The lake remained calm as gentle waves touched the shore.
Eyrx and Vaeryn sat side by side with fishing rods in their hands.
Neither of them had caught anything in nearly an hour.
For once, Vaeryn wasn't laughing.
She seemed lost in thought.
Eyrx noticed immediately.
"Why are you suddenly quiet?"
"You were laughing at me five minutes ago."
Vaeryn glanced toward the water.
"When I went back to the car earlier, two men suddenly appeared in front of me."
Eyrx shrugged.
"So?"
"They looked shocked when they saw me."
"And I felt like I'd seen them somewhere before."
Eyrx smacked the top of her head.
Vaeryn nearly fell into the lake.
"Ouch!"
"What was that for?!"
Eyrx rolled his eyes.
"You think too much."
"Sometimes people feel like they've seen something before. That's normal."
Vaeryn splashed water directly into his face.
"Don't hit me then."
"Stop throwing water!"
The argument continued for several minutes.
Eventually both returned to fishing.
Or at least Eyrx did.
Vaeryn had already started planning revenge.
A dangerous smile appeared on her face.
She quietly picked up a large rock.
"Eyrx."
"Look."
"What a beautiful bird."
Eyrx immediately looked up.
"Where?"
While he searched the sky, Vaeryn quickly tied the rock to his fishing line.
A second later she pointed somewhere else.
"Oh."
"It flew away."
Eyrx sighed.
Then suddenly—
His fishing rod became incredibly heavy.
His eyes widened.
"A fish!"
"A big one!"
Vaeryn bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.
Eyrx stood up.
The rod bent dramatically.
"It must be huge!"
"Help me!"
"Pull it!"
Using all his strength, Eyrx yanked the rod upward.
A massive rock flew out of the water.
It crashed beside him with a thunderous boom.
Eyrx froze.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
He turned toward Vaeryn.
She was already laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
"You did this."
Vaeryn fell onto the grass.
"I can't—"
"Hahahaha—"
"You should have seen your face!"
"You almost smashed my head!"
"Then don't stand there."
Eyrx pointed at her.
"I am never coming alone with you again."
"You're more dangerous than my sister."
Vaeryn's laughter stopped.
"You have a sister?"
"Of course."
"Hazel."
For the first time all day, Vaeryn's expression changed.
"What did you say?"
"Hazel."
Vaeryn stared at him for a moment.
"Is Hazel really your sister?"
Eyrx frowned.
"Yes."
"Do you know her?"
Vaeryn quickly looked away.
"No."
"I just heard that name somewhere."
Eyrx didn't notice the lie.
"Fine."
"But this is the last prank I forgive."
---
Two hours later they had caught only three fish.
Three very small fish.
Eyrx stared at them in disappointment.
"This is boring."
Vaeryn nodded.
"Agreed."
"Let's hunt."
---
Far from the lake, two frightened men rushed through the forest.
Eventually they arrived at a hidden camp.
Several rough-looking men sat around a fire.
Their leader raised his head.
A long scar crossed one side of his face.
Nerf.
The same man who guys Vaeryn had humiliated a month ago.
One of the scouts spoke immediately.
"Boss."
"We found them."
Nerf's eyes narrowed.
"The girl?"
The scout nodded.
"And the boy."
A cruel smile slowly appeared on Nerf's face.
"I told you."
"One day we'd find them again."
"The boy is valuable."
"Someone in the Fifth Realm will pay very well for a fighter like him."
The second scout swallowed nervously.
"What about fighting them?"
Nerf laughed.
"No."
"We already learned that lesson."
"Use the sleeping smoke."
"Bring them alive."
The camp immediately became active.
Weapons were gathered.
Horses prepared.
A hunt had begun.
---
Meanwhile, back at the castle—
Nick and Darven continued training.
The sun slowly disappeared behind the mountains.
Darven lowered his sword.
"They've been gone a long time."
Nick wiped sweat from his forehead.
"They always disappear for hours."
Darven looked toward the forest.
"This feels different."
Nick didn't answer.
For the first time that day, he felt uneasy.
---
Unaware of the danger surrounding them, Eyrx and Vaeryn spent the afternoon exploring deeper into the wilderness.
Fields of flowers covered entire hillsides.
Bright colors stretched as far as the eye could see.
The cold wind carried a sweet fragrance through the valley.
Eyrx looked around.
"This place feels like heaven."
Vaeryn sat among the flowers.
"Let's eat first."
She pulled snacks from her bag.
"You carry food everywhere."
"Preparation is important."
After eating, they climbed higher into the mountains.
The journey was exhausting.
But the view at the top stole their breath away.
Forests.
Lakes.
Mountains.
Everything stretched across the horizon beneath the golden light of sunset.
"Beautiful."
Eyrx nodded.
For once he had nothing sarcastic to say.
Then movement caught his eye.
A deer.
Bang!
His rifle fired.
The animal collapsed.
"I got one!"
Vaeryn immediately pointed elsewhere.
"So did I!"
Excitement replaced exhaustion.
Before long they had gathered several animals.
Eyrx grinned.
"We'll take some home."
"And sell the rest."
Vaeryn's eyes sparkled.
"Then I'll buy jewelry."
"Take it to my realm."
"And sell it for double."
Eyrx laughed.
"You really have a fox brain."
"It's called business."
---
As they finally returned to the car, the sky had turned orange.
Sunset painted the forest in warm colors.
They loaded their catch into the vehicle.
Then—
A strange smell reached Eyrx's nose.
Smoke.
Thick.
Sweet.
Wrong.
"What is that?"
Vaeryn covered her mouth.
"I can't breathe properly."
The world began spinning.
Trees blurred.
Their legs weakened.
Eyrx tried to stand.
Failed.
The last thing he saw was several shadowy figures emerging from the forest.
Then darkness swallowed everything.
---
When Eyrx finally opened his eyes—
No.
He wasn't awake.
Neither was Vaeryn.
Both remained unconscious.
Their hands and feet were tightly bound by ropes.
Nearby, Nerf watched them with satisfaction.
"Prepare the transport."
"We leave for the Fifth Realm tonight."
Outside the hideout, the last light of sunset disappeared beyond the horizon.