After their encounter with the talking squirrel, Mister Red, the Brymbach Brothers were plagued by numerous questions and theories, none of which could be answered by anyone other than the squirrel himself. Two days had passed without them encountering Mister Red again, despite their intense search for him. The day before yesterday, they spent the entire day in the forest, braving the heavy rain, searching for him. They looked in every treetop, by every trunk, and in all the bushes, but all their efforts were in vain. Even when they occasionally called his name, he didn't show up—much to their disappointment. Some hikers, however, heard their calls and rushed to help, as the brothers were deep in the forest. It took a while to convince them that they weren't lost. Even though the hikers wouldn't admit it, they were the ones who needed help finding their way back to the path.

  Mister Red had likely been so intimidated by the appearance of their mother that he didn't dare to approach the brothers—at least, that's what Emmod and Novel assumed.

  Yesterday was significantly warmer than the previous day and would have been the perfect opportunity for their first trip of the year to the sea.

  But their mother had other plans.

  She sentenced them to a day of house arrest—a particularly frustrating punishment given the beautiful weather. Emina also piled chores on them to help pass the day. Emmod was tasked with cleaning the cellar and creating more space. That meant sorting through all sorts of junk, sweeping the floor, and dealing with the dead animals that had perished there during the cold winter.

  He immediately tried to pass the task on to his younger brother and was ready to accept any other punishment their mother might think up. However, Emina wasn't so easily swayed.

  She wanted to keep a close eye on Novel, instead assigning him every other imaginable task. First, he had to wash the dishes. Then, he was to clean every window, both inside and out, including the window frames and sills. After that, he had to water the garden flowers before sweeping and thoroughly mopping the entire house. Novel tackled all the tasks in record time, hoping that his mother wouldn't have any more work for him afterward. By noon, he had completed everything and was the first to try on the knitted clothes Emina had finished in the meantime.

  "Is that it?" he asked after putting on the newly knitted shirt, which he wouldn't have worn outside by choice.

  "That's it," Emina replied, satisfied.

  Novel, so happy he nearly jumped for joy, was just on his way to his room when his mother stopped him.

  "Before I forget, please fetch some strawberries from town," she said without looking up from her knitting. "And be back before sunset. I'll be starting dinner soon."

  "So, I only have time to get the strawberries and come straight back?" Novel asked, disappointed.

  "Exactly," Emina confirmed, handing him a few silver coins to buy the strawberries.

  With his head hung low, Novel set off.

  His brother didn't fare much better. Even before starting his work, Emmod's nerves were already frayed, and it took a while for him to overcome his disgust at the dust, dirt, and cobwebs, which sometimes still housed their creators as well as their prey. His expression revealed his revulsion.

  He had resigned himself to the ever-present dust covering him and his body within the first hour in the cellar. In every corner and beneath nearly every piece of junk, he had to deal with vermin, sometimes dead, sometimes alive. But regardless of the surprise, the shock was always the same.

  Had he had his brother's ability to see in the dark, he might have anticipated many situations beforehand, rather than when the light from his lantern revealed them. Though, in hindsight, he was somewhat relieved not to have discovered everything immediately, as he would have avoided certain areas entirely.

  That evening, he joined his mother and brother at the dinner table. Not much was said, mainly because Emmod and Novel were too exhausted.

  After dinner, they fell straight into bed without exchanging many words.

  "Where were you earlier?" Emmod asked.

  "In town," Novel replied. "Had to buy strawberries."

  "Why were you done with your chores so early?" Emmod pressed.

  "Because I thought the faster I finish, the less likely it would be for Mom to find more work for me," Novel explained. "And why did it take you so long?"

  "It didn't," Emmod said, as Novel's questioning gaze lingered on him. "I was practically done by midday. But I knew she'd give me more chores if I told her," he added, relaxing as he put his arms behind his head.

  "Then why did you make such a fuss about it?" Novel asked, still curious.

  "Because I think it gave Mom a certain satisfaction," Emmod said. "She didn't even come to check on me until just before she started making dinner," he added with a quiet laugh, making himself more comfortable.

  Novel was annoyed, but sleep soon relieved him of his frustration.

