The forest felt different.
Not dangerous.
Not quiet.
Just… aware.
After the figure vanished, no one spoke for a while. Even Aria stayed silent, her thoughts heavier than anything around her.
Unstable… but viable.
The words replayed in her head.
Again.
And again.
"You're doing it again," Alpha Kael said, his voice low as they walked.
Aria didn't look at him. "Thinking?"
"Overthinking."
She exhaled lightly. "You heard what it said."
"I did."
"And you're not worried?"
Kael stopped walking.
So did she.
He turned to face her fully.
"I'm not worried about what it said."
Pause.
"I'm watching what you do."
That made her pause.
"…And?"
Kael's gaze didn't waver.
"You're still choosing yourself."
Something in her chest shifted slightly.
Not fully relief.
But close.
Behind them, Ikechukwu let out a small sound.
"Hm."
They both looked back at him.
He tapped his staff lightly.
Tok.
"You dey try… but something still dey come."
Aria frowned. "You've been saying that since yesterday."
He shrugged.
"And I never lie."
That didn't help.
Before she could respond—
The wind shifted again.
Not cold.
Not heavy.
Sharp.
Kael's expression changed instantly.
"You feel that?"
Aria nodded slowly.
"Yeah…"
But this time—
It wasn't unfamiliar.
It felt like—
Recognition.
Her wrist pulsed once.
Soft.
Not painful.
Then—
Voices.
Faint.
Distant.
Calling.
Aria's steps slowed.
Then stopped.
"Do you hear that?"
Kael frowned. "Hear what?"
Ikechukwu tilted his head slightly.
"…I no hear anything."
Aria's eyes narrowed slightly.
The voices became clearer.
Come.
Her breath caught.
"Aria?"
She didn't answer.
Her gaze lifted slightly.
Toward the deeper part of the forest.
Come.
This time
Closer.
Stronger.
She took a step forward.
Kael grabbed her wrist instantly.
"Don't."
She blinked.
Like she just snapped out of something.
"…They're calling me."
Kael's grip tightened slightly.
"No one is calling you."
Aria shook her head.
"No… you don't understand…"
Her voice lowered.
"They're not forcing me."
That made it worse.
"They're asking."
Ikechukwu stepped closer.
"Who?"
Aria hesitated.
Then—
"…I don't know."
The wind blew again.
Stronger.
This time—
Kael felt it too.
Something moved in the distance.
Not hidden.
Not silent.
Deliberate.
Ikechukwu's voice dropped.
"E don start."
Kael released Aria slowly—but stepped in front of her.
"Stay behind me."
She didn't argue this time.
The trees ahead shifted.
Branches bending.
Leaves rustling.
Then—
Figures appeared.
Not like the creatures from before.
Not like the cloaked one.
These ones looked…
Closer to human.
But not fully.
Their eyes glowed faintly.
Their movements too smooth.
Too synchronized.
And all of them—
Looked at Aria.
At once.
Her heart skipped.
"They're the ones…"
Kael's voice turned sharp.
"Don't move."
One of them stepped forward.
Not aggressive.
Not threatening.
Calm.
Then it spoke.
"Carrier of deviation."
Aria's jaw tightened slightly.
"I really need a better title."
No reaction.
"You have been acknowledged."
Kael stepped forward slightly.
"She's not going anywhere."
The figure ignored him.
Its gaze stayed on Aria.
"You are required."
The words hit differently.
Not requested.
Not invited.
Required.
Aria felt something twist in her chest.
"Required for what?"
A pause.
Then—
"For the next phase."
Silence.
Kael's eyes darkened.
"What phase?"
The figure tilted its head slightly.
"The hunt."
Everything froze.
Even the air felt heavier.
Ikechukwu exhaled slowly.
"…Hunt ke?"
Aria's pulse quickened.
"What kind of hunt?"
The figure stepped closer.
This time—
The others moved too.
Surrounding them.
Controlled.
Calculated.
"Survival determines value."
Kael's voice dropped dangerously low.
"No."
The figure didn't stop.
"Those who endure…"
Pause.
"…remain."
Aria's fingers curled slightly.
"And those who don't?"
Silence.
Then
"They are removed."
The meaning was clear.
Kael stepped forward again.
His aura rising instantly.
"I said no."
The pressure in the air spiked.
The figures stopped.
But they didn't back down.
"You do not decide."
Kael's eyes flashed.
"I do."
For a moment—
It looked like it would turn into a fight.
But then—
Aria stepped forward.
"Wait."
Both Kael and Ikechukwu turned to her.
"Aria—"
She shook her head slightly.
"They're not here to fight."
Kael frowned.
"And you trust that?"
Aria's gaze stayed on the figures.
"No."
Pause.
"But I understand it."
That was worse.
She stepped forward fully now.
Standing in front of Kael.
"If I don't go… they won't stop."
Kael's voice was sharp.
"Then we make them."
Aria looked at him.
Calm.
Certain.
"No."
That one word carried weight.
"Because this isn't about them."
She touched her wrist lightly.
"It's about me."
Silence.
Kael clenched his jaw.
"…You're not doing this alone."
Aria held his gaze.
"I won't."
Then she looked at Ikechukwu.
"You're coming too."
He blinked.
"…I no even get choice again abi?"
She smirked slightly.
"Not really."
He sighed.
"…Wahala full ground."
The figures stepped back slightly.
Creating a path.
"Proceed."
Aria took a breath.
Then stepped forward.
Kael followed immediately.
No hesitation.
Ikechukwu followed behind them.
Still shaking his head.
As they walked deeper into the forest—
The light around them began to fade.
The path narrowing.
The air tightening.
And somewhere ahead—
Something waited.
Not watching.
Not judging.
Hunting.
And this time…
They were walking straight into it.