The morning sun had barely touched the rooftops of Ravenwood when Shadow returned from his training ground. His clothes were soaked with sweat, his muscles aching from nonstop practice, but his eyes were burning with determination. The techniques the old scroll had revealed were still echoing in his mind — the way the flame reacted to emotion, the way it pulsed when he focused, the way it whispered to him as if it had a will of its own.
He didn't know what training meant in the larger world, but for him, every improvement felt like a step out of the weak, silent life he once lived. He walked back through the narrow dirt path toward the village gates, expecting the usual quiet morning.
Instead, he found chaos.
Villagers were gathered in clusters. Some shouting. Some trembling. Some trying to drag their belongings back into their homes. Even the animals seemed restless — the goats tied near the well were kicking, the dogs barking at nothing in particular.
Shadow's eyes narrowed.
"This… isn't normal."
He stepped forward, catching the sleeve of an elderly man who looked pale and shaken.
"Old man Veran, what happened?"
The man swallowed hard. "Shadow… you were out early. You didn't hear?"
"Hear what?"
"There was an attack. Late last night."
Shadow froze. "Attack? From who?"
Veran looked around nervously, lowering his voice. "Not who. What. Something came from the western woods. Something big. It tore apart the storage shed. The guards who tried to stop it… three of them were injured. One is still unconscious."
Shadow's heart tightened. He had predicted trouble might come, but not this soon.
Before he could ask anything more, a deep, commanding voice cut through the noise.
"Shadow!"
It was Elder Rael, his face dark with stress, his staff trembling slightly as he walked toward him.
"Elder, what's happening?" Shadow asked.
Rael exhaled heavily. "Follow me. You need to see this for yourself."
They moved through the villagers, heading toward the western side of the village — the part closest to the forest. As they walked, Shadow noticed claw marks on the ground, deep enough to crack the stone. The walls of the storage shed were smashed from the outside, as if something had rammed into it with immense force.
Shadow crouched down, touching the splintered wood.
"These marks… they're not from any ordinary beast."
Rael nodded grimly. "Yes. That's why you were summoned."
Shadow raised an eyebrow. "Me?"
"You said you felt something awaken inside you. And now, something has awakened outside — something drawn to power. You don't need to be a genius to see the connection."
Shadow looked away. He knew it was possible. His awakening of the Shadow Flame wasn't a small event. Power like that didn't stay quiet. It called, echoed, vibrated through the unseen world. And something had answered.
"Shadow!" a familiar voice yelled.
He turned to see Mira running toward him. Her breathing was uneven, her eyes filled with worry.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine. What about the others?"
"They're scared. Everyone is. Whatever came last night—" her voice lowered, "—it wasn't a normal creature."
"Mira," Shadow said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder, "it won't touch the village again. I'll make sure of it."
She looked at him, searching his eyes, then nodded slowly.
Elder Rael gestured toward the edge of the forest. "Shadow. Look."
Shadow stepped forward — and stopped cold.
There, etched into the earth, was a massive footprint. Larger than any wolf, bear, or mountain beast. The ground was charred lightly around it, as if something hot had stood there.
Shadow murmured, "So it wasn't just a creature… it carried aura."
Rael sucked in a breath. "You noticed it too, then."
"Yeah. That heat — it's faint, but it's there."
Rael's expression hardened. "This is not just a village problem anymore. Something from the deeper forest is moving. And it came straight toward us."
Shadow looked at the trees, their branches shivering though there was no wind.
He could almost feel… eyes. Watching. Waiting.
Mira grabbed his arm. "Shadow… you're not thinking of going after it alone, right?"
He didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
The flame in his chest pulsed — not wildly, but steadily, as if urging him forward.
Rael stepped closer. "Whatever this thing is, it sensed your power. It wasn't here for our food… it was here looking for something else. Maybe testing us. Maybe testing you."
Shadow clenched his fists. "Then I'll give it the answer it's looking for."
Mira's voice trembled. "Shadow…"
He turned to her with a soft smile. "Hey. I'm not going to die."
"That's not funny."
"I know." His smile faded. "But if something threatens the village, I won't run."
Rael nodded approvingly. "Then prepare yourself. You have until nightfall. It attacked at night. It will likely come again."
Shadow looked at the torn shed, the deep claw marks, the massive footprint, the burned earth.
The village was no longer safe.
And whatever hunted them was not done yet.
He closed his eyes, feeling the Shadow Flame surge inside him — deeper, stronger, more alive than ever.
Village trouble, he thought.
This was only the beginning.