Chapter 3

  Open Wound

  Aeron woke up in an unfamiliar bed, his body aching and weak. Sunlight streamed through the wooden-framed window, casting a golden hue across the small, rustic bedroom. His heart pounded as he quickly sat up, scanning the room. Rowan was nowhere in sight. Panic rose in his chest. Where was he? Where was his brother?

  Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Aeron stood, wincing as his muscles protested. He instinctively touched his arm where the Revenant had bitten him. To his surprise, a clean, fresh bandage was wrapped tightly around the wound. Someone had taken care of him. His eyes flickered around the old, creaky bedroom. The place smelled of aged wood and dust. Scattered across a small shelf were a few worn-out toys and trinkets—signs that a child had once lived here.

  Cautiously, Aeron made his way to the door, gripping the handle with tense fingers before slowly pushing it open. The wooden floor groaned beneath his feet as he stepped into the hallway. The scent of cooked food lingered in the air. Following the aroma, he arrived at what appeared to be a dining area. Rowan sat at a sturdy wooden table, hungrily eating a plate of food. Relief flooded Aeron’s chest at the sight of his younger brother alive and well.

  Aeron moved towards the table, his stomach growling as he reached for a plate of his own. Just as he was about to take a bite, the front door creaked open. Instantly, his instincts screamed at him. His grip tightened around the fork in his hand as he turned toward the entrance, his body tensed, ready to defend himself.

  A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped through the door. He was a burly figure, slightly round in the stomach, with a rough appearance that spoke of years of battle. A black eyepatch covered his left eye, and an old, burned scar stretched across his cheek. He carried a heavy presence, one that made Aeron uneasy.

  Without thinking, Aeron shot up from his seat, pointing the fork at the stranger as if it were a weapon.

  The man scoffed, unimpressed. “Relax, lad. Ain’t gonna hurt ya,” he said, voice deep and gruff.

  Aeron didn’t lower his guard. “W-Who are you?” he demanded.

  The man let out a sigh, shaking his head. “Name’s Edric. You must be Aeron. Your brother already told me.” He glanced at Rowan and chuckled. “I was afraid you’d be worse than this fella. He bit my damn hand earlier.”

  Edric lifted his hand, revealing a small but deep bite mark. Rowan only scowled, chewing his food like he couldn’t care less.

  Edric let out a low chuckle. “Eat up. You both been through enough at such a young age.” His tone softened. “I found you two passed out near the kingdom’s gates. Rowan told me what happened… About Orion and Evelyn.” His voice carried a sorrowful weight. “They were my closest friends.”

  At that, Aeron’s grip on the fork loosened. Slowly, he sat back down, casting a glance at Rowan before looking back at Edric. For the first time since their escape, he allowed himself to breathe, even if just a little.

  After finishing their meal, Aeron and Rowan pushed away from the table, their stomachs full for the first time in days. The moment Aeron stood up, his legs nearly gave out beneath him. His body was still weak, but his mind buzzed with urgency. They needed to figure out where they were, and more importantly, what would happen next.

  Aeron slowly stepped toward the front door, his hand hovering over the handle. He turned to Edric. “Are we in…?”

  “Yep,” Edric said, leaning against the doorway. “Welcome to Eldorin, lads. You’ll be living here from now on.”

  With that, he swung the door open.

  The sight that greeted them left Aeron breathless. Bright sunlight flooded the streets, illuminating the bustling kingdom before them. People walked along the cobblestone roads, chatting and laughing. Children ran through the streets, their giggles echoing through the air. The scent of fresh bread and roasting meat wafted from nearby market stalls. Carriages rattled over the stone paths, pulled by strong horses. To Aeron and Rowan—who had spent their entire lives in the quiet, secluded forest—it was unlike anything they had ever seen.

  “Go on,” Edric said, smirking at their stunned expressions. “Explore the kingdom. Just don’t go too far.”

  Aeron turned to Rowan, his excitement bubbling over. “Come on, Rowan, let’s go!”

  Rowan hesitated, frowning. “Do we have to?”

  Aeron rolled his eyes, grabbing his brother’s wrist and pulling him forward. “Yes! Let’s go!”

  They stepped out of the house, taking in the vastness of the kingdom. The streets stretched far and wide, lined with houses, shops, and towering stone walls in the distance. The kingdom felt alive, thriving despite the monstrous dangers lurking beyond its walls.

  As they wandered through the streets, Aeron’s eyes darted around, soaking in every detail. The tall, big horses, the way merchants shouted out prices for their goods, the way armored guards patrolled the streets, the way blacksmiths hammered at molten metal, sending sparks flying—it was all overwhelming, but in the best way.

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  “Look, Rowan!” Aeron exclaimed, pointing ahead.

  Rowan, already annoyed by Aeron’s enthusiasm, sighed. “Ugh, what now?”

  Aeron gestured toward a group of men walking past them. They moved with confidence, their armor polished and weapons secured at their hips. Some carried swords, others bows, and a few had crossbows strapped to their backs.

  “Aren’t those… hunters?” Aeron whispered in awe.

  Rowan raised a brow. “Hunters?”

  “They kill Revenants,” Aeron said, eyes gleaming. “They protect the kingdom from those monsters.”

  The hunters passed by without sparing them a glance, their expressions hardened and focused.

  “And look at that!” Aeron said pointing up at the tall and massive castle from afar “Its huge!” Said Aeron as Rowan looked up, mesmerized by the sight of the castle.

  “Come on, let’s keep exploring!” Aeron said.

  The midday sun hung high above Eldorin, casting golden light over the bustling streets. Aeron and Rowan wandered through the kingdom, taking in the sights of towering stone buildings, busy merchants, and the clatter of horse-drawn carriages. The air smelled of freshly baked bread and sizzling meat, but the peaceful moment didn’t last long.

