The quiet night outside the fortress was thick with tension, each shadow seeming to stretch and twist with unseen threats. Min Joon's legs trembled, both from the adrenaline and the long run, but he forced himself to stand firm. Astra's gaze was steady, her expression masking any hint of fear she might feel.
She pointed toward a dense forest that lined the valley. "That's where we'll hide for now. The Order's reach is vast, but even Kaelith won't dare follow us into the Darkwood."
He swallowed, unable to mask his unease. The Darkwood was infamous—a cursed forest, where stories told of spirits lurking among the twisted trees and strange creatures prowling the shadows. But anything seemed preferable to the wrath of Kaelith.
As they began their descent into the valley, the howling of wolves echoed through the night. The forest loomed closer, its trees twisted, their leaves a dark shade of green that seemed unnatural in the moonlight. Astra moved confidently, though Min Joon noticed her hand hovered close to her sword.
He couldn't help but ask, "What exactly is in there? Is it… dangerous?"
Astra gave him a sidelong glance, her face grim. "The forest itself is alive. It reacts to intruders, especially those who seek to harm it. Stick close to me and follow my lead—no matter what you hear or see, don't break away."
Min Joon nodded, his grip tightening around the daggers. As they stepped into the forest, he felt a chill settle over him, like he was walking into a world that was not meant for human eyes.
They moved in silence, navigating around thick roots that seemed to pulse faintly underfoot. Strange flowers glowed softly in the dark, illuminating the narrow path that wound deeper into the forest. Min Joon could feel eyes on him, an unseen presence watching, observing his every step.
And then, just as they rounded a corner, a rustling noise broke the silence. Astra froze, signaling him to stop.
A voice, low and almost mocking, echoed from the shadows. "Strangers in my forest… What brings two lost souls to the heart of the Darkwood?"
Min Joon's pulse quickened as a figure stepped out from behind a tree. He was tall, draped in a cloak of dark green, his face obscured by a mask carved from wood. A wild aura surrounded him, an almost animalistic intensity that sent shivers down Min Joon's spine.
Astra kept her voice calm, though he noticed her hand subtly shift toward her weapon. "We seek only passage. We mean no harm."
The man tilted his head, studying them. "Yet harm follows you like a shadow. You reek of the Order's darkness." His eyes, glowing faintly beneath the mask, fixed on Min Joon. "Especially you, young one. There is something… unclean about your presence."
Min Joon felt a surge of discomfort, unsure whether it was guilt, fear, or something else. But he steeled himself, meeting the man's gaze. "We were escaping. The Order attacked us."
The man gave a slow, unsettling chuckle. "Escape? From the Order? How quaint." He leaned closer, and Min Joon could feel a strange, ancient energy radiating from him, like he was part of the forest itself. "Tell me, young one. Are you willing to risk your life to walk this path?"
Before Min Joon could answer, Astra stepped forward, her voice firm. "He's under my protection. I'll take responsibility."
The man's eyes narrowed, but he seemed to consider her words. After a long, tense silence, he nodded slowly. "Very well. I'll allow you passage… on one condition."
Min Joon felt his heart skip a beat. "What condition?"
The man held out his hand, palm open. "A drop of your blood. An offering, to show respect to the Darkwood. Once given, your life is tied to these woods. Harm it, and it will harm you in return."
Astra glanced at Min Joon, her expression unreadable, then nodded. "Do it. It's the only way we'll get through safely."
He took a shaky breath, then unsheathed one of his daggers, pricking his finger until a small drop of blood welled up. The man watched with a gleam of satisfaction as Min Joon let the drop fall onto the ground.
The moment his blood touched the earth, the forest seemed to come alive. The air grew denser, filled with an almost electric energy. A soft whisper filled his mind, like a distant chorus of voices. He couldn't understand the words, but he felt a strange connection, as if the forest itself had acknowledged him.
The man stepped back, satisfied. "You may pass. But remember, the Darkwood forgets nothing."
Without another word, he melted back into the shadows, leaving them alone once more.
They moved quickly, neither speaking until they'd put a fair distance between themselves and the place where the strange man had appeared. Min Joon felt a weight settle over him—a realization that he was now tied to this world in ways he hadn't anticipated.
"Who was that?" he asked, glancing at Astra.
She shrugged, her face betraying a flicker of unease. "One of the wardens of the Darkwood. They're bound to the forest, sworn to protect it from outsiders. We're lucky he let us pass."
They walked in silence for a while, the forest growing thicker, darker. But something gnawed at him, a question he couldn't shake. "Astra, why are you helping me?"
She hesitated, her gaze fixed ahead. When she spoke, her voice was softer than he'd ever heard it. "I was once like you. Bound to powers I didn't fully understand, forced to fight for survival every day. I see that same struggle in you."
Min Joon didn't know how to respond. He'd always thought of Astra as fierce, almost untouchable. But now, hearing her speak this way, he felt a strange kinship with her—a shared understanding of what it meant to be caught in a world that constantly tested you.
A rustling noise interrupted his thoughts, and they both froze. From the shadows, several pairs of eyes glinted, catching the faint light. Wolves. And these weren't ordinary wolves—their fur shimmered with a faint, unnatural glow, and their eyes held an unsettling intelligence.
Astra raised her sword, her voice barely a whisper. "Back away slowly. Don't make sudden movements."
But before they could move, the largest wolf stepped forward, baring its fangs in a low growl. The pack fanned out, surrounding them, cutting off any chance of retreat.
Min Joon's heart pounded. "Are they… are they part of the forest too?"
"Yes," Astra replied, her voice tense. "The Darkwood's guardians. They sense your blood—the pact you made. It might keep them from attacking… or it might provoke them."
One of the wolves stepped closer, sniffing the air around Min Joon. He held his breath, resisting the urge to back away. The wolf's eyes were piercing, almost human in their intensity.
Then, as if deciding he posed no threat, the wolf lowered its head, letting out a soft huff before turning away. The rest of the pack followed suit, retreating back into the shadows.
Min Joon released a shaky breath, his knees weak with relief. "That… was close."
Astra nodded, her own relief evident. "The forest has accepted you. For now. But remember, it's always watching."
They continued deeper into the forest, the silence pressing in around them. Min Joon's mind raced with questions about the Darkwood, Astra's past, and the strange new bond he'd forged. But more than anything, he wondered about his place in this world. This land was filled with powers he barely understood, alliances he couldn't fully grasp.
As they walked, Astra suddenly spoke, her voice quiet. "This journey we're on… it won't be easy. You'll have to make choices—difficult ones. Choices that will shape who you become in this world."
He nodded, feeling the weight of her words. This was only the beginning, and he knew that with every step he took, he was being drawn deeper into a world of shadows, secrets, and alliances.
But for the first time, he felt a spark of something unfamiliar: hope. A sense that maybe, just maybe, he could carve out a place for himself here, one that was truly his own.