The soft murmur of voices filled the small room, its walls lined with maps and old books. The wooden beams overhead were dark with age, the smell of parchment and ink mingling with the faint scent of herbs hanging from the rafters. Shelves filled with books. The bed was pushed against the far wall, its wooden frame sturdy but simple, the faded quilt neatly folded at the foot. An old, timeworn cupboard stood at the foot of a narrow bed. There was just enough space between the bed and the cupboard for a person to stand and open its creaking doors without disturbing the other furniture in the room.
A single window, its glass slightly fogged with the evening chill, was set into the wall right next to the bed. It overlooked the dense forest beyond, the shadows of the trees stretching long and dark in the fading light. The window opened a crack, allowing a cool breeze to drift in, rustling the pages of a book left open on the nightstand beside the bed.
In front of the window stood a modest wooden table, scarred with years of use, its surface cluttered with maps and scattered papers. Two mismatched chairs flanked the table, their backs straight and unyielding. Lena sat in the chair closest to the bed. The light of the setting sun poured through the window, casting a warm glow over her auburn hair and making her look almost ethereal against the backdrop of old books and maps. Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap, betraying the tension she felt. She had tried to relax, but the weight of the journey ahead and the unease that gnawed at her made it impossible.
Lena sat in the chair closest to the window, the light of the setting sun casting a warm glow over her auburn hair and making her look almost ethereal against the backdrop of old books and maps. Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap, betraying the tension she felt. She had tried to relax, but the weight of the journey ahead and the unease that gnawed at her made it impossible.
Roderick was seated across from her, his posture rigid as he leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. He stared down at a map of their route to Drakemoor, his brow furrowed in concentration. His fingers traced the lines of roads and forests, his mind clearly elsewhere. His usual arrogance was absent, replaced by a brooding intensity that unsettled Lena. He hadn't been himself since the shadows appeared, and she wondered what he wasn't telling them.
Jarin was sitting on the edge of the bed, his legs crossed and a smaller, more detailed map spread out before him. His fingers traced a different route from the one Roderick was examining, his brows knit together in thought. His usual easy going demeanor was nowhere to be seen; instead, there was an edge of nervous energy about him, a contrast to the Jarin she knew so well. Normally, he would have lightened the mood with a joke or a smile, but now his laughter seems strained, his eyes clouded with worry as he studied the map intently.
Edwin, on the other hand, was standing by the far wall, his fingers lightly trailing over the spines of the old books as if searching for something. Every now and then, he would glance over his shoulder at Lena and offer her a small, reassuring smile. There was a calmness about him, a quiet strength that she found comforting, even as it left her feeling off-balance. She still didn't know what to make of him. He had been nothing but kind and helpful since they met, yet she couldn't shake her initial distrust. It was maddening, this push and pull of her emotions whenever he was near.
"The path to Drakemoor is treacherous," Edwin said, his voice breaking the silence that had settled over them. He pulled his hand away from the books and turned to face the group. "The roads are rough, and the forest is dense. It will take us at least a week to get there, and that's if we don't run into any trouble."
"Which we probably will," Jarin muttered, his chair landing on all four legs with a thud. "Nothing's been easy since this whole mess started."
Lena nodded, her gaze drifting back to the map spread out on the table. "Do we even know what we're looking for when we get there?"
"The monastery," Edwin replied, his eyes meeting hers. "It's old, older than the town itself. If there are answers to be found, they're there."
"What kind of answers?" Roderick asked, his voice tight.
"Answers to why the shadows are following you," Edwin said, his gaze steady. "To what they want, and how to stop them."
"We should leave as soon as possible," she said, her voice steady despite the fear curling in her stomach. "The longer we wait, the more dangerous it becomes."
The decision made, the group began to disperse, each of them retreating to their own thoughts as they prepared for the journey ahead. Jarin slipped off the bed and folded the map carefully before tucking it into his pack. Edwin glanced around the room before speaking again, his voice light, though it was clear he was thinking ahead to the next task. "I should go feed the horses and make sure they're ready for the journey. Jarin, care to join me?"
Jarin looked up, a surprised smile tugging at his lips. "Why? You need a map to the stables?"
Lena couldn't help but chuckle at the exchange. The hint of mischief in Jarin's eyes was a welcome change from the tension that had settled over them like a thick fog. Even Roderick's expression softened, the lines of worry easing from his forehead.
Edwin grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "No, but I'm terrible at talking to horses. You've got the charm. They seem to like you more."
Jarin rolled his eyes but stood up, stretching his arms above his head. "Well, who can resist this charm?" He gestured to himself with a dramatic flourish, making Lena laugh. "Fine, I'll come. But if one of them kicks you, don't blame me."
"Deal," Edwin said with a mock-serious nod. "And maybe you can show me how to avoid that."
Lena raised an eyebrow and teased, "Are they really your horses?"
Edwin grinned, shrugging nonchalantly. "They seem to be," he replied, his tone light but playful.