  A group of kids, led by a boy with messy blond hair and a smug grin, stepped into their path. "Look at these freaks!" the leader, Patrik, sneered. His friends laughed, circling around Aeron and Rowan like vultures. "They don’t even belong here!"

  Rowan tensed beside Aeron, clenching his fists, but Aeron remained quiet, watching them with narrowed eyes.

  "Look at him," another boy pointed at Aeron’s bandaged arm. "He’s been bitten! He’s probably turning into one of those monsters!"

  "Yeah! Maybe he’s already infected! Should we put him down before he eats us?" another taunted, snickering.

  Rowan had enough. With a growl, he lunged forward, ready to throw a punch—

  SPLASH!

  A wave of cold water crashed over the bullies, drenching them from head to toe.

  They gasped and shrieked, flailing their arms as their clothes clung to their skin. Aeron blinked in surprise and turned to see a boy standing near a wooden house, gripping an empty bucket. He looked a year younger than Aeron and Rowan, with messy brown hair and wears brown apron and goggles on his head and brown gloves.

  The bullies sputtered in shock. "W-What the hell?! Who did that?!" Patrik shouted, spinning around.

  The boy lowered the bucket, his face pale. "I-I—"

  Before he could say anything more, a deep, stern voice boomed from inside the house. "Felix, Need your help over here!"

  The boy flinched, his hands shaking slightly. "C-Coming, Dad!" he called back, then hurried inside, slamming the door behind him.

  The bullies stood there, dripping wet and humiliated. Patrik scowled and turned his glare on Aeron and Rowan. "This isn’t over," he spat before storming off, his gang following behind.

  Aeron watched them leave, then glanced at the house where Felix had disappeared. He memorized the name.

  Felix.

  He would remember that.

  The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple as Aeron and Rowan walked through the streets of Eldorin. The kingdom, once bustling with life, now began to quiet down as merchants packed up their stalls and families retreated into their homes.

  Rowan let out a frustrated sigh, kicking a small rock across the cobblestone path. "I still don’t trust him," he muttered.

  Aeron glanced at him. "Come on, Rowan. We have nowhere else to stay," he reasoned.

  Rowan scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Seriously? You don’t even know who that guy is. He’s creepy! Didn’t Mom and Dad always tell us not to trust strangers?"

  Aeron frowned but stood his ground. "But he saved us, Rowan. Back in the forest, if he hadn’t helped, we could be dead right now. And... he knew Mom and Dad. He was close to them. Maybe we can trust him."

  Rowan crossed his arms, clearly annoyed. "Fine! But if that old man turns out to be bad, I swear, I’ll kill you before he can," he threatened, though his words held more frustration than actual malice.

  Aeron sighed in relief and led the way back to Edric’s house. As they approached, the wooden door creaked open slightly under Aeron’s hesitant push. Inside, they found Edric sitting on the worn-out couch, carefully polishing an old, battle-worn sword with a clean cloth.

  At the sound of the door opening, Edric looked up and grinned. "Ah! Thought you two might’ve run off for good. Come in, I made dinner. Sit and eat."

  Rowan didn’t hesitate, walking straight to the table and digging into the food without a word. Aeron followed, but before he could sit, Edric stopped him with a gesture.

  "Aeron, come here for a second," Edric said.

  Aeron hesitated but obeyed, walking over as Edric motioned for his arm. "Let me take a look at that wound."

  Carefully, Edric unwrapped the bandages on Aeron’s arm. The bite mark was still visible, but the wound had closed slightly, showing signs of healing. Edric’s one eye narrowed in curiosity.

  "You were bitten… yet you haven’t turned," he muttered, his voice laced with both amazement and thought. "Fascinating."

  Aeron’s eyes flickered with unease. "What do you mean?"

  Edric let out a small breath, shaking his head. "Your father… Orion. He did this. He actually made a cure for the virus—but he used it on you."

  Aeron stiffened. "What?"

  Edric nodded, his expression turning distant, lost in memory. "Orion was a brilliant scientist. A genius. A great man and a great partner. If anyone could’ve found a way to stop the virus, it was him."

  Aeron swallowed hard, his mind racing. "Then… why didn’t he ever mention you? If you were his partner, why didn’t you two stay close?"

  Edric let out a low, humorless chuckle, a bitter smile on his lips. "That… that was my fault."

  He lifted a hand, pointing at his eyepatch and the burnt, scarred skin on his cheek. "Before I got this… before I became what I am now… I was a hunter. One of the best. I was a leader—strong, fearless, unstoppable." He paused, his voice dropping to almost a whisper. "But everything changed when my wife and two kids were killed by the revenants. Right in front of me."

  Aeron felt his chest tighten at the words.

  Edric’s fingers curled into a fist. "I lost myself to rage. I killed every revenant I could find, fueled by nothing but hatred. I fought until I couldn’t anymore. In the end, I lost my eye, my face was burned, and my will to live was shattered. I locked myself away for months, drowning in my own grief."

  He sighed, shaking his head. "Orion tried to visit me. He tried to help… but I pushed him away. I didn’t want to be saved. So, I shut him out… and I never saw him again."

  A heavy silence settled between them.

  Aeron, without thinking, stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Edric in a hug.

  "You’re not alone anymore, Edric," Aeron murmured. "We’re here now."

  For a moment, Edric remained still. Then, slowly, he lifted a hand and returned the embrace, his tough exterior cracking just a little.

  After a few seconds, he pulled away and cleared his throat. "Go on, lad. Eat with your brother."

  Aeron grinned, wiping his eyes. "Yeah! I’m starving!"

  With that, he ran to the table, finally sitting down beside Rowan as the three of them eat while the night continues.