was dense with tall, bare trees, their branches stripped clean by the season. A thick layer of brilliant, fallen leaves blanketed the forest floor, spreading like a carpet of red, orange, and gold beneath their feet.
"This is it." Elara crouched down, resting a hand against a nearby tree.
Kael followed shortly after, lowering himself beside her.
The forest ahead looked much the same as everything behind them, except the trees were sparser, the gaps between trunks wider, the air a little more still.
"What is it?" Kael asked, unable to hide the question in his voice.
"This is as close as we can get without being noticed. The King Wolf Tiger is about half a kilometer deeper into the forest."
Kael turned his eyes in the direction she pointed. As always, there was nothing to see. No sign of a threat, no sound to betray its presence. Compared to Elara, he felt blind.
"So what now? We just bait it and run to the ambush site?"
"Pretty much. But not yet. The ambush won't be ready for another six hours, so we can't risk drawing its attention too early."
There was a faint tremble in her voice.
Kael raised an eyebrow and gave her a small, half-mocking smile.
"Don't tell me you're getting nervous."
Elara forced a smile, a little awkward.
"A little, maybe."
"Really?" Kael's smile faded into something more serious. His tone softened. "Don't worry too much. I've only been with you all for two weeks, but I can already tell your friends will be okay."
Her expression shifted, the tension in her eyes easing slightly. But the worry hadn't disappeared.
"It's not that." She tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. Her small hands were trembling. "I'm scared for me… and for you."
Kael looked at her, surprised for a moment. Then he smiled gently.
"Ahah… no need to worry about me. I'm stronger than I look."
His eyes narrowed a little, the seriousness returning.
"But why are you worried about yourself? I'm sure we'll reach the ambush site in one piece."
She took a deep breath before speaking.
"I've never used this mote before, so this will be my first time. And I'll have to rely on my sensory motes to even reach the Wolf Tiger from this distance..." She paused, her voice faltering slightly. "The lure mote is rank two. Just activating it will take around a 150 thousands thoughts. And keeping it active... I don't even know how many it'll require."
'A rank two mote?'
Kael froze. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
"That is... indeed problematic."
His gaze dropped to the forest floor, brows furrowed in thought.
"I know." Elara's voice dropped to a whisper, more unsteady than before. "The team trusts me enough to let me borrow this mote. I don't want to let them down, Kael."
She sat hunched over, feet tucked beneath her, hands resting on her knees. Her shoulders trembled slightly as she stared at the ground. A tear welled in the corner of her eye and slipped down her cheek before she could stop it.
Kael turned to look at her. This too was reality.
Even though mortals and Luminaires alike saw Luminaires as the pinnacle of existence, one truth remained, beneath the power, they were still human. Their bodies enhanced, their minds sharpened, yes, but fear, doubt, and the weight of impossible expectations did not vanish. Anxiety, pressure, the quiet ache of failure... those things stayed. Just as real as they were for any mortal.
Even the strongest Luminaires, those who stood like giants among Luminaires, knew the feeling.
That cold weight in the chest.
The gnawing voice that whispered of inadequacy, of not being enough.
The isolation that came from standing above, while still feeling like you were crumbling beneath.
Every Luminaire felt it at some point.
Some buried it in silence.
Others drowned it in pride or ruthlessness.
But none were free from it.
The path of a Luminaire was paved with sacrifice, not just of blood and bone, but of identity, of peace.
To rise in rank was to carry more. More expectations. More scrutiny. More eyes waiting to see whether you would soar, or break.
And most broke. Quietly. Slowly. Inside.
They still smiled. Still fought. Still climbed. Because there was no other choice.
To stop was to fall behind. To hesitate was to die.
In a world ruled by strength, there was no space for fragility, even though it lingered in every heart like a sickness that could not be cured.
Kael looked at Elara and saw it, what they all carried, but rarely spoke of.
Not weakness.
Not failure.
But humanity.
And still, they pushed forward.
Because in this world, there was no going back.
Kael sighed and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
Elara flinched slightly, drawn from her spiraling thoughts. She turned her head, meeting his gaze. Faint red streaks marked her cheeks where tears had fallen, glinting in the dappled light.
"Want to know a secret?"
Kael raised a finger to his lips, a warm, almost playful smile softening his expression.
Caught off guard, Elara blinked. The question came so suddenly, she didn't know how to respond.
But Kael didn't wait.
Without another word, he quietly released the suppression on his aura.
Elara's confusion deepened, until she felt it. Her eyes widened in shock. A cold pressure slammed into her senses, heavy and suffocating. Her body reacted before her mind could catch up. She stumbled backward, catching herself on her hands, then crawled until her back hit the trunk of a tree.
"You're— you're rank two?" she breathed, the words stumbling out of her like a whisper dragged over gravel.
"I am."
Kael's voice was steady, his smile soft and disarming, a warmth in his expression that felt like sunlight after a storm. His eyes held a tenderness that seemed to reach straight through Elara's panic, like calm water embracing fire.
"Please, Elara…" he said, gently. "Lend me the mote. Let me use it in your stead. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you, if you died because you weren't strong enough… while I was, and kept it hidden."
His voice didn't shake. It didn't need to. The ache behind his words rang clear.
He stepped forward and pulled her into a firm, quiet embrace. No rush. No force. Just arms that held with care.
Elara trembled slightly in his hold, her breath catching in her throat. For that moment, everything was still. The weight of the world didn't vanish, it simply paused.
And Kael held her, as if that alone might stop it from falling again.