— So, you brought me here to kill me?
My voice, cold and sharp, broke the silence, and the air around us immediately tensed. A shiver ran through the group, a breath suspended between uncertainty and threat.
Each of their gazes became sharper, and as if an invisible signal had been given, hands instinctively moved to weapons. The metallic sound of blades brushing against leather sheaths echoed faintly but enough to make the tension palpable.
I was well aware of the weight of my question. It wasn't just a question; it was a challenge, a veiled accusation.
The group, suddenly on alert, watched my movements, every breath held, ready to react to the slightest threat.
I wasn't stupid. I knew a sacrifice was inevitable, but the question was: who would make the first move?
— ANTHONY!
A strong and firm voice, as sharp as a blade's strike, stopped me in my tracks. It was Janna.
She stood up, her piercing gaze fixed on me, and with undeniable authority, she ordered:
— Sit down now and listen to the rest of the conversation before jumping to conclusions!
Her presence commanded respect, and despite the prevailing tension, I didn't dare reply. Every word she spoke seemed to weigh heavily in the air, and even those who had hesitated to react froze under the strength of her voice.
Then again, did I really want to fight? Not really. No, I was far too tired of this life. I had found those who had reached out to me, those who had given me a second chance. This time, if a sacrifice had to be made, it would be me. I wouldn't run. What for? A beast's life? An existence condemned to suffering, carnage, and madness? No, thank you.
I was no longer that animal, nor that monster. If my role in this world was to disappear so others could survive, then I would accept it, in silence.
That's when Elsa spoke. An unshakable poise, worthy of Romain, emanated from her. Her authority resonated in every syllable she uttered, and in her eyes, a determination as cold as iron. They were of the same mold, Romain and her. No doubt, she was cut from the same cloth.
"First of all, here, we've acquired professions," she said, interrupting my thoughts. I didn't understand where she was going with this, but she continued without waiting.
— Some are cooks, others alchemists, others still blacksmiths… but the common thread among all these professions is that the identification skill is essential for material gathering. And by using it over and over, we've all improved that ability. But Olivier, the one who pushed this skill to the adept level, is the only one, along with Leonard, to have developed it in a unique way. They're both cooks, a profession that requires great mastery of resource identification.
I sensed something important was coming, but I stayed silent, waiting for the rest.
— One day, she said, Olivier activated his skill on the sky, by accident. What he saw then… It was a revelation, a disturbing one. He discovered he was a Xylorath, of Vestige rank.
A heavy silence fell, as her words slowly found their way into my mind. A Xylorath? A "Vestige" rank? Those terms… everything she said felt as mysterious as it was worrying.
— The problem, Elsa continued, is that we don't know what it means. We don't even know if it's only linked to the sky or if it applies to everyone in this tutorial. The Vestige rank—we know absolutely nothing about it.
She paused, as if letting the weight of her words settle on each of us.
— But just in case, she added with cold determination, instead of sacrificing someone, we decided… most of us, at least… to try something riskier. We looked for clues, for solutions, but after weeks of failures, we made a decision: to go in four different directions. To split the group. Maybe by exploring these paths separately, we'll find a way out, an end to this forest… or at least something that could lead us toward an answer.
I could feel the frustration and weariness in her voice, as if the situation had reached a breaking point. Their patience was at its limit, and I knew that, from their side, the pressure must've been immense. But the most troubling thing remained this story of Xylorath and the "Vestige" rank… Something was slipping through my fingers, but I had neither the time nor the energy to unravel it for now. The group seemed ready to do anything to move forward, even split up in this hell.
— But we're determined to risk our lives, to leave the comfort of camp to search for this solution, said Elsa, her eyes full of resignation and resolve. I hope you'll help us too.
I didn't hesitate for a second. Their cause seemed just, and I had suffered too much in solitude to refuse a new chance.
— You can count on me, I replied in a calm but firm voice. I'll take one path alone. But before that, I have a request.
I turned to my former group. I never imagined this moment would ever come.
I bowed slightly, a humble, almost solemn gesture, and in a sad voice, I made my request:
— Could you take me to see him, please?
I didn't need to say more. I saw in their eyes that they understood. They knew who I was talking about. They knew it was the one I had left behind, the one who had always been my little brother in my mind.
Jules, after a heavy silence, spoke.
— We were planning to go together, but before that, let's organize the groups, eat a bit, and then we'll go.
What followed was a meeting where everyone gave their opinion on how to build the groups. Everyone seemed to have a clear idea of the best way to distribute the roles. I was determined to go alone. I knew the forest wouldn't be a problem for me, and if danger came, I could always run or hide.
Yet Marie, for a reason I didn't understand, insisted that I be accompanied by at least one person.
I gave in, reluctantly. But at that moment, Cassandre insisted on coming with me. Strangely, I didn't mind. Her insistence, her childlike energy, seemed to soothe a part of me I hadn't yet acknowledged.
The group accepted, not without a few hesitations.
Next came the group of Romain, Pierre, Leonard, and Elmir. It was a balanced group, though it lacked a mage or healer. I knew that even without those two abilities, they'd be able to handle tough situations thanks to their brute strength and experience.
