Hunter Of The Six Realms

Chapter 11

Kira's face instantly fell. Her expression turned cold in an instant. "You don't trust me?"

"Want me to be honest?" Hawk asked, his face turning expressionless.

She nodded once, hesitantly.

"I don't," he said flatly. "There's a high chance someone is behind all this, the hunters disappearing, beasts showing up with human traits and skills, these are no coincidences. Tell me, Kira… who sent you?"

She froze. It wasn't even a question she expected him to ask. Not this early. Not so bluntly. He'd seen through her, completely. He was damn smart as always.

"Draen, I... I'm in danger," she muttered, voice cracking slightly. "If I don't bring that gem back, I'm dead."

'i'll just tell him to truth, he loves me, he'll definitely help me.'

—

Meanwhile…

The house was dead silent. It was past midnight and everyone was asleep. Every normal person, excluding the night owls among humans. (Author's note: This could have been counted as humor but well, night owls, we know ourselves)

Kaizen lay on his side, blanket barely covering him, his breathing slow and even. He looked like someone deep asleep, relaxed, calm, like always. Infact, his expression seemed a bit more calmer than usual.

But just then, something started...A voice, low, echoing faintly in his head. No words at first… just a strange pulse. Then—

"Come…"

"The time has come…"

"You've been summoned… Chosen one."

His eyes snapped open instantly, but they weren't his usual dull grey color, they were blue, bright, cold and unatural.

No blink. No expression.

He sat up slowly, eyes still wide open, staring at nothing. Then he stood, quietly, In a robotic way, like he was a puppet being controlled with strings.

No sound as he walked barefoot across the floor. He didn't change, didn't grab his boots, didn't take his dagger or his bag. Just walked straight to the door. The lock clicked and the door creaked open. No one saw him leave.

He stepped out into the street like someone in a trance. Everything about him was empty, expressionless, cold. Just following a call only he could hear.

Minutes passed but he didn't stop. Not when he left the residential zone, not when he reached the abandoned eastern edge of the district where no one ever went.

That's where it appeared.

A portal.

Faint black edges. White cracks running through it like shattered glass. It didn't swirl or pulse like normal ones. It just hovered there in silence.

Kaizen didn't hesitate, he just moved forward and stepped into it—and the portal vanished. Gone without a sound a trace... just like that.

---

The Next Morning

"Kaizen!"

His mom's voice echoed through the house. She waited for him to reply but there was no response.

He was always the first to wake up in the house, preparing and leaving early for raid missions, she was surprised he hadn't left yet.

She called again, knocking on his door lightly before pushing it open. "You're gonna be late—"

But to her surprise, he wasn't inside.

The bed was messy, showing that he had slept there. But his boots sat exactly where he always placed them, side by side, untouched. His bag rested against the wall, unopened. His dagger, the one thing he never left without, remained on the shelf.

Her chest tightened immediately. She walked inside, scanning the room. Nothing was missing.

Nothing at all.

She turned, suddenly on edge, then rushed out to of his room to the sitting room where her husband sat, adjusting his shirt.

"Have you seen Kaizen?" she asked quickly.

He shook his head casually. "No. Thought he left early like always."

"He didn't," she said firmly. "He's not in his room, and all his things are still there. Boots, gear, even his dagger."

He paused slightly, but shrugged. "Maybe he left in a hurry. Got called for something."

"Without his weapon? Or shoes?" Her voice rose just slightly.

He rubbed his forehead. "Maybe someone loaned him gear. He's a hunter now. These things happen."

She stared at him, hands on her waist, concern sharpening her tone. "Kaizen's never once left this house without being fully prepared. Never. You know that."

Halric sighed, clearly not wanting to argue. "You're worried over nothing Elen, I'm sure he's fine."

"No," she snapped. "I'm being serious here. Our son has no powers, Halric. He's the only one going into the beast realm without magic abilities. You think he can just stroll into danger barefoot and unarmed? You really think he'd do something that reckless?"

His jaw tensed, but he didn't reply.

"He wouldn't," she continued, softer now, but still urgent. "And you know it. Something's wrong. I feel it."

They stood there for a moment in silence.

Finally, Halric ran a hand down his face and muttered, "I'll check in with the hunter's guild. I'll find out if his name is on any portal record this morning."

That was only when Elen finally calmed down a little, but the worry in her heart hadn't subsided a bit.

Halric got up from the bench and headed out immediately, not giving Elen the chance to nag about him wasting time and being too slow. He moved with a slight limp a familiar weight he'd long grown used to. The prosthetic beneath his pants made a dull sound each time his left foot touched the ground, but it didn't slow him down.

He pulled on his boots and cloak, didn't say another word, and left the house with a heavy scowl on his face.

Kaizen worked under Crimson Dusk, so Halric knew exactly where to head. He didn't take the sky rail or wait around for a transit orb. He walked...he had no money from any of those.

It was a cool morning, the mist still clinging low to the cobbled paths. People passed by, mostly other hunters or shopkeepers prepping for the day. Halric barely noticed them. His mind was a blur of thoughts, each more unsettling than the last.

His son wouldn't have left like that. Not barefoot, not without his weapon. Not without a word. It just wasn't him.

By the time Halric reached Crimson Dusk's central base, the guild hall was already bustling. Hunters moved in and out, some finishing morning assignments, others prepping for the day's portal cycles. He pushed through the crowd with quiet urgency, eyes scanning for someone familiar.

"Halric?"

A voice called from beside the check-in post.

Halric turned and saw a tall, broad-shouldered man with greying stubble and tired eyes. Garred, chief of outer gate security.