**Kaelen began observing the incident.** His only regret was not being able to watch more closely. But given his current situation, staying hidden was far more important. In his previous life, he could have stood right behind these children without them sensing his presence—but now, in this new body, he was still clumsy with mana usage. He had the knowledge, but not the experience. The body lacked muscle memory, and the flow of mana was still erratic, like an unfamiliar river.
A momentary lapse in concentration, a single misstep in using "Kai," would be no different from shouting, "I'm here!" to every living thing around him. So he slowed his breathing, relaxed his muscles, and focused solely on observing without distraction. He began listening to the sounds around him. He didn't want to miss a single word.
**"Hey, you! Stop right there!"**
A sharp voice rose from the coalition group. The blond boy at the front took a step forward, gripping a knife tightly in his hand. His eyes were locked onto the shadowy figure ahead. Standing before them was a tall, dark-skinned boy. In the darkness of the night, he almost blended into the silhouette. His black skin made him look like a shadow under the dim light.
The boy swayed slightly and spoke in a weak voice:
**"I'm injured. I'm unarmed. Please, help me. In return, I'll give you some of the nuts I've gathered."**
Kaelen listened carefully to his trembling voice. The boy sounded convincing—but Kaelen was trying to figure out if there was a trick at play.
**"We don't need your nuts! Get lost!"**
One of the sleeping children in the camp suddenly spoke up. His voice was harsh and authoritative. Kaelen guessed this was probably the group's leader. His words carried a threat—but there was hesitation in them, too.
**"Please, just let me take some water."**
The boy showed his injured leg. His sweatpants were completely soaked in blood. Was the injury real, or just a ruse? Kaelen tried to figure it out. The bloodstains were irregular, but the poor lighting made it hard to see clearly.
The boy was holding a canteen made from hollowed-out tree bark. Slowly, he bent his knees and crouched down, carefully filling the canteen with water. His movements were calm, unhurried.
The minute-long silence only deepened Kaelen's interest. The black boy meticulously poured the water into his canteen. As he stood up, a pained expression crossed his face. Kaelen still wasn't sure if he was truly injured.
Either he was genuinely in trouble—or he was an excellent actor.
The boy bowed his head slightly in gratitude.
**"Thank you. Please accept this as a token of my appreciation."**
From his pocket, he pulled out dark purple nuts wrapped in leaves and placed them on the ground. His movements were slow—every detail deliberate. Then he turned and disappeared into the darkness with heavy steps.
Kaelen's lips curled into a faint smile.
*So that was the plan.*
The moment he saw the purple nuts, a realization struck him like lightning. His eyes quickly scanned the surroundings. The boy's movements had been too controlled. Something felt off.
He slowly rose from his perch in the treetops and took a deep breath.
*It's time to leave.*
He repeated the words in his mind. His instincts told him that staying any longer would be dangerous. But curiosity won out. He looked in the direction the black boy had gone. If this was a trap, he wanted to know who—or what—it was meant for.
**"Hm... Let's see how the hunter reacts when he becomes the prey,"** he murmured.
Leaping lightly onto a vine, he silently followed the boy. As he moved through the forest, he adjusted his pace, keeping his steps light, his breathing controlled, and his line of sight clear as he navigated between the trees.
The black boy was much faster than he'd expected. How could an injured person move like that? Kaelen's suspicions were confirmed.
*So you were acting all along.*
Just then, he noticed strange sounds coming from deep within the forest. A sudden rustling behind him made his hair stand on end. He narrowed his eyes and listened carefully.
*Something's moving in the vines.*
He caught glimpses of shadows darting rapidly toward the riverbank. Chimpanzees! But these weren't ordinary chimpanzees. Their movements were strange—unnaturally fixated on a single point. Kaelen immediately understood why.
*The nuts!*
The purple nuts the boy had left for the group were irresistible to many creatures in the wild. But these nuts weren't just delicious—they were also high-energy stimulants that heightened aggression. The chimpanzees must have caught their scent.
Kaelen realized things were about to spiral out of control. There was no point staying here any longer. If the group wasn't careful, they'd be attacked by a horde of ravenous beasts within minutes.