Then came the group of Olivier, Janna, Angélique, and Olivia. Though they lacked a heavy warrior, their strength lay in their mage's devastating power. With Angélique among them, they lacked nothing in terms of magical might.
Finally, Elsa's group, composed of three people: herself, Marie, and Jules. I wasn't worried about them—after all, Jules was with them. It was a solid group despite its small size. Their combined skills were impressive.
Then we ate. The meal, though simple, warmed something in me. I hadn't had hot food in ages, nothing cooked. It brought back memories, lost moments of humanity.
Just sharing a meal around a fire, with others, warmed my heart.
The conversations gradually resumed, each sharing their experience of the past year. Voices rose around the fire, intertwining in a sincere exchange, full of relief and nostalgia. I felt like a stranger, but at the same time, their words comforted me in a way I hadn't felt in a long time.
— We didn't hear much from you, Anthony, you know..., said Jules, a slight smile on his lips, but his eyes betrayed a hint of sadness.
— We often wondered what happened to you. But deep down, we knew we'd find you again.
There was something in his voice, a mix of relief and pain, as if it had taken all this time to accept my disappearance without being able to move on.
Romain, sitting beside him, added in a deeper voice:
— You vanished overnight, and we had to fight to survive, not knowing if you were alive or not. It was... hard. You were our pillar during battles, Anthony. Without you, we felt lost. But we found our strength, we carried on.
A heavy silence fell, each member of the group bearing the burden of absence, but also the pride of not having given up. Marie, sensing the silence becoming too heavy, broke the moment like a breath of fresh air, her smile lighting up the scene.
— But we survived, didn't we? And you know, we've all become... stronger. United. Closer than ever.
She turned to me, a kind look in her eyes.
— I think we all grew up a bit these past months, even without you. But now that you're here... It changes everything.
I lowered my eyes, not knowing what to say. My heart was heavy with gratitude, but also deep guilt.
I had left my group, my family, to their fate, and now I found myself here, listening to their stories, discovering what they had endured without me.
Elsa, in a calmer tone, spoke again, her voice filled with sincere reflection:
— You know, Anthony, your group told us a lot about you. We know it must've been hard, and maybe I'm not the best person to say this, but… you're welcome here. We're all part of the same group now, and so are you.
She paused, searching my eyes, then added with a slight smile:
— They missed you. Especially Leonard.
At the mention of Leonard's name, I instinctively turned my head toward him. He avoided my gaze, staring at the fire pensively. His hands were clenched on his knees, as if holding back something for too long.
— You were gone so long… he finally murmured, his voice nearly breaking.
A heavy silence settled, full of everything left unsaid.
Leonard took a deep breath, as if searching for the right words, then continued, his voice trembling with emotion:
— I owed you so much… We all did. Without you, we'd never have survived the Chimera, or everything that followed. You were always the one who stepped forward, who made the hard choices to protect us during battles.
He paused, fists clenched, before continuing in a lower, more broken voice:
— You even killed to avenge Lucas… And I… I was so scared of losing a second brother.
His gaze locked onto mine, filled with pain held back too long. A shiver ran down my spine. I had never thought about what my disappearance had meant to them. How much they might have missed me.
Words were hard to find. A weight crushed my chest, making every syllable harder to speak.
— Leonard… You know… More than anything, I wanted to stay with you. I know I should have relied on you, that leaving wasn't the right thing to do. But at the time, I was… lost. All I wanted was to disappear. I felt like a shadow, a ghost wandering without purpose.
I lowered my eyes, unable to hold his gaze any longer. My voice cracked slightly as I added, almost in a whisper:
— I hated myself so much… I had nothing but dark thoughts. I wasn't alive anymore.
A heavy silence fell around the fire. I felt the eyes of my former companions on me—some filled with sadness, others with understanding. I didn't dare lift my head, afraid of seeing reproach in them. Yet it was Leonard who stepped forward and placed a firm hand on my shoulder.
Leonard let out a slight laugh, as if to lighten the atmosphere, before declaring with a sincere smile:
— But you know what? I'm just glad to see you again! I missed you, idiot. You're my family.
He paused, looking into my eyes, as if to make sure his words truly reached my heart. Then, in a softer, almost brotherly tone, he added:
— We did what we could, Anthony. But now we're here. All together. We survived… And most of all, you're back. That's all that matters.
His words wrapped me in unexpected warmth. It was as if, despite all the pain we'd endured, hope was being reborn through our reunion.
I closed my eyes for a moment, absorbing every word, every smile around me. I knew not everything was resolved yet, but a part of me felt at peace. Maybe, finally, after all this time, I could become a man among men again.
A man who, even broken, had found his place within this group.
— I'm sorry for leaving you. Truly. But I'm here now, and I promise I won't leave again.
Eyes met across the fire, timid smiles appeared on several faces. Marie, ever the motherly one, stood up and placed a hand on my head, a protective gesture.
— That's all we wanted to hear, Anthony. Welcome home, truly.
Laughter, voices, and memories filled the air around the fire, and despite the uncertainty of what still awaited us, a human warmth wrapped around our group.
That was true strength: solidarity, love, and the will to never give up, no matter the obstacles.
That was what it meant to be human.