As soon as morning arrived, the village was already buzzing with activity. The first rays of the sun slowly scattered across the fields and rooftops. The events of last night were still fresh in Kyle's mind—saving the child from the well, Orion's sarcasm, and most mysterious of all… that unheard whisper.
Kyle had lain on his bed thinking about it over and over again. Maybe it had only been an illusion. Yet somewhere deep inside, a feeling was taking root—that his life was standing at the threshold of change. He quickly rose from his bed, put on his old clothes, lowered his head, and stepped outside.
The same old crowd had gathered at the village square. Kyle noticed an elderly man whose white hair fluttered in the cool breeze. He was signaling Kyle to come closer. It was Baelin. The villagers were mocking him, laughing loudly at his expense.
"Kyle," the old man said in a low but serious voice, "I need some herbs. You'll find them in the Whispering Woods. The other boys… well…" He took a deep breath. "They are busy with their own matters."
(The Whispering Woods was a place where the danger of monsters was much greater. Only those whose Soul Level was 12 or above were allowed to enter.)
Kyle understood the truth. No one in the village took Baelin seriously. They considered him a mad old wizard, and no one wanted to enter that forest—the name alone was enough to inspire fear.
Kyle hesitated. "Do you… truly expect me to do this?"
Baelin smiled and said, "Only you can. I have faith in you. I am old and weak now; I cannot go there myself. If you do not wish to go, that is fine—I will go on my own." Saying this, he turned to walk away.
"Wait!" A frightened, faint voice called out from behind.
Baelin turned around. Kyle, speaking softly and nervously, said, "Alright… I'll go. But where will I find those herbs? And when should I leave?"
Baelin smiled again. "Perhaps no one else has the courage to step forward despite fear. You must go today. And return quickly—staying there after evening is not safe." He handed Kyle a pouch. "Everything you need is inside. Keep the herbs in this."
Without another word, Kyle started walking toward the forest. Fear and curiosity both filled his heart.
Maybe… this is my chance to prove myself.
As he reached the edge of the forest, the air grew heavier. Among the thick clusters of trees, strange whispers echoed—as if hundreds of souls were speaking in a lost language. Tall bushes, droplets of water resting on leaves, and dense darkness lining both sides of the path made the place unsettling.
Kyle tightened his grip on the small pouch. Inside was an old knife—more for confidence than real protection. In the village, he had heard that a monster named Glimmerfang lived in the Whispering Woods—one that could see the shadow of its prey and pursue it swiftly.
With every step, Kyle's heartbeat grew louder.
He moved slowly, pushing aside plants carefully, stopping at every sound. The harsh cries of birds, the cracking of branches, and the creeping vines drifting in the air all combined to thicken the fear around him.
After some time, near an old ring of stones, he spotted the herbs—small blue leaves, exactly as Baelin had described. He had reached the right place. Kyle quickly began gathering them when suddenly a low growl echoed from behind him. His body trembled.
Slowly, he turned. Before him stood a faintly glowing, cat-like figure. An eerie blue light shone from its eyes. Kyle thought this must be Glimmerfang, since he had never seen a monster before.
He did not know that it was merely the child of a Level 5 Goblin, its own level only 1.
In a trembling voice, he muttered, "I… I should go back. But if I run, it will chase me…"
The Goblin child, frightened by Kyle's presence, bared its teeth defensively and suddenly leapt at him. Kyle panicked. In his hand was only a stick he had picked up along the way. He stumbled backward, tripped, and fell to the ground.
He squeezed his eyes shut—death felt very close.
At that very moment, a sharp voice echoed in his ears. "Do not be afraid! This is not the time to lose. Strike first—even if you are weak, this is not the moment to surrender."
The voice was not his own. It was deep and resonant, like that of a battle-hardened warrior. Kyle did not understand what was happening, but the voice filled him with sudden strength. He opened his eyes and swung the broken stick toward the creature's head.
The Goblin child screeched, jumped away, and retreated into the bushes. For a moment, it seemed shaken. Then it disappeared, leaving behind only the rustling of wild shrubs.
Kyle stood up with trembling hands—he could hardly believe what had happened.
For a while, he simply sat on a nearby stone. His breathing was heavy, his heart pounding violently. His entire body was shaking, yet he felt something strange—the fear was no longer as terrifying as before.
What was that voice?
Did someone truly guide me… or has a new power awakened within me?
He gathered the scattered herbs, placed them into his pouch, and slowly made his way back to the village. Throughout the journey, he felt as if someone was watching his every step.
By the time he returned, darkness had begun to fall. People were gathered at the square, and the village women were busy with their evening chores.
Kyle quietly approached the old man and extended the pouch. "I brought the herbs…"
The old man looked at him in surprise. "You returned safely?"
Kyle lowered his head. "…It wasn't that difficult." He gave a faint smile and scratched his head awkwardly.
Some boys in the crowd looked at him with disdain. Orion turned his head away, ignoring him. But in the old man's eyes, there was pride.
Perhaps the boy whom people called Soulless was not so weak after all.
That night, as Kyle lay in his hut, the whisper returned once more in the wind.
"…The journey has only just begun, Kyle…"
He stiffened again. Exhaustion from the entire day began to pull him toward sleep. After eating the food Baelin had given him as payment for the task, he soon drifted off.
Even in his sleep, he murmured softly, "Will my time finally come? Can my Soul Level truly change?"
At that moment, he felt that perhaps some unknown force had helped him.
Cliffhanger:–
The next morning, the village elder calls Kyle for another mission—one even more mysterious than before. He begins to feel that fate itself has pushed him toward a greater journey… and that the real story is about to begin.
Author Note:–
A "Soulless" boy returned alive from a forest whose very name inspires fear. Will the villagers still consider him an ill omen? And that voice—the one that stopped Kyle from surrendering—was it a friend or an enemy?
In the next chapter, a major revelation awaits. Be prepared, because the true Soul Contract is drawing near. How did you like the story? Don't forget to leave your feedback in the comments!