  That night, their sleep wasn't disturbed by a talking squirrel.

  But they didn't mind much, as they felt the effects of their hard work in every fiber of their bodies the next morning.

  At least today promised to be an exciting one for the brothers, as they were spending it with their Uncle Ko. Their mother had promised them that two days ago.

  For Emmod and Novel, it felt like an eternity until they finally heard three consecutive knocks at the door.

  They rushed to the door, but their mother, who was sitting on the couch, beat them to it.

  "Ko," she greeted him, surprised as she opened the door, "you're never this punctual."

  "That's... due to the circumstances," Ko said, glancing briefly at his nephews, who appeared behind Emina and started putting on their shoes.

  "I washed your cloak," Emina said, handing Ko a brown cloak with long sleeves and a hood. Even after being washed, the cloak looked far from new. There were still visible stains in some spots, and other areas had already been stitched up. Nevertheless, Ko was always grateful when Emina decided to wash his clothes instead of throwing them away – even though she had often threatened to do just that. The same fate could have befallen his brown pants or brown shirt, which were both rolled up due to the weather. Had they fallen into Emina's hands, they surely would have ended up in the trash this time.

  Meanwhile, Ko noticed Emmod and Novel hurriedly slipping into their shoes.

  "What's gotten into you two?" he asked with a smile, revealing a large gap in his teeth.

  Novel dashed past his mother and uncle, diving headfirst through the door.

  As he landed on the ground, he triumphantly raised his arms in the air.

  "FREEDOM!" he shouted loudly as Emmod squeezed past the two adults.

  "Hey Ko," he greeted without making eye contact.

  Ko gave Emina a puzzled look, to which she responded with a shrug of her crossed arms.

  "So by sunset..."

  "... we'll be back," Ko finished her sentence, as if he'd heard it a hundred times before.

  "No crazy stuff," Emina warned him.

  "Nothing we won't survive," Ko replied provocatively, though with an ironic tone.

  Emmod and Novel picked up on the irony, unlike Emina.

  "Don't do anything foolish, got it?" she said, slightly annoyed, but couldn't suppress a small smile as she closed the door.

  Their uncle was an impressive man with a crooked nose and a thick beard. His light brown hair was streaked with gray, and a noticeable scar ran across the left side of his face.

  Their mother had told them little about the origin of the scar, only that it came from the war. They had never directly asked their uncle about it or inquired further.

  Despite the attention Ko's appearance often drew, it didn't bother them.

  His looks didn't matter – it didn't change who he was to them.

  Ko often took on the role of a playmate or father figure, a role he filled with natural authority and playful ease.

  "How have the last few days been?" Ko asked as they walked together toward the town center.

  Emmod and Novel recounted the events of the past two days to their uncle, but they kept quiet about the encounter with the talking squirrel. They wanted to avoid the inevitable headache it would cause if their mother found out. Besides, they were beginning to doubt whether the squirrel had really spoken or if their minds were playing tricks on them after everything that had happened.

  "Mom said this morning that her punishment was too lenient," says Novel, "She thinks we've gone completely mad because of the explosions that happened in the city two days ago."

  "Why would she think that?" Ko asked, unaware of the squirrel incident.

  "No idea," Novel replied with a shrug. Emmod and he were sure that Ko, too, would think they'd lost their minds if they told him about their encounter with Mister Red.

  But they didn't want to dwell on it. Today was a new day.

  In the town, there were still remnants of the explosions to be seen, as the residents worked to clear the debris.

  "Terrible, what happened here, isn't it?"

  But Ko seemed lost in thought, watching an elderly couple load the remains of a blown-up shed into a wheelbarrow.

  "Isn't it, Ko?" Novel asked louder, snapping Ko out of his thoughts.

  He looked at Novel, perplexed, and then responded with a somber "Terrible," before moving on.

  He was deeply disturbed that the Crimson Crusaders were now targeting civilians, just to achieve their goals.

  On their way through town, Ko treated his nephews to a large ice cream.

  Afterward, they continued on to the park, which this time wasn't guarded by soldiers and was once again open to the public.

  "What are we doing today?" Emmod asked as they sat on a park bench, licking their ice cream.

