Xander woke to the sound of rustling leaves and the faint hum of Celestia's magic illuminating the camp. The fire had burned low, its embers glowing like distant stars. Aria leaned against a nearby tree, sharpening her twin daggers with a look of quiet focus.
The night had been calm, but Xander's dreams had been anything but. Visions of a blazing battlefield, shadowed figures, and a whispering voice calling his name haunted his thoughts. It wasn't the first time, and he knew it wouldn't be the last.
"We're moving soon," Aria said without looking up. "No point staying here any longer than we have to."
Xander sat up, stretching as the weight of the journey ahead settled over him. He glanced at Celestia, who was seated a few feet away, her golden wings folded neatly behind her. Even after all they had been through, she radiated an almost otherworldly serenity.
"You were talking in your sleep again," Aria added, her tone teasing but with an undertone of concern. "Anything you want to share, or is it just more of your 'mysterious chosen one' nonsense?"
Xander shot her a half-smile. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me," she said, pausing her blade sharpening.
Xander hesitated. "It was the battlefield again. Fire, shadows… and a voice. I couldn't make out the words, but it felt like it was calling me. Like it knew me."
Aria exchanged a glance with Celestia, her usual sharpness giving way to something softer. "You've been having these dreams since the day we met. They're not just dreams, are they?"
Xander shook his head. "No. They're memories… or warnings. I can't tell which."
Celestia stood, her golden eyes locking onto his. "Then it's time we find out. The answers won't come to us—we'll have to search for them."
The Forgotten Village
By midday, the group had reached the outskirts of a forgotten village, its once-thriving streets now reduced to overgrown paths and crumbling buildings. The air was heavy with the scent of decay, and the faint whisper of the wind carried an eerie melody.
"This place gives me the creeps," Aria muttered, her daggers drawn as her sharp eyes scanned the surroundings.
"It used to be part of the western trade routes," Celestia said softly, her wings tucked close as she walked beside Xander. "Abandoned during the first Shadow War. No one ever came back."
Xander stepped cautiously into the village square, his hand on the hilt of his sword. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional creak of wood or the flutter of a bird taking flight.
"This place isn't just abandoned," he said quietly. "It's haunted."
Celestia glanced at him, her expression tense. "You can feel it too?"
He nodded. "Something happened here. Something bad."
As they moved deeper into the village, a strange symbol carved into the walls of one of the buildings caught Xander's eye. It was an intricate design, resembling a serpent coiled around a blade, its eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.
"That's… not a good sign," Aria said, her voice low.
Xander reached out to touch the symbol, but the moment his fingers grazed the surface, a wave of energy shot through him. Visions flooded his mind—screams, fire, and shadowy figures cloaked in darkness.
"Xander!" Celestia's voice snapped him out of it, and he stumbled back, his heart racing.
"What… was that?" he muttered, clutching his head.
"It's a warning," Celestia said, studying the symbol. "This village wasn't just abandoned. It was cursed."
The Whispering Shadows
Before they could react, the shadows around them began to shift. From the corners of the village, dark figures emerged, their forms twisting and unnatural. Their glowing red eyes fixed on the group, and a low, guttural growl filled the air.
"Shadowborn," Celestia whispered, her voice trembling.
"What are they?" Xander asked, drawing his sword as the creatures crept closer.
"Remnants of the first Shadow War," Celestia explained. "Twisted souls, bound to the darkness. They exist only to destroy."
Aria smirked, her daggers gleaming. "Well, this just got interesting
Xander raised his blade, the faint hum of power coursing through it as he locked eyes with the nearest Shadowborn. Its body was a shifting mass of darkness, barely humanoid, with claws sharp enough to tear through steel.
"I'm guessing they don't want to talk," Xander said, his voice steady but his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword.
"They won't stop until we're dead," Celestia said, her golden wings unfurling as she summoned her light magic. Her hands glowed with an ethereal radiance, the light pushing back the encroaching shadows.
Aria flipped her daggers in her hands, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Good. I was getting bored."
The first Shadowborn lunged at Xander with a snarl, its claws slashing through the air. Xander sidestepped the attack and countered with a swift strike of his sword, the blade slicing through the creature's form. The Shadowborn screeched, its body dissipating into dark smoke.
"Not so tough," Xander muttered, but his confidence faded as two more creatures emerged from the shadows, their glowing eyes filled with malice.
