Journal Entry
Day 3 of Exile.
The forests east of the Luminous Forge Sect aren't as alive as I thought they'd be. The trees here feel… wrong. Too still. Too quiet. Like the air is waiting for something.
The whispers have grown louder. At first, I thought they were just the wind, but now they feel sharper, more deliberate, like words I can't quite understand. If this is the Rift calling, then I'll answer. I've already come too far to turn back.
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Present Action: First-Person Narration
The forest stretched endlessly before me, its gnarled trees casting long shadows across the uneven ground. The sun's light barely broke through the dense canopy, leaving the air cold and damp. Every step I took echoed faintly, as if the world itself were listening.
And then there were the whispers.
At first, they were faint, barely more than a hum carried on the wind. But now, three days into my journey, they were louder, sharper, like voices just out of reach.
"Nothing is watching you," I muttered to myself, shaking my head. "You're just imagining it."
But even as I said the words, I wasn't sure I believed them.
---
The first sign of trouble came at midday. I'd stopped to drink from a shallow stream, its water icy and clear, when the forest went silent. The birds, the rustling leaves—all of it ceased, leaving only the sound of my breath and the whispers that seemed to grow louder.
I stood slowly, scanning the trees. Something wasn't right.
A rustling sound to my left made me whirl, my hand going to the hilt of my dagger. For a moment, I saw nothing. Then, a shadow moved—a blur of motion low to the ground.
'A beast,' I thought, my pulse quickening.
It emerged slowly, its form low and sleek. The creature was unlike anything I'd seen before. Its body was lean and black as ink, with eyes that glowed faintly violet. Its claws scraped the ground as it circled me, its movements unnervingly smooth.
A Void-touched beast.
I drew my dagger, the weight of it familiar in my hand. My Qi stirred faintly, ready to reinforce my strikes.
The beast lunged, fast as a shadow.
I twisted, bringing the dagger up in a fluid motion. The blade met its side, cutting deep, but the beast didn't falter. Its claws raked my shoulder, pain lancing through me as I staggered back.
'Too fast,' I realized, gritting my teeth.
The whispers surged louder as I channeled my Qi, letting it flow through my legs. I moved, faster this time, my blade flashing as I slashed at the beast. It snarled, the sound more like a hiss, and retreated a few steps.
The next attack came quicker. The beast darted forward, claws aimed for my chest. I jumped back, but the world seemed to blur for an instant—my vision doubling.
And then I was behind it.
The realization hit me as the beast froze, confused by my sudden disappearance. My Qi pulsed in my legs, the sensation sharp and cold, and I understood instinctively what I'd done.
'I shifted,' I thought. 'Moved faster than it could see.'
A name came to me then, as natural as breathing: Voidstep.
I didn't hesitate. I surged forward, my movements a blur, and brought the dagger down in a powerful arc. The blade found its mark, slicing cleanly through the beast's neck.
It fell, its body dissolving into a faint black mist that vanished into the air.
I stood there for a moment, breathing hard. My shoulder throbbed where the claws had raked me, and my head buzzed faintly, a warning of overused Void Qi.
But I couldn't stop the grin that spread across my face.
'Voidstep,' I thought again, testing the name. It fit.
---
The rest of the day passed in a haze. My shoulder ached with every step, but my mind kept going back to the fight. The way the Void Qi had moved through me. The way it had felt to shift, to move faster than the eye could track.
By nightfall, I'd found a small clearing and lit a fire. The forest was still quiet, but now it felt more like anticipation than unease. The whispers had faded slightly, retreating as if satisfied for now.
I leaned back against a fallen log, staring into the flames. The Voidstep technique had come so naturally, like it had been waiting for me to discover it.
'What else can I do?' I wondered, my hand unconsciously brushing the hilt of my dagger.
The thought sent a thrill through me, but it also brought a faint edge of caution. Orin's warning echoed in my mind: The Void always takes.
I pushed the thought away. The Void wasn't taking—it was giving. And I wasn't about to waste what it offered.
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Journal Entry (Later That Night)
The Void teaches in whispers. Today, it showed me something new: Voidstep. A way to move faster than my enemies can see, faster than I thought possible. It felt natural, like the technique had always been there, waiting for me to unlock it.
But it came with a cost. My head still buzzes, and my body feels heavier, slower. I'll need to be careful. Overusing this power isn't just reckless—it's dangerous.
Still, I can't stop now. The Rift is closer than ever. And if this is what it offers me at the edge, I can only imagine what waits at its heart.