Shadow of the forest

The afternoon sun hung high in the sky, casting golden rays over the fairy village. Arina stood at the edge of a clearing, sweat dripping down his brow as water magic splashed against the stone barrier he conjured. Sera stood opposite him, grinning mischievously as another stream of water shot toward him.

"Too slow!" Arina teased, effortlessly repelling the attack with a flick of his wrist. The stone wall crumbled into pebbles, scattering across the grass.

Sera groaned and slumped to the ground, panting. "You're impossible."

Arina chuckled and dropped beside her, lying flat on the grass. Both of them stared up at the sky, where clouds drifted lazily across the brilliant blue canvas. Their laughter slowly faded, replaced by a comfortable silence.

"Arina?" Sera's voice broke the quiet.

"Hmm?"

"Do you like it here?"

Arina's gaze remained fixed on the clouds, but a soft smile tugged at his lips. "Yeah... I really do."

"Then stay," Sera blurted, turning onto her side to look at him. "Live here forever. Everyone loves you"

The words hit Arina gently, but his smile faltered. He sighed, his eyes clouded with a sadness that hadn't truly left him since Kava's death. "I can't, Sera."

"Why not?" she snapped, trying to sound indifferent but failing.

Arina sat up, leaning his elbows on his knees. "The forest brought me here for a reason. I have a duty—a task I need to complete. I can't ignore it."

Sera scowled and sat up too, hugging her knees to her chest. "The forest this, the forest that. Why do you have to listen to it?"

Arina smiled sadly, brushing his hand against the grass. "Because it's dying. If I don't do something, it'll be too late."

Sera turned her head away, muttering under her breath, "I don't care."

Before Arina could respond, a familiar voice cut through the air. "Time to leave, Arina."

Zeke appeared out of nowhere, his tall figure casting a long shadow over them. His golden eyes—human eyes—were as sharp as ever. "We've wasted enough time."

Arina stood up, brushing the dirt from his pants. "Give me a minute, Zeke."

Zeke crossed his arms but said nothing more.

Turning to Sera, Arina offered her his hand, but she ignored it and refused to look at him. He smiled faintly and bent down, patting her head. "Don't pout. Wish me luck, alright? I'll be back as soon as this is over."

Her frown deepened, but after a moment, she sighed in defeat and hugged him tightly. "Take care of yourself, Arina," she murmured, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

"I will."

---

Minutes later, Arina and Zeke stood at the edge of the hidden gate. Each of them carried a small bag, packed with supplies the fairies had prepared for them. Behind them, the fairy village buzzed with life, oblivious to the weight of their departure.

Arina looked back one last time, his heart heavy. Sera stood near the village entrance, arms crossed, her expression torn between anger and sadness. She didn't wave, but he could see the glimmer of unshed tears in her eyes.

"Ready?" Zeke asked, his tone clipped.

Arina nodded, tightening the strap of his bag. "Yeah. Let's go."

Together, they stepped through the invisible barrier. The moment they crossed the threshold, the air grew colder. The warm glow of the village vanished, replaced by the eerie silence of the forest.

But something was wrong.

Arina froze as his eyes fell on the trees ahead. Their branches were brittle, leaves crumbling to ash as they fluttered to the ground. The once-vibrant green had turned to a sickly gray, and the soft hum of life that had always surrounded the forest was now an unsettling silence.

"The trees..." Arina whispered, his voice trembling. "They're withering."

Zeke's expression darkened. He stepped forward, his boots crunching against dry leaves. "The forest is dying."

Arina clenched his fists, his jaw tightening in anger. "No. I won't let this happen."

Zeke glanced back at him, his golden eyes unreadable. "The forest brought you here for a reason. Don't lose sight of that."

Arina nodded firmly, determination burning in his gaze. "I know."

They walked side by side, leaving the fairy village behind and heading deeper into the forest. Every step brought them closer to their next challenge, their next target. The path ahead was uncertain, the weight of Kava's words and the forest's fate heavy on Arina's shoulders.

But he wasn't afraid.

As the brittle branches swayed ominously above them, Arina pressed forward, the image of Kava's letter—and the forest's dying plea—etched firmly into his heart.