Morning arrived swiftly.Without knocking, a door creaked open, and one of Markas’s men strode into Tadas’s room. "Wake up, you good-for-nothing bastard. You have ten minutes to get ready and move your ass outside. It’s time to show what you’re made of."The same routine was repeated in Mindaugas’s room. But when the soldier opened Scar’s door, he was met with an unexpected sight—Scar was sitting calmly on his bed, waiting."Oh? You’re up. Good. Let’s go."Scar rose without a word and followed him outside. For the first time, he saw the village in daylight. Wooden houses stood scattered around, smoke curling from chimneys. Villagers were gathered, waiting expectantly.Soon, Tadas and Mindaugas joined him. The three of them now stood alongside Markas’s squad. But it didn’t take long to notice that there were two other groups preparing as well.One squad consisted entirely of women—silent, disciplined, and armed like assassins. The other was a mixed unit of men and women, with wolves prowling alongside them like trained soldiers.As all three squads stood ready, Bo walked in front of them, his towering presence commanding attention."My fellow soldiers," he called out. "I am grateful to see you all here today. I wish you the best and safest journey into the forest. May you return unharmed. And above all—thank you for what you do for our people."With that, the squads turned and began their march into the forest, each heading in a different direction. The villagers clapped and saluted as the warriors disappeared into the shadows of the trees, venturing once more into the unknown.

  * * *

  Markas began explaining the day’s mission. "Alright, listen up," he said, his tone commanding attention. "Today, we head south. We’ll be traveling for about ten kilometers. After that, we’ll make camp. Yesterday, the scout squad reported spotting a large herd of deer. That’s our target. But I want to remind you all—especially the new ones—of the rules. No one walks alone. No one moves without a torch. You’re in the forest now, and the woods don’t play nice." "Yes, Chief!" the men replied in unison."Good. Now, untie them."One of Markas’s men stepped forward and cut the ropes binding Scar, Tadas, and Mindaugas. Markas narrowed his eyes at them. "You’re part of my squad now. But don’t get any ideas. You screw up, and you’re on your own."The group set out, walking through the dense wilderness toward the unknown dangers that awaited them in the heart of the island.When men finally reached their destination Markas shouted, "Now, let's get to work.""Start collecting firewood. We’ll need a big fire to keep the monsters at bay tonight."

  The men scattered, each one moving with purpose. The forest was still and dark, but the crackling of the fire and the rustle of footsteps broke the silence. Markas watched as the men gathered old, dried branches from the surrounding area. It didn’t take long for them to build a large fire, the flames licking the night air and casting a warm glow around the camp.

  As the fire grew, the men gathered around it, sitting on the ground, leaning against trees, and keeping watch on the darkness beyond. The forest was a living entity, one that was never fully still, and the tension in the air was palpable.

  "So, three of you," one of Markas's men began, breaking the silence. "Have you fought any of these monsters? Have you seen them?"

  Mindaugas lifted his head, his eyes cold, and stared at the man across the fire. His voice was low, heavy with emotion. "Yes, I’ve seen them. They look like nothing else in this world. No flesh, only darkness. I watched one tear a friend of mine in two like it was nothing. I didn’t fight back. I ran. We all did."

  The camp fell silent. The fire crackled, and the wind rustled through the leaves, but no one spoke for a long moment.

  "I came here with my wife," Other man talked, his voice growing quieter. "We were looking for the immortality rune to save her life. She was sick, dying. We thought the rune could cure her. But instead, the only thing we found was her death. These monsters... they killed her. I couldn’t save her. I would have been dead too if it wasn’t for Markas. He saved my life."

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  The weight of soldiers’s words hung heavy in the air. The men looked at him, some with pity, others with a sense of respect for the harsh reality he had faced.

  "I want to help the people in this town survive," man finished. "I want them to make it home to their families."

  Scar, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. His voice was steady, but there was curiosity in his tone. "Immortality? I keep hearing people talk about it. What’s all this about?"

  The other soldier across the fire looked at Scar, surprised. "You really don’t know?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

  Mindaugas answered, his eyes distant as he recalled the legend. "Legend says that in the center of the island, there’s a castle. In the basement of that castle is a cave that holds the immortality rune. I don’t know how many runes there are, or if they even exist, but a lot of people come here looking for it."

  Scar frowned. "But if no one’s ever found it, why do people keep coming here?"

  Mindaugas sighed, shaking his head. "Because the legend says that this island was created by a powerful wizard three hundred years ago. And to protect the rune, he created the forest. After seeing what’s out there, it’s not hard to believe that something like that could exist. But no one’s found it yet."

  The fire crackled louder, and the men fell into a quiet, uneasy silence. The wind howled through the trees, and the sense of foreboding grew heavier with each passing moment.

  Finally, Markas spoke again, his voice cutting through the tension. "Enough talking. We’ve got a long journey ahead of us tomorrow. Get some rest. We’ll be moving out at first light."

  The men nodded, some settling down on the ground, while others kept watch over the fire. Scar, however, stayed alert, staring into the flames, his thoughts swirling with the mysteries of the island, the monsters, and the legend of the immortality rune.

  Tomorrow would bring new challenges. The hunt for food. The dangers of the forest. And maybe, just maybe, the truth behind the legends. But for now, there was nothing to do but wait for the dawn.

  * * *

  And morning came. The men rose from their resting spots, preparing for the day's hunt. The atmosphere was tense, as the weight of the mission loomed over them all. Markas stood at the forefront, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group.

  "Today, we are 18 men," he began, his voice carrying an edge of authority. "We will divide into groups of six. When you spot a herd of deer, inform us immediately with the sound signal," he added, pointing to a whistle hanging at his side. "Each group will have one of the new guys with you. Make sure they understand the rules. Now, let’s move out."

  The men nodded, their faces hardened and ready for the task ahead. Scar, Tadas, and Mindaugas were each assigned to a group, and they quickly found their places among their new comrades. The air was thick with anticipation. They knew the dangers of the forest well, but the prospect of the hunt—of bringing food back for the village—was too important to hesitate.

  The squads set out, the trees parting in front of them as they made their way deeper into the wilderness, their steps careful and calculated. Each man held his torch high, their light flickering against the darkened woods. The hunt had begun.