The fractured expanse of the Otherworld shifted around them as Rowan led Aiden deeper into the safe zone's outskirts. The terrain softened from jagged fragments to a smoother, more cohesive landscape. It was unlike anything Aiden had seen in this world. Memories of joy and warmth seemed to radiate from the surroundings—a bustling market square here, a peaceful meadow there—stitched together like pieces of a dream. Overhead, Yggdrasil's roots pulsed faintly with life, as if holding the fragments together.
"This is... different," Aiden muttered, gripping the quill-sword tightly as he scanned the area. Even here, he didn't feel safe.
"Good eye, rookie," Rowan said, glancing over her shoulder with a smirk. "You're standing in one of Yggdrasil's safe zones. It pulls in the forgotten bits of your world—the good stuff people let slip away—and saves them before the Core can corrupt them."
Aiden stopped to look around, his brow furrowed. A small boy chased a kite near what looked like the remnants of a park. A couple sat on a bench, holding hands and laughing softly. The air here felt lighter, as if the oppressive weight of the Core couldn't fully penetrate.
"You're telling me these are... memories?" Aiden asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Fragments of them," Sylva explained, her glowing form drifting closer. "When a memory is abandoned—when someone forgets the happiness of a moment—Yggdrasil draws it here, saving it from the Core's reach."
"And the people?" Aiden gestured toward the boy and the couple.
"They were pulled in after tragedies like yours," Sylva said gently. "Those who die in anguish or without resolution often find themselves here—or worse, on the Core's dark continent."
"The Core has its own landmass?" Aiden asked, his chest tightening.
Sylva nodded. "It pulls destructive memories and despair into its domain, ripping them from your world. Its land and Yggdrasil's are in constant flux, trying to merge, like dye swirling in water. If the Core succeeds, everything will fall into darkness."
Aiden clenched his fists, the weight of her words settling heavily on him. He glanced at Rowan, who had paused to wave at a group of civilians huddled near the edge of the zone. "So, what's the plan? Just... keep this place safe?"
"Partly," Rowan said, her tone light but her expression serious. "But there's more to it than that."
Before she could explain further, the sound of hurried footsteps and panicked cries interrupted her. A group of civilians burst onto the scene from a jagged fragment at the edge of the zone. Their faces were pale with terror, their clothes torn and bloodied.
"Help us!" a man shouted, clutching a limp child to his chest. "They're coming!"
Behind them, the shadows appeared—jagged, humanoid figures with crimson eyes glowing like embers. Their forms rippled unnaturally, tendrils of darkness lashing at the air as they moved with terrifying speed. The ground trembled beneath their advance, the whispers of the Core growing louder.
Rowan swore under her breath, spinning her spear. "Get them to Kieran! Now!"
Aiden barely had time to react before a tendril lashed out, striking dangerously close to the fleeing civilians. He raised the quill-sword, imagining a barrier, and the blade shifted in his hand, forming a glowing wall of light that held the shadows back.
"Go!" he shouted to the civilians. "Follow the path!"
The man nodded, his eyes wide with gratitude, and bolted toward the heart of the safe zone. The others followed, stumbling over the uneven terrain as more shadows closed in.
Rowan darted forward, her spear flashing as she impaled one of the creatures. "Don't get cocky, rookie!" she called over her shoulder. "They're faster than they look!"
As if on cue, a larger shadow emerged from the crack in the ground, its limbs grotesquely elongated and its form pulsing with red veins. It let out a deafening roar, the sound cutting through the air like a blade.
"Of course there's a big one," Aiden muttered, his heart pounding.
The creature lunged, but before either of them could react, a massive blade of light cleaved through its body, splitting it cleanly in two. The shadow dissolved into mist, and a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped forward, holding a shield that shimmered like molten gold.
"Kieran," Rowan said, grinning despite the chaos. "Took you long enough."
"I was busy," Kieran replied, his deep voice steady. He glanced at Aiden, his sharp blue eyes assessing. "You're the new recruit?"
Aiden nodded, still catching his breath. "It's Aiden. And you're...?"
"Kieran," he said simply. "Leader of this safe zone. The protector of this land."
"Could've fooled me," Rowan quipped, smirking as she drove her spear into another shadow. "You're always late."
Kieran ignored her, his focus shifting to the shadows that continued to pour from the crack. He raised his shield, and a radiant wave of energy swept outward, pushing the creatures back. "Sylva," he said, his tone commanding. "Get the civilians inside. We'll handle this."
Sylva's glow brightened, and she turned to the remaining group of frightened people. "This way. Quickly."
The civilians hesitated, but the urgency in her voice spurred them into motion. Aiden watched as they disappeared down a root-lined path, the faint light of Yggdrasil guiding their way.
"Focus, rookie!" Rowan shouted, snapping Aiden back to the fight. "We're not done yet!"
The shadows regrouped, their forms growing darker and more solid as they fed on the despair lingering at the edges of the zone. Aiden gritted his teeth, imagining chains of light to bind them. The quill-sword responded instantly, its blade shifting into glowing tendrils that wrapped around the creatures, holding them in place.
"Good," Kieran said, his shield glowing as he slammed it into the ground, sending another wave of energy through the battlefield. "But don't hesitate. Finish them."
Aiden hesitated for only a moment before slashing through the restrained shadows. They dissolved into mist, their whispers fading into silence.
As the last of the creatures vanished, the zone grew still once more. Aiden lowered his weapon, his chest heaving. "Is it always like this?" he asked, glancing between Rowan and Kieran.
"Pretty much," Rowan said, spinning her spear with a practiced flourish. "But hey, you didn't die. That's progress."
Kieran placed a heavy hand on Aiden's shoulder, his expression serious. "You did well. But this was just a skirmish. The Core's forces will only get stronger."
Sylva returned, her light softer now as she addressed the group. "The civilians are safe, thanks to you. But the balance here is fragile. The Core's landmass presses closer every day."
Aiden glanced toward the jagged edge of the safe zone, where the shadows had emerged. The thought of the Core's domain growing, consuming everything in its path, sent a chill down his spine.
"So, what's next?" he asked, his voice steady despite the weight of the question.
Kieran's gaze met his, unflinching. "Next, we prepare. The Core won't stop, and neither can we."