8 Chapter 8. Unlucky.

*Arch!*

Ryan's cry of agony tore through the air as he crashed to the ground with a force that echoed pain through every fiber of his being. The sound of bones cracking was an audible testament to the violence of his landing. He could feel the fractured pieces grinding within him, and could tell that at least a few bones in his body had given way to the brutal impact.

As if the broken bones weren't enough, the burns from the fire attack's explosion layered his pain with a searing intensity. His body was a map of anguish, and each attempt to move painted fresh streaks of pain across his consciousness. Gritting his teeth, Ryan managed a painful grunt as he struggled into a sitting position.

Through the haze of his suffering, his gaze drifted to the three-eyed wolf, now nothing more than a charred husk. The stench of scorched flesh filled his nostrils, a grim reminder of his near fate. He sighed, a ragged sound filled with relief and resignation. If not for the explosive force that had sent him flying, he would have shared the beast's fiery end.

Turning his attention to the source of the attack, Ryan's eyes found a young man around twenty years old. He carried himself with a haughty air, his handsome features marred by a look of arrogance. Clad in brown armor, dented and scratched from the day's battles, the young man approached the fallen wolf with a confident stride. In his hand, he wielded a dagger, sharp and ready to harvest what was valuable from the carcass. He did so without sparing a glance at Ryan, who watched, teeth clenched in anger.

The young man's fire attack might have inadvertently saved him, but the disregard for Ryan's safety was evident. It was another brutal reminder of the low regard in which the unawakened were held — as nothing more than disposable afterthoughts.

With a grunt of pain, Ryan forced himself to stand, only to be met with a stabbing pain in his left foot. A twisted ankle — just another stroke of misfortune in a day already heavy with it. The day was far from over, the hunt would go on, and with an injury like this, another encounter with a demonic beast could easily spell his doom.

Limping with every ounce of resolve he could muster, Ryan made his way back to where the hunters had gathered to rest. The fight with the three-eyed wolves had left its mark on them as well; minor wounds were evident among the group. One of the women, clearly the healer, was tending to these injuries, her hands glowing with a soft light as she worked.

Finally reaching the group, Ryan didn't pause to engage. He found a spot to collapse.

As he settled, his presence caught the attention of Hyejin, the group's captain. She was a striking figure in her tight black leather battle suit, her Asian heritage lending an exotic beauty to her stern features. Her gaze fell on Ryan, taking in the extent of his injuries, a momentary flicker of something — concern? annoyance? — crossing her face before she shifted her focus away.

The healer, having completed her rounds, returned to her seat without acknowledging Ryan, as if his presence was beneath her notice.

Before the healer could reclaim her spot among the group, Hyejin's voice cut through the air, devoid of emotion but carrying an authoritative edge. She nodded towards Ryan. "I think the boy needs healing too," she stated plainly.

The healer paused, her expression morphing into one of surprise. It was unusual for Hyejin to request aid for the unawakened, especially for one like Ryan. But as a frown began to etch itself across the healer's features, Hyejin continued, "We still have a long day ahead of us, and his leg is broken... I don't want him to become a setback for us."

The logic was sound, even if the healer's satisfaction wasn't. Ryan's twisted ankle would indeed hinder their progress, and despite her reluctance, she couldn't argue with the captain's foresight. After all, Hyejin was the strongest among them, her leadership unspoken yet acknowledged by the group's deference to her strength.

With a reluctant scowl, the healer approached Ryan and knelt by his injured leg. 'Finally,' Ryan thought, 'some relief.' But that thought was abruptly interrupted by a sharp pain as the healer, instead of using her powers, crudely grabbed and twisted his ankle.

The sudden movement resulted in a sickening crack as the bone was forced back into place, and Ryan's scream echoed through the area.

"WHAT THE HELL!" he exclaimed, glaring at the healer who, without a hint of concern, stood and walked away, returning to her place as if nothing had happened.

Even Hyejin was taken aback by the healer's callousness, her eyes wide with shock as she watched the scene unfold. Feeling Hyejin's gaze, the healer raised her hands defensively and retorted, "What? I don't have much energy left to heal him. I need to conserve it for the others, in case anyone gets injured in a fight." Her tone was dismissive, her explanation delivered as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Hyejin sighed, shaking her head in resignation. She stole a glance toward Ryan, still wincing in pain, acknowledging there was little she could do.

Their group was a makeshift team, not a formal hunting party, and her role as captain was based on strength rather than formal election. It was not uncommon for her commands to be taken lightly, respect for her authority as fleeting as the wind.

Ryan, meanwhile, continued to grit his teeth against the throbbing pain. The healer's rough treatment had indeed set his ankle, but the agony it caused was nearly unbearable. He knew her excuse about conserving energy was flimsy at best. She hadn't engaged in combat, and the injuries the group sustained were minor. The truth was plain: she simply didn't see the point in expending her healing abilities on an unawakened like him.

Powerless to change his circumstances, Ryan could only bear the pain and curse the fate that had trapped him in such a vulnerable state. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the young man responsible for his plight, nonchalantly leaning against a ruined wall, oblivious to the drama unfolding around him.

Ryan sighed internally. 'There is no upside to being weak,' he lamented silently as he settled in to rest, hoping the pain would ebb away with time. Mimicking the young man and the others.