  "We're going to the sea." "You'll show us how to hunt." "You'll show us a secret passage in the city," Novel suggested, getting more excited with each idea.

  Ko suddenly stood up from the bench.

  "Even better," he said, dusting off his pants. "Training," he announced.

  "Training?!" the two ask in synchronisation and bewilderment.

  A mix of excitement and nervousness welled up inside them, especially at the prospect of learning something new.

  "Exactly," Ko confirmed, motioning for them to follow him. "I've got something planned for you. It'll do you good and be a lot of fun," he added.

  It wasn't the first time Ko had trained them, but it had been a long time. Emmod and Novel could barely remember the details, only that Ko had always gotten into big trouble with Emina afterwards.

  "What if Mama finds out?" Novel asked, concerned.

  "It was her idea," Ko replied, much to his nephews' surprise.

  "But better not tell her," he added. "She doesn't know it yet," he explained, breaking into hearty laughter.

  Ko also lives in the Whitepool District, but in a more central location than Emmod and Novel.

  His home is a small, worn-out wooden cabin. The roof leaks, cracks are visible both inside and outside the walls, and some of the floorboards are loose. As a result, he's unable to protect himself from the dampness or the whistling wind, which often robs him of his sleep. Ko lacks the skills to fix these problems himself. He has no friends to help him, and he can't afford the necessary repairs since he doesn't have a regular job.

  A narrow path beside Ko's house leads to a small, hidden garden, which stands in stark contrast to the condition of the cabin. It's hard to believe that both belong to the same person. The garden is nearly adjacent to Rilgohin Park, with only the Jade River winding gracefully between them, providing Ko with daily, uninterrupted peace. There's also a small dock at the edge of the garden.

  Emmod and Novel spent countless hours playing on the garden's green lawn during their childhood.

  The garden is home to a magnificent two-meter-tall peach tree, which is currently in full bloom. Dense bushes, as tall as Ko, surround the garden and provide ample privacy. In front of these bushes, vibrant flowers bloom, which Ko diligently waters twice a day. Among them is Ko's greatest pride in the garden: cucumber plants, which he sowed in pots a few weeks ago, covering them with a thin layer of soil. Thanks to the optimal temperatures, they have now sprouted.

  This leaves a small, neatly trimmed lawn, roughly the size of Emmod and Novel's room.

  "Have you ever heard of the nerve points of the human body?" Ko inquires. Emmod and Novel shake their heads.

  "I thought so. Sit down," Ko says, and the two sit on the grass.

  Ko positions himself in front of them.

  "Today, I'm going to show you where these points are and explain why they are so important in a fight," he says. "I don't know when we'll get another chance, so pay close attention. This is important," he emphasizes, and Emmod and Novel listen intently.

  "The effects of precise strikes on these points are known only to the most experienced fighters in the world."

  "And you're one of them?" Emmod asks, causing Novel to start giggling.

  "Exactly," Ko replies, unfazed by their teasing. "Knowing these weak points in your opponent can give you an advantage that could determine the outcome of a fight. This knowledge can also save your life in self-defense."

  "But you said only the most experienced fighters in the world know about this," Emmod interjects. "How likely is it that we'll ever fight, or even meet, such people?"

  Ko rubs his chin thoughtfully.

  "It can't hurt to know, regardless. These fighters won't hesitate to target these points, and they certainly won't hold back," he says. "Wait here for a moment."

  Ko disappears through the back door of his house. While he's gone, Emmod and Novel glance around at their surroundings. Soon after, Ko returns with a large burlap sack, which he gently places on the grass in front of the boys.

  "What's in it?" Novel asks, carefully trying to feel the contents.

  Suddenly, Ko firmly grabs his arm, fixing the young Brymbach with a seriousness that Emmod had never seen in him before. Novel's expression also shows a brief moment of shock.

  "Before you open the sack..." Ko begins, "...you must promise me not to scream and not to speak about this to anyone," he continues, without blinking once. "Otherwise, I'll take you home right away."

  "Don't worry, we don't get rattled that easily," Emmod replies, now curious about the sack's contents himself. But Ko grabs his arm as well.

