The violet tint still clung to the sky when Viktor reached the gates of Selwick. The port city was buzzing with tension—soldiers moving in rigid lines, carriages unloading supplies, officials whispering behind raised hands. Everyone stared at the forest to the west, as if something inside it might walk out at any moment.

  Viktor tightened the straps of his small travel pack. “So this is where the light led me…”

  He’d expected chaos. Instead, the city was quiet—too quiet. The kind of quiet that feels like the air is holding its breath.

  A group of two men in plain but functional attire moved past him. Their posture was precise, their gear technical: metal tools, measuring devices, and notebooks strapped to belts. Not soldiers, not guards—they were professionals, trained for something far more serious than street fighting.

  Viktor slowed, watching them. They spoke briefly in hushed tones, gesturing toward the forest. Their eyes scanned constantly, alert to the slightest anomaly.

  “Teams one and two have entered the Arkenleaf perimeter,” one said softly, almost to himself. “Still no contact.”

  Viktor’s chest tightened. Whatever fell from the sky wasn’t just a strange meteor—people were already disappearing.

  He stepped away from the crowd, scanning the busy street. He wanted to find information quietly, but someone suddenly bumped into him—hard.

  A boy, maybe two years younger than Viktor, staggered back and nearly dropped the stack of books he was carrying. Thin, black-haired, blue-eyed—so blue they almost seemed silver under the fading light. He wore simple clothes and looked like he’d rather blend into the shadows than be seen.

  “Sorry! I wasn’t looking,” the boy stuttered.

  “It’s fine,” Viktor said, helping him steady the books.

  But one notebook slipped, falling open at Viktor’s feet.

  Viktor’s eyes caught a glimpse before the boy snatched it up:

  hand-drawn maps, street layouts, notes about the forest’s geography… and a sketch of the violet sky.

  “You study this stuff?” Viktor asked.

  The boy’s face went red. “N-No. I mean—yes. I mean—just as a hobby.”

  Viktor raised an eyebrow. “You draw formations for fun?”

  “I… like patterns,” he muttered.

  Before Viktor could ask more, the ground trembled. A heavy thud echoed through the street, followed by shouts.

  People screamed.

  Viktor spun toward the city square. A group of rough-looking men poured in through the southern alleyways—bandits. About fifteen of them, armed with axes, daggers, and rusted blades.

  Of course—most guards were away.

  The bandits spread through the crowd like wolves, kicking down market stalls and dragging terrified civilians to the ground.

  “Perfect timing,” Viktor muttered. Not in the good way.

  The shy boy beside him froze, clutching his books to his chest.

  Viktor stepped in front instinctively. “Stay behind me.”

  He scanned for anything he could use. A broken broom handle on the ground. Good enough. He gripped it like a short staff.

  A bandit lunged.

  Viktor ducked low, driving the wooden handle into the man’s ribs. The bandit coughed, stumbling back.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Another came from the left. Viktor blocked the strike, barely. “Come on…”

  More civilians screamed behind him. He couldn’t protect all of them alone.

  A sharp whistle cut the air.

  A spear flashed.

  It struck the ground between two bandits, stopping them cold.

  A tall, green-eyed brunette jumped down from a rooftop, landing with a cocky grin.

  “Miss me?” Ethan asked, pulling the spear free.

  Viktor exhaled in relief. “Took you long enough.”

  “Well, you walk fast,” Ethan joked before swinging his spear in a sweeping arc that forced the bandits back.

  The shy boy peeked out from behind Viktor. His breaths were shaky, but his eyes… sharp. Focused. Calculating.

  Viktor noticed it.

  “You see something?” he asked.

  Haruki nodded slowly. “They’re… uncoordinated. But the leader—look.” He pointed subtly. “The one with the red cloth on his arm. He’s signaling with his fingers. That’s their pattern.”

  Viktor blinked. “How did you—”

  “If you disable him,” Haruki continued softly, “the others will fall into chaos. Their formation collapses.”

  Ethan overheard. “Formation? They’re bandits.”

  “They’re organized bandits,” Haruki corrected. “But just barely. Remove the core and the rest crumble.”

  Viktor glanced at Ethan.

  Ethan smirked. “I like this kid.”

  The leader barked another order, and the bandits closed in.

  Viktor took a breath. “Haruki, stay behind us. Ethan—cut left. I’ll take center.”

  “For the lightshow in the sky?” Ethan asked, already cracking his knuckles.

  “For the people,” Viktor answered.

  They moved.

  Ethan burst through the left flank, spear spinning with raw force. Viktor dodged and countered with precision, knocking weapons away and redirecting strikes. The broom handle cracked with every block but somehow held.

  Chaos exploded.

  Haruki watched from behind a toppled cart, eyes darting from one movement to another. “Leader moving right… three following… no, four…”

  He wasn’t just observing—he was reading the battlefield like a puzzle.

  “Ethan! Right side! Now!” Haruki yelled.

  Ethan didn’t question it. He pivoted instantly, slamming the spear’s butt into the leader’s stomach.

  The leader gasped and collapsed.

  Just like Haruki predicted, the formation shattered.

  The remaining bandits panicked, stumbled, and fled in different directions—no unity, no orders, just fear.

  Viktor let out a breath, lowering what remained of the broom. “Well… that happened.”

  Ethan twirled his spear. “We make a good team.”

  Haruki slowly stood, brushing dust off his clothes. “I-I wasn’t really helping. You two did all the work.”

  “You saved lives,” Viktor said firmly. “That’s what matters.”

  Haruki looked down, embarrassed—but also quietly proud.

  Before they could say anything else, horns blared across the city. Soldiers rushed back from the forest, shouting orders.

  An officer addressed the crowd:

  “The investigation team has not returned. All civilians are to remain inside the city. No one enters the forest until further notice!”

  Whispers rippled through the people.

  “No return?”

  “Not even one?”

  “What did they see in there?”

  Viktor’s stomach tightened again. The purple light… the pull he felt… the disappearance of trained professionals…

  It wasn’t random.

  Haruki glanced at the forest, expression unreadable. “Something in there changed,” he whispered.

  Ethan exhaled sharply. “Yeah. And whatever fell from the sky? Definitely bad news.”

  Haruki hugged his books closer. “No… not bad news.” His blue eyes reflected the faint violet glow still lingering above the treetops.

  “It’s worse. Whatever fell… wants something.”

  Viktor felt the same truth in his bones.

  The mysteries of this vast world weren’t just calling to him—

  They were awakening.

  End of Chapter Three