The sun had barely crested the horizon when the first snort echoed through the trees.

  Albert reined in his horse, nostrils fring as he scanned the sparse clearing ahead. Kyle followed suit, his own mount uneasy beneath him, hooves pawing the ground.

  Then they appeared.

  Six of them. Maybe more. Hulking, grotesque boar-like creatures—twice the size of a farm pig—snorting and stomping the earth. Their thick, bristled hides shimmered oddly in the light, a sickly sheen clinging to their matted fur. Jagged tusks curled outward like scythes, and their red-glowing eyes burned with mindless hunger.

  “Tuskgorgs,” Albert muttered, dismounting in one fluid motion. “Idiotic swines. Should’ve known something was off with the smell in the air.”

  Kyle slid down more cautiously, hand already on the hilt of his dagger. He didn’t draw it. Not yet.

  Albert stepped forward, sword already unsheathed. With a flick of his wrist, the bde ignited, fiery tongues licking along the steel, bzing brighter with each heartbeat.

  The Tuskgorgs didn’t wait.

  They charged.

  Albert met them head-on.

  The first Tuskgorg lunged, its massive weight tearing into the earth with each bound. Albert didn’t sidestep. He drove forward, fire trailing behind his ssh. His bde cut clean through the creature’s snout, fire searing flesh and bone in an instant. It squealed, staggered, then colpsed in a heap of charred fur and twitching limbs.

  The others didn’t flinch. They circled, smarter than they looked, one veering left, another to the right. One charged straight for Kyle.

  Albert was faster.

  He dashed across the clearing in a blur, shoulder smashing into the charging beast’s neck, throwing it off-course. His knee came up in the same motion, an explosion of raw force enhanced by his Shard, cracking bone. Then the sword sang again. This time, he didn’t ssh.

  He thrust, driving the fiery bde through the creature’s ribs. The fire pulsed once before erupting outward, a plume of molten light bursting through its back.

  The beast dropped.

  Kyle hadn’t moved.

  He didn’t need to. Not yet.

  Another Tuskgorg closed in from behind, its guttural roar sending birds scattering from the trees. Albert turned too te.

  Kyle didn’t.

  He stepped forward, fluid and silent, dagger fshing out just once.

  It was a precise, surgical cut, across the eyes. Not enough to kill, but enough to blind.

  The creature reeled, tusks swinging wildly in confusion. Albert took it from there, slicing deep into its fnk, then finishing it with a brutal two-handed ssh down the spine.

  The fire on his bde roared with each kill, greedily feeding off the momentum.

  Two Tuskgorgs remained.

  They charged together.

  Albert grinned.

  His Shard surged.

  He ducked low, muscles tightening, fire fring, and then he leapt.

  A blur of fme and motion, he soared above the monsters, twisting in the air. The world seemed to slow, just for a second. Kyle could see every detail: the way Albert’s eyes narrowed in mid-flight, the exact arc of the fming bde, the perfect poise of someone who had done this a thousand times.

  Albert came down like a meteor.

  The first beast's head was cleaved in half before it could even squeal. The second turned, only to meet a savage kick that cracked ribs and sent it sprawling. Albert didn’t give it time to recover. He followed with a roar, swinging the bde in a wide arc.

  Fire ignited the grass.

  The final Tuskgorg screamed as it was engulfed, filing until the fmes consumed even that.

  Silence returned, broken only by the crackling of burning brush and the heavy breath of two survivors.

  Albert rolled his shoulders, sword flicking to the side, the fire extinguishing in a single smooth motion.

  Kyle hadn’t moved more than a few feet.

  Albert gnced over, lips twitching in the barest hint of a smile. “You pnning on just standing there the whole time?”

  Kyle’s grip on his dagger loosened. “I was ready.”

  “I noticed.” Albert walked past, patting his shoulder with an ash-streaked hand. “You do good watching.”

  Kyle watched the st flickers of fme dying on the scorched earth.