  "Promise me you won't tell anyone," Ko insists, even more seriously.

  Emmod and Novel exchange a quick glance and nod.

  "Promise," they say together.

  "Alright," Ko says finally. "I'll hold the content steady, and you two pull off the sack."

  The brothers pull firmly at the end of the burlap sack while Ko keeps the content in place, allowing them to smoothly remove it. Immediately, a foul stench fills the air. Both boys gasp, sweat forming on Emmod's forehead as Novel begins to tremble slightly. Hay, which Ko used as padding, is scattered on the ground and inside the sack.

  "What the...?!" Emmod exclaims.

  Their wide eyes fix on the face of a corpse.

  The sight leaves them in shock and disbelief. Novel feels a wave of sickness and dizziness hit him.

  The signs of decomposition are clearly visible on the lifeless face.

  The body's metabolic functions have ceased, leaving the skin dry as the moisture evaporates. The already gaunt body is now dried out, and the muscles have stiffened. The stench of decay is so overwhelming that Novel would have screamed if he hadn't quickly covered his mouth and nose.

  Additionally, chalk markings are visible on several parts of the body.

  Ko is prepared to stop the training if either of the boys becomes too overwhelmed before it even begins.

  Emmod looks at Ko with a forced, uneasy smile.

  "Ko," he says, fear creeping into his voice, "What is this? Why do you have a dead body here?"

  Novel, trembling, turns to Ko as well.

  The garden is well-hidden by the tall bushes surrounding it. Though the small dock might be visible from the park, the thick shrubs block any clear view of what's happening inside.

  People nearby would more likely be curious about the smell, wondering if Ko had finally passed away.

  Ko kneels down beside his nephews, resting a reassuring hand on their shoulders.

  "I understand how you're feeling right now," he begins. "This wasn't an easy decision." He sighs deeply. "He died three days ago in the explosions in the Merchant District," Ko explains, but his words only seem to deepen the boys' confusion.

  "Doesn't he have family?" Emmod asks, disturbed.

  "Killed in the war," Ko lies quickly. "Just before he was to be buried..."

  "You just took him?!" Emmod interrupts.

  "No one's looking for someone who's already dead," Ko explains.

  "You can't leave him here," Emmod says. "People are going to wonder where the smell's coming from."

  "Don't worry," Ko reassures them. "Today, he's our medical model. By tonight, I'll make sure he gets a proper burial."

  Emmod still looks tense but noticeably calmer than his brother.

  Looking more closely, he notices something on the corpse's left forearm.

  "What's that?" Emmod asks, pointing to a mark on the arm.

  Ko, less hesitant, lifts the left arm.

  "You mean this mark?" he says, indicating the spot. "Because of the decay, it's hard to see now, but it caught my attention too." He continues, "There were initials branded here: J.S. Why or by whom, I don't know yet."

  He pauses for a moment and clears his throat.

  "I hope to find out more soon."

  "But would he really have wanted to be experimented on after he died?" Novel asks, unsure about the ethics of the situation.

  "What choices can he make for himself after his death?" Ko replies pragmatically.

  ''In someone's story, one is always the bad guy, Novel,'' Ko replies unemotionally. "He's dead. And he's not coming back. You're old enough to know that, aren't you?" he asks. "If this is too much for you, we can stop anytime."

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Though his words seem harsh, their uncle isn't wrong—where there is life, death is inevitable.

  Emmod understands this better than Novel, who hasn't had to confront such thoughts before.

  "Death is easy..." Ko says absently, his vacant eyes fixed on the corpse. "...living is the hard part."

  Ko is not just referring to the deceased, who he knows was once a slave to a warlord from Saharka, but also to the many people of Rilgohin who have endured hardship, and to Ko's own past.

  What lies behind this, and what even Emmod and Novel don't yet know, will be revealed in the not-so-distant future.

  It is difficult for Ko to talk to his nephews this way, but he has a specific goal in mind.

  Only by doing this can he help them take their first step into a larger world.

  They begin to analyze the situation, thinking through possible reasons for Ko's actions and trying to fit his behavior into the context of recent events, which weren't all that unusual.

