Shadow of the forest

The forest was quiet, save for the rhythmic crunching of footsteps on dry leaves. Zeke walked ahead, shoulders squared and focused, while Arina trailed behind, crouching every few steps to sketch something into his notebook.

Zeke turned back for the third time, his brows furrowed in frustration. "Again?"

Arina was kneeling, completely absorbed in drawing a strange plant with spiraling leaves. His pencil moved swiftly, as though he'd forget the details if he stopped even for a moment.

Zeke groaned, marching over and smacking him lightly on the back of the head. "Oi, genius, we're not here to play artist. Focus on the damn path, or you're gonna trip over a root and break your neck."

"Hey!" Arina protested, rubbing his head. "You didn't have to hit me!"

"Then stop doodling like you're on a picnic," Zeke snapped, already walking forward. "Move it."

Arina grumbled under his breath but followed, notebook reluctantly tucked under his arm.

---

Minutes later, they stumbled upon a clearing. At the center stood an ancient structure—an abandoned temple carved entirely of stone. Its surface was weathered with age, the carvings faded but still hinting at long-forgotten symbols and stories. Moss crept up its walls, and roots wrapped around it like nature's chains.

Zeke stopped, placing his hands on his hips. "Well, this place looks like a decent shelter for the night."

Arina studied the temple in awe. "It's beautiful. I wonder how old it is."

But before Zeke could answer, both of them froze. The temperature had dropped suddenly, a chilling presence wrapping around them like invisible tendrils. The air felt heavy, suffocating, and eerily familiar.

"…Zeke," Arina whispered, his voice shaky. "This feels like…"

"Yeah," Zeke cut him off, his voice tense. "It's the same aura we felt with the shadow that killed Kava."

Without another word, Zeke's form shifted. His muscles rippled as his body transformed into the mighty lion, his golden mane bristling. He let out a thunderous roar, the sound echoing through the temple walls.

Arina steadied himself, flames flickering around his palms. He counted his fireballs, breathing deeply to calm the trembling in his hands.

From the shadows of the temple, something moved. A frail figure stepped forward—a little girl with tangled hair and pale skin. She clutched a ragged teddy bear to her chest, her bare feet dragging as she walked. Her voice came out in a weak, broken whisper.

"…Help me…"

Arina's flames flickered. His shoulders relaxed. "Zeke, it's just a kid."

"Idiot!" Zeke's roar rumbled through the air. "That's not a kid!"

The little girl smiled—a wide, unnatural grin that stretched far beyond what any human face could manage. Then, as quickly as she appeared, she vanished into the darkness.

Before Arina could react, the shadows burst outward like liquid smoke, taking form. A massive shadow monster emerged, its shape twisting and writhing unnaturally. Tendrils of darkness lashed out, and its hollow eyes glowed faintly as it locked onto Arina.

Arina staggered back, eyes wide. He had trained, yes, but this—this was real. "Zeke, I—"

"Focus, Arina!" Zeke roared, circling the monster like a predator. "Remember your training! Don't lose your nerve!"

Arina swallowed hard, forcing his legs to steady. He clenched his fists, flames roaring to life around his hands. "I can do this…"

Zeke lunged forward, clawing at the monster to draw its attention. The shadow hissed, swiping at him with jagged arms, but Zeke was too fast. "Now, Arina!"

Arina sprinted toward the creature, flames trailing behind him like a comet. He aimed a fireball at its side, but before he could release it, the shadow turned sharply. Its mouth opened—wide and endless—and a dark force pulled at Arina's chest.

His breath hitched. An invisible weight dragged at his soul, and he felt his spirit begin to slip away. His vision blurred, his knees buckling as the shadow's pull grew stronger.

"Arina!" Zeke's shout echoed distantly, like a voice underwater.

Just as Arina's body began to go limp, a faint light burst forth from his chest. The pendant Kava had given him—her last gift—shone brilliantly. The light struck the shadow like a shield, severing its grip on Arina's soul.

Arina gasped for air, clutching the pendant. He looked down at it, the glow beginning to fade, and a small smile tugged at his lips.

"Thank you, Kava," he whispered.

With renewed strength, Arina summoned the largest fireball he could muster. The flames crackled and roared as he aimed directly at the shadow's gaping mouth. "Eat this!"

He launched the fireball with a shout. It sailed straight into the creature's mouth, exploding with blinding force. The monster screeched, its body convulsing as the flames tore through it. Moments later, it disintegrated into smoke, scattering like ash in the wind.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Arina stood panting, sweat dripping from his forehead as he stared at the spot where the monster had vanished. Zeke, now back in human form, walked up beside him and clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"Not bad, kid," Zeke said, his tone almost approving.

Arina looked up at him, still catching his breath. "You were right… Shadows can die."

Zeke smirked, his golden eyes glinting in the dim light. "Of course they can. You just need to hit 'em hard enough."

Arina narrowed his eyes, something dawning on him. "Wait… You already knew that, didn't you?"

Zeke turned to him, the corner of his mouth curling into a sly grin. "Yeah. Kava and I figured that out years ago."

Arina stared at him, stunned. "And you let me nearly die back there?! You knew and didn't tell me?!"

Zeke laughed, turning to walk toward the temple's entrance. "Hey, it was fun watching you put all that 'studying' to good use. Builds character."

"You're unbelievable!" Arina shouted, storming after him. "I could've died, you jerk!"

"Yeah, but you didn't," Zeke called back over his shoulder, still chuckling.

Arina scowled, his fists clenched. "Next time, I'll let you handle it while I sketch flowers!"

Their bickering echoed through the temple as the fire crackled behind them, casting long shadows on the stone walls. But somewhere deep inside, Arina felt a flicker of pride—he had faced a shadow and survived. And maybe, just maybe, he was stronger than he thought.