Chapter 1: Hunters Who Went Too Far
The forest bent around them.
Wind split through the trees as six figures tore through the night, boots barely touching the ground, branches snapping in their wake. The scent ahead was thick—metallic, desperate.
Rogue vampires.
They were close.
Zak didn't slow. His voice cut clean through the rushing air.
"Blue—take point."
Blue didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
The ground beneath him cracked slightly as he pushed forward—and in the next instant, he was gone.
The world sharpened around him.
Every movement clearer. Every sound defined.
Blue appeared ahead of the fleeing vampires like a shadow that had always been there. One of them turned too late, eyes widening just as Blue's blade flashed.
A clean strike.
Another vampire lunged from the side—
Blue stepped into it, redirecting the motion with practiced ease. His blade followed through, precise and controlled.
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
A third tried to retreat—
Blue blurred forward, cutting them off before they could even take a full step.
Three down.
And he hadn't even slowed.
Behind him, the formation shifted.
Two vampires broke off suddenly, sprinting toward the river.
Zak's voice followed instantly.
"Gus. Kin—cut them off. Don't let them reach the water."
Above the trees, a dark shape lifted.
"Already moving," Gus said, voice calm, almost bored.
Kin cracked his neck as he veered off.
"Try not to take all the fun, yeah?"
Kin hit the ground hard, sprinting through the underbrush as the two vampires closed in on the riverbank.
One turned, snarling, and lunged at him—
But Kin's shadow moved first.
It twisted unnaturally along the ground, rising just enough to disrupt the attack. The vampire's strike faltered for half a second—
That was all Kin needed.
His staff came down hard.
The vampire dropped instantly.
Kin exhaled, glancing down at his shadow.
"…You're getting a little too eager," he muttered.
Above him, Gus descended slowly, black flame forming around his hands.
"Less talking," Gus said. "More finishing."
With a flick of his wrist, shadow fire spread across the riverbank, cutting off the path completely.
The last vampire skidded to a halt—
Turned—
And found Kin standing there.
Kin smirked.
"Yeah… you're not getting past me."
The fight didn't last long.
It never did anymore.
Back on the main path, Zak didn't even look back.
"Rito. Mira—finish the rest."
Rito moved first.
She didn't rush—she flowed.
Her blades cut through the air in smooth arcs, every step placed exactly where it needed to be. A vampire tried to strike—
She was already past it.
A clean cut.
Done.
Mira followed close behind, less refined but no less effective. Where Rito was precision, Mira was force. She met one head-on, catching its strike and overpowering it completely.
The last body fell.
Silence returned.
For a moment, the forest felt… normal.
Breathing slowed.
The tension eased.
Zak stepped forward, scanning the area before giving a small nod.
"Good work."
That was enough.
Kin immediately stepped forward, grinning.
"Did you see that? I told you I had it handled."
Mira crossed her arms, unimpressed.
"…You did fine."
Kin blinked.
"Fine?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"You didn't die. That's improvement."
Blue laughed as he stepped back into the group.
"Careful, Kin. That might be the nicest thing she's said to you."
Kin scoffed.
"Please, she's clearly impressed. She just doesn't want to admit it."
Mira rolled her eyes.
"If I was impressed, you'd know."
Rito let out a quiet laugh, wiping her blade clean.
"You're trying too hard."
Kin placed a hand over his chest dramatically.
"I'm hurt. Truly."
Gus landed beside them, folding his wings as the dark flame faded.
"You're all talking too much," he said. "Next group might hear you."
Zak looked at all of them for a moment.
Then shook his head slightly.
"No—seriously."
They quieted.
"You're not reacting anymore," he said. "You're anticipating."
A pause.
"That's the difference."
Blue nodded slowly.
"…Feels different."
Kin smirked.
"Feels like we're actually good now."
Rito crossed her arms.
"Don't get ahead of yourself."
Mira added flatly, "You're still the weakest one here."
Kin turned to her.
"Alright, that's just disrespectful."
"You're welcome to prove me wrong."
"Oh, I will."
Blue chuckled.
"Please don't start fighting each other now."
