The night grew colder as Virel huddled inside the hollow trunk. His body trembled from exhaustion, but sleep wouldn't come easily. The forest felt... wrong.
Too quiet. Too still.
He tried to convince himself it was just his imagination. That the silence was mercy, not omen. But as the hours stretched, the darkness thickened like a living thing pressing close to him.
A faint vibration rippled through the earth beneath him soft, steady, rhythmic. Footsteps? No… heavier. He strained to listen. The sound grew nearer, shaking loose bits of bark from above.
Virel's eyes snapped open. A faint glow flickered outside, painting the forest in blood-orange light. He could hear it now the breathing. Deep. Rough. Inhuman.
The trunk's opening pulsed with shadow as something massive passed by its silhouette wreathed in dim firelight. A beast. No, several. Their movements were deliberate, their forms blurred by darkness and mist.
Virel bit down on his trembling lip, forcing himself not to make a sound. His heart hammered in his chest. He didn't know what they were wolves, demons, or something else but he knew they could smell blood.
Minutes or hours passed before the sounds began to fade. One by one, the glowing eyes vanished into the forest until nothing remained but silence again.
He waited longer, counting each breath.
Only when the forest grew still once more did he dare to close his eyes.
But just before sleep claimed him, a whisper soft and almost gentle brushed against his ear.
> "You are not meant to die here, little one."
The air shimmered faintly, and the faint warmth of mana enveloped him like a cocoon. His pain dulled, his breathing steadied, and consciousness slipped away.
The forest fell silent again.
How was I still alive? After all that has happened? The body of dead beasts ok the ground.
I couldn't help wondering what had happened while I was unconscious.
I pondered over the possible answers until I was interrupted by a strong grumble from my stomach.
Again, I tried getting up, fighting through my body's protests; the only parts of my body that seem to be listening to me as of now was my right arm and my neck up. I willed mana into my right arm and used my fingers to claw my way, dragging my body, to reach my bag. It couldn't have been more than a meter away, but it took over what felt like an hour until I finally managed to reach it. Pulling it closer to me, I rummaged through it with my only able hand until I found what I was looking for: the dried berries and nuts my mother had packed!
I succeeded in finding my knapsack and quickly pouring a mouthful of the snack that I brought only because of my mother's insistence. My throat, surprised by the sudden flood of food, responded by leaving me in a choking fit of coughs, leading me to another round of agony in my body. Fumbling for the water sack inside my bag, I slowly poured a bit of the water into my mouth before placing another handful of the snack into my mouth. Tears rolling down the sides of my face and into my ears, I continued chewing on the dried rations until passing out again, using my bsg as a makeshift blanket.
My eyes fluttered open as I stirred awake from the brisk bite of cold. Looking around, the position of the first rays of light peaking through the mountains me it was dawn.
This time, I was able to get up, but only with the help of a branch. I carefully inspected all of my body, making sure everything was in place before allowing myself to relax.
I wasn't sure how long I would have to be here so having a weapon was critical.
---
Virel trudged through the dense forest, each step deliberate and measured. His body ached from the previous day's fall, bruises and cuts screaming with every movement. The broken wooden sword he had used as a makeshift support lay forgotten at his side, half-buried under fallen leaves.
The canopy above dimmed the light, giving the forest an eerie green tint. Despite the calm rustle of leaves and distant birdsong, something in the air made him pause. A movement, subtle yet deliberate, caught the corner of his eye a flicker of darkness between two trees.
Before he could fully react, a shadow detached itself from the undergrowth. It wasn't an animal, nor did it move like one. It had a humanoid shape, slightly taller than Virel, its features entirely obscured in darkness.
Virel froze, gripping the edge of his ragged shirt and bracing himself. "Who's there?" His voice cracked from both exhaustion and fear.
The shadow stepped closer, its movements smooth, almost floating above the forest floor. A hand rose gracefully, pointing toward him, and yet there was no hostility in its posture. The figure radiated a quiet authority, as though it had been waiting for him.
"I see," a low, calm voice emerged from the figure, though the lips were barely visible. It carried a soft but commanding resonance, impossible to ignore.
Virel stiffened, instinctively getting into a fighting stance, wincing as he shifted his battered body. His small hands grasped the broken hilt of his wooden sword. "Who are you? Are you… the one who saved me?"
The shadow inclined slightly, a subtle gesture that felt almost polite. "I am the one who intervened when your fall became perilous. My identity matters less than the path ahead."
Virel's eyes narrowed, suspicion mingling with curiosity."The path ahead?" He struggled to straighten his back, ignoring the sting from bruised ribs. "You mean… you can help me get home?"
The shadow's outline seemed to ripple with movement, almost like smoke drifting in the wind. "Yes. That is why I am here. But the journey will not be easy. You must follow carefully and trust the guidance I provide."
The words hit him like a jolt of clarity. Home. His parents. The mountains. Even though he was only five, the urgency in his chest tightened. "I have to go back…"
The words caught in my throat. Should I really go back? They call me their son, but… I'm not, am I? No I shouldn't think like that.
"Then move without hesitation," the shadow instructed, stepping slightly aside to indicate a direction. Virel's gaze followed the subtle motion, and he spotted a faintly illuminated path between the trees light filtering down from a canopy break. The forest seemed less threatening along that narrow stretch.
Virel staggered forward, each step painful but necessary. Branches scraped against his arms and face, roots tugged at his legs, and the uneven ground tested his balance at every move. He didn't dare look back. The shadow drifted silently beside him, always just on the periphery of his vision.
By mid-morning, the forest began to thin. Virel's movement became easier, though each step still throbbed with pain. He stumbled upon a narrow stream and instinctively dropped to his knees, using the cold water to wash the grime and blood from his face. It was a crude bath, but it left him feeling slightly human again. He paused to wring out his tattered shirt and wipe the sweat and dirt from his arms.
As he stood, a soft, chilling murmur echoed from the shadows. "You must not linger here too long."
Virel whipped around, knife in hand, but the shadow remained calm, almost amused. "Don't attack me," it said gently, the darkness around it not shifting despite his motion. "You are safe here, for now. But time is fleeting."
He let out a frustrated groan, lowering the knife, muscles trembling from fatigue. "Safe… but why are you helping me? Who… what are you?"
The shadow paused, tilting its head. "I cannot reveal everything at once. It will be clearer when you arrive. But you must continue. Every delay invites danger."
Virel bit his lip and nodded. The shadow's guidance, precise and silent, left him no choice. He forced his aching legs forward, following the narrow stream which gradually widened into a shallow creek. With each step, his body grew less wobbly, muscles finding a rhythm despite the pain.
Hours passed in silence, the only sound being his labored breathing and the soft trickle of water. Occasionally, the shadow would shift slightly, nudging him onto safer footing or pointing out hidden roots. Its presence was unnerving yet oddly reassuring, like a guardian without form.
As the sun climbed higher, the forest gave way to a cluster of massive rocks standing against the wind, partially hidden by dense trees. Virel recognized the outline, even without the shadow's voice giving directions this time he had been observing the hints all along.
The figure gestured toward a narrow gap between two leaning boulders. "Enter there," the shadow instructed, its tone unwavering. "Beyond lies the space where your path continues. Be prepared."
Virel's pulse quickened. Relief surged with exhaustion as he approached the gap. But his body, weakened from days of survival, couldn't anticipate what awaited.
A soft, echoing whisper seemed to linger around him as he steadied his breathing.
"We finally meet, child."
Virel's eyes widened. His legs wobbled, failing to fully support him. He sank back to the ground, stunned and exhausted, staring up at the shadow that had guided him this far, unsure what awaited him next.