Chapter 108: THE TRAINING CAMP

The car moved slowly along the dirt road that was starting to narrow—with trees on both sides growing denser, with branches touching each other overhead, creating a dark and cool natural tunnel. That road—that road wasn’t paved. Just earth packed down by the wheels of vehicles that had passed before—with small stones making the car tires vibrate—kreeek... kreeek...—and with several puddles already filled with rainwater, reflecting the sunlight entering through the gaps in the leaves, glistening like shattered glass. Whoosh... The wind blew softly—carrying the scent of pine sap and wet earth, the distinctive scent of an untouched forest—and Kai could hear birds chirping back and forth—tweet... tweet...—and the sound of water flowing in the distance—murmur... murmur...—from somewhere, some river.

Mira pressed her face against the window glass—with her hand supporting her chin, with sparkling eyes, with breath blowing thin wisps of vapor on the glass. "Sir! There’s a monkey!" She pointed toward the trees—toward a shadow moving quickly between branches—and she laughed softly. Ha ha ha. "Mira has never seen a monkey in the forest!"

"That’s not a monkey," Luna said—softly, from the back seat, with half-closed eyes, with hands on her lap. "That’s a squirrel."

"Ah—" Mira furrowed her brow—with lips slightly pushed forward, with eyes narrowing. "Mira still likes it. Squirrel or monkey—what matters is Mira saw it."

Iris just smiled faintly—with hands on her lap, with eyes staring at the road ahead, with hair fluttering in the wind from the slightly open window. Kai drove—slowly—with steady hands on the steering wheel, with eyes watching every bend. That road—that road curved—left, right—and Kai could feel his car slipping slightly on the damp earth. He slowed down—slowly—and he continued the journey.

The trees on both sides started to thin—replaced by lower bushes, with wildflowers growing among them—red, yellow, purple—and with several large stones already covered in green moss. In the distance—in the distance Kai could see something glistening—water, maybe, or something reflecting the sunlight—and he could hear the sound of water getting clearer—murmur... murmur...—like the sound of a river flowing between rocks. Then—they arrived. That gate—that gate was made of wood. Two wooden posts—with simple carvings, with faded paint, with several scratches on their surfaces—and above them, a wooden board with slightly peeling writing: WELCOME TO CRYSTAL RIVER. Below that writing—there was smaller writing, with the same color: Training Camp & Nature Education. That gate—that gate wasn’t grand. Not luxurious. Just—simple. But there was something there—something that made Kai feel—strange. Maybe because there were no other cars parked outside. Maybe because there was no sound—other than the wind and water. Maybe because—something.

Kai parked his car on the open ground in front of the gate—with the handbrake pulled—kreeeek—and he turned off the engine. Clack. "We’re here," he said—his voice soft, but clear.

Mira had already opened her door—clack—and she jumped out. "YEAY!" she exclaimed—with her hands raised, with a wide smile, with sparkling eyes. "We’re here! We’re here!" She spun—once—with the teddy bear still hugged, with her dress fluttering in the wind, and she laughed. Ha ha ha.

Iris got out—slowly, carefully—and she stood beside the car, with the bag in her hand, with eyes observing the surroundings. Luna got out last—with the bag on her shoulder, with half-closed eyes—and she walked toward Mira, with calm steps. Kai got out—clack—and he opened the trunk—clack—and he checked the items inside. His backpack—with cup noodles and drinks. Mira’s bag—with the teddy bear. Iris’s bag—with books and pens. Luna’s bag—with toiletries. Everything was complete. Nothing was left behind.

"Have you checked everything?" Kai asked—he looked at them one by one.

Mira nodded—quickly, with enthusiasm. "Yes, Sir! Mira’s teddy bear is here!" She opened her bag—srrk—and she took out that teddy bear—with slightly matted fur, with loose button eyes, with one ear slightly torn—and she hugged it. "Look! Mira brought it!"

Iris nodded—slowly. "Mine is complete too." She patted her bag—slowly—and she looked at Kai.

Luna nodded—without a sound. She just patted her bag—slowly—and she looked at Kai with half-closed eyes.

Kai closed the trunk—clack—and he walked toward the gate. "Come on," he said. "Let’s go in."

They walked past that gate—slowly—with measured steps, with eyes observing the surroundings. Beyond the gate—that road was still the same. Packed earth—with small stones, with several puddles already filled with water—and on both sides, increasingly dense trees, with branches hanging over the road, with leaves covering the sky. Whoosh... The wind blew—stronger here—and Kai could feel the air was colder, fresher, more—alive. In the distance—the sound of flowing water grew clearer—murmur... murmur...—and Kai could see something glistening between the trees—water, maybe, or something reflecting the sunlight—and he could see several tents already set up—with colorful fabric, with ropes tied to trees—and several wooden tables already arranged neatly—with worn chairs, with several people already sitting there.

