Wandering through the forest, Kael was searching for a river so he could at least freshen up.
His last bath had been two days ago, and he even had a new set of clothes that had been given to him. It was quite surprising how well he'd been treated so far.
Still, he was sure the other soldiers wouldn't want him cleaning up with them, so he went deeper into the forest alone. He marked the trees and bushes along the way, just in case he got lost.
There was also the matter of the inscriptions on his chest. He had no idea what they meant, but he was sure they carried significance. Until he understood them, it would be unwise to flaunt them around.
He was doing his best not to make any mistakes.
After several minutes of walking, the faint sound of flowing water reached his ears.
Following it, he arrived at a stream.
The scenery here was beautiful. Lush plants, shrubs, and wildflowers decorated the edges, while smooth pebbles lay scattered on the stony ground. The stream itself was surrounded mostly by rocky terrain, leaving little vegetation right along its edge.
He noticed a few animals nearby—creatures unfamiliar to him. When he tried to approach them slowly, they all scattered. He didn't have time to waste chasing them, so he went straight to his bath.
The water was so clear he could see the bottom of the stream, each stone beneath shimmering under the surface. But what caught his attention most… was his own reflection.
For the first time since he'd arrived in this world, he could clearly see himself.
Back when he bathed last, they had been too deep in unfamiliar territory to linger. Water had been fetched in haste, and the mood was tense. But now, he had a rare moment of peace.
Kael crouched closer to the stream, his reflection rippling beneath him.
To his surprise, he looked nearly ten years younger—somewhere around twenty. He was still handsome to a good degree, even with his disheveled black hair. His eyes were a sharp, clear gray, and his face was mostly free of facial hair.
"Not bad, I guess," he muttered. "I wonder what Lhea would say about this."
A bitter smile crept onto his face as memories of his past surged up—of Lhea's birth, the birthdays they celebrated, the day he was first recruited into the army of their kingdom.
They had always cheered him on, proudly watching as he rose swiftly through the ranks. He became the youngest vice commander in their history at just twenty-six.
Four years later, the first Yel'vani arrived. And soon after, war broke out.
Kingdoms fell one after another, unable to withstand the invasion. What was left of humanity rallied together, forming one ultimate army.
And he… he remained Vice Commander through it all.
Reva, who had taken a liking to him early on, mentored and protected him like a younger brother. But even she had died.
He wanted to blame the goddess for not arriving sooner. Maybe if she had, Reva would still be alive.
But deep down, he knew they had charged in too soon. They weren't ready.
Still… she had given him a chance to save the others.
Shaking off the heavy thoughts, Kael began the exercise routine that he usually did in his former world. He has been doing this regularly in order to build his body as quickly as possible.
When this was done, he dove into the water with a splash. The coolness wrapped around him like a balm, washing away some of the stress clinging to his mind.
After about twenty minutes, Kael cleaned up and changed into his new clothes. He was lucky this was an elite unit—their needs were well provided for.
Now, it was time to gather supplies for the journey. Each person had been given a sack, including him.
He began wandering through the forest, picking anything useful—fruits, herbs, water, and more.
Realizing that most of the area between their resting point and the stream would likely be combed over by others, he decided to go a little farther in.
By his estimation, forty minutes had passed.
"This should be enough," he muttered, careful not to overpack. They each carried whatever they gathered. "I better get going."
He was about to turn back when something caught his eye.
Strips of blue cloth had been tied to twigs and branches, deliberately and with precision.
Kael's eyes narrowed as he slowly approached. Once closer, the realization hit him.
'Wait… is there another civilization here?'
His heart raced. If that's true, could they belong to another faction?
If so, and if his escort found out, a battle could erupt. And in his current state, that would be disastrous.
No one would go out of their way to protect a nobody like him.
'Maybe I'm overthinking this,' he told himself, trying to calm down. It could all be a misunderstanding.
He needed to be sure before raising any alarms. A false report on a mission like this could very well cost him his life.
Taking deep breaths to steel his nerves, he began following the blue markers.
Quickly, he realized they formed a boundary—carefully placed to mark a perimeter.
He hesitated. Should he continue?
He almost turned back… but curiosity got the better of him.
"One hundred meters," he whispered. "If I don't see anything by then, I'll turn back."
And so, he crossed the boundary and began the cautious walk forward.
He moved silently and slowly, every step measured. It took more time, but he still had about forty minutes left before he needed to return. Time was on his side.
At around fifty meters in, he heard the unmistakable sound of running water. Another stream?
He advanced toward it, creeping forward until the river came into view.
It was strikingly similar to the one where he'd bathed—perhaps another part of the same water body.
But instead of a hidden village or group of soldiers… only two figures stood near the water.
Two females.
One of them, Kael, immediately recognized.
'Night?'