Rael's breath hitched as the shades advanced. Their hollow eyes locked onto him with a hunger that sent a shiver down his spine. The cold wind howled through the barren wasteland, carrying with it a sense of foreboding that pressed heavily on his chest. His hand tightened around the smooth stone in his pocket.
The man beside him stood still, his blade raised, poised for battle. "Remember what I told you," the man said in a low, calm voice. "These creatures feed off fear. If you hesitate, they'll tear you apart."
Rael swallowed hard and nodded, though his heart hammered in his chest. The shades moved slowly, their twisted forms casting long shadows across the cracked ground. They seemed to glide, their feet never quite touching the earth, as though they were half-formed remnants of another world.
The first shade lunged toward Rael, its bony fingers outstretched. Rael instinctively ducked and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the creature's grasp. He felt a surge of energy in the stone, a warmth that spread through his fingers. Without thinking, he reached out and pushed that energy forward.
A burst of light erupted from his hand, slamming into the shade with enough force to send it sprawling across the ground. The creature let out an eerie, hollow scream before dissolving into ash.
Rael stared at his hand in disbelief. "I… I did that?"
The man gave a curt nod, his blade flashing as he cut down another shade. "The stone amplifies your power, but you need to learn control. Right now, you're reacting on instinct."
Rael barely had time to process the information before another shade attacked, its movements quick and erratic. He raised his hand again, trying to summon the same energy as before. But this time, nothing happened.
The shade was upon him in seconds, its cold fingers closing around his throat. Rael gasped for air, his vision darkening as he struggled against the creature's grip.
"Focus!" the man shouted, slicing through two more shades with precise strikes. "You have to channel the energy, not force it."
Rael gritted his teeth, his mind racing. Channel it. Don't force it. He closed his eyes, trying to calm the panic rising in his chest. He could feel the stone's warmth, but it was distant, slipping away like sand through his fingers.
The shade's grip tightened, and Rael's vision blurred.
Suddenly, a surge of power shot through him, and light exploded from his hand, blasting the shade off him. Rael collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath as the creature disintegrated into ash.
The man walked over, offering Rael a hand. "You're learning," he said simply.
Rael took his hand, pulling himself to his feet. His legs trembled, but there was a flicker of determination in his eyes now. "What… what are these things?"
"They're remnants," the man said, scanning the horizon for any more threats. "Creatures left behind after the fall of the old world. They're drawn to the power you carry."
Rael frowned, the weight of the stone in his pocket suddenly feeling heavier. "What do they want?"
"To consume you," the man replied. "To take the power for themselves."
Rael's heart sank. He had no idea what kind of power he held, but it was becoming increasingly clear that it had painted a target on his back.
After the battle with the shades, Rael and the man continued their journey in silence. The wasteland stretched on for miles, the sun hanging low in the sky, casting long shadows over the cracked earth. Rael's mind raced with questions, but he wasn't sure where to begin. There was something about this man, something dangerous yet knowledgeable, and Rael couldn't shake the feeling that he was withholding crucial information.
Finally, Rael couldn't take it anymore. "Who are you?" he asked, breaking the silence.
The man didn't answer immediately. He continued walking, his eyes fixed on the horizon, as though considering how much to reveal. "I'm someone who knows what it's like to be hunted," he said finally. "Just like you are now."
Rael frowned. "That doesn't tell me anything."
The man glanced at him, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips beneath the mask. "You'll learn in time. But for now, all you need to know is that I'm here to help you."
"Help me? Why?"
"Because you're the key to something much bigger than you realize," the man said cryptically. "And if you don't survive, the balance of the world could tip in ways that can't be undone."
Rael stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowing. "What does that even mean?"
The man turned to face him, his expression unreadable. "It means that whether you like it or not, you've been thrust into a conflict that has been brewing for centuries. Forces that you can't even begin to understand are now moving, and they've all set their sights on you."
Rael felt a chill run down his spine. "Why me?"
The man's gaze was steady. "Because of what you carry. The stone is only part of it. You're tied to something far older—something that's been waiting for the right moment to resurface."
Rael clenched his fists, frustration bubbling up inside him. He had been thrown into this without warning, without understanding the rules of the game. And now, it seemed like every step he took only led him deeper into danger.
"Then tell me," Rael said, his voice tight. "Tell me what I need to do."
The man's eyes gleamed behind the mask. "Survive. For now, that's all you can do."