The morning sun was low in the sky when Orion, Ra, Tsuki, Kannie, and Nerpheus slipped through the back alleys of Xylodia. It had been a few days since they had escaped the brothel, and while they had found safety, Kannie’s condition had worsened. Her fever burned through the nights, and her once lively energy had dwindled to exhaustion. Even her floppy rabbit ears, which once twitched with curiosity, drooped weakly against her head.

  Ra carried her, worry shadowing his usually confident features. "We need to find a doctor. Now."

  Orion nodded, leading the way toward a small, dimly lit clinic. It wasn’t much, but it was their only option. They entered to find an elderly doctor hunched over his desk, scribbling notes into a thick ledger. He barely glanced up when they entered.

  "We need help," Orion said, his voice firm. "Our friend is sick."

  The doctor scoffed. "I don’t have time to look at a lycanthrope. I tend to real patients."

  Ra’s fists clenched. "Say that again—"

  Orion raised a hand to stop him, then turned back to the doctor. His golden eyes darkened. "You will help us."

  The doctor gave him a dismissive look. "Or what, boy? Do you think threats work on me?"

  Nerpheus, standing to the side, moved in an instant. He unfastened the water pouch at his side, and with a flick of his wrist, a stream of water coiled around the doctor’s throat. Then, with a burst of movement, he jumped, using the force to tighten the whip-like hold, choking the man in midair. The doctor thrashed, eyes bulging.

  Orion stepped forward, his voice calm but cold. "You don’t want to test how serious we are. Either you help her, or you’ll be the one needing a doctor—or a mortician."

  The doctor clawed at the water noose, his feet barely touching the ground. Realizing these children weren’t bluffing, he jerked his head in a frantic nod. "A-alright! I’ll help!"

  Nerpheus let go, the water dissolving into droplets before splashing onto the floor. The doctor gasped, rubbing his throat, then hurried to examine Kannie. After a few moments, he sighed, his gaze grim.

  "She has a feverborne virus. If it continues unchecked, she won't survive. There's an herb that can treat it—Starshade Bloom. It grows in the forest outside the city, but it's dangerous territory."

  Ra stepped forward without hesitation. "Where exactly can we find it?"

  The doctor pulled an old medical book from a shelf, flipping through the pages until he landed on an illustration of a plant with curling leaves and tiny star-like flowers. "Here. This is what you’re looking for. But beware—the deeper parts of the forest are crawling with goblins, orcs, and worse."

  Orion ripped the page from the book and stuffed it into his pocket. "We’ll get it. Nerpheus, you stay behind and watch over Kannie

  The thick forest swallowed them in darkness even under the mid-morning sun. Orion, Ra, and Tsuki moved carefully, navigating the uneven terrain with quiet steps. The air was damp, filled with the scent of moss and earth, and the deeper they ventured, the more the trees seemed to close in around them.

  “This place gives me the creeps,” Ra muttered, glancing around warily.

  Tsuki, who had dyed his silver hair black with ink to avoid standing out, adjusted his grip on his dagger. “We should be close.”

  Unbeknownst to them, high above the treetops, a boy around their age hovered lazily, arms behind his head, enjoying the cool shade of the thick canopy. He had been napping peacefully when the sound of voices below roused him. His turquoise eyes flickered open, and he scowled, irritated that his rest had been disturbed. Drifting downward slightly to get a better look, he spotted three figures making their way through his part of the woods.

  With a smirk, the boy decided if he wasn’t going to get any sleep, he might as well have some fun.

  The first thing he did was create a slight gust of wind, rustling the bushes to their right. Orion halted, eyes darting toward the movement. “Something’s there.”

  Ra clenched his fists. “If it’s another damn rabbit, I swear—”

  The boy bit back a chuckle. He let a small branch snap off the tree above and fall, landing right on Ra’s head.

  “Argh!” Ra yelped, rubbing the sore spot. “Okay, what the hell?”

