Hey… brother. Are you alive?"
The man's voice cut softly through the silence of the air.
The figure lying on the ground did not move.
The man frowned slightly as he stepped closer, his sharp eyes studying the young man's battered body. Torn clothes, dried blood, bruised skin—whoever this stranger was, he was clearly going to die.
"He's probably too damaged to speak, the man thought quietly"
For a moment he simply stood there, observing the unconscious youth. Not long ago, a raven-like creature had been slain by the man, its dark fiery feathers scattered across the forest floor.
The man sighed.
"Well… let's see what can be done."
He slowly raised his hand.
A soft, mystic glow began to gather in his palm. At first it was faint, barely noticeable, but within seconds the light grew brighter—radiant and warm, like liquid moonlight.
Then the energy flowed outward.
The mysterious light gently enveloped the young man's body.
Silver.
His breathing, which had been shallow and uneven, began to stabilize.
The glow seeped into his wounds like water soaking into dry soil. Broken tissues knit themselves back together. Bruises faded. Cuts closed as if time itself was reversing.
Silver had been standing at the brink of death moments ago.
Now, life surged back into him at an astonishing speed.
Bones repaired themselves. Muscles regained strength. The unbearable pain that had once consumed him slowly melted away.
Minutes passed.
The barrens fell silent again.
Finally, the glow faded.
The man lowered his hand with a satisfied nod.
"There… that should do it."
Silver's body was fully restored.
His eyelids trembled slightly.
Then—slowly—he opened his eyes.
At first, everything appeared blurry. Shapes moved like shadows drifting through fog. His mind struggled to grasp what was real.
But as his vision cleared, the faint outline of a man standing before him came into focus.
Silver blinked.
Then recognition struck him.
It was the same man.
The man who had effortlessly killed the raven-like creature earlier.
A chill ran down Silver's spine.
Before Silver could react, the stranger smiled warmly.
"Hello," the man said jovially, his voice calm and friendly. "I'm Christopher."
There was something oddly comforting about the way he spoke. Despite the incredible power he had shown earlier, Christopher looked nothing like a fearsome warrior.
In fact, he looked more like a wealthy nobleman who had accidentally wandered into some sort of horrible place.
Silver slowly pushed himself up from the ground, still trying to process what had happened.
"I'm… Silver," he replied cautiously.
His body felt strangely light—almost too light. The pain he remembered from earlier had completely disappeared.
Christopher watched him with quiet amusement.
"Well," Christopher said casually, dusting off his coat, "I seem to be a bit lost."
Silver raised an eyebrow.
Christopher continued, as if discussing the weather.
"Would you mind helping me get to a nearby shelter? Somewhere I can teleport from."
Silver hesitated.
Seeing the hesitation, Christopher chuckled lightly.
"Don't worry," he added. "I'll pay you handsomely if you help."
At the mention of payment, Silver's expression subtly changed.
Money.
Silver had always been fond of it.
Besides, this man had just saved his life.
Rejecting the offer would feel both foolish and ungrateful.
"Okay," Silver said without thinking twice.
Christopher smiled, clearly pleased with the answer.
After making a few quick preparations, the two of them began their journey.
Their destination:
Thunder Lord's Shelter.
Deep within the plains, the path ahead stretched into darkness.