Chapter 37: The First Step Forward
The night hadn't fully settled over Hollowfen, but it felt like it had.
Not because of darkness—
But because of what was coming.
The estate was alive with movement.
Footsteps echoed across stone floors. Doors opened and shut. Weapons were checked, rechecked, adjusted. Voices stayed low, but the urgency behind them carried through everything.
This wasn't like their hunts.
This wasn't controlled.
This was preparation for something none of them truly understood.
Blue stood in his room, staring at the black jacket laid across his bed.
The same one he had worn countless times before.
But tonight—
It didn't feel the same.
He picked it up slowly, running his hand along the fabric. The hidden vest beneath it was reinforced, blades resting in their compartments—balanced, familiar.
Reliable.
But his reflection in the mirror behind it…
Wasn't.
He looked older.
Not in the obvious way.
His face hadn't changed much.
But his eyes—
They didn't hesitate anymore.
A quiet knock broke the silence.
"Come in."
The door creaked open, and Rito stepped inside.
She didn't speak immediately.
Just leaned lightly against the door, watching him.
"You always get quiet before something big," she said softly.
Blue let out a small breath.
"…Do I?"
She nodded.
"It's how I know you're thinking too much."
A faint smirk touched his face.
"…That's reassuring."
She stepped closer, her movements light, almost soundless.
"You don't have to carry all of it," she added.
Blue shook his head slightly.
"…I'm not trying to."
A pause.
"…But I can't ignore it either."
Rito studied him.
"The Veil…"
She hesitated.
"…it's not just another place, is it?"
Blue looked at her.
"…No."
She exhaled slowly, her gaze drifting slightly.
"…I can feel it."
That caught his attention.
"Feel what?"
Rito frowned slightly, as if trying to find the right words.
"Like… something's pulling."
A pause.
"…Not physically."
Her hand moved faintly toward her chest.
"…Here."
Blue didn't respond right away.
Because he understood.
Even if he didn't feel it the same way.
"…Then we'll figure it out," he said quietly.
Rito looked back at him.
"…We always say that."
A small pause.
"…And somehow, we always do."
For a moment—
That was enough.
Until—
A voice echoed from down the hall.
"Move it, we don't have all night!"
Kin.
Of course.
Rito rolled her eyes slightly.
"…And reality returns."
Blue smirked faintly.
"…Unfortunately."
They stepped out together.
The Courtyard
The air outside was colder.
Sharper.
Torches flickered along the outer walls, casting long shadows across the stone.
Gus stood near the center, adjusting his gloves, dark energy faintly pulsing along his fingertips before fading again.
Kin leaned against a pillar, spinning his staff lazily before catching it behind his back.
Mira stood nearby, arms crossed, watching him with clear disapproval.
"You're going to drop that one day," she said flatly.
Kin grinned.
"Yeah? And when I don't?"
"…I'll still be unimpressed."
He laughed.
"Cold."
But there was something behind it.
Something lighter.
Darius stood apart from them all.
Still.
Watching.
He didn't look like he was preparing.
He already was.
Lirael stood near the gate, her gaze fixed beyond it.
Toward the dark horizon.
Selene and X stepped out last.
And just like before—
Everything settled.
Selene's eyes moved across the group.
Checking.
Measuring.
"Everyone ready?"
No one hesitated.
X stepped forward slightly, his gaze landing on Blue.
"You remember what I told you."
Blue nodded.
"…Yeah."
"If you run into something you don't understand—"
"We don't fight it," Blue finished.
X gave a small nod.
"Good."
Selene's gaze shifted to Lirael.
"You lead."
Lirael didn't respond with words.
She simply turned—
And began walking.
The gates opened.
And just like that—
They left.
Beyond Hollowfen
The forest welcomed them differently this time.
It wasn't quiet.
It wasn't calm.
It was aware.
Lirael moved at the front, her pace steady but fast enough to keep them moving with purpose.
Darius stayed just behind her.
Watching everything.
Not just the path.
But her.
Blue stayed near the center.
Rito close beside him.
Gus and Kin flanked the sides.
Mira brought up the rear.
No one spoke for a while.
Until—
Kin broke it.
"So… two days, right?"
Lirael nodded slightly without looking back.
"If we maintain this pace."
Kin groaned softly.
"…Great. No sleep, no breaks, just running toward a place that wants to kill us."
Mira glanced at him.
"You're welcome to stay behind."
He smirked.
"And miss all the fun? Not a chance."
Gus glanced toward Lirael.
"…How bad are they?"
She didn't answer immediately.
"They are efficient," she said finally.
Kin blinked.
"…That's not comforting."
"They don't waste movement," she continued.
"They don't hesitate."
A pause.
"…And they don't miss."
That quieted him.
Rito looked ahead.
"…And they'll attack us on sight?"
"Yes."
No hesitation.
Blue exhaled slowly.
"…Then we don't give them the chance."
Darius spoke for the first time since they left.
"We won't avoid them entirely."
Blue glanced at him.
"Then we move through them."
Darius shook his head slightly.
"No."
A pause.
"…We move past them."
That difference mattered.
The forest grew denser as they moved.
Shadows stretched longer.
The air shifted subtly.
Lirael slowed.
Just slightly.
Darius noticed immediately.
"…What is it?"
She didn't turn.
"…We're close to the boundary."
Gus frowned.
"…Boundary?"
Lirael finally stopped.
Turning just enough to face them.
"The point where the world begins to thin."
Rito felt it immediately.
That same pull.
Stronger now.
Blue stepped forward.
"…This is it?"
Lirael shook her head.
"No."
A pause.
"…This is where it begins."
The wind shifted.
And for just a moment—
Everything felt… off.
Like the world itself was watching.
End Of Chapter 37