The forest felt different once they left the settlement behind.
Not quieter.
Just… wider.
Kaizer walked beside Humbaba, small steps keeping up with the ogre’s longer stride.
The sounds of the village faded quickly—no more hammering, no more voices calling out.
Just wind, leaves shifting and distant animal calls.
“…So this is outside?” Kaizer asked.
Humbaba glanced down at him.
“…You’ve been outside before.”
Kaizer shook his head.
“…Not like this.”
Humbaba grunted softly.
“…Yeah.
Not like this.”
They walked for a while without speaking.
Kaizer looked at everything.
Trees taller than anything near the settlement.
Roots breaking through the ground like thick veins.
Sunlight slipping through gaps in the leaves, making shifting patterns on the forest floor.
“…How far is it?” Kaizer asked.
“Grimestone?” Humbaba replied.
Kaizer nodded.
“…A few days.”
Kaizer blinked.
“…That’s long.”
Humbaba smirked slightly.
“…You’ll be just fine”
By the time the sun began to fall, they stopped.
Humbaba set down a small bundle and looked around.
“…We camp here.
Kaizer looked around too.
“…No hut?”
“…No hut.” Humbaba replied
“…Just… outside?”
Humbaba nodded.
“…Just outside.”
Kaizer looked up.
The sky was darker now.
Stars were starting to appear.
“…Oh.”
That night, Kaizer didn’t sleep right away.
He laid on his back, staring up.
“…There’s so many…”
Humbaba sat near the fire, turning a piece of meat over slowly.
“…You’ve never seen stars before?”
Kaizer shook his head.
“…Not like this.”
Humbaba chuckled.
“…Don’t stare too long.
They might stare back.”
Kaizer sat up quickly.
“…They do that?”
Humbaba paused.
Then grinned.
Kaizer stared at the sky again.
Then slowly laid back down.
“…I’m sleeping.”
Humbaba let out a quiet laugh.
Morning came fast.
“Up.”
Kaizer groaned.
“…No.”
Humbaba nudged him lightly with his foot.
“…Up.”
Kaizer sat up slowly.
“…Why?”
“…Training.”
Kaizer blinked
“…Already?”
Humbaba nodded.
“…Already.”
They started simple.
First was Footwork then balance and then movement.
Kaizer stumbled once.
Then again and suddenly, he stopped stumbling.
“Again,” Humbaba said.
Kaizer nodded.
“…Again.”
By midday, they were hunting.
Humbaba crouched low, pointing ahead.
“…There.”
Kaizer squinted.
“…I don’t see—”
“…Close your eyes.”
Kaizer paused.
Then did.
breathed in.
Slow.
The world turned grey.
(Using surround sense)
And there, a faint presence.
“…There,” Kaizer said, pointing.
Humbaba nodded.
“…Good.”
That night, they ate well.
Kaizer sat close to the fire, chewing happily.
“…This is better than settlement food.”
Humbaba raised a brow.
“…Careful.
Your father might hear that.”
Kaizer blinked.
“…He’s not here.”
“…Still counts.”
Kaizer thought for a second.
“…I’ll tell him later.”
Humbaba snorted.
“…Alright,” Humbaba said after a while.
“Joke time.”
“…What’s that?”
“…Something funny.”
“…Oh.”
Humbaba leaned forward slightly.
“…Why don’t ogres sneak?”
Kaizer tilted his head.
“…Why?”
“…Because we’re terrible at being ‘quiet giants.'”
Kaizer stared at him.
“…That’s not funny.”
Humbaba shrugged.
“…You laughed.”
“…I didn’t.”
“…You almost did.”
Kaizer tried not to smile.
He failed.
“…Okay, one more,” Humbaba said.
Kaizer leaned forward.
“…Okay.”
“…What do you call a troll who can’t find his cave?”
“…What?”
“…Homeless.”
Kaizer burst out laughing.
“…That’s bad!”
“…It’s good.”
“…It’s bad!”
“…You’re laughing.”
Kaizer kept laughing anyway.
Later that night, they found a river.
A wide river, slow and clear under the night sky.
The stars reflected across its surface.
“…Can we?” Kaizer asked.
Humbaba looked at him.
“…You’re already taking off your shoes.”
Kaizer ran in.
Cold water splashed around him.
“…It’s cold!”
Humbaba stepped in after him.
“…You’ll live.”
They stayed there longer than they planned.
Talking.
Laughing.
Doing nothing.
At one point, Kaizer just floated, looking up at the sky again.
“…It’s big,” he said quietly.
Humbaba looked at him.
For a moment, he didn’t see the boy who fought monsters Or the one who cut down something unnatural.
He saw a child.
“…Yeah,” Humbaba said.
“…It is.”
The journey continued.
Day by day, Step by step.
And somewhere ahead, beyond the forest
Grimestone waited.