The following days were deceptively calm, a stillness that crept through Elden Hollow and set everyone on edge. Alaric spent his time honing his control over the shadows, training near the edge of the Darkwood, pushing himself to the limits of his endurance. Every day, the weight of his powers grew heavier, the darkness a constant, throbbing presence at the back of his mind.
On a cloudy evening, Alaric sat by the Undying Tree, the pendant around his neck glowing softly against the twilight. He could feel something building within him, a kind of energy that wasn't entirely his own. It was as though the forest was speaking to him, whispering secrets he wasn't meant to understand.
He closed his eyes, letting himself tune into the strange hum resonating from the ancient tree.
"You're listening to the forest's call, aren't you?" Lina's voice broke his concentration.
Alaric looked up, surprised to see her. She'd approached without a sound, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.
"I feel something stirring," he admitted. "It's like the forest is… guiding me. Or maybe warning me."
She frowned, glancing around at the thick trees, their silhouettes dark and foreboding. "What does it say?"
"It's unclear," Alaric replied, almost to himself. "There's an ancient presence here, one I've barely begun to understand. It's as if the forest is alive, aware of everything that happens within it. And yet, it's hiding something. Something it's afraid to reveal."
Lina studied him quietly before speaking again. "The villagers have heard whispers, Alaric. Some believe the forest has chosen you, that you're its guardian… but others are afraid. They say you're no different than the shadows themselves."
Alaric looked down, his jaw tightening. "I can't blame them. I feel the darkness tugging at me every day. It's a constant fight to keep it in check."
Lina's expression softened, and she took a step closer. "You don't have to bear that alone, you know. If there's one thing you've proven, it's that you have a heart, even if it's entangled with shadows. Don't let the darkness convince you otherwise."
Before he could respond, they heard a rustling sound from the underbrush. They turned, watching as a group of villagers approached cautiously, carrying torches. Alaric recognized the elder, Gareth, among them, his face set in grim determination.
"Alaric," Elder Gareth called, his voice grave. "We need to speak."
Alaric nodded, stepping forward. "Is something wrong?"
The elder's eyes moved to the shadows flickering around Alaric. "There are rumors of dark creatures near the village, creatures that shouldn't exist outside the deepest parts of the Darkwood. The people are… they're frightened. They're saying that the forest's creatures are drawn to you, that your presence has disrupted the balance."
Alaric felt a surge of frustration, though he kept his face calm. "I haven't summoned anything near the village. The shadows I wield are controlled; they're my allies, not threats."
Gareth sighed, glancing back at the villagers, who murmured among themselves. "It may be true, but perception is everything. Many fear that by wielding the shadows, you're inviting darkness to our doorstep. You've kept us safe, Alaric, but the people's fear of you grows stronger each day."
Lina stepped forward, her voice firm. "Elder Gareth, Alaric is the reason we've survived this long. If there's a threat from the Darkwood, it's not because of him—it's because something else is moving in the forest."
Gareth hesitated, but before he could respond, a shrill scream tore through the night.
All eyes turned toward the village, where a wave of shouts and cries echoed in the distance. Without another word, Alaric broke into a sprint, shadows trailing behind him as he dashed toward the source of the commotion. Lina and the villagers followed close behind, their faces etched with fear.
They reached the village square, where a crowd had gathered, pointing toward a figure crouched in the center of the square. Alaric pushed through, his heart racing as he took in the sight before him.
It was a young woman, her clothes tattered and her eyes wide with terror. She looked around frantically, clutching her arm as though it were aflame. Her skin was marked with strange, dark symbols, the same symbols Alaric had seen carved into the trees in the Darkwood.
"Help me," she whimpered, her voice barely a whisper.
Alaric knelt beside her, examining the strange symbols on her arm. They pulsed faintly, a dark energy emanating from them that made his own shadows recoil in discomfort.
"Where did you come from?" he asked gently.
The woman shuddered, her eyes unfocused. "The Darkwood… I was lost… there was something in there, something that watched me. It marked me, claimed me as its own."
The crowd gasped, and Gareth stepped forward, his face pale. "The mark of the Void. Alaric, this is beyond anything we've faced before. The Order spoke of such things long ago, but I never thought… not here."
"The Void?" Lina asked, looking at Gareth in alarm.
Gareth nodded. "An ancient force, a being of pure darkness. The Order believes it to be the source of all corrupt shadows, a darkness that defies even death itself. The creatures Alaric fights… they're mere echoes of the Void."
Alaric felt a chill run through him. *An ancient darkness,* he thought, glancing at the woman's markings. If the Void was awakening, it meant that something far more dangerous than he had imagined was moving within the Darkwood.
"What does the Order know about the Void?" Alaric demanded, his tone sharp.
Gareth hesitated. "Not much. Only that it's an entity, not just a force. It has a will, and it seeks vessels—souls strong enough to carry its essence. If it's marking villagers… it may be looking for someone powerful enough to host it."
A wave of dread washed over Alaric. "I need to go back into the forest. If the Void is active, I need to find it—and stop it."
The crowd murmured, a mix of fear and approval rippling through them. But before Alaric could act, the young woman screamed again, her body convulsing as the symbols on her skin began to burn brighter.
"No!" she cried, clutching her head as darkness poured from her eyes, her mouth, surrounding her like a shadowy aura. She rose into the air, her limbs contorted as if she were a puppet on invisible strings.
"Stay back!" Alaric shouted, holding up his hands as the darkness around her surged, threatening to engulf them all.
The villagers backed away, watching in horror as Alaric summoned his own shadows, intertwining them with hers to contain the volatile energy. But the Void's darkness was unlike anything he had felt before—chaotic, raw, a power that defied even his command.
The woman's voice was barely a whisper as the dark aura consumed her. "It's coming… for you…"
With a final shriek, the darkness shattered, dissipating into the night, leaving her body to collapse lifelessly to the ground.
A tense silence followed, the air thick with the lingering presence of something otherworldly.
Elder Gareth approached Alaric, his face ashen. "This is just the beginning. If the Void has truly awakened, then we may be facing the end of everything we know."
Alaric clenched his fists, his heart pounding. The visions, the whispers from the Undying Tree, the creatures growing bolder—everything pointed to one truth: an ancient darkness was rising, and it had taken notice of him.
He looked around at the faces of the villagers, each one reflecting fear and uncertainty. They saw him as a protector, a shield against the Darkwood's terrors. But with the Void threatening to consume everything, he wondered how much longer he could bear the weight of their trust.
As he turned back to the Undying Tree, he felt a surge of resolve. If the Void had chosen to rise, then he would meet it with all the strength he possessed. He would not allow his home to be swallowed by darkness—not while he drew breath.
And yet, deep down, he wondered if this was his destiny—to be drawn into the heart of the Void, to face an ancient force that could strip away every last vestige of light within him.