The journey to the heart of the forest felt longer than any they had taken before. The air grew thicker with each step, and the mist wrapped around them like a living thing, making it hard to see more than a few feet ahead. The ancient trees loomed tall, their branches twisted in unnatural ways, and the whispers in the mist became louder, more insistent.
New walked close to Tay, his hand occasionally brushing against his. Every time it happened, Tay glanced over, a silent reassurance in his eyes, even as the weight of what lay ahead hung heavy between them.
Ryu, always the optimist, tried to keep the mood light. “So, anyone want to place bets on what we’re going to find in the heart of this creepy forest?”
“Something dangerous,” Tay replied bluntly, his voice filled with tension.
Ryu chuckled nervously. “Yeah, probably. But at least we’re all together, right?”
New didn’t respond. His attention was entirely on the whispers. They were getting clearer now, words forming out of the strange murmurs, though he still couldn’t understand what they were saying. The mist seemed to pull at him, urging him forward.
“Do you hear that?” New asked suddenly, stopping in his tracks.
Tay and Ryu paused, glancing around. “Hear what?” Tay asked, his voice low.
“The voices… they’re saying something,” New said, his brow furrowed as he tried to focus.
Tay stepped closer, his protective instincts flaring. “What are they saying?”
New closed his eyes, listening intently. The voices seemed to swirl around him, overlapping and confusing, but one phrase stood out.
“Beware… the shadows.”
New’s eyes flew open, his heart racing. “It said to beware the shadows.”
Tay’s jaw tightened. “Shadows? What does that mean?”
Ryu shrugged, though his usual confidence seemed a little shaken. “Could be anything. But considering where we are, I’d guess it’s not good.”
They pressed on, the forest growing darker as the mist thickened, the whispers swirling faster around New. He could feel the pull of the forest growing stronger, as if it was calling to him, drawing him deeper into its mysteries.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them shifted, and New stumbled. Tay caught him just in time, pulling him back before he could fall. “Careful.”
New nodded, his breath shaky. “Thanks.”
Just as Tay helped him steady, a shadow darted between the trees, so fast it was almost imperceptible. New froze, his eyes widening. “Did you see that?”
Tay nodded, his hand instinctively going to the dagger at his side. “We’re not alone.”
Another shadow flickered in the corner of New’s vision, then another, faster this time. The whispers grew louder, more frantic, and the mist swirled around them like a vortex.
“We need to move,” Tay said, his voice firm.
But before they could take another step, the shadows lunged from the mist, taking shape in the form of dark, humanoid figures with glowing eyes. They moved with unnatural speed, surrounding the group.
Ryu’s usual grin was gone, replaced by a look of grim determination. “Looks like we found the shadows.”
Tay pulled New behind him, his eyes locked on the creatures. “Stay close to me.”
One of the shadow creatures lunged at Tay, but he was ready. With a swift movement, he slashed his dagger through the air, the blade glowing with a faint blue light as it connected with the creature. It shrieked, dissolving into mist.
Ryu was already fighting off another creature, his movements quick and precise. “These things are fast!”
New’s heart pounded in his chest. The mist around him was thickening, the whispers louder than ever, and he could feel something stirring deep inside him. He reached out instinctively, and as he did, the strange light that had appeared before surged from his hand, illuminating the clearing.
The shadow creatures recoiled, hissing as the light touched them. Tay glanced at New, his eyes wide. “You’re doing it again!”
New didn’t understand how, but the light responded to his emotions, growing stronger as he focused. The creatures shrieked and dissolved into the mist, unable to withstand the magic radiating from him.
When the last of the shadows disappeared, the forest fell silent once more. Tay lowered his dagger, breathing hard. “That was close.”
Ryu grinned, though it was more subdued than usual. “Nice work, New. Looks like your magic’s getting stronger.”
New stared at his hand, the light fading as quickly as it had come. “I don’t even know how I did that.”
Tay stepped closer, placing a hand on New’s shoulder. “Whatever it is, you’re getting more control over it. We’re going to figure this out.”
New nodded, though uncertainty gnawed at him. The shadows might have been defeated, but he knew this was just the beginning. The deeper they went into the forest, the more dangerous it would become—and the more his power would be tested.“We need to keep moving,” Tay said, glancing around. “The heart of the forest is close. Whatever’s waiting for us there, we have to be ready.”The group pressed on, the mist swirling more aggressively now, as if it was trying to warn them. The whispers grew fainter, but their message was clear—something powerful awaited them in the heart of the forest, and it wasn’t going to let them pass without a fight.
The group pressed on, the mist swirling more aggressively now, as if it was trying to warn them. The whispers grew fainter, but their message was clear—something powerful awaited them in the heart of the forest, and it wasn’t going to let them pass without a fight.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
