Hatred

The forest loomed just beyond the estate of Honorary Viscount Eberun, its edges quiet but alive with the hum of nature. It wasn't an especially dangerous place—local adventurers kept the population of monsters in check, and as long as one stayed near the outskirts, the risks were minimal. For Cedric Eberun, however, it was a stage.

"Alright, let's go! Follow me!" Cedric called, his voice filled with enthusiasm as he led his small party into the woods.

At the head of the group, the red-haired boy strode confidently, gripping a short rod that served as his magical focus. Behind him were two boys, children of lower-ranking nobles, who eagerly followed his lead.

Trailing the boys were two girls, their demeanor far more composed. The blonde, Viola, carried herself with quiet grace, while her silver-haired twin, Primula, walked with reserved poise. Both radiated the kind of effortless beauty that made their noble lineage unmistakable.

The sisters hailed from the prestigious Rosemary family, daughters of the Marquis of Rosemary, the kingdom's head court magician. Their presence here was part of an arranged effort to foster connections between noble families. Cedric's father had urged him to befriend them—or better yet, charm them.

But if that was Cedric's goal, he was failing spectacularly.

"Viola, are you alright?" Primula whispered as they walked.

"I'm fine," Viola replied softly, casting a wary glance toward Cedric. "Stay close to me."

The sisters' opinions of Cedric had soured almost immediately. His arrogance, his constant attempts at boasting, and the way his eyes lingered on them too long made them uncomfortable.

(Cedric Eberun,) Viola thought, watching him from a distance. (He's supposed to be talented in magic, but as a person, he's insufferable. I don't trust him.)

Primula, walking just behind her sister, felt the same. (He's intimidating… the way he talks, the way he looks at us… there's no way I can be friends with someone like that.)

The forest grew denser as they walked, the light from the sun dimmed by the canopy above. Cedric's rod glinted as he twirled it in his hand, his confidence unshaken.

"Gii, gii!"

A goblin emerged from the shadows ahead, its green, childlike body hunched as it bared its sharp teeth.

"Oh, a goblin! Watch this!" Cedric shouted, stepping forward with an eager grin. He raised his rod and chanted, "Fireball!"

A sphere of flames shot forward, striking the goblin square in the chest. It let out a piercing shriek as the fire engulfed it, flailing wildly before collapsing to the ground. The creature twitched once, then lay still.

Cedric strutted over to the smoldering corpse, his chest puffed out. "Ha! Took it down in one shot. A goblin's nothing for a genius mage like me!"

The two boys trailing him broke into applause.

"Incredible, Sir Cedric!" one of them exclaimed.

"There's no way we could pull off a spell like that!" the other added.

Cedric grinned broadly at their praise and planted his boot on the goblin's charred body. The gesture was meant to exude dominance, but it drew no admiration from the sisters.

"Disgusting," Viola muttered under her breath, her expression cold.

Primula glanced at her sister and nodded subtly. (He's completely oblivious to how repulsive he's being.)

The sisters had grown up surrounded by calculated social maneuvering. They recognized Cedric's attempts to impress them for what they were: clumsy, shallow, and reeking of ulterior motives.

(Let's tell Father to keep his distance from the Eberun family,) Viola thought. (We'll maintain polite contact for appearances, but no more than that.)

"He's skilled," Primula whispered to her sister, "but his personality makes him unapproachable."

As Cedric turned to face them, his grin faltered slightly at their lack of enthusiasm. He quickly masked it with a confident wave of his hand. "That was just a warm-up. Let's head deeper into the forest! The real monsters are further in."

The two boys exchanged uneasy glances.

"Uh, Cedric," one of them began hesitantly, "don't you think that might be too dangerous? Even in this forest, there could be stronger monsters if we go further…"

"Yeah," the other agreed, "maybe we should stay closer to the edge."

Cedric rolled his eyes, his irritation barely concealed. "Stop whining! Weak monsters are boring. What's the point of practicing if we don't push ourselves? Besides, I'm here. Nothing can go wrong with me around!"

His words did little to reassure them, but neither boy dared to argue further. Cedric took their silence as agreement and started walking again, heading deeper into the woods.

"Viola," Primula whispered, "should we stop them?"

Viola hesitated. Her instincts told her that following Cedric further into the forest was a bad idea. But leaving the group unsupervised felt worse.

"We'll stay close," she said finally. "There shouldn't be anything too dangerous here, as long as we don't go too far. If things get out of hand, we'll step in."

The sisters followed reluctantly, their unease growing with each step.

Unbeknownst to them, a shadow moved silently in the trees behind them. Rest had been trailing the group from the moment they left the estate, keeping a safe distance as he watched.

(What an idiot,) Rest thought, his sharp eyes fixed on Cedric's back. (He's so desperate to show off, he's dragging everyone into danger.)

Rest had no love for Cedric, and if it were only him venturing into the forest, Rest would have gladly let him face the consequences of his arrogance. But the others—the barons' sons and, especially, the Rosemary sisters—didn't deserve to be caught up in Cedric's recklessness.

(They're heading too far in. Even the weaker monsters will get more aggressive the deeper they go. I can't just stand by and watch.)

His gaze flicked to Viola and Primula, their nervous expressions plain even from a distance. (Those two don't belong here. They're too refined, too unprepared for what they might face.)

Rest adjusted the cloak draped over his shoulders and tightened his grip on the knife at his side. He didn't plan on revealing himself unless absolutely necessary, but if things turned dangerous, he would act.

The forest grew darker, the canopy above thickening as the group pressed on. Cedric continued to chatter, oblivious to the growing tension in his companions.

Rest followed silently, his steps light and deliberate. He had spent years in this forest, training himself in its shadows. If danger came, he would be ready.

(One more year,) he thought, his resolve firm. (One more year, and I'll leave all of this behind. But for now… I'll make sure none of them get killed because of that fool.)

The hunt had begun.