Chapter 1 : The Boy in the Forest

The forest was alive with movement. Birds flitted between branches, their songs weaving through the canopy like a living melody. Leaves rustled in the breeze, swaying gently under golden streaks of sunlight. Unseen creatures scurried through the undergrowth, their tiny feet barely making a sound against the moss-covered ground.

Amid this serenity—

A boy ran.

His breath came in ragged gasps, his chest rising and falling in sharp, desperate movements. Sweat dripped from his brow, mixing with the dirt that clung to his face. His dark hair was matted against his forehead, his muscles burning from exhaustion. Yet he did not stop.

He could not stop.

Behind him, heavy paws thundered against the earth. Twigs snapped. Bushes trembled. Growls echoed through the forest like the sound of death itself approaching.

Wolves.

They were close. Too close.

The boy dared a glance over his shoulder. Shadows weaved through the trees, low to the ground, their yellow eyes gleaming with hunger. Their sleek forms moved in perfect unison, the pack hunting as one, their fangs bared, dripping with anticipation.

His heart pounded against his ribs. He was running out of time.

Then—the trees parted, revealing nothing but open air.

His feet skidded to a stop, sending dirt and pebbles tumbling down a jagged cliffside. Below, a river snaked through the valley, its surface shimmering under the sunlight, but the drop was far—too far.

A dead end.

The wolves slowed their chase, fanning out in a half-circle around him. Their movements were calculated, their bodies tense, coiled like springs ready to pounce. Saliva dripped from their maws as they snarled, their growls deep and guttural.

The boy turned slowly, backing toward the edge.

His mind screamed for a way out, but there was none.

His hands clenched into fists. Is this it? Is this how I die?

He closed his eyes, inhaling shakily. Then, softly, he whispered, "I'm sorry, Lily… I couldn't find you. Please… be safe."

The lead wolf lunged.

The boy jumped.

The wind roared in his ears. The world blurred as he plummeted downward, his stomach twisting violently. For a moment, he felt weightless—suspended between life and death.

Then—impact.

The river swallowed him whole.

The last thing he heard before darkness took him was the frustrated howls of the wolves above.

Hours Earlier

The forest had been peaceful then. The sun was high in the sky, filtering through the trees in warm, golden rays. Two figures moved along a narrow path—one a young boy, around thirteen, and the other a girl, no older than seven.

The girl had bright, wide eyes, their light reflecting the innocent wonder of childhood. Her small hands clung to the hem of her brother's shirt as she gazed up at him with a pout.

"Big Brother, how much further is the town?" she whined. "I'm tired. We've been walking forever."

The boy looked down at her with a small, reassuring smile. "Not much longer, Lily. We'll be there by sundown."

"But I'm hungry," she murmured, rubbing her stomach.

He chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Once we reach town, we can have all the delicious food you want. Meat pies, warm bread, honey cakes—anything you like."

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. She lifted her pinky toward him. "Promise?"

His smile softened. He intertwined his pinky with hers. "Promise."

The moment of warmth shattered.

A rustle in the bushes.

The siblings froze.

Then—wolves.

They slithered out from the shadows, their bodies sleek and powerful, their golden eyes glowing in the dim light. They circled the children, their movements slow, calculated.

The boy's heart pounded against his ribs. He pushed Lily behind him, reaching for the small knife at his waist.

The leader lunged.

A blur of fangs and claws—

He barely had time to react. He swung his knife wildly, catching the wolf's stomach. A sharp yelp pierced the air as the beast staggered back, but the pack only grew bolder.

They were surrounded.

Thinking fast, the boy grabbed Lily's hand and ran.

Branches whipped against their skin as they dashed through the trees. Behind them, paws pounded against the earth. The snarls of their pursuers grew louder, closer.

Then—the boy spotted a hollow beneath a massive tree.

He knelt, turning to Lily. His hands gripped her shoulders tightly. "Hide here. No matter what happens, don't come out until I come back. Do you understand?"

Tears welled in her eyes. "B-but—"

"Promise me, Lily!"

Her bottom lip trembled. She nodded.

Without another word, he turned and ran, drawing the wolves away.

For what felt like an eternity, he ran. His lungs burned. His vision blurred. But eventually—the growls faded. The wolves had given up the chase.

Panting, he wiped his brow and turned back toward the hiding spot.

But when he arrived—

Lily was gone.

Panic clawed at his chest.

"Lily!"

No answer.

"LILY!"

The forest swallowed his cries.

Then, from the shadows, the wolves reappeared.

And so, he ran again—until the cliff.

Until the river.

Until darkness.

The world was hazy. His body felt heavy, as though he were floating in a dream. Voices murmured in the distance, their words muffled, indistinct.

A boy lay unconscious on the riverbank, his body wrapped in fresh bandages. His wet clothes clung to his skin, his breaths shallow but steady.

Beside him, a silver-haired girl sat, gently wringing a damp cloth. She appeared to be around fifteen, dressed in a crisp maid's uniform. A little farther away, another boy sat cross-legged, his hands resting on his knees.

This boy was younger—perhaps twelve—but what stood out most was the cloth wrapped around his eyes. He was blind.

The blind boy tilted his head. "He's waking up."

The unconscious boy groaned softly, his fingers twitching. His eyelids fluttered open, his vision blurred.

"Good," the blind boy said with a small smile. "You were out for a while. Found you floating in the river."

The silver-haired girl remained silent, watching him carefully.

The boy blinked sluggishly, his mind clouded with exhaustion. He opened his mouth, but no words came.

The blind boy chuckled. "Relax, you're safe now. My name's Harvis—but you can call me Harvy." He tilted his head slightly. "What about you?"