Paths Beyond (Under Rewrite)

I have gone back to 2500-3000 words for this story. Recent chapters have been filled with action and have given me plenty to write about, but the next few will be more calm. I hope you enjoy.

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"So, who are the closest to me in talent?" Keen asked, his tone carrying the weight of expectation.

"Brawl, myself, Shot, Wild, and then Spider," Elder replied curtly. "I suppose now that Spider is gone, Serene will rise among the hunters. There are others, but with no real experience against beasts—let alone people—we should focus on them first."

"And the resources?" Keen pressed. "Those ten Central Organs. How should we divide them?"

Elder's gaze shifted briefly to Grey before answering. "If what Grey says is true, he'll need to guide us. He can sense aura in ways none of us can. Grey, you'll tell us who among us is closest to breaking through—who has the best chance. Those people will share their resources with you so you can help push them over the edge."

"We still need to carve up that lightning beast," Keen said, his voice lowering with calculation. "Maybe we'll even get another Heart of Radiance if we're lucky."

Grey hesitated, glancing between Elder and Keen before speaking. "I... I don't think it's about luck."

Both men turned to look at him, their eyes expectant.

"It's just..." Grey's words faltered for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. "With something like a Hooded Horn, the aura—it's not that deep. Even the mantis, with all its power, didn't give off such an intense glow. But when I found those two strangers... one of them, Drake, was holding something he called a Demon Core. A Central Organ. And I was following an especially vibrant thread of light to find them."

Grey shifted his weight, his fingers absently brushing the hilt of his knife. "I don't think it's a coincidence that their group had so many. They weren't like me—not exactly—but they had some way of knowing. They could tell which creatures carried the most valuable resources. Like the lightning beast. Like the wolf."

He hesitated again, his voice softening as he tried to put the pieces together. "Their auras were... different. They burned brighter, almost volatile. And when they were close to... I don't know, evolving, or reaching some kind of threshold... it was like everything in them condensed into one sharp point of energy. A core."

The silence hung heavy for a moment before Keen spoke, his voice measured. "So, what you're saying is... the closer someone—or something—is to breaking through, the more intense their aura becomes. Almost like a flame burning brightest before it goes out."

Grey nodded slowly. "Yeah. Something like that, and I think that the demonic beast at the entrance has one."

Elder crossed his arms, his brow furrowed in thought. "If that's true, it means these strangers didn't just stumble across power—they hunted it. Purposefully. And if we're to compete, Grey, you'll need to sharpen this skill of yours."

Keen's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Well then, seems like you're more important than ever, Grey."

Grey swallowed, feeling the weight of their expectations settle on his shoulders. "I'll do my best. But... I think we'll need more than just sight."

Elder's gaze lingered on Grey for a long moment before he spoke. "Then we'd best make sure to work together to figure it out. We'll prepare accordingly."

Keen added, "That's enough for now. Let's head back and explain things to the others. Someone's going to have to fetch Wild. Hopefully, she's pulled herself together by now."