Zak stepped in, cutting through the banter.
"You're improving," he said. "All of you."
Another pause.
"You're becoming real hunters."
That landed differently.
For a second—
They all felt it.
Blue raised his hand.
"…Yeah. We are."
Kin slapped it.
"About time."
Gus joined.
Rito hesitated—then placed her hand in as well.
Mira sighed, but stepped forward anyway.
Zak watched them, a faint smile forming.
It didn't last.
Blue's expression shifted first.
Subtle.
Then—
Kin's shadow twitched at his feet.
Before he even reacted.
"…You feel that?" Kin asked quietly.
Blue nodded.
"…Yeah."
He inhaled.
The scent hit him instantly.
Sharp.
Wild.
"Wolves."
Rito frowned slightly.
"…There's something else."
Everyone looked at her.
"What do you mean?" Blue asked.
She hesitated.
"I don't know. It just… feels off."
Kin shrugged.
"Wolves aren't exactly known for feeling normal."
Rito shook her head.
"No—it's not that."
The air brushed against her differently.
Like something was missing.
Or watching.
Zak didn't stop moving.
"Whatever it is—we stay focused."
Blue nodded.
"…Let's move."
And just like that—
They were running again.
High above—
They were already being watched.
The Mistborn didn't move like creatures of the forest.
They barely seemed connected to it at all.
Their forms flickered faintly at the edges, like something that didn't fully belong.
One of them inhaled slowly.
"…They crossed."
Another tilted their head.
"…They shouldn't have."
A pause.
Then—
"…Wait."
Their expression changed.
"…That scent."
All eyes shifted.
Toward Rito.
"…Fae."
Silence followed.
Then—
"…From the Veil."
Another voice, sharper:
"…They sent her."
The air grew tense.
"They found us."
"…No," one replied.
"…They're hunting us."
A final voice spoke, colder than the rest.
"Then we end it before they can report back."
Deeper in the forest—
The elder listened.
"…You're certain?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"…And the fae?"
"…Strong."
Silence stretched.
Then—
"…We intercept."
Back below, Zak raised his hand.
"Formation C."
Everyone moved instantly.
Gus rose into the air, dark flame forming in his hands before he launched it outward, cutting off escape routes.
The wolves emerged.
Snarling.
Eyes glowing.
The fight began.
Steel met claw.
Shadow met fang.
Everything moved fast.
Controlled.
Until—
Blue felt it again.
Stronger this time.
Wrong.
He turned—
"Rito—!"
A blur moved behind her.
Blue vanished—
Reappeared—
Intercepted—
And the attacker finally became visible.
Mistborn.
Then more.
They didn't fight like anything they'd faced before.
They appeared.
Struck.
Vanished.
Every movement aimed—
At Rito.
"…Why are they targeting me?" she said, breath tightening.
No one answered.
They couldn't.
They were already overwhelmed.
Then—
Everything stopped.
The leader stepped forward.
Calm.
Focused.
Watching.
A blade formed in her hand.
Ancient.
Unstable.
She moved.
Straight for Rito.
Blue reacted—
Too late.
Rito turned—
Too late—
Zak stepped in.
The blade pierced through him.
Silence.
He didn't fall immediately.
Instead—
With one clean motion—
He severed the attacker's arm.
The blade slid free.
Zak collapsed.
"ZAK!"
Everything froze.
Rito dropped beside him—
Then—
Her energy surged.
Fae light poured from her body.
Her voice changed.
Ancient.
Clear.
The Mistborn stilled.
"…She speaks the tongue…"
"…She's lying—"
"Enough."
The elder stepped forward.
"…They would not send one like her."
Silence followed.
Rito tried to heal Zak—
Light poured into the wound—
Then shattered.
"…Why isn't it working…?"
The elder looked at the wound.
"…Because that is not a wound."
A pause.
"…It is a curse."
Blue stepped forward.
"…Can you fix it?"
The elder shook their head.
"…No."
Then—
"There is only one place that can."
Silence.
Heavy.
Final.
"…The Veil Kingdom."
And just like that—
Everything changed.
End of chapter 1 Vol 2