The night in the village was unnervingly quiet. The soft rustle of the wind through the fields and the occasional creak of timber were the only sounds that accompanied Kaelin as he sat in the dimly lit room of the inn. The faint glow of his sword leaned against the wall, pulsing gently in rhythm with his heartbeat.
Kaelin's gaze lingered on the blade, his thoughts swirling. The shard's presence had changed the sword—it felt heavier, alive in a way that defied explanation. He had carried weapons his entire life, each one an extension of his will. But this blade was different. It wasn't just a tool. It was something far more profound, and perhaps far more dangerous.
He leaned back in the chair, the faint creak of wood grounding him in the present. His body ached from the trials of the past days, but his mind refused to rest. The shadow of Cyran in the mist haunted him, its silent gaze stirring old wounds he had tried to bury.
"Cyran," Kaelin murmured, his voice low. "Why did you do it?"
The question was as hollow as the silence that followed. He rubbed his temples, trying to stave off the memories clawing their way to the surface. Memories of betrayal, of a blade piercing his chest, and of the look in Cyran's eyes—cold, calculating, and final.
A sharp knock at the door jolted him from his thoughts.
Kaelin straightened, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword. "Who is it?"
"It's Jorin," came the reply, the innkeeper's voice muffled but firm. "Thought you'd like to know something. Can I come in?"
Kaelin hesitated, his grip on the sword tightening before he rose and opened the door. Jorin stood on the threshold, his expression grave. He held a lantern in one hand, its light casting flickering shadows across his weathered face.
"What is it?" Kaelin asked, his tone cautious.
Jorin glanced down the hall before stepping inside and closing the door behind him. "Something strange is happening tonight," he said, his voice low. "I didn't want to alarm the others, but I thought you should know."
Kaelin's eyes narrowed. "Strange how?"
"Some of the village folk saw lights in the forest," Jorin said, setting the lantern on the table. "Not firelight. Something… unnatural. And the animals are spooked. My hounds won't stop whining, and even the livestock are restless."
Kaelin leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "You think it's connected to me."
Jorin didn't answer immediately. His gaze drifted to Kaelin's sword, its faint glow reflected in his tired eyes. "You came here with that thing," he said finally. "And since then, the village hasn't felt right."
Kaelin's jaw tightened, but he didn't deny it. The shard bound to his sword carried a power that even he didn't fully understand. It wouldn't have surprised him if its presence had disrupted something in this quiet world.
"I'll take a look," Kaelin said, grabbing his sword and strapping it to his side. "If there's trouble, better I deal with it than your villagers."
Jorin nodded, his expression grim. "Be careful, traveler. The forest isn't safe after dark."
Kaelin gave a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Neither am I."
The forest loomed ahead, its twisted branches reaching skyward like skeletal fingers. The moonlight barely penetrated the dense canopy, casting the woods in deep shadows. Kaelin moved cautiously, his sword pulsing faintly at his side, its glow a pale guide in the darkness.
The air here was colder, heavier, and carried a faint metallic tang that reminded Kaelin of the mists in the Veil. The ground beneath his boots was soft and damp, muffling his footsteps as he navigated the uneven terrain. He kept his senses sharp, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.
As he ventured deeper into the forest, the glow of his sword began to intensify, its resonance growing stronger. Kaelin slowed his pace, his hand resting on the hilt. The shard's energy was reacting to something, though whether it was a threat or an ally, he couldn't yet tell.
The first sign of trouble came in the form of a low, guttural growl.
Kaelin froze, his body tensing as the sound echoed through the trees. It was deep and primal, a sound that sent a shiver down his spine. He turned slowly, his sword slipping free from its sheath with a soft metallic whisper. The blade's glow bathed the forest in pale light, casting long shadows that seemed to shift and writhe.
The growl came again, louder this time, and Kaelin caught a flicker of movement in the corner of his vision. He turned just in time to see a massive shape lunge from the shadows, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. Kaelin raised his sword instinctively, the blade meeting the creature's claws with a sharp clang.
The impact sent a jolt through his arms, but Kaelin held his ground. The creature snarled, its face twisted and unnatural, a grotesque fusion of wolf and shadow. Its body was covered in matted fur that seemed to shift and ripple, as though it were made of living darkness.
Kaelin twisted his blade, forcing the creature back, and stepped into a defensive stance. The thing snarled again, circling him with a predator's patience, its glowing eyes fixed on the sword.
"Drawn to the shard," Kaelin muttered, his lips curling into a grim smile. "Of course you are."
The creature lunged again, its claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. Kaelin sidestepped, his sword flashing as he countered. The blade carved through the creature's side, and it let out a pained howl as black ichor spilled onto the forest floor.
But the wound didn't stop it.
The creature twisted, its movements unnaturally fluid, and struck again. Kaelin ducked, the claws grazing his shoulder as he pivoted and drove his sword into the creature's chest. The blade pulsed, and light erupted from the wound, consuming the creature in a burst of energy.
Kaelin staggered back, his breath ragged. The shadows around him seemed to retreat, the oppressive air growing lighter. He wiped the ichor from his blade, his eyes scanning the trees for any sign of more creatures.
The forest was silent once more, but Kaelin's instincts told him this wasn't over. The shard's resonance still hummed in his chest, a reminder that something larger was at play. He sheathed his sword, his gaze fixed on the faint light flickering deeper in the forest.
"Let's see what else you're hiding," he muttered, his steps purposeful as he pressed on.