Kazuki's footsteps echoed against the barren ground as he ventured deeper into the unknown expanse beyond the Axis tree. Though the spark within his chest offered a faint reassurance, the weight of responsibility pressed against his mind like an unseen force. The horizon stretched endlessly, and the oppressive hues of crimson and black seemed to shift and churn as if alive, watching.
Kazuki(muttering): "No map, no instructions, and a mystical light in my chest. Yep, definitely a hero's journey."
He kicked a small stone, watching it skip ahead before being swallowed by a creeping shadow that moved unnaturally across the ground.
Kazuki(stopping): "What the—"
The shadow seemed to ripple, spreading like ink in water, but it never crossed into the faint glow surrounding him. The spark inside him flared slightly, its warmth intensifying as if to ward off the encroaching darkness.
Kazuki(clenching his fist): "heh, I'm guessing you're the reason for the light show."
The shadows hissed in response, an eerie, whispering cacophony that raised every hair on his body.
—
Kazuki tightened his grip on the sword he had taken, its weight both comforting and foreign in his hand. He wasn't a fighter, just a regular highschooler, his only experience with weapons came from the occasional video game, and even then, it was a far cry from wielding a blade against something real.
The shadows began to shift, forming amorphous shapes that rose from the ground like marionettes without strings. Their figures wavered and flickered, humanoid but grotesquely distorted, as though they were mere imitations of life.
Kazuki(nervously): "Holy crap, this is officially too much. I didn't sign up for a horror movie."
One of the figures lunged, its movement unnaturally fast and fluid. Kazuki stumbled backward, barely managing to raise the sword in defense. The blade caught the creature mid-leap, and to his surprise, it disintegrated into ash upon contact, the spark flaring brightly in response.
Kazuki(breathing heavily): "Ah ha..So... you don't like light, huh?"
The other figures hesitated, their flickering forms retreating slightly as if testing his resolve.
Kazuki(steeling himself): "Good. Neither do I."
He swung the sword in a wide arc, the spark's glow intensifying with each movement. The shadows recoiled, their hisses turning into guttural growls.
—
As the last of the creatures dissolved, the air grew still, unnervingly so. Kazuki lowered the sword, his arms trembling from the exertion.
Kazuki(smirking, breathless): "Whew, Not bad for a first-timer, right?"
His voice echoed emptily in the vast expanse, a stark reminder of his solitude. Despite the small victory, an unease lingered. The shadows had retreated, but they hadn't vanished entirely….they lingered at the edges of the light, waiting.
Kazuki(quietly): "They're watching... but why??"
The spark within him pulsed faintly, almost as if answering his thoughts.
Kazuki(frowning): "You better not be the reason they're after me."
The glow didn't respond, but Kazuki swore he felt a flicker of amusement in its warmth, as though it understood more than it let on.
—
The barren land gave way to a ruined village, its skeletal remains jutting out of the ground like the bones of a long-dead beast. The buildings were charred and crumbling, and an eerie silence hung over the area.
Kazuki(whispering): "What happened here?"
As he stepped into the village, the light from the spark dimmed slightly, as though wary of the place. The shadows were thicker here, clinging to the ground and walls like a disease.
Kazuki cautiously approached what appeared to be the remains of a well. Its stones were blackened and cracked, and an unnatural cold emanated from its depths. He peered inside, but the darkness was impenetrable.
Voice(soft, echoing): "Why do you carry the light?"
Kazuki froze, his breath hitching. The voice was faint, almost a whisper, but it sent a chill down his spine.
Kazuki(nervously): "Who's there?"
The voice didn't answer directly, but the shadows began to shift again, forming a figure at the edge of the village. This one was different, more defined, almost human in shape, but its eyes glowed with an unnatural red light.
Kazuki(tensing): "You again?"
The figure stepped forward, its movements slow and deliberate.
Shadowed Figure: "The light does not belong to you, mortal."
Kazuki(firmly): "Well, it's mine now. So if you've got a problem, take it up with the tree."
The figure tilted its head, as though amused.
Shadowed Figure: "The Axis is dying, and you are but a fleeting ember. Do you truly believe you can protect it?"
Kazuki(gritting his teeth): "I don't have to believe. I just have to try."
The figure's form flickered, its edges unraveling like smoke.
Shadowed Figure: "Bold words. But the darkness is patient. It will consume all, in time."
Without warning, the figure surged forward, faster than Kazuki could react. It struck him square in the chest, and though the spark flared brightly in defense, the impact sent him sprawling to the ground.
Kazuki(gasping): "Damn it!"
The figure loomed over him, its form shifting and writhing like a living shadow.
Shadowed Figure: "You are not ready."
It reached out, its hand engulfing Kazuki's vision in darkness.
---
Kazuki's world spiraled, the spark's light flickering desperately as he felt himself slipping away. The last thing he saw before the darkness claimed him was the faint glow of the Axis tree in the distance, a fragile beacon in an endless void.
Kazuki(weakly): "Not... yet..."
And then there was nothing.
To be continued…