  However, their memories of Ko's words and actions don't quite match his current behavior, leading to some inconsistencies.

  Ko was never the type of person to think irrationally, which makes them realize the seriousness of the situation.

  After careful consideration, and to Ko's surprise and delight, they remain steadfast.

  Whatever Ko plans to show them—they're ready for it.

  "Alright," Ko says in a calmer tone. "Novel, are you really okay?"

  Novel bites his lower lip and nods quickly several times.

  "Then let's begin," Ko says, dragging the corpse into the shade cast by the peach tree. He then breaks off a branch about the length of an arm.

  "Today, I'm going to teach you the theory behind locating the nerve points," he explains. "The practical application requires extensive, time-consuming training. But if we have time later, I'll show you some basic movements of self-defense to protect these spots," he continues. "Because a targeted attack can incapacitate you in a matter of seconds. That's why it's important to learn how to protect yourselves first before you even think about harming others with this knowledge," Ko explains.

  School had only recently ended, and they had imagined something entirely different when they thought of training. Up to now, they had only learned the basics of fighting, such as general footwork and body posture in combat, which their uncle had taught them.

  The reason they have so little experience is because of their mother, who strictly opposes fighting and even forbade them from attending combat events, even as mere spectators. They weren't even allowed to think about it.

  "Using attack techniques successfully in combat takes a lot of practice. We don't have time for that today," Ko explains as he paces back and forth with one hand behind his back.

  "In a fight, your opponent moves, or might be heavily clothed in certain areas, making it harder to hit these nerve points. For better demonstration, I've marked these spots on today's model with chalk. We'll go over the most important points from top to bottom," he says, pointing with the branch to the first marked spot on the dead man's head.

  "Here we have the temple, a highly sensitive attack point," he explains. "Striking the temples is very dangerous. If there's enough force behind it, it can be fatal."

  Novel touches his temple nervously.

  "It's because the skull bone is particularly thin at that spot," Ko adds briefly as he taps the corpse's temple with the branch.

  He then moves the pointer down to the model's chin.

  "The chin," he begins. "A punch or kick to this area can knock you out for a short time," he says. "Even more dangerous are hits to the throat or carotid artery," he continues, pointing to the respective spots. "The consequences of a targeted strike to these points can be fatal. If you end up only temporarily paralyzed, you've gotten off lightly."

  This is because the internal and external carotid arteries split at that point, regulating blood flow to the brain. A strike here signals the body to believe blood pressure has risen, causing the blood vessels to dilate in response. As a result, blood pressure drops suddenly, which can lead to unconsciousness.

  "Next, we move to the abdomen and chest area," Ko says, circling the pointer over these regions.

  "Here are the most important points: the liver, solar plexus, short ribs, and kidneys."

  He points to the chalk-marked spots.

  "The liver is particularly vulnerable, and a hit there is very painful because it's not well protected by ribs or muscles," he explains. "Underneath the sternum is the solar plexus," he continues. "A direct hit here can cause breathing difficulties or even temporary respiratory failure."

  "But if it's under the sternum, isn't it well protected?" Emmod asks.

  "Better than other organs," Ko admits, "but many nerves converge there, making it very sensitive and painful," he warns. "Ribs are a bit more complicated," he goes on. "Everyone has twelve pairs of ribs, which can vary in length. The shorter ribs are more prone to fractures because they're less protected. A fracture can temporarily incapacitate you and keep you out of action for months until fully healed," he explains. "You should always protect them."

  "Does that apply to us too?" Novel asks.

  "The biggest mistake you can make is becoming reckless or careless because of your powers. Your healing process might be faster, but the risk and severity of injury remain the same," Ko warns them.

  "How do you know so much about our powers?" Emmod asks curiously.

  "I once knew someone with abilities similar to yours," Ko responds, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

  "Who?" Emmod presses.

  "Could that person talk to squirrels too?" Novel asks excitedly.

  Ko and Emmod give Novel a disturbed look. Emmod is visibly annoyed that Novel keeps revealing these things without thinking.

  Ko clears his throat.

  "Let's move on to the kidneys," Ko says, still a little thrown off. "A kidney strike is particularly dangerous because they're almost unprotected."

