Chapter 17: Threads of Light
The village was a fractured reflection of its former self. Though the shadows had retreated, their scars lingered. Broken lanterns lay scattered across the cobblestone streets, doors hung loosely on hinges, and the air still carried a faint, oppressive chill. Villagers whispered nervously as they ventured out, stealing glances at Xia Yu. Her presence seemed to inspire equal parts hope and fear.
Xia Yu didn't linger in the village square. She had done what she could here, but the battle against the shadows was far from over. The mark on her arm still pulsed faintly, a grim reminder of the darkness lying dormant within her. Each step she took away from the village felt heavier, like she was leaving behind a piece of herself.
"Host," Epoch's voice broke the silence, calm but firm. "We need to talk about what just happened."
Xia Yu didn't slow her pace. "What is there to talk about? I fought back the darkness and survived. End of story."
Epoch sighed, the sound tinged with exasperation. "You can't keep brushing this off. That wasn't just any darkness—it was a fragment of the shadows tied to your mark. Destroying it bought us time, but it also revealed how much control it still has over you. You felt it, didn't you? The pull?"
She clenched her fists. Of course she had felt it. That magnetic pull, the way the shadows had whispered to her, promising power beyond her wildest dreams. For a brief moment, she had been tempted. The memory made her stomach churn.
"I didn't give in," she said, her voice sharp. "That's what matters."
Epoch didn't press further, though his silence spoke volumes. Xia Yu knew he was right—she couldn't afford to ignore what had happened. But acknowledging the truth meant admitting just how fragile her control really was, and she wasn't ready to face that.
The road stretched out before her, winding through a dense forest. The lanterns from the village were long behind her now, their faint glow replaced by the pale light of the moon filtering through the trees. The forest was eerily quiet, the usual chorus of insects and rustling leaves absent. Even the air felt still, as though the world itself was holding its breath.
Xia Yu's grip tightened on the hilt of her sword as she walked. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. The shadows of the trees seemed to stretch unnaturally long, their edges flickering like they were alive.
"Stay alert," Epoch warned. "The shadows may have retreated, but they're never far."
She nodded, her eyes scanning the darkness for any signs of movement. Her instincts were on high alert, every muscle in her body tensed and ready to react. But as the minutes passed and nothing emerged from the shadows, she began to relax—just slightly.
It was a mistake.
A sudden rush of movement broke the stillness, and Xia Yu barely had time to react. A dark shape burst from the underbrush, its form twisting and writhing like smoke given shape. She drew her sword in one fluid motion, the blade catching the moonlight as she swung it toward the creature.
The strike passed through the shadow, dispersing it momentarily, but it quickly reformed, circling her like a predator stalking its prey.
"Host, this isn't an ordinary shadow," Epoch said, his voice urgent. "It's a remnant of the core. It's trying to reclaim what it lost!"
Xia Yu didn't hesitate. She lunged forward, her sword glowing faintly as she channeled her Qi into it. The blade sliced through the shadow again, this time leaving a faint trail of light in its wake. The creature recoiled, its form flickering as though struggling to maintain cohesion.
"You're not taking anything from me!" Xia Yu shouted, her voice echoing through the silent forest. She pressed the attack, each swing of her sword driving the shadow further back. But no matter how many times she struck, it kept reforming, its movements growing more erratic and desperate.
"Host, listen to me!" Epoch's voice cut through her focus. "Your Qi isn't enough to destroy it completely. You need to target its core—find the source of its strength and sever it!"
Xia Yu gritted her teeth, her eyes narrowing as she searched for an opening. The shadow was fast, its movements almost too quick to follow, but there was a pattern to its attacks—a rhythm she could exploit.
She waited, her stance shifting as she prepared for the next strike. The shadow lunged toward her, its tendrils reaching for her chest, but she didn't move. She held her ground, letting it come closer, closer—
And then she struck.
Her blade pierced through the center of the shadow, and this time, it didn't reform. The creature let out a soundless scream, its form unraveling like thread pulled from a tapestry. Xia Yu felt a surge of energy as the shadow dissolved completely, leaving behind nothing but the faintest trace of darkness in the air.
She lowered her sword, her breath coming in short gasps. The forest was silent once more, but the tension in the air hadn't lifted. If anything, it felt heavier, as though the shadows were regrouping, waiting for their next chance to strike.
"Good work, Host," Epoch said, his tone both relieved and cautious. "But don't let your guard down. That was just a fragment. The real threat is still out there."
Xia Yu nodded, wiping the sweat from her brow. "I know. I can feel it. The darkness… it's not done with me yet."
She sheathed her sword and began walking again, her pace slower but more deliberate. The forest seemed endless, each step taking her deeper into the unknown. But she didn't feel afraid. If anything, she felt more determined than ever.
The encounter with the shadow had reminded her of what was at stake. She couldn't afford to falter, not now. Not when the darkness was waiting for her to slip.
As she walked, a faint light appeared in the distance, flickering like a beacon in the night. It wasn't the cold, unnatural glow of the lanterns from the village—it was warm, inviting, like the light of a hearth on a winter's night.
She approached cautiously, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. The light grew brighter as she drew closer, revealing a small clearing bathed in its golden glow. At the center of the clearing stood an ancient tree, its gnarled branches reaching toward the sky. The light seemed to emanate from the tree itself, its bark shimmering with a faint, otherworldly glow.
Epoch's voice was hushed, almost reverent. "Host, this… this is a place of power. The tree—it's a conduit of light. It might be able to help us."
Xia Yu stepped into the clearing, her eyes fixed on the tree. She could feel its energy, a soothing warmth that seemed to push back the lingering darkness within her. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she felt… at peace.
But the peace was short-lived. As she reached out to touch the tree, a voice echoed through the clearing, low and menacing.
"You shouldn't be here, child."
Xia Yu turned sharply, her sword already drawn. A figure stepped out from the shadows, its form shrouded in darkness. Its eyes glowed faintly, like embers in the night.
The battle wasn't over. It was just beginning.
End of Chapter 17