  Tsuki furrowed his brows, scanning the trees. “We’re being watched.”

  The boy grinned wider. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a few scattered leaves tumbling from above, making it seem like something was shifting in the canopy. The trio tensed, weapons half-drawn.

  “Show yourself!” Orion demanded.

  The boy, deciding to up the mischief, whispered a gentle wind down Ra’s back, making the boy jolt.

  “Okay, that’s it!” Ra growled, spinning in circles. “Whoever you are, I’m going to break your face!”

  Gabriel stifled a laugh, moving just out of sight each time they turned. He let them stew for a few more moments before making his grand entrance.

  With a graceful descent, he floated down from the treetops, hovering a few inches above the ground in front of them. His golden hair glowed faintly in the sunlight filtering through the canopy, and his ever-present grin only widened at their expressions of surprise.

  “Well, well,” the boy drawled, arms crossed. “You three sure are jumpy.”

  Ra was the first to react. “You little—!” He lunged, fists swinging. The boy effortlessly floated backward, just out of reach. “Whoa now, no need to get violent.” He smirked. “Unless you just really enjoy swinging at air.”

  Ra seethed, but Orion stepped forward, assessing the boy. “Who are you?”

  The boy shrugged. “A traveler by the name of Gabriel. You lot woke me up, so I thought I’d see what was so important.”

  Tsuki narrowed his eyes. “You were following us.”

  Gabriel grinned. “Observing.”

  Ra huffed. “Same thing!”

  Gabriel wagged a finger. “Not quite.”

  Orion sighed. “Look, we don’t have time for this. We’re searching for something important.”

  Gabriel floated closer, his feet never touching the ground. “Oh? And what might that be?”

  Orion pulled out the page they had ripped from the doctor’s book, showing the illustration of the star-shaped herb. Gabriel blinked, tilting his head. “Never seen it before.”

  Ra threw his hands in the air. “Great. So you just wasted our time.”

  Gabriel smirked. “Not necessarily.” He looked at the page again, then at the forest around them. “I don’t know what it’s called, but I might’ve seen something that looks like this. Follow me.”

  Ra crossed his arms. “And why should we trust you?”

  Gabriel tapped his chin, pretending to think. “Well, you could wander around in circles for another hour. Or you could let me help and maybe get back before nightfall.”

  Orion exhaled. “Fine. Lead the way.”

  Gabriel gave a mock bow. “As you wish.”

  He led them deeper into the woods, occasionally floating ahead or behind them just to keep them on edge. Every now and then, he’d tap Ra’s shoulder, only to vanish when the boy turned. When Orion and Tsuki whispered among themselves, Gabriel would hover just close enough to make them pause and glare at him.

  Eventually, they reached a small clearing, and there, beneath a cluster of twisting roots, grew the glowing blossoms they sought.

  “See? Told you I knew where it was.” Gabriel folded his arms, pleased.

  Tsuki wasted no time gathering a handful of the flowers. “Let’s hurry back.”

  The air grew still for a moment, a heavy silence descending upon the clearing. Just as Orion was about to suggest they leave, the sound of heavy, uneven footsteps broke the quiet.

  The underbrush rustled violently before several hunched, grotesque figures emerged—goblins. They were small, twisted creatures with sharp teeth, their sickly green skin marred with scars. Some carried crude daggers, others makeshift clubs fashioned from tree branches and jagged stones. But the true threat followed in their wake.

  A massive orc lumbered forward, towering over the goblins. Its thick, muscular frame was covered in patchwork armor, its beady red eyes gleaming with malice. In its enormous hands, it gripped a spiked club that looked large enough to crush a man in a single swing.

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  Ra cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders. “Well, look at that. We’ve got company.”

  Gabriel arched an eyebrow, still floating effortlessly above the ground. “Oh, this just got interesting.”

  The goblins shrieked and charged, eager to overwhelm their prey.