But the real question was: Had the black boy done this on purpose? Or was it just an unfortunate coincidence?
Kaelen's smile widened.
*Now things are getting interesting.*
Melting into the night like a shadow, he continued following the boy. He was no longer just an observer—he wanted to see who the real hunter was.
The boy with the canteen had stolen the nuts from the chimpanzees' territory, and this disrespect would not go unpunished. The chimpanzees were determined to make the intruder pay. From the darkness, Kaelen could hear their furious screeches and the rustling of leaves as they closed in. This was no longer a simple chase—it was a fight for survival.
Kaelen felt a twinge of disappointment that he wouldn't get to witness the chaos behind him. But he found this newly discovered boy far more intriguing. Something about him drew Kaelen in. He had realized that the boy wasn't just a victim—he was a player. Silently, he descended from the tree and melted into the shadows. Moving between the branches, he closed in on the boy's location.
The boy with the canteen stood by the riverbank, watching the scene unfold as if it were a staged play. Despite the sounds of the chimpanzees charging toward the camp, the smile never left his face. If anything, he seemed to be enjoying himself. The sight made Kaelen chuckle.
*Who is this kid?*
He was sure he'd never met him before. If the boy had been one of the survivors in the exam, Kaelen would've remembered him. Most likely, he was one of the early dropouts—or he'd crossed the wrong person.
But one thing was certain: Those who lasted until the end of the exam were strong, and those who survived at least three days would earn the right to enter the academy. The boy with the canteen, however, wouldn't last more than another day. At least, that was Kaelen's assumption.
Kaelen pursed his lips. He had made his decision. If this boy could be useful, he'd keep him around.
Silently, he dropped from the treetops and landed near the boy. His movements were as fluid as a panther's—not a single branch snapped, not a single leaf rustled. Even the wind carried no trace of his presence. There were many sounds in the environment, but Kaelen's heartbeat was utterly silent.
The chimpanzees had already reached the camp. Kaelen wondered how long the five mages would last against these enraged creatures. He gave them ten minutes at most—and even that was optimistic.
Meanwhile, the boy with the canteen watched the spectacle with amusement. To him, this was just entertainment. Kaelen crept up behind him, leaned over his shoulder, and spoke with a mocking grin:
**"A brilliant plan. I'd give it an eight out of ten."**
Before the boy could react, Kaelen swiftly reached out and gripped his throat. His fingers pressed lightly against the boy's windpipe—just enough to remind him that the slightest wrong move could end his life.
**"Don't even try,"** Kaelen whispered, his voice cold and threatening.
The boy's eyes widened, but he didn't scream. Kaelen's gaze was calculating, as if measuring his prey's pulse. This was the closest the boy had ever been to death.
**"Now, don't do anything stupid,"** Kaelen continued. **"You seem like a smart one."**
The boy took a deep breath and quickly nodded. **"Okay."**
Kaelen raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected such quick surrender. He'd thought there'd be at least some resistance. Maybe he should've roughed him up a bit to make him compliant—but things were going smoother than expected.
*"Ah, this isn't how I imagined it,"* Kaelen thought. *"I wanted to beat you up a little, but oh well—next time."*
The boy with the canteen decided to pretend he hadn't heard that. Kaelen released his grip, testing him further.
**"My name's Kaelen,"** he said calmly. **"And yours?"**
The boy blinked in surprise. The person who'd nearly killed him seconds ago was now introducing himself. It was bizarre, but Kaelen's eyes were steady—he didn't seem to be joking.
**"Liam,"** the boy replied.
Just then, Kaelen noticed the battle had ended. The screams from the camp had stopped. The chimpanzees must have retreated—or the mages had been completely wiped out. Kaelen turned to Liam and studied him with a raised brow.
**"Follow me, partner,"** he said with a smirk.
Then he patted Liam's shoulder and strode confidently toward the riverbank. After a brief hesitation, Liam shook off his shock and followed. Surviving the night alone didn't seem likely, so he had no choice but to trust Kaelen.
As he trailed behind, only one thought ran through Liam's mind:
*"What have I gotten myself into?"*
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