Shadow of the forest

Two years had passed since Arina had arrived at the small home nestled deep in the magical forest. Under Kava's guidance, he had learned the subtle arts of magic—how to harness energy from the forest, how to create potions, and even how to communicate with the spirits. Zeke, on the other hand, had trained him in practical skills like foraging and tracking. By now, Arina had grown into a bright twelve-year-old boy with a natural curiosity and a mischievous streak.

The day began with Arina packing his small leather bag. Carefully, he arranged magical tools he had learned to use—an herb pouch, a glowing orb for light, and a tiny blade for cutting plants. He slid open the window of his room and looked outside, ensuring no one was watching.

"I'm just going to explore," he whispered to himself with a grin.

As he began to climb out, a voice called from below. "Sneaking out again, huh?"

Arina nearly slipped in surprise. Looking down, he saw Zeke leaning against the wall, arms crossed with an exasperated expression.

Zeke looked at him while he was in human form. Zeke was a being who could transform into a human, but his original form was a lion

"Zeke!" Arina hissed. "Don't tell Kava. Please?"

Zeke sighed, shaking his head. "You're lucky I'm too lazy to deal with Kava's lectures. Just don't get yourself killed, kid."

Arina gave him a sheepish smile. "Thanks! I owe you!"

With that, he disappeared into the forest, his heart racing with excitement.

---

Arina wandered deeper into the forest until he came upon a hidden valley he had never seen before. It was breathtaking—lush greenery stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with strange, glowing plants. He crouched down, pulling out his notebook, and began sketching the magical plants he found, labeling them with notes he had learned from Kava.

"Amazing," he muttered, running his fingers over the petals of a shimmering blue flower. Carefully, he took a sample, placing it in a small glass vial.

As he stood to admire his work, he noticed movement at the top of the valley. There, balancing delicately on a ledge, was a girl. Her long, blonde hair caught the sunlight, and her small frame seemed almost weightless as she reached out to pick a cluster of mushrooms.

Arina's curiosity got the better of him. Climbing up the rocky slope, he approached her cautiously. "Hello!" he called.

The girl gasped, nearly dropping her basket. She turned to face him, her eyes wide with fear. For a moment, she looked ready to run.

"Wait!" Arina said quickly, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "I'm not going to hurt you. I swear."

The girl studied him for a moment before relaxing slightly. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice soft and melodic.

"I'm Arina," he said, smiling. "I live in the forest. With Kava and Zeke."

Her eyes lit up with recognition. "You live with the mage and the hunter?"

"Yeah," Arina said, scratching the back of his head. "What about you?"

The girl hesitated before replying. "My name is Sera. I'm… from one of the hidden villages."

Arina's eyes widened. "Hidden villages? I've heard about those! Is it true they're protected by magic?"

Sira nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yes. But we don't let outsiders in."

She crouched to pick another cluster of mushrooms, and Arina knelt beside her. "What are these for?" he asked.

"Dinner," Sira replied, dropping them into her basket. "We use them in stew."

As they worked side by side, Arina couldn't help but feel a strange connection to her. She was different from anyone he'd met before—shy but strong, cautious but kind.

After a while, Sira stood, brushing dirt from her hands. "I should go. The forest isn't safe after sunset."

Arina frowned. "Why not?"

Before she could answer, the air around them grew heavy. A shadow passed over the valley, and Sira's expression turned to one of fear.

"They're coming," she whispered.

"Who?" Arina asked, but before she could reply, dark shapes began to emerge from the edges of the valley. Whispers filled the air, chilling and sinister.

"Run!" Sira grabbed his hand, pulling him down the slope.

The shadows chased them, their golden eyes glinting in the darkness. Arina's heart pounded as they dodged roots and leapt over rocks, the whispers growing louder with every step.

Just as the shadows closed in, a blast of light erupted from the trees ahead. Zeke appeared, his hands glowing with fire. "You!" he shouted, glaring at Arina. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you're in?"

Before Arina could respond, Zeke turned his attention to the shadows. With a wave of his hand, he sent a wall of fire surging toward them. The shadows hissed and retreated, disappearing into the darkness.

Sira stared at Zeke in awe, while Arina stood sheepishly, avoiding his guardian's gaze.

"I told you not to sneak out," Zeke said, his tone dangerous. He turned to Sira, his expression softening slightly. "You shouldn't be out here alone either. Come on. We're going back."

The three of them made their way back to the house. Kava was waiting for them at the door, his arms crossed and his face like a thundercloud.

"Arina," he said in a low, dangerous tone. "Do you care to explain why you thought sneaking out was a good idea?"

Before Arina could speak, Sira stepped forward. "It's not his fault," she said quickly. "He was just exploring. I… I'm the one who got him into trouble."

Kava studied her for a long moment before sighing. "Both of you are reckless," he said. "But you're safe now. That's what matters."

Kava looked at the crumbs silently, then smiled, "Are you from the village of fairies?"

She was nervous, but she cautiously said, "Yes."

"Fairies often don't like to mix with other living things, but you seem curious," he said

"She looks my age!, correct?" Arena shouted proudly, but both Cava and Zeke quickly laughed.

"Do you even know how old fairies are?" Zeke said, laughing sarcastically.

"I'm 30 years old," she said while looking at Irina. "What about you?"

He looked at her in shock and then said: "I am twelve…"

"Oh..." She looked at him in shock.

As the night fell, Sira shared dinner with them. Despite Kava's initial sternness, he warmed up to her, and even Zeke seemed to enjoy her presence.

As Arina watched Sira laugh and talk with his guardians, he couldn't help but feel a strange warmth in his chest. For the first time, he began to wonder if there was more to his place in the forest than he had ever imagined.