  He then gestures toward the genital area, giving Emmod and Novel a look that makes it clear no further explanation is needed, before moving the stick down to the knee.

  "If you're hit at the knee joint, there's a risk of lifelong issues, as it may never fully heal."

  Ko straightens up and wipes sweat from his forehead.

  "That's it," he says. "Any questions?"

  Emmod shakes his head.

  "That's it?" Novel repeats in surprise.

  "Those are the key nerve points," Ko confirms. "I can show you more in the future."

  "And what was the sternum for again?" Novel asks, scratching his head.

  Emmod slaps his forehead, and Ko looks like he might collapse any second.

  "Emmod," Ko begins, "If you can list all the nerve points and their effects that I just mentioned, I'll show you some of the moves you can use to best defend them."

  "And what am I supposed to do in the meantime?" Novel asks sarcastically.

  "Either you listen or..." Ko starts, but Novel is already heading toward the river.

  "...or you find something else to do in the meantime," Ko finishes quietly.

  "I think it's Mother's fault," Emmod says. "She's always been strongly against anything that has something to do with fighting."

  Ko snorts.

  "I'm afraid your mother can't protect you from that forever," he says. "You're naturals, you know. It's in your blood."

  As they briefly watch Novel, who has already taken off his shoes and shirt to jump into the water, Ko gives Emmod a friendly nudge.

  Emmod begins to recite the nerve points and their effects as Ko had taught him.

  Meanwhile, Novel is skipping stones across the water, though he never gets more than ten skips, because he thinks the stones aren't flat enough. Then, he jumps into a slanted, deeper spot in the water, each time in a different pose.

  Now that Emmod is familiar with the first set of movements, having successfully listed all the nerve points and their effects, Ko whistles for Novel to come over. Secretly, Novel hopes that the sun has already dried out the corpse, so he can spend his time on more fun activities, but Ko disappoints him. Novel sits down, resting his chin on his hand, letting out several loud sighs of displeasure.

  By now, Emmod is as drenched as Novel, except his wetness comes from sweat, and not the cool river water.

  At first, Novel shows little interest and is unenthusiastic, which affects his focus. He constantly forgets things or doesn't know them because he hasn't been paying attention. But Ko doesn't give up. Only when Emmod takes a break and heads toward the water does Novel hastily list all the nerve points and their effects in painstaking detail. At that moment, Ko feels as though he's the student and Novel the teacher. Though momentarily speechless, Ko remains composed. When Novel attempts to follow his brother into the cold water, his uncle grabs him by the collar.

  "Where do you think you're going?" he asks.

  "Over there," Novel replies, nodding toward his brother.

  "Maybe later, once you're familiar with the movements," Ko says. "And besides... does it look like he's playing to you?"

  Novel is surprised, and upon closer inspection, he realizes that his brother isn't playing but is carefully continuing to practice the movements.

  Novel then shows a willingness to learn, especially if it means he'll get back into the water afterward. The training lasts for several hours, and to Novel's surprise, he actually starts enjoying it, despite the sweat now pouring down on him and his brother in streams.

  Emmod is a perfectionist, meticulously going over the movements with full focus and no breaks.

  Ko watches both of them the entire time, occasionally showing them new defensive techniques.

  Novel might not be a perfectionist, but he strives to be better than his older brother in everything he does. He admires Emmod deeply. Whatever Emmod does, Novel tries to do too.

  As the sun shifts, and the brothers are no longer standing in direct sunlight, Ko claps his hands.

  "Training is over," he says. "Well done," he praises them.

  Emmod dives headfirst into the water, while Novel lands on his back.

  This rest is both well-deserved and necessary, but suddenly water droplets rain down on Novel, jolting him awake. He opens his eyes to see his brother standing over him, offering a hand. Novel takes it, and Emmod helps him to his feet.

  "I was watching you," Emmod says. "Some of your movements were much smoother than mine."

  At those words, Novel's exhaustion vanishes in an instant, and he continues the movements with his chest puffed out in pride. Ko smiles, ruffles his hair, lifts him up, and playfully tosses him into the water.

  "Now you can cool off," Ko says, laughing.

