Rumors Carried by Wind

They didn’t stop running until they reached the top of a quiet hill on the outskirts of town. The noise and tension of the café felt far behind them now. A breeze moved through the trees, and from here, the streets below looked peaceful — as if nothing had happened.

They took a moment to catch their breath, making sure no one had followed them.

Kazuma was the first to break the silence, doubling over with laughter.
“Hah! Did you see that guy fly? Ren, you’ve got a killer hook!”

Melissa chuckled too, glancing at Ren with a strange kind of interest.
Rachel didn’t meet his eyes — her expression unreadable.
Alex stayed quiet, arms crossed, as if replaying the whole scene in his head.
And Ren… he just stood there, still trying to make sense of what had come over him.

He’d never been in a real fight before. Not even back on Earth. But the moment he saw that thug grab Rachel’s wrist—his body had moved on its own. Like something inside him snapped. There was no time to think. Just action.

Kazuma clapped a hand on Ren’s shoulder. “Still can’t believe that sword didn’t leave a scratch. Let me check—hey, c’mere!”

He locked Ren in a friendly headlock and started patting the back of his head like an older brother. “Not even a dent! What is your skull made of?”

Ren pulled free, brushing Kazuma off with a sheepish laugh.
“I don’t know what happened to me back there,” he admitted. “I just… saw what was happening and couldn’t stop myself. My feet just moved.”

Rachel glanced at him for a second, then quickly looked away, cheeks turning pink again.

“Told you,” Alex finally spoke up. “He might really be one of the Immortals.”

Rachel sighed. “We don’t know that for sure.”

“Then let’s find out someday,” Alex replied, unfazed.

Rachel turned back toward the road. “Anyway, we should find an inn for the night. We’ve got a long journey ahead.”

The group nodded. After walking a bit longer, they found a decent inn near the edge of town. Nothing fancy, but it had food, warm water, and soft beds — all they needed. They booked two rooms — one for the guys, one for the girls — and turned in for the night.

---

Later, Ren found himself staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. His body was tired, but his thoughts were too loud. Eventually, he slipped out of bed and made his way to the inn’s rooftop terrace, hoping the night air might help clear his mind.

He wasn’t alone.

Rachel stood near the edge, leaning slightly against the wooden railing, her eyes distant, lost in the stars.

“Couldn’t sleep either?” Ren asked gently.

She turned toward him, then nodded. “Yeah.”

He joined her at the railing. The town was quiet now, and the sky above them was wide and endless.

“You didn’t have to step in back there,” Rachel said, not looking at him. “I was handling it.”

Ren nodded slowly. “I know you’re strong. And I’m sure you could’ve taken care of it yourself. But...”

He hesitated.

“But?” she asked.

“Sorry, I don’t really have an answer,” he admitted with a small smile.

There was a pause, then Rachel let out a quiet sigh.
“…It’s fine. I’ll let it go this time. But next time, don’t treat me like I’m helpless. Got it?”

Ren nodded. “Whatever you say.”

They both laughed softly. It wasn’t awkward anymore.

And for that brief moment, under the starlit sky — the silence between them felt easy.

---

The next morning, the group gathered early, bags packed and spirits light. With a clear sky above and a cool breeze at their backs, they were ready to pick up the pace on their journey.

They moved through winding forest paths and uneven mountain trails. Ren walked quietly behind the group, his eyes catching sights he’d never imagined before — tall plants with glowing tips, birds with shimmering feathers, and small animals that looked like something out of a child’s sketchbook. This world felt so alive, so unfamiliar… yet strangely peaceful.

They paused occasionally—to snack, stretch, or just share casual banter. The tension from earlier had faded, replaced by laughter and a quiet sense of understanding. The farther they walked, the more their rhythm began to sync. It wasn’t just travel anymore—it was bonding.

At one point, as they walked a narrow path lined with tall trees, Kazuma turned toward Ren with a grin.

“What do you say, newbie? Want me to teach you how to use a sword?”

Ren blinked. “Really? I mean… I’ve never even held one properly, let alone swung it.”

Kazuma smirked. “Then you’re lucky. You’ve got the best teacher in the southern continent.”

Ren laughed, unsure if he was joking or not—but part of him felt excited. Even if he wasn’t ready yet, the thought of learning to fight—for real—stirred something inside him.

They crossed streams, rocky passes, and rolling hills. Some parts of the road were tough, others gentle, almost like the world itself was testing them in waves.

Eventually, Rachel pointed ahead. “There it is. The teleportation gate.”

Ren stopped to stare.

A massive circular structure stood at the end of the road—a ring of towering stones with crystal embedded at its core. The gate pulsed faintly with a pale glow. Dozens of people moved around it: adventurers, traders, even families. Guards checked bags and watched everything closely.

Rachel led the way to a booth where a man in a blue uniform stood behind a glowing desk. She explained their party size and destination: a checkpoint town near the southern coast—the closest port to the Northern Continent.

Ren leaned in. “Can’t we just teleport straight to the other continent?”

Rachel shook her head. “Intercontinental teleportation doesn’t exist. At least, not for civilians. Each continent has its own teleportation network. The oceans between them are filled with chaotic mana storms—unstable for direct jumps. To cross between them, you still need ships.”

“It’s not that the continents are super far,” Alex added. “It’s just… too much land in between. Dangerous land.”

The guard nodded, motioning them forward. The group stepped onto the platform.

And then, together, they stepped into the gate.

There was no flash. No rumble. No dramatic swirl.

Just a strange silence. A blink—

—and suddenly, they were somewhere else.

Ren looked up. A new sky. A new land. But it felt like they’d simply stepped through a doorway.

His first teleport.

One step, and the world had already started changing.

To be continued...