The sun had begun its slow descent behind the trees, painting the Doved Belt in shades of orange and gold. The air smelled of lavender, mint, and dry grass. Birds chirped from the treetops, and the wind hummed gently through the herb fields. Somewhere in the middle of that peaceful stretch of land walked a boy, slightly out of place.
Mclery wiped the sweat from his brow as he knelt beside a tall shrub of purple-rooted flowers. A small pouch hung from his waist, half-filled with carefully picked herbs. His hands were dusty, and his shirt clung to his back with sweat.
He stood up, exhaling deeply, staring at the horizon. The fields stretched wide before him—rows upon rows of healing plants, nurtured under the care of the Aushadhi Clan. Here, he wasn't a student or a football genius. He was simply "The Herb Boy."
And yet, in the quiet of the fields, Mclery's mind rarely stayed still. It's been one week since Henrry is gone with Mia.
His thoughts often drifted to the portal, to the moment everything changed. They had both been dragged into this strange world together. And yet, now they were apart. Mclery had stayed behind, powerless, unable to wield mana—unable to fight. And Henry had gone ahead, chasing revenge, walking into danger.
At times, Mclery felt this place is peaceful. The elders were kind. The work was simple. The herb field had its own rhythm—quiet, humble, patient.
But peace was not the same as purpose.
He had followed Henrry into that portal for a reason. Because he couldn't bear the thought of losing his only friend. Because Henrry had always been there, since the days they first met. And now... he was gone. Mclery had smiled for his sake, agreed to stay behind so that he wouldn't slow them down.
But inside, a quiet ache remained.
He knelt again, brushing dirt from the base of a root. A distant voice called from the main lodge.
"Herb Boy! Bring in the nightflowers before the dew sets in!"
Mclery nodded and waved, though the person probably couldn't see him. "On it!" he called back, his voice echoing faintly through the valley.
He tied his pouch shut and began walking toward the far end of the field, where a patch of glowing blue blossoms shimmered under the shadow of the hills. These were nightflowers—delicate, useful in dream potions and memory balms. He crouched to collect them, moving carefully.
And then—he heard it.
A rustling. Fast. Unnatural.
Mclery froze.
The wind stilled. The leaves stopped dancing. Even the insects had gone silent.
Another rustle—closer this time.
He straightened up, slowly turning toward the source. Between the trees at the edge of the field, something moved—fast and low. His hand reached instinctively for a knife that wasn't there. All they gave him here was a herb pouch and gloves.
The bushes parted.
Out stumbled a man—thin, barefoot, and wearing tattered robes covered in dried leaves. His eyes were wide, wild. His beard tangled like thorn branches. A small metal charm dangled from his neck, shaped like a spiral swallowing itself.
"HAHAHA! FINALLY FIND A PERFECT BODY." the man shouted, pointing straight at Mclery.
Mclery stepped back "who are you?".
The man staggered forward, laughing and mumbling. "They said you'd come… two stars from another world. I saw it. I felt it."
Mclery frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"you!" the man said suddenly, eyes narrowing. "You… you had it. The perfect experiment material. The cursed blood follows the silver trail—don't you see?!"
Hearing this Mclery instinctively ran towards the Aushadhi clan elder house. But the man simply extend his arm suddenly mclary fell to the ground. His leg was grab by a tree branch and wrapping around his leg like a snake.
knowing that he cannot escape mclery yell at the man with frightened voice.
"Who are you?" Mclery demanded again.
The madman stopped, his expression turning deadly serious. For a second, his madness seemed to vanish. "boy come with me or die,
if you come with me I can grant you power that can break your fate of being powerless" he whispered.
Before Mclery could ask more, the man let out a sharp laugh and said "That uri girl will find us soon. Spinless aushadhi elders they watch everything. The ground listens. The air listens. But the truth? It hides in silence, beneath the root."
"What truth?"
The man's smile twisted. "Not all Clans are what they seem."
But suddenly a voice came "Raven".
Uri, the revered clan headress of the Aushadhi, came by sensing the mana of Raven her presence was elemental—graceful yet commanding.
"You traitor how dare you came".
Seeing Uri, Raven does not panic instead he smile and say " 7th rank mage truly walking disaster to sence me from 100 km away."
"But you are late".
And then—just as suddenly— a flower bloom below his feet and he disappearing like a shadow.
"We will meet again boy". His voice then disappeared.
Mclery stood frozen, heart racing. Every part of that encounter felt strange, too specific to be random. He looked down at the herbs still in his hand. The wind returned. The valley seemed calm again. But something had shifted.
That man knew too much.
And he had said something Henry needed to hear. Power to survive in this unfamiliar world.
But nobody knows that this encounter will change the history of the Abron.