  Emmod leans against the peach tree, utterly exhausted, watching as his brother, now less serious, practices the movements in the water.

  Ko returns after placing the corpse back in the cellar and sits down next to Emmod.

  "Try to practice the techniques in secret," he advises. "But not in front of your mother, or anyone else."

  However, Emmod's thoughts are elsewhere.

  "Why is our mother hiding things from us about our abilities?" he asks instead. "I mean, why is she so afraid of them?!"

  Ko grows thoughtful.

  "Emmod, these abilities are not a bad thing in themselves," he explains. "It's just that some very, very bad people don't tolerate them," Ko adds.

  With that statement, Emmod has already learned more than their mother had ever told them.

  But before Emmod can ask more questions, Novel interrupts the conversation.

  "Can you show us the effects of the nerve points in person?" Novel asks eagerly.

  Ko smiles at him, confused.

  "I mean, not just how to protect ourselves, but how to use them on others—by practicing on each other," Novel clarifies.

  "Have you lost your mind?!" Ko blurts out. "I'm not going to deliberately hurt you or paralyze you, even temporarily!" he protests.

  "But we can defend ourselves with the techniques you taught us," Novel retorts, challenging him.

  "Don't even think about attacking each other, understood?" Ko warns.

  Emmod and Novel nod, and Ko adjusts his hair.

  "Come on, it's getting late. I'll take you home."

  Before they set off, Ko gives them fresh cucumbers from his own garden.

  However, halfway there, their uncle suddenly stops in front of a rather unremarkable house in the Whitepool District. It isn't just any house but a small hat maker's shop. A bright sign with the image of a black hat hangs on the freshly painted door.

  Above it, in black lettering, are the words Redurb's Hats.

  Ko opens the door, and as they step inside, a soft bell chimes, and the door closes behind them by itself.

  Inside, hats of all shapes and sizes are made from a variety of materials such as felt, leather, fabric, fur, or straw. Each material has its own section with the appropriate machines and tools for processing.

  "We're closed. You can come back tomorrow morning," a defiant voice calls out.

  They walk down a short hallway and turn left, where they come upon a sturdy desk with two chairs. Piles of parchment, a quill, and an inkwell are stacked on the desk. In front of them stands a young, round-faced man with slanted ears and a double chin, sweeping the tiled floor with a broom. He's a solid three years older than Emmod.

  "You must be the new apprentice," Ko observes.

  The young man merely shrugs, as if still so new to his role that he's unsure how to respond or doesn't quite understand his responsibilities yet.

  "Boy," Ko continues, stepping forward, "where's Korbach?"

  "Oh, the old man," the young man replies, his voice almost laden with sadness, "He's in the back room," he adds, gesturing to a slightly ajar door behind him.

  "Thanks," Ko says, slipping past the apprentice without another word.

  He knocks on the door and enters the back room.

  In the middle of the dimly lit room stands a small, sturdy man with his back to Ko.

  In front of him, a pile of stacked boxes stretches up against the wall, one of them open directly beneath him. As he straightens up, a slight stoop becomes noticeable.

  "I told you..." Korbach begins, "...you should wait until you're invited in," he speaks slowly and indistinctly, puffing on a pipe.

  He then turns around slowly to face Ko, stepping into the light, revealing his white mustache, white eyebrows, and white hair.

  "Does that rule apply to me as well?" Ko asks, spreading his arms wide.

  "I meant you specifically, boy," Korbach replies in his raspy voice.

  "What brings me the honor of your visit?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

  Korbach is naturally gruff and taciturn, so Emmod and Novel expect the conversation won't last long. In the meantime, they explore the shop.

  "Can I help you with anything?" asks the boy working in the shop.

  "We're just waiting for our uncle," Novel replies.

  "Not the friendliest guy, your uncle, huh?" the boy tries to provoke a reaction, nudging Emmod slightly.

  "Not usually," Emmod replies.

  "Just like the old man in there," the apprentice adds. "He can be tough for his age," he says, "but at least he's giving me a chance. He's like a father to me, you know?"

  But Emmod and Novel don't know.

  "I haven't even introduced myself," he says. "My name is Sinul Symas."