  The smell of blood, smoke, and burnt fur lingered.

  Tuskgorgs.

  “What’s your Shard ability? Speed boost?” Kyle asked as he mounted on his dark ride.

  “Complete physical attribute enhancement.” Albert replied as he also began to sit on his horse. “My ability isn’t as broken as many people I know, but it ain’t bad either. Got lucky.”

  Kyle didn’t reply but his thoughts were racing.Shards were as unique as the creatures that bore them. A Shard with an affinity for fire could grant pyromancy, allowing its wielder to conjure fmes from nothingness, manipute heat, or even summon infernos with a thought.

  But not all Shards adhered to such straightforward paths. Some carried rare and unpredictable affinities. A Shard tied to permeability, for example, could enable its bearer to phase through solid objects, slipping through walls as if they were mist or blending into shadows unnoticed.

  Humans, Monsters, and even the nd's more enigmatic creatures had a connection to these fragments. For Monsters, a Shard often defined their abilities, shaping their threat to the world and dictating their pce in the hierarchy of predators.

  A Griffin with a frost affinity Shard could freeze entire rivers with a single breath, while a simple wolf imbued with a tracking Shard could never lose the scent of its prey, no matter how faint.

  Humans, too, were deeply intertwined with the power of Shards. Those fortunate enough to awaken theirs gained abilities that defied the mundane. Yet, human Shards were not just tools for survival or conflict, they were a reflection of individuality. Two people with the same Shard affinity might manifest entirely different abilities.

  After that, the ride to the Baron's estate had been mostly quiet, save for some discussions between Albert and Kyle. Albert had filled the silence with talk of the Wyvern—its unusual activity in the region, its size, and why it might be straying so close to towns. Kyle listened, nodding at the right times, but his focus drifted constantly back to his mother.

  When the conversation shifted to the Barony and what to say about Kyle’s mother, Albert reassured him. "We stick to the facts," he said. "Your mother is a healer, and healers are bound by their duty. We highlight that she healed a sve under no knowledge of their involvement in the murder." Kyle could only hope the Baron would see reason.

  Kyle still believed that his mother didn’t help those sves, but all the facts pointed towards her, so he didn’t say anything regarding the matter to Albert.

  They also exchanged bits of their lives, Albert spoke about his party, the challenges of being a B-Rank adventurer, and the danger that came with it. Kyle, on the other hand, revealed little about himself, keeping his answers short. His mind was elsewhere, repying the events that had brought them here.

  The Baron's estate was an imposing structure surrounded by sprawling gardens and high stone walls. The town itself was beautiful, with cobblestone streets, colorful market stalls, and an air of prosperity that was a stark contrast to Kyle's vilge. But none of it mattered to him. His focus was on the massive iron gate that loomed ahead.

  A guard stepped forward as they approached. "State your business," he demanded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

  Albert reached into his pocket and pulled out a small gold medallion, holding it up for the guard to see. The guard's eyes widened slightly. "Sir Adventurer," he said, his tone immediately more respectful. "Please, come in." He gestured to another guard to open the gate, and with a loud creak, the two were granted entry.

  Kyle followed Albert through the gates, his jaw clenched tightly. The estate was even more impressive inside, with its grand architecture, fountains, and manicured gardens, but Kyle barely noticed. He had one goal: to save his mother.

  They were led into a waiting room with plush chairs and a low table. A servant entered soon after, setting down a tray with steaming cups of tea and a selection of biscuits. Kyle ignored them, his eyes darting to the door every time footsteps echoed down the hall.

  Albert sipped his tea calmly, seemingly unbothered by the situation. Kyle couldn’t understand how he could be so composed. “That medallion,” Kyle said suddenly, needing a distraction. “What is it?”

  Albert smirked slightly, holding it up for Kyle to see. “This proves I’m a B-Rank Adventurer. It’s not easy to earn, and it comes with its perks, like getting an audience with people like the Baron.”

  "B-Rank sounds impressive," Kyle said, though his tone was distant.

