The days that followed were a blur, each one bleeding into the next as Maerlyn trudged deeper into the untamed wilderness. The forest, once familiar and comforting, now felt like a labyrinth, a web of shifting shadows and whispered secrets. He could still feel the presence of the Veil, a lingering weight on his soul, pressing against him like an unseen hand. But it was different now—distant as if it were pulling away, retreating into the dark corners of his mind. Yet, Maerlyn knew better than to think it had truly gone.
No, the Veil was never fully gone. It was a part of him now, woven into the very fabric of his being. His memories, his identity—they were all tangled in that web. As he walked through the silent forest, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him, waiting for him to slip, to falter, to give in.
He had to find the others. The ones the woman had spoken of. Those who could help him piece together the broken fragments of himself. But who were they? And where were they? The forest offered no answers, only the echo of his footsteps on the moss-covered ground.
Maerlyn's thoughts were interrupted by a faint rustling ahead. Instinctively, he drew his sword, his fingers tightening around the hilt as he slowly approached the source of the sound. The rustling grew louder, then stopped, and for a brief moment, the forest seemed unnatural still.
His senses were heightened, his every nerve tingling with anticipation. He knew something was out there. His breath hitched as he slowly inched forward, the sword now held at the ready.
Then, from the underbrush, a figure emerged—a man, ragged and weathered, his clothes torn and stained with dirt. His eyes were wide with fear, and when he saw Maerlyn, he froze, his hand instinctively going to a small dagger at his waist.
Maerlyn's grip tightened on his sword. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice rough.
The man blinked rapidly, his gaze flickering between Maerlyn's sword and his face. "I—I'm not looking for trouble," he stammered, his voice shaky. "I—I'm just trying to survive."
Maerlyn kept the tip of his blade pointed toward the man, his eyes narrowing. "Speak quickly," he ordered. "What are you doing here?"
The man swallowed hard, his eyes darting nervously. "I... I'm trying to get out. I... I'm lost." He lowered his dagger slowly, though he didn't seem entirely trusting. "I don't belong here, not really. I was with a group—before they… they didn't make it." He trailed off, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I didn't want to end up like them."
Maerlyn studied the man closely, his mind churning. There was something about him—something familiar, but he couldn't place it. And his words… they hinted at something deeper, something hidden beneath the surface.
"Your group," Maerlyn said slowly, his gaze sharp. "What happened to them? Why were you separated?"
The man seemed to hesitate, his eyes flicking nervously over his shoulder. "We… we were hunted. By something. Something that isn't human. I don't know what it was, but they came out of the trees… they… they were like shadows, monsters that—"
The sound of movement behind them cut him off.
Maerlyn spun around, his sword raised, his heart pounding. From the dense undergrowth, a figure emerged—a tall, dark shape that moved with the grace of a predator. Its eyes glowed a faint green, and its body seemed to shimmer in the dim light, a silhouette of something neither fully corporeal nor entirely phantom.
It was one of the creatures from the Threshold, a remnant of the Veil's power.
Without thinking, Maerlyn lunged forward, swinging his sword in a wide arc. But the creature was faster. It darted aside with a fluid motion, its form rippling like liquid shadow. The blade missed by inches, and the creature retaliated, striking with impossible speed.
Pain shot through Maerlyn's side as the creature's claws slashed across his flesh. He staggered back, his breath hitching, but there was no time to dwell on it. He couldn't afford to falter—not now. The Veil had unleashed these horrors upon the world, and now they were coming for him.
"Run!" Maerlyn shouted to the man, barely able to hear himself over the ringing in his ears. "Get out of here! Now!"
But the man didn't move. His eyes were wide with terror as he watched the creature advance on Maerlyn.
The shadow creature moved in for another strike, its glowing eyes locked on Maerlyn with predatory intent. Maerlyn gritted his teeth and forced his feet to move, sidestepping just as the creature's claws scraped past him. His sword flashed in the dim light as he slashed again, this time catching the creature's side, but the wound only caused it to howl in frustration.
This thing wasn't like the beasts he had faced before. It was faster, stronger, and far more dangerous.
Suddenly, a piercing cry echoed through the forest—a shrill, unnatural sound that reverberated in Maerlyn's skull. The creature froze, its glowing eyes flickering in confusion, and for a moment, Maerlyn dared to hope that the beast had been distracted.
But then, the ground trembled beneath his feet, and a massive form stepped from the shadows.
Maerlyn's breath caught in his throat.
The new creature was unlike anything he had ever seen. It was taller than any man, with gnarled, tree-like limbs that seemed to stretch and twist unnaturally. Its face was a twisted mockery of humanity, eyes sunken and dark, its mouth twisted in a grimace of hunger. A low, guttural growl rumbled from its chest as it advanced, its massive hands reaching for him.
"Maerlyn!" the man cried out, his voice breaking. "We need to get out of here—now!"
But Maerlyn was already moving, his thoughts racing. He had no choice. The creatures weren't just random monsters—they were part of something bigger, something tied to the Veil, to the broken threads of the world. He had to get out, had to find a way to fight back.
But this new creature, this monstrosity, was far beyond what he had faced so far.
Without hesitation, Maerlyn swung his sword at the smaller shadow beast, hoping to finish it off before the larger one could close the distance. His blade struck its side, and the creature howled in pain, but it was not enough. The monster's hand shot out, grabbing him by the shoulder and slamming him into the ground.
Pain exploded in his chest, his vision swimming as the world spun around him. He struggled, trying to push himself up, but the creature's grip tightened, crushing the air from his lungs.
"Get off him!" the man shouted, suddenly appearing at Maerlyn's side. He slashed at the larger creature with his dagger, but it was like a striking stone. The beast turned a hateful glare in its hollow eyes, and swiped at the man with one enormous hand.
Maerlyn's heart raced as the man was thrown back, landing with a sickening thud. Blood pooled beneath him.
"No!" Maerlyn cried, his voice breaking.
With a surge of adrenaline, Maerlyn's free hand gripped his sword's hilt tightly, and with all the strength he had left, he swung at the creature's wrist, slicing through the dark energy that held him.
The beast howled, releasing him, and Maerlyn rolled away, gasping for air. He had no time to think. The larger creature was already coming for him, its monstrous form looming like a death sentence.
In the distance, a faint light flickered—faint, but growing stronger.
The woman's words echoed in his mind: You will find them when you see them.
With no other choice, Maerlyn turned and ran toward the light, dragging the man with him, his heart pounding in his chest. The creature roared in fury behind them, but Maerlyn didn't look back. His only thought now was survival. He had to reach the light. He had to find the others.
The path ahead was uncertain, but it was the only path left.