  The Battle Begins

  Orion was the first to move. With quick, fluid steps, he closed the gap between himself and the goblins, weaving between their wild swings. His dagger flashed in the dim light as he slashed across one goblin’s throat, causing it to gurgle and collapse instantly. Another lunged at him, aiming a rusted blade toward his gut. Orion twisted his body, dodging just in time, then slammed his boot into its chest, sending it sprawling. Before it could rise, he plunged his dagger into its neck, silencing it permanently.

  To Orion’s right, Ra met a goblin head-on. Unlike Orion, he didn’t bother with finesse. As one goblin leapt at him with a high-pitched screech, Ra simply caught it by the face and slammed it into the ground with enough force to break its spine. Another goblin swung a jagged club at him, but Ra leaned back, avoiding the blow before driving his knee into the creature’s stomach. It doubled over with a wheeze, and Ra followed up with a brutal punch to its skull, sending it flying into a tree with a sickening crack.

  Tsuki moved like a shadow, slipping between goblins with eerie grace. A smaller goblin slashed at him, but Tsuki ducked low, letting the blade sail harmlessly over his head. With a quick flick of his wrist, his sword found the goblin’s exposed ribs, piercing deep. The creature let out a strangled cry before falling lifelessly to the ground. Another goblin rushed at him from behind, but Tsuki sensed it and spun, catching its throat with a clean, precise cut before it could react.

  Above them, Gabriel watched with mild amusement. “Not bad,” he mused, before lifting his hand. A small crackle of lightning formed at his fingertips. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a bolt hurtling through the air, striking a goblin square in the chest. The creature convulsed violently before collapsing, smoke rising from its charred body.

  The Orc Enters the Fray

  The orc let out a deafening roar, swinging its massive club toward Ra. The blow came with the force of a landslide, and Ra barely managed to throw himself aside in time. The club smashed into the ground where he had stood, splintering the earth and sending debris flying.

  “Damn, that thing’s strong,” Ra muttered, shaking dust from his hair.

  Gabriel, still hovering, grinned. “You look like you could use a hand.”

  Ra growled, rolling his shoulders. “Less talking, more helping!”

  The orc lifted its club for another swing, but Gabriel acted first. He summoned a sharp gust of wind that struck the orc’s side, making it stumble slightly. It wasn’t much, but it created an opening.

  Orion seized the moment, rushing in low. He drove his dagger deep into the orc’s leg, aiming for the tendons. The beast roared in pain but didn’t fall. Instead, it swung wildly, nearly crushing Orion under its massive arm. He rolled away just in time, panting.

  Tsuki darted behind the orc, targeting the same injured leg. His sword slashed at the hamstring, weakening it further. The orc snarled and turned, attempting to swat him like an insect. Tsuki barely avoided the strike, flipping backward out of reach.

  Gabriel, watching the fight with keen interest, decided to escalate things. A stronger bolt of lightning crackled between his fingers before he launched it straight into the orc’s skull. The impact sent a visible shockwave through its body, its muscles locking up for a moment.

  Ra saw his chance. With a feral grin, he lunged forward and delivered a devastating punch straight to the orc’s gut. The force of the blow made the creature double over, coughing up blood. Tsuki was already moving, his blade a blur as he sliced cleanly across the orc’s exposed throat.

  A deep, gurgling noise escaped the orc as it staggered, its eyes wide in shock before it finally collapsed, shaking the ground beneath them.

  The Goblins’ Last Stand

  The remaining goblins, seeing their leader fall, hesitated. Some shrieked in rage and desperation, while others turned to flee. Orion, wasting no time, sprinted forward and caught one goblin by the back of the head, slamming it into the ground before driving his dagger into its skull.

  Ra grabbed another goblin as it tried to escape, lifting it off the ground by its throat. “Not so fast.” With a swift motion, he snapped its neck and tossed the lifeless body aside.

  Tsuki moved with frightening precision, his blade cutting through the last two goblins before they even realized they were dead. Their bodies hit the ground almost simultaneously, blood pooling around them.

