The night was colder than usual, and the dense fog crept across the forest floor like a living entity searching for something to devour. I sat on a rock, watching my hands as the black energy twisted between my fingers, writhing like a serpent ready to strike.
The words of that mysterious being hadn't left my mind: "The world is not as you see it… The forces moving behind the curtain have begun to sense your presence, and they will not allow you to continue."
Who were they? And what were they so afraid of?
Before I could find an answer, I felt faint vibrations in the air and heard a soft rustling sound. I wasn't alone.
"Who's there?" I asked in a low voice, turning slowly.
From between the trees, a girl emerged, dressed in black. Her silver hair shimmered under the moonlight, and her cold eyes studied me as if analyzing my every move.
"I didn't expect to find you so easily," she said, her voice calm yet laced with confidence.
I narrowed my eyes. "And who are you?"
"Just an observer… sent to assess you," she replied, stepping forward.
I didn't sense any immediate threat from her, but my instincts told me she was no ordinary person.
"And who sent you?" I asked, preparing for any possibility.
She smirked, a cryptic smile playing on her lips. "The ones who want you dead."
In the blink of an eye, she moved with astonishing speed. I barely saw the gleam of a sharp blade rushing toward my neck. But before I could even command my body to react, it moved on its own—my energy surged like a storm, and the attack dissipated before reaching me.
She took a step back, her eyes widening for a brief moment before she regained her composure.
"Impressive…" she murmured.
I didn't smile. I didn't feel fear. I only realized one thing:
The real war had begun.