Jarin, catching the mischief in Edwin's voice, immediately grabbed his arm. "You're coming with me!" he said, dragging Edwin out of the room .
Lena watched them go, a small smile playing on her lips. It felt good to see a bit of lightheartedness return, however brief it might be. As Edwin and Jarin disappeared through the door, the room seemed to grow quieter, the weight of the impending journey settling over them once more.
Lena lingered for a moment, her gaze drifting to the window where the sun was sinking below the horizon, the sky streaked with brilliant hues of orange and pink. It was beautiful, but there was a sadness in the fading light, a reminder that this might be the last time she saw home for a long while.
She sighed and turned her attention back to Roderick, who was still seated at the table, staring down at the map with that same brooding expression. Lena knew they were all feeling the pressure, but there was something different about Roderick.
She rose from her chair, her muscles stiff from sitting so long.
"Roderick," she said gently, coming to stand beside him. He didn't look up, his fingers tracing the line of the path they would take to Drakemoor.
"What is it, Lena?" he asked, his voice low and strained.
She hesitated, unsure of how to broach the subject. "I... I need to know what you saw. That night…in the river.
Roderick's jaw tightened, and he finally turned to face her. His eyes were dark, haunted, and Lena felt her heart clench at the pain she saw there. "Why?"
"Because I saw them too," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I need to understand what's happening. It feels like I'm not losing my mind."
Roderick hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck as if struggling to piece it all together. "At first, I thought I was imagining it. I didn't want to believe what I was seeing. But then..." His gaze flicked to her, sharp and uncertain. "Then I saw the look on your face. Under the water."
Lena's heart skipped a beat, remembering that terrifying moment. The cold river, the sensation of something unseen pulling at her from the depths, and the overwhelming dread that had filled her chest.
"And that thing," Roderick continued, pointing at the necklace resting against her collarbone. "It was glowing."
Lena's hand instinctively went to her necklace, her fingers brushing over the cool metal. She had forgotten about that—how the pendant had suddenly burned with light beneath the water's surface. It had been dim at first, a soft glow that barely registered in her panicked mind. But then, as the shadows closed in, it had grown brighter, until it was almost blinding.
Lena swallowed hard, her pulse quickening. She hadn't wanted to think about it, and had pushed the memory aside as soon as they escaped the river. But now that Roderick mentioned it, the truth was undeniable. "I don't know why it happened," she said softly, her fingers still resting on the pendant.
Roderick's eyes narrowed again, his gaze lingering on the necklace. "Do you think it's connected to the shadows somehow? Maybe it's protecting you?"
"I don't know," Lena whispered. "But it felt like... like it was warding them off."
She looked at him intently, her brows furrowed in confusion. "But why didn't Jarin see anything? He was right there with us. He didn't notice a thing."
Roderick shook his head, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips. "I don't know. I thought about that too. It was like... the shadows were deliberately hiding from him. Or maybe he just couldn't see them. Maybe it's something only certain people can sense."
Lena bit her lip, her thoughts racing. "But why us? Why did we see them and he didn't?"
"I wish I knew," Roderick murmured, his voice laced with bitterness. "Whatever these things are, they're not playing by any rules I understand. All I know is that they were real, and they were watching us. And the fact that you saw them too..."
Lena did not say anything further.
In the stables, the quiet clatter of hooves and the rustle of hay filled the air.
Edwin and Jarin were there, talking quietly as they fed and checked the horses. Edwin was leaning against one of the stalls, a faint smile on his lips as Jarin mimicked the movements of the horses, making playful noises and gesturing dramatically with his hands. The sight of them laughing, however softly, was a welcome relief.
"See?" Edwin said with a teasing grin as he nodded toward Jarin. "I told you they like you."
Jarin scoffed, rolling his eyes. "That's just because I'm the one with the food. If you were holding the feed, they'd probably like you too."
Edwin chuckled. "Is that your professional opinion?"
"Absolutely," Jarin replied with mock seriousness, crossing his arms as he leaned against the stall as well. "Years of experience, you know."
He watched Edwin silently as he moved about, checking the horses' tack with quiet efficiency.
After a moment, Jarin's tone shifted from playful to serious. He glanced at Edwin, his expression thoughtful. "So... how did you become a shadow hunter?" His voice was soft but carried the weight of genuine curiosity.
Edwin paused mid-motion, his hand resting on the edge of a saddle. He looked over at Jarin, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips, but his eyes were distant, as if the question had brought back memories hed rather leave untouched.
"It's not exactly something I planned," Edwin said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. He returned to his task, but his mind was clearly elsewhere. "It just... happened."
Jarin, leaning forward slightly, sensed there was more to the story but didn't push. He waited, letting the silence stretch between them.
Edwin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "The shadows... they've always been there. I just didn't realize what they were until it was too late." He looked at Jarin, his profound expression. "I lost people... good people. And once you've seen them—once you've survived them—you can't just walk away."
Jarin's eyes narrowed. "So you've been fighting them ever since?"
"Yeah," Edwin replied, his voice steady now. "Ever since."