The forest felt endless. Brana and Luma walked in silence, their steps heavy and sluggish. Exhaustion wrapped around them, and tension lingered in the air. Despite it being night, a soft luminosity bathed the world around them, cast by the three moons, as if the world itself feared plunging into complete darkness.
The gigantic trees formed a natural cathedral, their luminous leaves capturing the moons' light and reflecting it in greenish hues. The ground was a network of intertwined roots and faintly glowing moss. The only sound was the wind, gently whispering through the trees like a constant murmur.
Luma stumbled over a root, and Brana quickly caught her hand. "Do you need to rest?" he asked, noticing the exhaustion etched on her face.
"Yes…" she whispered.
Brana found an oval-shaped rock nearby and guided them to it. They sat in silence, listening only to the sound of the wind. He scanned the surroundings attentively, searching for any sign of danger. The forest seemed asleep, yet something about its silence unsettled him.
Suddenly, a rustling came from a nearby bush, breaking the quiet. Brana stood quickly, positioning Luma behind him. The sound grew louder, and a shadow moved indistinctly among the leaves.
"Brana, what is it?" Luma asked, her voice trembling.
"Stay behind me," he replied, trying to remain calm.
The shadow advanced, and Brana backed up with Luma. Before they could move further, something leapt from the bush. Both of them stumbled and fell to the ground. When they finally looked at what had emerged, they saw… a small bird.
"A finch?" Brana murmured, blinking in disbelief.
They exchanged glances and began to laugh, the tension melting into relief. "We almost died of fright… over a bird!" Luma said between giggles.
The finch, startled by their laughter, flew off. Brana watched it disappear among the tall branches, a thought forming in his mind. If birds from Earth are here, then other things could be too. Things that aren't so harmless.
He stood, helping Luma up. "We need to find a safe place now. If a bird managed to survive here, there must be predators too."
As they walked on, his eyes stayed alert. It wasn't long before something unusual appeared between the trees: the remnants of a house.
The lower half of a ruined house was nestled among the roots of the massive trees. Despite its damaged state, the structure looked stable. Some walls still stood, a door hung on one hinge, and even the windows retained fragments of broken glass. Brana quickened his pace, pulling Luma along.
"This… looks safe enough for the night," he said, inspecting the area cautiously.
Inside, they found a partially collapsed hallway, but one room appeared surprisingly intact. It was small but still bore traces of a past life: a single bed with a slightly dusty mattress, a bookshelf with fallen books, and a wardrobe leaning against the wall as if pushed by time. Women's clothing still hung inside, unmoving, as if waiting for someone to return.
Luma ran to the bed and sat down. "Brana, it feels so comfortable…" she said, relieved.
Brana, however, focused on the resources around them. Under the bed, he found a toolbox containing a hammer, a wrench, and a few still-packaged razor blades. On the bookshelf, he discovered an old but functional lighter. In one corner, a worn backpack held a flashlight with what appeared to be intact batteries and several cans of food.
"This… is luck," he murmured, placing the useful items on a still-standing wooden table.
While rummaging through the wardrobe, Brana found a forgotten blanket. Though it smelled musty and was speckled with mold, it still seemed usable. He shook it vigorously, releasing a small cloud of dust, and handed it to Luma with an encouraging smile. "Here, this should help you stay warm."
"We'll stay here tonight," he said, wrapping the blanket around her. "Tomorrow, we'll start planning."
Luma looked at him hesitantly. "What if someone comes back here?"
Brana glanced around, sighing. "If someone does, we'll deal with it. But judging by the state of this place, I doubt anyone will show up soon."
Luma nodded, more reassured. Brana sat beside her, surveying the few resources they'd gathered. Food, tools, clothing. It wasn't much, but it was more than he'd expected to find.
As the night wore on, he felt a small sense of relief, though he knew it was temporary. The place offered no absolute security, but at least, for a few hours, they could rest. Now we just need to survive tomorrow, he thought, his eyes drifting to the broken window, where the starry sky seemed as distant as the life they'd left behind.
