Malric sat down on a rock, grunting as he removed the heavy plate from his shoulders. Underneath, he wore only travel-worn clothes. From inside the armor, he pulled out a ragged flute, carefully, like it mattered.
He sat, silent.
The others looked away. The boars didn’t like demihumans. The younger ones stepped back. The adults stood still. No one watched him, except Nolan.
Malric held his sword loosely.
"Hey," he said, calm but firm. "You gonna give that back? That’s my sword."
"I will. I promise," Nolan said. "But... just talk to for a second."
Malric gave him a flat stare. "What’s there to talk about? You’re dangerous. People like you throw nature out of balance. You’re not supposed to exist."
"Coming from soone like you, that’s ironic," Nolan replied.
They stood opposite each other on the rock, eyes locked. Nolan still held the sword.
Malric didn’t flinch. "I know I’m not supposed to exist either. But I’m here. And I’m here to stop people like you."
Nolan leaned back, resting against another rock. "I’m not a villain. I didn’t choose this. I was dragged into this world without warning. Dropped in a forest. I’m just trying to survive."
That made Malric’s expression shift. His posture straightened. "You were summoned?"
Nolan hesitated. Crap. He hadn’t ant to say that.
Malric stepped forward. "What did you say?"
Nolan sighed. "I didn’t plan to tell anyone. But fine. I tried to save a girl, back ho. Next thing I knew, I was talking to an archangel. Said I was caught in a summoning. I wasn’t ant to be the one. It was a mistake."
Malric’s eyes narrowed. "Is that true?"
"Why would I lie?"
Malric studied him for a long mont. He could sense the power, massive but blurry. Unreadable. Still no way to grasp Nolan’s full ability.
"That makes sense," he muttered. "You’re overflowing with mana, but you don’t even seem aware of it. Not even the summoned hero had this kind of strength."
"I don’t know what any of that ans," Nolan said. "All I know is I’m surviving. I actually kind of like it here. This world’s rough... but it feels more real than mine ever did."
Malric extended a hand. "My sword."
Nolan held it out and placed it gently into his palm.
They sat together on the rock. The tension eased, just slightly.
"You don’t seem like a bad guy," Malric said. "I misjudged you."
"I told you that. What changed your mind?"
"Body language," Malric said. "It doesn’t lie."
Nolan smirked. "Well... you’re scary. I’ll give you that. You’ve got the face of a tiger. Or maybe a lion."
Malric snorted. "Humans are the weird ones. All bone and eyebrow."
Nolan glanced around. "So... what now? I can’t live in the woods. Don’t you have a house or sothing?"
"No house," Malric said. "Didn’t co to settle. I ca to train."
"Right," Nolan muttered, scooting to another rock.
Malric watched him. "So what’s your plan?"
"I don’t have one. I just want a quiet life. Maybe find a village. But for now, I’m staying put. Unless you can help get out of here."
Malric shook his head. "No. You’ll have to find your own way."
He paused, then added, "Just don’t side with the enemy."
"I’m not. I’m not a killer."
Malric nodded slowly, then said, "Sothing is coming. More powerful monsters are crossing over from the demon realm. The seal holding the Demon King is weakening. If it breaks..."
He let the silence finish the sentence.
"We’ll need power. Every drop we can get. If you’re really who you say you are, I could train you. Maybe strong enough to help stop what’s coming."
Nolan didn’t speak. He just listened.
Malric leaned in. "One question. That fight, how did you take my sword so fast? You vanished. Then it was in your hand."
Nolan looked at him. "You really want to know?"
Malric nodded.
"I can stop ti."
Malric froze. "You’re serious?"
Nolan nodded again.
"That’s... that’s deity magic," Malric whispered. "Are you joking?"
"What do you an, deity magic?" Nolan asked.
Malric turned, voice low and steady. "Let explain."
He stood.
"Three thousand years ago, gods walked this world. Real ones. Not monsters like the Demon Lord. They kept everything in balance.
The strongest was Michael. An archangel. He didn’t fight demons, he erased them. Didn’t need to touch them. Just blink, and gone.
They say he could stop ti. That was his edge. Battles were over before they began."
Malric’s hand rested on his sword again.
"But then... the gods left. No one knows why. And when Michael was leaving, his dragon, the one that carried him between realms, refused him. It broke the bond.
He nearly killed it, but decided to seal it inside his sword."
He pointed to the weapon.
"This sword. My family’s guarded it for generations. It’s not just a blade. It’s a prison."
He tapped the symbol etched into the hilt.
"This mark, it’s the seal. The dragon’s still inside. Alive."
Then he looked straight at Nolan.
"That’s what you were holding. That’s why it felt different. It’s sacred. And it rembers."
Nolan stared at the weapon, unsure if he should be amazed or horrified.
"Wait... are you sure that really happened?" he asked quietly.
"No one ever confird it," Malric said, staring into the fire. "But yes. It happened.
And not just that, you possess one of his abilities."
Nolan raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you didn’t mistake for soone else?"
Malric’s voice lowered. "Do you think it was Michael who you t?"
Nolan looked down. "I don’t know. I’m not sure if it was him or not. No one told anything."
Malric tapped the hilt of his sword. "Now do you see why this sword matters to ? Why I protect it? It could be tied to him. To Michael. If you truly t him, then maybe the gods haven’t abandoned us after all."
He let the silence hang a mont before adding,
"My generation, we were called the Chosen Ones."
Nolan gave him a sideways look. "That doesn’t sound like sothing to be proud of. Sounds like a burden."
Malric smiled faintly. "Maybe. But to , it’s what gives aning."
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