Shadow of the forest

The journey continued through the ever-dying forest. Over three months had passed since Zeke, Arina, and Soran began traveling together. Each step was met with relentless battles against the shadowy creatures that plagued the forest. Despite the danger, they pushed forward.

During their rests, Soran often found herself bragging about her magic, particularly in front of Arina. Tonight was no different.

"Do you see how easily I incinerated that Zalal earlier?" Soran boasted, swirling a small flame in her palm for dramatic effect. "If it weren't for me, you boys would've been eaten weeks ago."

Arina chuckled softly. "Yes, yes, you're the hero of this story, Soran."

She smirked, leaning back and stretching lazily. "Glad you understand. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need my beauty sleep."

She yawned and wandered toward Zeke, who was already fast asleep. Without hesitation, she buried herself in his arms and closed her eyes.

Arina sighed, knowing full well that Zeke wouldn't appreciate this when he woke up. He shook his head, a small smile on his lips, and turned back to the fire. Pulling out his notebook, he began sketching. His pages were filled with drawings of rare flowers and other wonders they had encountered on their journey.

As his pencil moved, his gaze flickered to Zeke and Soran. They looked peaceful, tangled together in sleep. He chuckled softly to himself and began sketching the scene, capturing the quiet moment amidst their chaotic journey.

---

The next morning, the trio continued their trek. The forest around them grew darker and more oppressive with every passing day.

"Soran," Arina asked as they walked, "how much farther until we reach the main tree?"

Soran glanced around, her sharp eyes scanning the dying trees. "I think we've got about—"

A thunderous roar interrupted her, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps crashing through the trees. Before anyone could react, a massive shadow lunged at Zeke with terrifying speed.

"Zeke!" Arina shouted, but it was too late. The shadow engulfed him in one swift motion, swallowing him whole.

Soran screamed in fury and ran at the shadow, her magic blazing. She attacked with all her strength, but Arina shouted, "Wait! You can't kill it! Zeke's inside! He'll burn with it!"

The shadow laughed, a deep, guttural sound that echoed through the forest. It swatted at Soran's flames and charged at Arina, who barely dodged in time.

Then, suddenly, the shadow let out a piercing scream. Its body convulsed violently before collapsing to the ground.

With a sickening squelch, Zeke tore through the shadow's stomach with his sword and emerged, covered in black goo. He looked disgusted as he wiped his blade on the grass.

"Disgusting," Zeke muttered, his voice low and growling. "How dare he swallow me?"

The shadow's body disintegrated into ash, fading into the wind.

Soran ran to Zeke, throwing her arms around him. "I was so worried! Don't ever do that again!"

Zeke growled in annoyance. "I get it, now back off."

Soran reluctantly let go, her lips pursed in a pout. Arina stood nearby, watching the scene with a smile of relief. "I'm glad you're okay," he said.

---

Later, the group sat around a small fire, eating lunch. Zeke gnawed on a piece of raw meat, seemingly unbothered by the earlier incident.

Soran watched him with an amused expression. "That's disgusting," she said with a smirk. "But I'll admit, it's oddly entertaining to watch you eat."

Zeke sighed, his golden eyes narrowing at her. "You have strange interests, Soran."

Meanwhile, Arina was focused on the map spread out in front of him. His brow furrowed as he traced their path with his finger.

"How much longer?" Soran asked, peeking over his shoulder.

Arina sighed. "The path to the main tree is still long. We're not even halfway there."

Soran groaned dramatically, leaning back and crossing her arms. "This forest is endless."

Zeke glanced up from his meal. "We'll get there faster if you stop complaining."

Soran glared at him, her cheeks puffing slightly. "Hmph."

Arina chuckled softly at their bickering. Despite the danger, moments like this made the journey bearable. Together, they would face whatever lay ahead. The main tree awaited them, and with it, the answers they sought.

---

the next day, Zeke woke up with a sharp inhale, his good eye adjusting to the faint glow of the dying embers from their campfire. He grumbled when he realized the familiar weight pressed against him again.

"Not again," he muttered under his breath, looking down at Soran, who was curled against his chest, her face serene in sleep. Despite his annoyance, he didn't wake her. Instead, he turned carefully, laying her head on the ground gently. He sighed as he sat up, running a hand through his disheveled hair.

He glanced to the other side of the fire. Arina was sprawled out, his notebook clutched in one hand as though he had fallen asleep mid-sketch. Zeke shook his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Fools," he murmured, "can't even guard properly."

