The Shadow Within
I slowly opened my eyes, my head pounding with a dull ache. I was lying on the forest floor, surrounded by the dark, twisted trees. Riven was nowhere to be seen.
As I sat up, I realized that I was alone. The forest was silent, except for the distant howling of wolves. I shivered, feeling a sense of unease.
And then, I saw it. A shadow within myself. It was a dark, amorphous shape that seemed to pulse with a malevolent energy.
I tried to push it away, but it seemed to be a part of me. I felt its presence spreading through my veins, like a cold, dark liquid.
I knew that I had to get out of there, but where was I supposed to go?
As I stood up, I saw something in the distance. It was a figure, tall and imposing, walking towards me. Its face was deathly pale, and its eyes glowed with an otherworldly light.
I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. Who was this? And what did it want from me?
The figure stopped in front of me, its eyes burning with an intensity that made me shiver. "You have been chosen," it said in a voice that sent shivers down my spine.
Chosen? What did that mean? And what purpose?
The figure reached out and touched my forehead, and suddenly I was flooded with visions of the past. I saw ancient civilizations, and great wars fought for power and glory. I saw the rise and fall of empires, and the struggles of ordinary people just trying to survive.
And then, suddenly, the visions stopped.
"You have seen the past," the figure said. "Now you must face your fears."
I felt a sense of dread wash over me. What did it mean to face my fears? And what lay ahead?
The figure turned and walked away, leaving me standing alone in the dark forest.