They reached a high ridge that overlooked the village and offered a clear view toward Mechu Forest. The problem was obvious: how were they all supposed to get up there?

“I think Silas is too heavy for me to carry,” Killian admitted, wincing. “No offense.”

“None taken,” Silas said. “I’m just dense with muscle.”

He wasn’t, but it made him feel better to say it.

“Well, I’m not carrying him either,” Deandre added. “Not up a tree. Not even with my strength.”

How about I use my electric whips, and Deandre can grab onto them while using his reinforcement. Then he can pull you up, Silas.” Killian explained.

They tried the idea, taking it branch by branch until they made it to the top, settling on a thick, wide branch high above the world. The breeze smelled of pine and untouched forest. Below them, the sunset washed the village in orange light.

“It’s amazing,” Deandre whispered.

“I know,” Killian said. Killian pointed outward. “That’s the village, it looks even bigger from up here.”

“Bigger?” Deandre said. “It looks huge.”

They sat together in comfortable silence until Killian finally inhaled, steadying himself. 

“Hey… remember when I went through my trial?” 

“Yeah,” Silas said. “It rained for like two hours. You were just staring at the sky.”

“Well… I never told you what it was like.”

Killian paused, gathering the courage. Then he spoke. “When I got there, everything was dead. The grass, the trees, rotted. The sky was gray. No sun. And then these monsters appeared. They looked human at first, but they weren’t. More like… zombies pretending to be human. Their movements were wrong. But they bled. And they screamed when they got hurt. It felt like hell. I didn’t want to fight them so…”

Killian’s voice tightened.

“…so, he made them disappear.”

“Who?” Deandre asked.

Killian balled his fists.

“My guardian. The god or whatever who grants us power. He just… turned them to ash. He rose from their ashes. And when I tried to run, he used some kind of gravity magic. I couldn’t move. His voice felt like it was forcing itself into my head.”

Silas leaned forward, nervous.

“What did he say?”

“He told me I couldn’t keep rejecting the rules of this world. That eventually I’d have to kill or be killed. But then he gave me another option: get so strong I’d never have to kill anyone at all.”

“That’s… not a terrible option,” Deandre said.

“I didn’t get to choose. Not yet.” Killian swallowed. “He raised his arm like he was holding a sword and then—”

“And then?!” Deandre snapped, anger rising.

Killian clenched his jaw. He knew the guardian was probably listening and enjoying this.

“He swung down. Cut my arm clean off.”

Silas and Deandre froze.

“It was the worst pain I’ve ever felt,” Killian continued quietly. “I couldn’t move. I could only scream. Then suddenly the pain stopped. My arm was back. He said I had to fight a weaker clone of him. He split himself in two. The real one disappeared and told me, in my head, that if I didn’t kill the clone… then the clone would kill me.”

Deandre breathed out slowly. “You don’t have to say it, man. We know what happened. And we don’t think any different of you.”

Silas nodded firmly. “Killian, you’re our best friend. This world is going to test us over and over, but we can’t let it change who we are. Even if you killed it, it wasn’t real. Someday we might face something like that for real, God forbid. But no matter who ends up being the one to do it… it won’t change us.”

The three boys bumped fists.

“Thanks,” Killian said softly. “But… that’s not all.”

Silas and Deandre looked at him again.

“After the trial, he said I’d have to help him prevent some kind of great disaster. In exchange, he’d tell me the secrets of this world, and what happened to my father.”

Silas’ eyes widened. Deandre leaned forward, “how does he know about your dad? And what kind of disaster?”

“I’m not sure. But he said that if I fail… it won’t just be everyone I love who dies. He said this entire world would cease to exist. Us included.”

Silas went pale. Deandre rubbed his face.

“So let me get this straight:

He cuts your arm off.

Forces you to kill his clone.

And now he wants you to save the world?” Deandre said. “Killian… this dude is crazy.”

Killian shrugged helplessly. “I don’t have much of a choice. And honestly… part of me thinks he’s right. Since then, he hasn’t been terrible. He helped me train. He told me my brother’s alive, and that we’ll find him once we leave the village. I… think he can see the future.”

“Leave?” Silas repeated quietly.

“It was going to happen eventually,” Killian said. “Now we have a real reason. But we’ll need to get way stronger if we’re going to stop this disaster.”

Deandre stood up on the branch. “Then it’s official. After we help the village, we’re gone. We find Killian’s brother. And we get stronger.”

Silas and Killian nodded.

“We should head back,” Killian said. “The sun's already down. And we’ve got a lot to set up for tomorrow’s celebration.”

So, the boys climbed down the tree, each step heavier with purpose. For the first time, they had a real direction, a path laid out before them.

But with the threat of a world-ending disaster looming, one thing was certain:

They would have to become stronger than ever before if they hoped to survive what was coming.