Standing, he stretched and stepped away from the campfire, heading toward the dense forest. The air was damp, heavy with the scent of moss and decay. He found a quiet spot beneath a tree that was nothing more than a brittle, skeletal husk.

Pulling a notebook from his bag, he flipped through its worn pages, each filled with cryptic symbols and archaic texts. He placed the notebook on the ground, fingers tracing a particular symbol before closing his eye. Whispering incantations under his breath, a faint green light surrounded him, tendrils of energy flowing outward and touching the dead tree.

Zeke opened his eye and watched as the tree began to flourish, leaves sprouting from its branches, their vibrant green a stark contrast to the lifeless gray bark moments ago. But his momentary satisfaction faded when the green began to dissipate, the leaves wilting and falling until the tree returned to its dead state.

He frowned deeply. "Shadows…"

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A year passed.

The journey to the main tree had been grueling, the path long and perilous. What was once a vibrant forest had turned into a hostile wasteland. Navigation magic, once a reliable tool, had become useless. The group faced relentless battles against shadows, each encounter leaving its mark on them.

Zeke had lost his left eye in one such battle. Now, a patch covered the wound, though it didn't stop Soran from teasing him at every opportunity.

"Here," Soran said, extending a spoon toward him.

He groaned, leaning back against a tree. "I lost my eye, not my hand."

"Eat," she snapped, shoving the spoon closer.

He sighed heavily and relented, taking the spoonful of soup and swallowing it begrudgingly. She smirked triumphantly, and he muttered under his breath about her being insufferable.

Nearby, Arina was practicing his fire magic. Sweat dripped down his face, and his arms were an angry shade of red from overexertion.

"Enough," Zeke called out. "You're overdoing it. Rest before you burn yourself out."

Arina paused, breathing heavily, before letting out a soft laugh. "I need to get stronger."

Zeke's gaze sharpened. "You're doing this because I lost my eye, aren't you?"

Arina looked away, guilt flashing in his expression.

Zeke sighed, leaning forward. "It's not your fault, boy. If anything, it's mine. Getting old, I guess."

Soran frowned, cutting into the conversation. "Enough of this depressing talk. We're alive, aren't we? So stop whining and eat."

Arina chuckled, pulling his shirt back on. "Yes, ma'am."

Suddenly, a girl emerged from the shadows. Her face was pale, her clothes tattered, and she looked as though she hadn't eaten in days.

"Excuse me," she said weakly, her voice trembling. "Can I have some water?"

Arina's smile was sharp, almost predatory. "No." He hurled a small flute toward her.

The girl screamed, her form dissolving into a writhing black mass before crumbling to ash.

Soran smirked, crossing her arms. "They're getting desperate, aren't they?"

"Old tricks," Zeke muttered, standing. "Come on. The forest won't save itself."

Their journey continued, their camaraderie lightening the oppressive atmosphere of the shadow-infested forest. Despite the year that had passed, their bond had only grown stronger.

But their conversation came to an abrupt halt when a shadow appeared before them. It stood tall and humanoid, its form shifting and unstable.

"Want the main tree?" it asked, its voice like the scraping of metal.

Soran stepped forward, glaring. "What's it to you, freak?"

The shadow smiled, extending a hand. "I will take you to it."

Zeke exchanged a glance with Arina. The shadow's words were calm, but there was an unsettling undertone.

Arina's laugh was sharp and mocking. "As if we'd trust you, bastard."

"You don't have to."

The ground beneath them shifted, a black pool spreading rapidly. Soran screamed as she fell, her hand reaching out for Zeke. He grabbed her wrist, but the darkness pulled them both under.

---

Zeke woke with a start, gasping for air. The world around him was unfamiliar, the sky a swirling mass of gray and black.

"Soran!" he shouted, scrambling to his feet. He spotted her nearby, clutching her head. He rushed to her side, his voice frantic. "Dammit, Soran! Are you okay?"

She nodded weakly. "Just my head…"

"Good. Arina—"

"Go," she cut him off, waving him away.

He found Arina a few feet away, groaning as he sat up. "Where are we?"

Zeke didn't answer immediately. He looked up, his expression hardening.

"No way…"

Arina and Soran followed his gaze, their breaths catching in their throats.

Before them stood the main tree, its massive form looming over the desolate landscape. Its once-vibrant leaves were now withered, its trunk cracked and oozing black sap.

They had reached their destination, but the sight before them filled them with dread rather than relief.