The Dark Forest
A few days had passed since the incident, but Malik still felt a new weight on his shoulders. The forest seemed less safe, as if the shadows he saw that night were now watching his every move.
One morning, the old doctor decided to take Malik and Walid into the forest. "There are things you need to learn," he said firmly, gripping his magical staff.
"Is this combat training?" Walid asked excitedly, trying to mimic the moves of the knights he'd heard about in tales.
"Perhaps. Or perhaps more," the doctor replied with a cryptic smile.
The three ventured deeper into the forest, where the trees grew denser and the air colder. The doctor stopped in an open clearing and pointed to a large stone in the center. "This place is no ordinary spot. Here, we'll begin."
The First Training
Malik and Walid stood before the doctor, who began teaching them the basics of defense.
"Combat isn't just strength; it's intelligence. You must use your surroundings to your advantage and read your opponent's moves."
The training started simple, teaching them how to maintain their balance and block basic attacks. But as time went on, the exercises became more challenging.
While Walid was trying to hit a wooden target, he joked, "I think the monsters will laugh at me before they attack."
Malik chuckled a little, but the doctor interrupted sharply, "Darkness doesn't laugh—it kills. Always remember that."
On their way back to the cottage, they heard a strange noise among the trees. The doctor stopped and raised his staff cautiously.
From the shadows emerged a small girl, her clothes torn, her eyes filled with fear. "Who are you?" the doctor asked cautiously.
"I… I'm lost," she replied, her voice trembling.
It was clear she was scared, but Malik felt something different. Her eyes glimmered in a strange way, as if hiding a secret.
"Come with us. We'll protect you," Malik said kindly, despite the doctor's skepticism.
When they returned to the cottage, the girl began to speak about what had happened to her.
"I lived in a small village near the mountain," she said, "but on a dark night, strange creatures appeared and took everyone. I was the only one who escaped."
Her words mirrored what Malik had seen before. He exchanged glances with the doctor, who seemed more concerned than ever.
"If this is true, the darkness is moving faster than we expected," the doctor said quietly, as if speaking to himself.
That night, as they tried to sleep, they heard strange noises again. But this time, they weren't just distant sounds.
The creatures reappeared, but they were greater in number and stronger than before. The doctor stood at the front, wielding his staff, while Malik and Walid tried to defend the cottage using all they had learned in training.
The battle was fierce. The creatures weren't just shadows—they could use strange abilities, like sending waves of darkness.
"Don't be afraid! Focus on their weaknesses!" the doctor shouted as he deflected a powerful attack with his magic.
Malik, despite his fear, found himself fighting bravely, as if something inside him was driving him forward.
After a long and exhausting battle, they finally defeated the creatures. But the cottage was severely damaged, and everyone was drained.
"This is just the beginning," the doctor said, looking up at the dark sky. "The darkness won't stop until it gets what it wants."
Malik, despite his exhaustion, felt something different. He knew these battles wouldn't be the last, but he was ready to face whatever came next.
…