Shadow of the forest

The wind rustled softly through the dense trees as Zeke and Arina continued their journey through the forest. The sun was beginning to set, casting golden hues across the landscape. Their footsteps were soft against the leaf-covered ground, the only sounds besides their quiet conversation. As they walked, Zeke noticed something up ahead—a clearing.

"Look at that," Arina said, his voice laced with excitement.

Zeke followed his gaze and saw what had caught his attention: ancient ruins, partially concealed by overgrown vines and moss. The stones, weathered by time, had symbols carved into them, fading but still readable if you looked closely. Arina's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Without hesitation, Arina took off toward the ruins, practically running as if his feet had a mind of their own. Zeke sighed but followed at a more leisurely pace, his instincts urging him to stay alert, even as Arina became consumed by the allure of the symbols.

When Arina reached the ruins, he immediately knelt down to inspect the stones more closely. His fingers traced the markings, and he leaned in, reading softly to himself. "Hmm, this is strange… this is an ancient language… I can barely make any sense of it…"

Zeke watched from a distance, sitting down on a large, flat rock. He stretched his legs, feeling the weight of the day settle into his bones. He knew Arina loved puzzles like this, and when it came to things like old inscriptions, his curiosity always took over.

After a few moments, Arina turned back to him, eyes wide with a mix of confusion and wonder. "Zeke," he called, "Who is Gerard?"

Zeke raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Where did you hear about Gerard?"

Arina pointed to the stone where the name was etched. "It's written here... Gerard…?"

Zeke sighed and pushed himself off the rock. He walked over to Arina, his voice low and filled with a bit of annoyance. "Kava told you about him, didn't she? The former ruler of the forest."

Arina's eyes widened with recognition. "Yes! I remember now! Gerard—the one who was said to have died because he loved a monster."

Zeke nodded. "That's right."

Arina turned back to the inscriptions, squinting at the ancient markings as if they held the key to some great mystery. "But… this is just a story, right? A legend?"

"Don't be so sure," Zeke muttered. "Legends often have a grain of truth buried within them, even if time buries most of it."

Arina read aloud from the inscription, trying to decipher it. His voice trembled with frustration. "...that spirit... those shadows... Gerard…" His words faltered, the ancient language too convoluted for him to make any sense of. He ran his fingers over the worn stone, trying to bring the meaning into focus.

Zeke stood next to him, his eyes scanning the symbols, though he had little more luck than Arina. After a long silence, Zeke let out a breath, his voice steady but heavy. "That spirit—the one in the shadows—it resided in Gerard's heart. The stories say he loved a woman from the shadows. But that woman… she ate his soul."

Arina stared in shock. "She ate his soul? Like, literally?"

Zeke shrugged, his gaze drifting off into the distance. "That's what the stories say. It's a painful story, no doubt. Gerard loved her, and she… she consumed him. His life, his essence. It was said that in the end, she left him a hollow shell."

Arina swallowed hard, trying to process the tragic tale. "But why? Why would someone do that?"

Zeke turned his attention back to the inscriptions, his eyes distant. "Some things are never meant to be understood. Gerard, for all his power, couldn't save himself from the darkness he'd invited into his life."

Arina felt a chill run through him, his heart heavy with the thought of love twisted into something so destructive. But Zeke's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"Forget about it," Zeke said dismissively. "These are just old stories. Legends. They've become dust in the winds of time."

Arina wanted to ask more questions, but the words stuck in his throat. Instead, they both sat down near the ruins, letting the eerie silence of the place settle around them. The weight of the ancient tragedy still hung in the air, but Arina couldn't shake the sense that something was off—something in the ruins was trying to speak to him, to warn him.

Before he could voice his thoughts, a scream shattered the silence, carried on the wind like a cry of agony.

"Ahhh!!!" The sound was ragged, desperate, and full of terror.

Arina jumped to his feet, his heart racing. Zeke was already on alert, his body tense, eyes scanning the area. Without hesitation, they both moved in the direction of the scream.

They pushed through the underbrush, moving fast, until they saw a small figure stumbling toward them. A child. He was covered in dirt, blood, and fear. His small body was trembling, and his face was streaked with tears. He was running as fast as his legs would carry him, his movements frantic and erratic.

"Help!" the child cried out, his voice barely audible over the sound of his panicked breathing. He looked over his shoulder in terror, as if something were chasing him.

Arina's heart lurched in his chest. Before he could react, a shadow—a massive, savage figure—emerged from the trees. It was a huge creature, made entirely of darkness, with glowing red eyes that pierced through the shadows. The child's terror was palpable, and it was clear the monster was after him.

"Get back!" Arina shouted, his voice steady but filled with urgency. His hands crackled with blue magic as he began to form a barrier of energy. He aimed his hand at the shadow, releasing a blast of magic that struck the dark creature. The shadow screamed in pain, the energy burning it, causing it to writhe in agony.

Zeke stood back, watching the battle unfold. He didn't need to intervene—he trusted Arina to handle it. The young warrior had grown much stronger since their journey began.

With one final surge of energy, Arina's magic exploded, incinerating the shadow into nothingness. The creature's scream echoed in the air before it crumbled into ash, vanishing without a trace.

Arina turned to check on the child, who was lying unconscious on the ground, blood seeping from his wounds. His heart sank as he knelt beside the boy. "No… please, don't be dead…"

The child's small chest rose and fell with shallow breaths, but his eyes remained closed. Arina tried shaking him awake, but the child didn't stir. His wounds were serious, deep gashes that bled freely. Arina's hands trembled as he checked for a pulse—thankfully, he found it, though weak and fading.

"Calm down, Arina," Zeke's voice broke through his panic. "He's still alive, but he's in shock. We need to tend to him."

Arina nodded, his mind racing. He gently moved the child closer to the fire. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a small bottle, the liquid inside glowing faintly. It was water from the Healing River, a rare and precious substance they had gathered during their travels. He poured a few drops onto the child's wound, watching in awe as the injury began to close up and heal before his eyes.

Zeke watched in silence, his expression unreadable as Arina worked. After a few moments, the child's wounds were nearly healed, though he was still unconscious. Arina felt a sense of relief wash over him.

"We'll have to wait for him to wake up," Arina said, leaning back. "But at least he'll live."

Zeke didn't respond immediately. He simply stared into the fire, lost in thought.

Arina looked down at the boy, his mind swirling with questions. Where had he come from? Why had the shadow been after him? And more importantly—what was the connection between this child and the forces they were fighting against?

As the night grew darker, Arina knew their journey was far from over. The shadows were only one part of a much larger mystery, and the more they uncovered, the deeper they would have to venture into the heart of the forest… and the more dangerous their path would become.