Dinis's mind, usually so resilient, was beginning to yield under the weight of old memories and emotions that resurfaced. In the dense and oppressive Forest of Eternal Passage, he felt a constant internal battle for sanity and the peace he had always sought. Four days had passed since he began crossing the forest, and the familiar voices of his childhood whispered through the shadows around him.
From time to time, Dinis was tormented by whispers that seemed to come from all directions, like a painful echo of his parents' final farewell. The sound brought back deep but distorted memories of voices he would never forget.
"Son... you should have returned. We waited for you as long as we could... in the end, you left us to die."
Those words floated in the air like specters, hammering his mind with guilt and the pain of that last goodbye. In a distant corner of the forest, Dinis could almost see the scene of his parents smiling amidst the imminent tragedy, ready to face death with courage and love, relieved only by knowing that he would have a chance to find happiness.
As he navigated the treacherous terrain, Dinis felt a mixture of gratitude and sadness remembering his parents' unconditional love, who, even on the brink of death, wished for his happiness above all else. For a brief moment, he understood what their sacrifice truly meant. But this clarity was fleeting, and he knew there were still doubts to be resolved. Their fate was a mystery he carried with him, and he felt that the Oracle, his ultimate goal, might be able to provide the answers he so desperately sought.
The forest, however, seemed determined to prevent him from reaching the end of his journey. Just when he felt the crossing was nearing completion, a new disturbing sound emerged from the darkness—the muffled cry of a child. Dinis stopped and tried to locate the source. At first, it seemed distant, but the sound came from various directions, as if echoing through the trees, and he could see nothing but dense shadows and thick vegetation. The light was scarce, and the tree trunks were thick and tangled, blocking any clear view ahead.
The environment around him seemed to pulsate oppressively, and a cold wind blew, stirring the branches and whispering incomprehensible words in his ears. He tried to focus on the sound of the crying. Even knowing that it could be just another lost soul in the forest, the call was so close and anguished that Dinis couldn't ignore the possibility that someone there truly needed help.
Without hesitation, he advanced in the direction of the sound, covering more than two hundred meters in a few seconds. But the crying always seemed to escape him, moving away and disappearing among the shadows. Dinis stopped and looked around, feeling the tension grow in his chest. He looked at the ground, trying to find footprints or any clue that could indicate the child's direction, but found nothing. It was as if the sound emerged directly from the air around him, an echo that mocked his search.
Then, amid the oppressive silence, a memory came to him like a warning—a piece of advice from his mentor, Everard, during one of their conversations about the creatures of the forest.
"Alright, tell me more about these Ghouls you said you faced when you were younger," he remembered asking his mentor once.
The memory was so vivid that he could hear Everard's deep voice, with the serious tone he used when speaking of the deadliest dangers.
"Ghouls?" Everard laughed, but seriousness soon returned to his expression. "They're not the kind of creature you'd want to meet, boy. If you ever cross paths with a Ghoul, pray that you're not alone, even being a Sentinel."
That warning echoed in his mind, and Dinis felt a chill upon realizing what the crying in the forest could really be. The description of the Ghouls was still clear in his memory, as if Everard were speaking beside him at that very moment:
"They move among the trees and branches with frightening speed, even though they have no vision. They lure humans with voices that resemble a child's cry or even calls for help. They have no eyes, but their perception is as sharp as a bat's, using a type of echolocation. Any movement or sound can reveal your position, and they are relentless."
Dinis recalled that a single Ghoul was enough to give considerable trouble to a Sentinel of his level. With goat-like legs and heads adorned with horns, their thin bodies could reach up to two and a half meters in height. They were pale creatures, their mouths filled with sharp teeth that looked more like thorns, always wearing tattered human clothing, which made them even more unsettling.
"Many believe they absorb the voices of the children they devour, replicating them to lure their prey. They are intelligent and hunt with precision. Their weapons are simple but effective," Everard said, his voice deep and somber. "Ropes, chains, and hooks are their favorite instruments. And remember, Dinis, if you ever encounter a Ghoul, do not underestimate its strength. They're almost as strong as an adult bull."
The image of the creatures danced in his mind, and he had the unsettling sensation that something was watching him, hidden among the shadows. Suddenly, the crying ceased, and a heavy silence fell over the forest. The entire forest seemed to hold its breath, and Dinis realized too late that the sound of the crying had been merely a ploy to distract him.
Before he could react, the sharp sound of air being sliced alerted him to danger. He barely had time to turn his body when an iron mace, attached to a chain, swung toward him. Sensing the imminent impact, he prepared to dodge, but a heavy object struck him from the side, throwing him several meters away.
Dinis fell among the damp leaves and broken branches, gasping. He got up quickly, smelling the metallic scent of blood mixed with the putrid aroma of the forest. He looked around, and among the shadows, he managed to glimpse the tall, slender form of a Ghoul, which was already circling him, its horns gleaming in the faint light. The chains attached to its arm clanged softly as it swung the mace, ready to attack again.
Every detail that Everard had described was now before his eyes, confirming the creature's lethality. The Ghoul moved slowly, as if studying Dinis, evaluating the best moment for the next attack. He remembered his mentor's words, the clear warning about the danger of facing one alone.
Dinis's breathing was controlled, but his heart pounded hard. He prepared himself, adjusting his posture and gripping his blade firmly, aware that any mistake could be fatal.