Then—they reached the open area. That area—that area was quite spacious. With green, thick grass—with several wildflowers growing among it—with several tents already set up in the corners—with several wooden tables already arranged neatly—and with several people already sitting there. Those people—those people were elderly. Most of them were already old—with graying hair, with wrinkled faces, with simple clothes—with wrinkled shirts, with faded pants, with worn sandals. And beside them—beside them were children. Children still small—maybe ten or twelve years old—with simple clothes, with cheerful faces, with sparkling eyes.

Kai stopped. He stared at that area—for a long time—and he felt something strange in his chest. Not suspicion. Not—fear. Just—strange. He saw the car outside the gate—only his car. But inside—inside this area—there were many people. Dozens. Maybe more. And they—they didn’t come by car. They came by—what? Walking? From where?

Mira had already walked ahead—with the teddy bear in her hand, with a wide smile—and she stopped near one of the tables. "Mr. Kai!" she called—with her hand waving. "Where do we sit?"

Kai walked toward her—slowly—and he stopped beside her. "Let’s wait first," he said. "The camp organizers haven’t arrived yet."

He sat in one of the wooden chairs—slowly, carefully—and he placed his bag beside him. Iris sat beside him—calmly, with hands on her lap, with eyes staring straight ahead. Luna sat beside Iris—with the bag on her lap, with half-closed eyes, with her hand holding the edge of her bag. And Mira—Mira sat beside Luna—with the teddy bear still hugged, with sparkling eyes, with a smile that never faded.

Kai looked around—for a long time. He saw an old man sitting at the next table—with completely white hair, with a wrinkled shirt, with wrinkled hands, with eyes staring toward the crowd of elderly people and children with a gaze that was—empty. That man sat alone—without a child beside him—and he just sat there, with his hands on his lap, with his back slightly bent, with slow breath. Kai walked toward him—slowly—and he sat in the chair beside him.

"Excuse me," Kai said—his voice soft, but clear. "May I ask something?"

That old man turned—slowly. "Yes," he said—his voice hoarse, with a tired tone. "Go ahead."

"Why did you enroll your child in this camp?"

That old man looked at him—for a long time. Then he smiled faintly—a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, a smile full of something Kai couldn’t read. "Education is expensive," he said—softly, with a hoarse voice, with his hands still on his lap. "I—" he paused for a moment, staring toward the crowd, "—I don’t have enough money to send my child to school. But when there’s a free training camp—" he shrugged slightly, "—I thought—why not? At least—" he looked at Kai, "—at least my child can learn something. Even if only briefly. Even if only—" he stopped again, "—small things."

Kai nodded—slowly. "How long have you been here?"

"Since morning," the old man said. "We came on foot. From the village to the east. About—" he paused for a moment, counting on his wrinkled fingers, "—two hours of walking."

Kai looked at him—for a long time. Then he looked at that area again—toward the dozens of elderly people and children sitting at the tables—and he felt something cold in his chest. They all—they all came from the surrounding villages. On foot. Bringing their children. Just for this free training camp. And Kai—Kai had just arrived by car. With a bag full of cup noodles and drinks. With three girls who—who didn’t really need this camp. They just—wanted it.

"Thank you," Kai said—softly, with a slightly hoarse voice.

That old man nodded—slowly—and he returned to staring at the crowd, with empty eyes, with a thin smile, with his hands still on his lap. Kai stood—slowly—and he returned to the table where Iris, Mira, and Luna were sitting. He sat in his chair—and he looked at them—one by one.

"You know," he said—his voice soft, with a tone he couldn’t read himself, "—this camp is free. For everyone. Including children who can’t afford education."

Iris nodded—slowly. "I know."

Kai looked at her—for a long time. Then he looked at that area again—toward the dozens of elderly people and children sitting at the tables—and he felt something—strange. Something he couldn’t explain. Something that made him—suspicious. Not suspicious of that old man. Not suspicious of those children. But suspicious of—this camp. Of—the person organizing this camp. Of—the reason why this camp was free.

Then—a sound. From the direction of the crowd. A man—with neat clothes, with a white shirt rolled up to the elbows, with slicked-back hair, with a microphone in his hand—stood on a small stage at the end of the area. That stage—that stage was made of wood, with a worn roof, with faded curtains—and that man stood there, with a smile too wide, with eyes too bright, with a microphone held too tightly.

"Welcome to Crystal River!" he said—his voice loud, with a tone too cheerful, with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "We will begin shortly!"