"They don't go down easy," Celestia warned, hurling a beam of light at one of the creatures. The blast struck true, disintegrating the Shadowborn instantly. "Stay focused!"
Aria darted between two of the creatures, her movements quick and fluid. Her daggers flashed as she struck, each blow precise and deadly. She dodged a swipe from one of the Shadowborn and countered with a spin, driving her blade deep into its chest.
"Xander, watch your left!" she called out, her voice sharp.
Xander turned just in time to block an attack from another Shadowborn. The force of the blow pushed him back, but he held his ground, gritting his teeth as he pushed the creature away. He channeled the dark energy within him, letting it flow into his sword. The blade erupted with black flames, and with a powerful swing, he cut the Shadowborn in half.
"You're getting better at that," Aria remarked, her tone casual despite the chaos around them.
"I don't have much of a choice," Xander replied, his eyes scanning the battlefield for the next threat.
Celestia's magic flared brighter, creating a barrier of light around the group. "They're regrouping!" she warned.
The Shadowborn circled them, their numbers growing as more emerged from the darkness. The air grew colder, and an oppressive sense of dread filled the village.
"This isn't normal," Celestia said, her voice tense. "Something's controlling them."
"Then we take out whatever's pulling the strings," Xander said, his gaze fixed on the symbol etched into the wall.
A Leader Emerges
As if in response to Xander's words, a figure stepped out of the shadows. Unlike the other Shadowborn, this one had a more defined form—a tall, imposing figure clad in dark armor, its face hidden beneath a helm adorned with glowing red runes. A massive blade rested on its shoulder, its edge crackling with dark energy.
"Well, that's new," Aria said, her voice laced with sarcasm.
The armored figure raised its blade, pointing it at Xander. Its voice echoed, deep and distorted. "Child of shadows… you cannot escape your destiny."
Xander's eyes narrowed. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The figure chuckled darkly. "I am but a messenger. Your blood calls to the darkness, and it will consume you… unless you embrace it."
Xander gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on his sword. "I don't take advice from monsters."
The figure tilted its head, as if amused. "Then you will perish."
It raised its blade, and the Shadowborn charged as one.
The Turning Tide
"Stay together!" Celestia shouted, her light magic flaring as she repelled the first wave of attackers.
Xander and Aria moved in unison, their strikes precise and coordinated. Despite the overwhelming numbers, they held their ground, refusing to give an inch.
"Celestia, can you hold them off?" Xander called out.
"I can try, but it won't last forever!" she replied, her voice strained as she maintained the barrier of light.
"Aria, cover me!" Xander said, breaking away from the group.
"Where the hell are you going?" Aria shouted, cutting down another Shadowborn as she followed him.
"To the source," Xander said, his eyes fixed on the armored figure.
The figure watched him approach, its glowing red eyes gleaming with malice. "Foolish boy. You cannot defeat me."
"We'll see about that," Xander said, his sword igniting with dark flames.
The figure raised its blade, meeting Xander's charge with a clash that sent shockwaves through the air. The ground beneath them cracked, and the surrounding shadows seemed to writhe in pain.
"You're strong," the figure said, its voice filled with mockery. "But you lack control. That will be your undoing."
Xander gritted his teeth, pushing against the figure with all his strength. "I don't need control to beat you."
The dark flames on his sword flared brighter, and with a powerful swing, he forced the figure back. The armored foe staggered, its form flickering like a dying flame.
"You… cannot escape… the shadows," it growled, before collapsing into a pile of dark ash.
As the figure fell, the remaining Shadowborn let out a piercing screech and dissolved into smoke. The oppressive darkness lifted, and the village fell silent once more.
A New Threat
Xander stood over the ashes, his breathing heavy. Celestia and Aria approached, their expressions a mix of relief and concern.
"Are you okay?" Celestia asked, her golden eyes searching his face.
"I'm fine," Xander said, though his voice was strained.
"That thing knew you," Aria said, her tone serious. "It called you the 'child of shadows.' What does that mean?"
"I don't know," Xander admitted, his hand tightening around the pendant at his neck. "But I intend to find out."
Celestia placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch warm and reassuring. "Whatever it is, you won't face it alone."
Xander nodded, his resolve hardening. "Let's move. We have a lot of ground to cover."
As the group left the village, the faint glow of the serpent symbol remained etched into the wall, a silent reminder of the darkness that still lingered.