Kaelin trudged through the forest, the heavy silence pressing against him like a physical weight. The visions he had seen in the shrine clung to his mind, fragmented and incomprehensible. Cities that defied gravity. Oceans that swallowed entire stars. Shadowed figures with burning eyes. And above it all, the forge—shattered, broken, and bleeding light into the void.
The ache in his chest wasn't just physical anymore. Something about those images stirred a deep, unsettling familiarity. He had never seen such things before… or had he? His memories felt blurred, like pages torn from a book, leaving only faint impressions behind. It was maddening. The more he tried to focus, the more the images slipped through his grasp, like smoke curling around his fingers.
He paused and leaned against a tree, breathing heavily. His sword pulsed faintly at his side, the same strange resonance he had felt since he awoke. It was a reminder—constant, unwavering—that this wasn't a dream. He wasn't back on the battlefield or dead in some afterlife. This was real, no matter how much his mind rebelled against it.
Kaelin glanced up at the pale sky visible through the canopy, trying to orient himself. The sun—or whatever this world had instead of a sun—was muted and distant, offering little warmth or direction. He had no idea how much time had passed since his awakening or where he was going. The pull that had guided him to the shrine was gone, leaving only an empty void in its place. He felt untethered, adrift in a world that made no sense.
The faint sound of running water caught his attention, breaking through the oppressive silence. It was distant but distinct, carrying a promise of clarity in the otherwise unchanging forest. Grateful for any direction, Kaelin adjusted his grip on the sword and began moving toward the sound.
The forest seemed to stretch endlessly, its massive trees creating a labyrinth that twisted and turned unpredictably. Yet the sound of water grew louder, guiding him like a beacon. After what felt like hours, he finally emerged from the trees and found himself standing on the edge of a wide, slow-moving river.
The water was dark, its surface reflecting the faint light of the sky like polished glass. Strange, glowing plants grew along the riverbank, their tendrils swaying gently in a breeze Kaelin couldn't feel. The sight was alien yet oddly beautiful, a reminder that he was far from the world he had once known.
Kaelin knelt by the river, cupping his hands to scoop up the water. It was cold against his skin, sharper than he expected, but refreshing nonetheless. He drank deeply, letting the chill spread through his body, grounding him. For the first time since his death, he felt something resembling peace.
But the peace didn't last.
The faint sound of rustling came from the trees behind him, barely audible over the flow of the river. Kaelin froze, his senses sharpening instinctively. Slowly, he turned his head, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword. The forest was still, the shadows deep and unmoving. But he wasn't alone. He could feel it—the same primal awareness that had guided him to the shrine now screamed at him to be ready.
The rustling grew louder, closer, accompanied by the soft crunch of footsteps. Whoever—or whatever—it was, they weren't trying to be quiet anymore. Kaelin rose to his feet, his sword sliding free from its sheath with a soft, metallic whisper. The blade felt light in his hands, an extension of his will.
A figure emerged from the trees, stepping into the faint light of the riverbank. It was humanoid but wrong in ways Kaelin couldn't quite place. Its skin was pale and mottled, almost translucent, with veins that glowed faintly beneath the surface. Its eyes were empty pits of blackness, reflecting no light, no soul. It carried no weapon, but its claws—long, jagged, and razor-sharp—were more than enough to convey its intent.
Kaelin tightened his grip on his sword, his body tensing. The creature tilted its head, its movements unnaturally fluid, as though its joints weren't quite connected. It let out a low, guttural hiss, the sound sending a chill down Kaelin's spine. He had faced countless enemies on the battlefield, from seasoned warriors to brutal beasts, but this… this was something else entirely.
The creature lunged without warning, its claws slicing through the air with inhuman speed. Kaelin barely managed to sidestep, his boots skidding against the soft earth. He brought his sword up in a defensive arc, the blade meeting the creature's claws with a sharp clang. Sparks flew as steel met bone, and Kaelin gritted his teeth, pushing back against the creature's unnatural strength.
The thing hissed again, its eyeless face inches from Kaelin's. Up close, he could see the cracks in its skin, the faint glow of something pulsing beneath the surface. It wasn't alive—not in the way Kaelin understood life. It was a construct, a thing of unnatural origins.
With a surge of effort, Kaelin twisted his sword, breaking the creature's grip and forcing it back. He didn't wait for it to recover. Moving with the precision of a seasoned warrior, he stepped forward and drove his blade into the creature's chest. The sword sank deep, and the creature let out a strangled screech, its body convulsing as cracks spread across its skin. Light spilled from the fractures, bright and blinding, before the thing exploded into ash.
Kaelin staggered back, shielding his face from the burst of light. When he lowered his arm, the creature was gone, its remains scattered across the riverbank like faint embers. He exhaled sharply, his heart pounding. His body ached, his muscles protesting the exertion, but he was alive. Again.
Before he could recover, another rustling came from the trees. Then another. And another.
Kaelin turned, his blood running cold. More figures stepped into the clearing, their black eyes fixed on him. There were three, then five, then seven. Each moved with the same unnatural fluidity, their claws glinting faintly in the dim light.
Kaelin gripped his sword tighter, his jaw clenching. He had faced worse odds before—or so he told himself. These creatures, whatever they were, had no place in his world. And if they didn't belong, then he would cut them down.
The first creature lunged, and Kaelin moved to meet it, his blade flashing in the pale light. The fight was on.