  "It is. Not many adventurers make it this far," Albert replied with a touch of pride.

  Before Kyle could ask more, the door opened, and the Baron entered.

  The man was of medium stature, his grey beard neatly trimmed, his bald head gleaming under the light. He wore a richly embroidered robe that signified his status. Despite his age, his eyes were sharp, scrutinizing both men as he stepped forward.

  “Albert,” the Baron said, his voice deep and measured. “It’s been some time. And who’s this?” His gaze shifted to Kyle.

  Kyle stood abruptly, his fists clenched, but Albert motioned for him to sit back down. “My companion, Kyle,” Albert said. “We’re here on two loosely connected matters, Sir. One concerning a Wyvern, and the other, more urgent, concerning his mother.”

  The Baron raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “I see. Well, let’s hear it then.”

  Albert began recounting the details of his mission, his tone grave. "Sir, while doing a mission near the northern mountains, my party encountered a Wyvern with curse reted abilities. It struck us without warning, killing most of the people in the area. Of the ten present, only three of us survived."

  The Baron's brow furrowed. "A Wyvern in the Northern Forest? That’s far too close to the town. "

  Albert nodded. "And its presence is driving other Beasts and Monsters out of their usual territories. The forest surrounding this area is no longer safe."

  The Baron leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "And you mentioned curses? What kind?"

  "The Wyvern has a unique ability," Albert said. "It can inflict a variety of curses, crippling wounds that don’t heal, madness and what not. A member of my party suffered from a deformity, which caused him a lot of pain, and it was just because of Kyle’s mother that he was able to receive relief. This isn’t something we can ignore. If it moves closer to the town, it could cause catastrophic damage."

  The Baron let out a slow exhale. "This is no small issue. I’ll send a request for reinforcements to the Count immediately. This needs to be dealt with before it escates."

  Albert nodded in agreement. "Thank you, sir. I’ll remain in the area to assist, should the Count’s forces need an experienced tracker."

  The Baron gave a curt nod. "Very well. Now, about the other matter… Kyle’s mother, you said?" He turned his sharp gaze to Kyle, who sat stiffly in his chair.

  “A Sve Caravan was attacked by something, and in that incident a few sves escaped, and killed-” Albert said but was interrupted by the Baron.

  “Yes, in that accident my right hand, Rowan was also injured, he is currently resting. Everyone else died, except for him and those two sves. Such a tragedy.” Baron said. “Your mother was taken into custody right?” He turned towards Kyle.

  Kyle leaned forward, his voice trembling with both urgency and anger. "My mother is innocent. She’s being accused of removing curses from the sves, but she had no knowledge of their intentions. She’s a healer, she helps anyone who comes to her. That’s her duty."

  The Baron’s expression didn’t change. "I’ve already reviewed the reports, young man. The evidence against her is compelling. The sves she healed went on to murder the Viscount’s son."

  Kyle’s fists clenched. "She didn’t know they would do that! She just removed their curses. That’s all."

  The Baron raised a hand, silencing him. "Intentions aside, her actions had consequences. The Viscount’s son is dead. This is no minor crime, it’s treason against the Kingdom. The Viscount himself has demanded justice."

  Albert interjected, his tone calm but firm. "Sir, with all due respect, a healer’s duty is sacred. She was following her calling, not plotting treason. Is it fair to punish someone for doing their job?"

  “This is not about fairness, Albert. I would really love to help you out, but this is something I can’t do, at least not right now. The Viscount has spoken and my hands are tied. His family is very powerful, and their wrath is not something we can afford to provoke.” The Baron said. “I can go to the Count but that will not work either. The Viscount has grown so much in the st decade that even the Count is wary of him.”

  Kyle shot to his feet, his voice breaking. "So you’re just going to let an innocent woman take the bme? My mother, she’s never harmed anyone in her life! She doesn’t deserve this!"

  His fists trembled. His eyes burned.

  And sitting right in front of him, the Baron only smiled.

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