  "I'm Emmod. And this is my little brother, Novel," Emmod replies.

  "Brymbach," Novel adds.

  "Do you live around here?" Sinul asks.

  "In this district, yes, but more outside of the city," Emmod answers. "What about you?"

  "I live over in the Shinemore District," Sinul replies. "This job helped me get my own room. Just wanted to get out of my parents' house, you know?"

  "I get that completely," Emmod says, impressed.

  "If you ever feel like it, you could stop by—"

  At that moment, Korbach, limping, and their uncle, arms crossed, emerge from the back room.

  "They've gone too far," Korbach says. "You need to do something about it."

  "Do you really think my voice will make a difference among all the others?" Ko asks seriously.

  Korbach places his hand on Ko's shoulder.

  "In times like these, your voice may be the only one that brings about change," he replies earnestly.

  They leave the shop and head home. On their way, they spot in the distance the Sacred Green Tree of Rilgohin, a prominent landmark in the Whitepool District. The tree, with its lush and dense canopy, is shining so brightly today that it resembles a Christmas tree. Although it is also decorated during Christmas, today's illumination has a different reason. This week marks the 15th anniversary of the end of the Four-Crown War. To commemorate this occasion, the Sacred Green Tree is adorned with hundreds of lanterns that will burn until they extinguish on their own. This event is known as the Nights of a Thousand Lights.

  However, to this day, opinions are divided on whether the war turned the fate of their country for better or for worse.

  "Uncle Ko," Novel asks, "will you be going to the Sacred Green Tree with us in the next few days?"

  "Unfortunately, no. I will be leaving Rilgohin tomorrow for an indefinite period," Ko replies.

  "Why's that?" Emmod and Novel ask, clearly surprised.

  "I can't say," Ko responds tersely.

  "And where to?" Emmod presses skeptically.

  "I can't say," Ko repeats, "at least not right now."

  "Was that why you visited our mother a few days ago?" Emmod continues.

  Ko leaves the question unanswered. Just as the topic arises, they find themselves at the Brymbachs' front door.

  Emina opens the door and invites Ko to join her and the boys for dinner—a gesture Ko gratefully accepts. To their mother's questions about how their day went and what they've been up to, they give only evasive answers.

  After dinner and the cleanup, Ko says his goodbyes.

  "Good luck," Emina wishes him before he disappears into the night.

  "Good luck?" Emmod and Novel wonder, puzzled, and then retreat to their room.

  "Don't you think all of this is a bit... strange?" Emmod asks his brother after closing the door behind him. Novel looks at him with a questioning expression.

  "First the thing with the corpse," Emmod whispers, lowering his voice midway through the sentence, "and why did our mother wish him 'good luck'? I don't believe the story he told about it. The person had the same symbol on their arm as one of the men we saw briefly in the small warehouse three days ago."

  "You don't think..." Novel begins.

  "Maybe Ko knows more about the attacks than he's letting on. Or worse... he belongs to the Crimson Crusaders."

  "We shouldn't jump to conclusions."

  "And why, do you think, does Ko have to leave all of a sudden?" Emmod presses, "The soldiers—no, the whole city is hunting them now," he adds, quoting Ko, "'He was a good friend of mine.' It all fits together!"

  "But we don't have any evidence. And we're talking about Ko, our uncle, Ko," Novel counters.

  "You're right, we don't have any evidence. That's why I need to follow this up—with or without you," Emmod says resolutely.

  "But we don't even know where he's gone. Are we supposed to search the whole city all night?" Novel points out, which also makes Emmod think.

  "Maybe he just stumbled and fell asleep on his floor because he drank too much again," Novel speculates, collapsing onto his bed.

  "That's it. You're right," Emmod says as a light bulb suddenly goes off in his head.

  "What's what?" Novel asks, confused.

  "You've already solved the puzzle yourself," Emmod replies.

  "That he'll end up sleeping at home?" Novel remains puzzled.

  "Exactly, he will come home eventually. But first, he'll be somewhere else. For sure!" Emmod explains.

  "And where might that be?" Novel asks.

  "To his favorite spot, his absolute favorite tavern," Emmod says.

  "The Dragon's Cup."