The forest seemed to close in around them as the shadowed figure advanced. Jack's breath caught as he watched the woman move closer, her body unnaturally stiff, her eyes black as the void. She let out a sound—not quite a scream, not quite a growl—that made his skin crawl.
The Alchemist stepped forward, her voice firm. "Stay back," she commanded. She held up a shimmering vial, the liquid inside glowing faintly blue in the dim light.
The woman hesitated, her head tilting unnaturally to the side. The shadows swirling around her body seemed to react, curling and recoiling like living tendrils.
"She's not fully gone," the Alchemist murmured to Jack. "But the shadows have a hold on her. If we don't act quickly, they'll consume her entirely."
"What do you mean by 'consume'?" Jack asked, his voice trembling.
"They'll strip her of her will, her life force," the Alchemist replied grimly. "She'll become a vessel for them, a puppet to spread their darkness."
Jack felt a knot tighten in his stomach. "And how do we stop it?"
The Alchemist glanced at him, her eyes sharp and determined. "We force the shadows out. But it's dangerous—for her and for us."
The woman let out another guttural sound, her body twitching as if trying to resist an unseen force. The shadows around her grew more aggressive, reaching out like claws toward the Alchemist and Jack.
"Get behind me," the Alchemist ordered, uncorking the vial in her hand.
Jack obeyed, his heart pounding. The Alchemist threw the vial, and it shattered at the woman's feet. A burst of blue light erupted, illuminating the forest and sending the shadows writhing and retreating momentarily. The woman screamed, falling to her knees, her hands clutching her head.
"She's fighting it," the Alchemist said, pulling another vial from her satchel. "But she can't do it alone."
"What do you need me to do?" Jack asked, desperation in his voice.
"Hold her still," the Alchemist said. "And don't let go, no matter what happens."
Jack hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward. He knelt beside the woman, grabbing her arms as gently as he could while still keeping a firm grip. Her skin was icy to the touch, and her movements were erratic, almost violent.
The Alchemist knelt in front of her, pulling out a small crystal pendant from her satchel. The crystal glowed faintly, casting a warm light that contrasted with the oppressive darkness around them.
"By the light that binds, I call upon the barriers of this realm," the Alchemist began, her voice steady and commanding. "I banish the shadows and their corruption. Be gone!"
The crystal's glow intensified, and the shadows recoiled violently, letting out a piercing screech. Jack struggled to keep the woman still as the darkness writhed and twisted, trying to escape the light.
The Alchemist continued her chant, her voice unwavering despite the growing intensity of the shadows' resistance. Jack could feel the temperature drop further, the cold seeping into his bones.
Then, with a final surge of light from the crystal, the shadows burst away from the woman's body, dissipating into the night like smoke. The woman collapsed, her breathing shallow but steady.
"It's done," the Alchemist said, her voice heavy with exhaustion. She placed the crystal back in her satchel and knelt beside the unconscious woman, checking her pulse.
"She'll live," the Alchemist said, relief evident in her tone.
Jack released the woman's arms and sat back, his hands trembling. "That… was unlike anything I've ever seen," he said.
The Alchemist nodded, her expression somber. "And it won't be the last time you see it."
Jack looked at her, his fear mingling with a growing respect. "You've done this before?"
"Many times," she said. "And it never gets easier."
As the two of them helped the woman to her feet, she stirred, her eyes fluttering open. Her gaze was clear now, free of the unnatural darkness that had clouded them.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice weak but filled with gratitude.
The Alchemist nodded but said nothing. Jack could see the weight of the encounter in her eyes—the toll it took on her every time she faced these shadows.
As they made their way back to the village, Jack couldn't help but ask, "Why do you do this? Why put yourself through it?"
The Alchemist glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "Because no one else will," she said simply.
They returned the woman to her husband, who wept with relief as he embraced her. The villagers who had gathered watched in awe and fear, whispering about the Alchemist's power.
As they walked back to the apothecary, Jack broke the silence. "You said the shadows are growing stronger. Why now? What's changed?"
The Alchemist stopped in her tracks, her gaze distant. "I don't know," she admitted. "But something is coming. Something worse than anything I've faced before."
Jack felt a chill run down his spine. "And you think I'm part of it, don't you? Because I touched the shadow."
The Alchemist met his gaze, her expression grave. "Yes," she said. "You're connected to them now. Whether we like it or not, your fate is tied to theirs. And if we don't stop them, they'll destroy everything."
Jack swallowed hard, the weight of her words sinking in. He had come to the village seeking knowledge and purpose. Now, he realized, he had found both—at a price he was only beginning to understand.
The Alchemist's words hung in the air like a heavy cloud. Jack wanted to argue, to insist that he was just an outsider who had stumbled into this nightmare by accident. But deep down, he knew she was right. The shadow had touched him, and though it had released its grip, something lingered—a faint, cold echo that he couldn't shake.
"What do we do now?" Jack asked quietly.
"We prepare," the Alchemist replied. "This village is just the beginning. If the shadows are spreading, we'll need to find the source and seal it. But that's no simple task."
Jack hesitated. "You're asking me to help you?"
"I'm not asking," she said, her voice firm but not unkind. "You're already involved, whether you want to be or not. The shadows won't forget you, Jack. They never forget."
He shivered, feeling the truth of her words in the cold that clung to his skin. Whatever was coming, he couldn't run from it. As the apothecary's dim lantern light came into view, Jack realized that his journey had only just begun—and the shadows were watching, waiting for their next move.