  Gabriel floated above, hands on his hips. “Well, that was fun.”

  Orion shot him a look. “You could’ve helped sooner.”

  Gabriel smirked. “And miss the show? Never.”

  Ra scowled but didn’t argue. Instead, he wiped the blood from his hands onto a goblin’s tattered cloak. “At least tell me that’s all of them.”

  Tsuki bent down and retrieved the herbs they had come for, tucking them carefully into a pouch. “We should get out of here before more show up.”

  Orion nodded in agreement. “Let’s move.”

  As they made their way back through the forest, Orion glanced at Gabriel. “You could come with us.”

  Gabriel raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And why would I do that?”

  Orion shrugged. “You don’t seem to have anywhere else to go. Might as well stick with us.”

  Gabriel hovered slightly closer, considering. For the first time, his grin faded slightly. Gabriel hesitated, touching the simple bracelet on his wrist—the only clue to his past. After a moment, he grinned. “Alright. You seem like fun.

  The journey back to the doctor’s clinic was filled with an unspoken urgency. Orion, Ra, Tsuki, and Gabriel moved quickly through the winding streets of Xylodia, keeping their heads low and their steps quiet. They knew they had little time—Kannie’s condition had worsened, and every second wasted brought her closer to the brink.

  When they arrived, the clinic was eerily silent except for the rhythmic sound of water dripping from a leaking pipe. The old doctor barely looked up from his work as they entered, his gnarled hands grinding herbs with meticulous precision. Nerpheus sat beside Kannie, his normally composed face tense with worry. He looked up at them, eyes searching for an answer.

  “Did you get it?” his voice was steady, but the concern was evident.

  Orion nodded and reached into his pocket, pulling out the slightly crushed yet glowing herb—the Starshade Bloom. He extended it toward the doctor, who, upon seeing it, snatched it from his hand without a word. The old man examined the herb carefully, nodding to himself before immediately setting to work, grinding it into a fine paste and mixing it into a steaming cup of herbal tea. The pungent scent filled the room, an odd mix of bitter and earthy tones.

  Nerpheus exhaled, his shoulders sagging in relief as he turned back to Kannie. She lay weakly on the cot, her small frame barely shifting beneath the blankets. Her usually bright, mischievous eyes were dull, feverish, and unfocused. Sweat dampened her bunny-like ears, which drooped at her sides. Her breathing was shallow, but when Orion approached, she stirred slightly, cracking open her eyes just enough to see him.

  “You guys... took long enough,” she rasped weakly, attempting a smirk but failing.

  Ra scoffed, though there was no real bite behind it. “Yeah, yeah, next time, you go fight the horde of goblins and an orc.”

  Gabriel, who had been hovering just above the ground as always, folded his arms. “Honestly, they weren’t that tough. I was just keeping things interesting.”

  The doctor wiped his hands on a rag, exhaustion evident on his face as he stepped away from Kannie’s bedside. “She’s stable now. The fever should break in a few hours.” His voice was devoid of warmth. He turned to Orion and the others, his expression hard. “I’ve done what you asked. Now, get out.”

  Ra’s jaw clenched, his grip on Kannie tightening slightly. He wanted to lash out at the old man for treating them like pests after everything they had endured, but Orion placed a hand on his shoulder, silently telling him to let it go. They had what they came for—the medicine worked, and Kannie would recover. That was all that mattered.

  Nerpheus, who had stayed behind to watch over Kannie, exhaled in relief. “We should leave before he changes his mind.”

  Orion nodded. “Let’s go.”

  Ra lifted Kannie carefully, making sure not to disturb her as they exited the clinic. The streets of Xylodia were alive with their usual bustle, but to the group, the world felt quieter now. They had been through too much in just a few days—escaping the brothel, Tsuki’s revelation about his people, the fight in the forest, and now Gabriel, the strange floating boy who had been watching them from the shadows.