The silver light filtering through the cracks in the house's ruined ceiling seemed to calm Luma, though Brana knew she was still frightened. They had explored the house carefully, collecting anything useful, and found a small room that, despite being partially covered in debris, had one intact corner. In what seemed to have been a bedroom, the walls still stood, and the ceiling didn't appear ready to collapse anytime soon.
There was an old but intact mattress, covered by a thin floral sheet. Nearby was a small shelf with scattered objects—a comb, an empty picture frame, and some yellowed papers. Brana decided this would be the perfect spot for Luma to rest.
"See, Luma? This is our five-star suite," he joked, trying to sound lighthearted.
Luma, hugging the small backpack with their gathered items, gave a faint smile, though she still looked exhausted. "More like a two-star hotel, Brana. Look at that mattress," she said, pointing to the torn sheet.
Brana laughed, though the sound felt slightly forced. He knew she was trying to keep her spirits up, but her slight tremor didn't escape his notice. Kneeling, he helped her take off her shoes and adjusted the sheet as best as he could over the mattress.
"Lie down here, okay? In the morning, we'll figure out our next steps. Tonight, you need to sleep," he said, placing her backpack near the mattress as an improvised pillow.
"And you, Brana? Where will you sleep?" she asked.
He smiled. "Oh, I'm invincible. I can sleep standing up, like a horse."
Luma giggled softly, the sound brief and quiet, before finally lying down. Brana covered her with the blanket and sat beside her until her breathing slowed, becoming deep and steady.
While Luma slept, Brana moved away slightly and sat in a corner of the room, watching the soft moonlight seep through the cracks in the walls. Resting his elbows on his knees, he cradled his face in his hands, letting his thoughts wander.
What they'd found—some food, simple tools, and the partial shelter of the house—was enough to survive for a few days. Perhaps even a week if they were careful. But he knew this was only temporary relief. Eventually, they'd have to venture out again to explore, find more resources, and understand this world better.
Pushing these thoughts aside for now, his mind returned to the translucent window that had appeared earlier. The words were clear: Use the crystal to evolve and learn. He was certain it was a hint. But how could he use something embedded within him?
Brana extended his hand, studying his fingers in the moonlight. Physically, he didn't feel any different. The crystal seemed dormant. He tried to focus, narrowing his eyes and concentrating on his hand, hoping to activate something. But, as he expected, nothing happened.
Frustrated, he sighed. "Great, Brana. Very useful. You'll scare the monsters off with your trembling hand," he muttered.
After several futile attempts—gesturing with his hand, calling out commands like activate!, and even a brief attempt at jumping—he slumped back against the wall.
Then he remembered. The heat. When the crystal had entered his body, he'd felt something—a warm, pulsing energy coursing through him. Maybe that was the key.
Settling into a cross-legged position, Brana took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He tried to recall that warmth, that sensation. He imagined the crystal in his chest, glowing faintly, and tried to connect with it.
At first, nothing happened. But after several long minutes, he felt it: a faint warmth, almost imperceptible, but present. Brana froze, focusing intently.
The warmth began to spread, slowly at first, then intensifying, flowing through him like small waves. He gasped, surprised, but didn't lose focus. The sensation wasn't unpleasant—rather, it felt like a part of him was awakening.
His heart beat differently, syncing with the rhythm of the warmth. Brana's thoughts felt clearer, sharper, as if something within him was aligning.
He opened his eyes briefly and saw his arms faintly illuminated by a soft, pulsating light. His breath caught, but he didn't panic. Instead, he concentrated harder, letting the energy stabilize.
The effort was draining. His eyes grew heavy, and his breathing slowed. Despite the intensity of the sensation, his exhausted body gave way to sleep.
"It's… working…" he murmured, his consciousness slipping.
As sleep claimed him, the warmth remained, a silent flame burning within, waiting to be awakened again.