  Gabriel followed, hands resting behind his head as he hovered lazily above the ground. He had been silent since they left the doctor’s office, an unusual occurrence for someone who seemed to always have a joke or a smirk ready.

  Once they reached the alleyway near their hideout, Orion finally spoke. “We need to talk.”

  Inside the hideout Ra placed Kannie gently onto a blanket, making sure she was comfortable before he stood beside Orion. Tsuki sat nearby, his fingers lightly brushing over the ink-stained tips of his hair, lost in thought.

  Gabriel arched an eyebrow. “About what?”

  “You.” Orion’s gaze was sharp but not unkind. “You’ve been with us all day, helped us fight, but we don’t know anything about you. Why?”

  Gabriel sighed, rolling onto his back mid-air as he floated in lazy circles. “That’s because there’s not much to tell.” His voice, usually lighthearted, carried something heavier now. “I woke up a few weeks ago, on a hillside near the forest. No memories, no clue who I was—just this.”

  He lifted his wrist, revealing a bracelet with a name engraved in it: Gabriel.

  “That’s all?” Ra asked, skeptical.

  Gabriel shrugged. “That’s all.”

  Orion studied him for a long moment. “You don’t know where you’re from?”

  “Nope.”

  “You don’t know who your parents are?”

  “Nope.”

  “You don’t have anyone waiting for you?”

  Gabriel’s smirk faltered slightly. “No.”

  A silence settled between them. It was a rare thing for their group to be at a loss for words, but something about Gabriel’s admission made even Ra hold his tongue.

  Then, in a move that surprised even himself, Orion extended his hand. “Then stay.”

  Gabriel blinked, his hovering faltering for just a moment. “What?”

  “You could stay with us,” Orion repeated. “If you don’t have anywhere else to go, then make a new home with us.”

  Gabriel stared at Orion’s hand as if it were a foreign object. He had expected suspicion, maybe even rejection, but this? This was different. The way they looked at him—not with pity, not with obligation, but with genuine acceptance—made something tighten in his chest.

  Ra crossed his arms, giving Gabriel a cocky smirk. “Don’t get the wrong idea, floating boy. We’re not soft. But you held your own back there. And you make for decent entertainment.”

  Nerpheus added, “And if you’re sticking around, you need to pull your weight.”

  Tsuki, who had been silent up until now, met Gabriel’s gaze. “It’s not easy, you know. Being alone.”

  Gabriel knew Tsuki understood that feeling better than anyone. He let out a breath, his grin returning, though this time, it was softer. “You guys really don’t know what you’re getting yourselves into, do you?”

  Orion smirked. “Probably not.”

  Gabriel glanced at each of them. Ra, the blunt, no-nonsense fighter with a strong sense of loyalty. Nerpheus, calm and composed, but with an unpredictability that made him dangerous. Tsuki, burdened by his past but determined to move forward. Orion, their leader, stubborn, strong-willed, and willing to stand by the people he called his own.

  And now, they were calling him their own.

  Gabriel rolled his wrist, studying the name on his bracelet one last time before he exhaled. “Alright,” he said, floating down slightly. “I’m in.”

  Orion pulled a small blade from his belt, making a shallow cut on his palm before passing the blade to Ra. One by one, Ra, Nerpheus, and Tsuki followed, the thin lines of crimson pooling in their hands.

  Gabriel hesitated only briefly before taking the knife and pressing it against his own skin. The cut stung, but he barely felt it.

  Together, they clasped hands, blood mixing as they completed the pact.

  “We’re family now,” Orion said.

  Ra smirked. “Brothers.”

  “And sister,” Nerpheus added, glancing at the sleeping Kannie.

  Gabriel chuckled. “I suppose that makes me the charming cousin.”

  Ra rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at his lips.

  The last rays of sunlight faded into twilight, and as the stars began to emerge, the five of them sat together in quiet understanding. None of them had chosen the lives they were born into, but here, in this moment, they were choosing something for themselves.