Darkness faded in and out, mixing with the cold rush of the river as it pulled me along. My body felt heavy, bruised, scraped raw against the rocks that jutted up beneath the water. Pain flared from my side, the deep wound from the bear’s claws still burning as I drifted along, helpless.

Eventually, I felt my body come to rest. I was lying on the shore, face pressed against gritty sand. The steady pulse of pain jolted me, pulling me back to reality, making me aware of the injuries covering my body. With every shallow breath, a sharp ache pulsed through me, reminding me just how close I’d come to losing everything.

Slowly, I forced myself to shift. My muscles protested, weak and shaking, but I knew I had to move. I managed to drag myself a few feet further up the shore, away from the river’s edge. Only when I reached the dry ground did I finally stop, gritting my teeth as I took in the state of my body.

My side was torn open, the wound deep and bleeding steadily. The fabric of my shirt was ripped and soaked, sticking uncomfortably to my skin. I winced as I pulled it off, biting back a groan as the motion pulled at the wound. I pressed the cloth against my side, hoping the pressure would slow the bleeding. My hands shook, but I held firm, focusing on each breath.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my sword lying a few feet away, half-buried in the sand. Relief flooded through me at the sight of it. It was a small comfort, but it was something—a reminder that, if nothing else, I hadn’t lost everything.

My brother’s voice came to mind, quiet and steady. “Remember, Kael, the forest isn’t just a place to survive; it’s a place to live. Learn its rhythms, know its signs. It’ll take care of you if you respect it.” I held onto that thought, letting it anchor me as I considered my next steps.

I knew I’d need food and shelter soon. My energy was drained, my mana depleted from the fight, and the wound at my side wouldn’t heal without rest. But first, I had to find a safe place and, hopefully, retrace the river’s path to where I’d drifted from.

After pressing down on the wound and stemming the worst of the bleeding, I forced myself to my feet, steadying myself against the pain lancing through my side. I kept close to the riverside, the only path I could rely on now. The air was thick with heat, and though the sun was low in the sky, the day was already beginning to burn. Morning had barely begun, which meant I’d been drifting through that river for the entire night. Maybe longer.

The thought made my pulse quicken, a cold edge of panic pressing in. I took a shaky breath, willing myself to focus. I forced my breathing to slow, clenching my fists to bring myself back, to stay in control. Only then did I start moving again, each step a fresh jolt of pain, the wound at my side reminding me just how vulnerable I was.

The hours blurred together in an endless struggle, time stretching with every agonizing step. My legs trembled, the weight of my exhaustion settling into my bones, making every motion a chore. I glanced up at the sky, barely midday. I couldn’t push any further without collapsing.

I scanned the edge of the forest, deciding it would be safer to find cover away from the riverbank. I took careful note of where I entered, marking it mentally so I could trace my way back to the river if I needed to.

As I staggered into the dense bushes, the forest pressed close around me. The air was thick with the scent of earth and damp leaves, birds calling sharply from the canopy above. Towering trees loomed overhead, their branches stretching high and twisting together to form a canopy that shrouded the forest floor in dim light. The world here felt older, darker—alive with secrets hidden among the shadows and the distant, rustling sounds that hinted at creatures just out of sight.

Finding a patch of ground beneath a thick overhang of brush, I finally let myself sink down, feeling the rough earth beneath me. The pain dulled just slightly as I leaned back, though every breath still sent a fresh wave of fire down my side. I pressed my hand against the wound again, gritting my teeth against the ache as I felt my heartbeat hammer beneath my skin. Rest was a luxury I couldn’t afford, but survival demanded it.

Hunger gnawed at me, a deep, aching emptiness that jolted me awake. As I blinked, awareness trickled back, along with a sharp pain pulsing from my side and spreading through my limbs. I glanced down and saw fresh blood beginning to soak through the makeshift bandages I had wrapped tightly around myself. It wasn’t enough—I needed to do more if I wanted any chance at recovery. My body ached, every inch of it felt bruised and worn, and my mind was clouded, like I was wading through thick fog.

Pushing myself up felt like moving against the weight of the world, each shift of my muscles sending waves of pain through me. My vision swam slightly, the trees around me warping and blurring, but I knew what I needed to find. Growing up near Elderwood had meant learning its secrets, and I’d been taught plenty about how to survive with what the forest offered. One memory stood out clearly now: Ironbind Moss. It was a thick, dark green moss that grew on tree roots and had faint silver veins running through it, almost like a forest scar. It was known to slow bleeding and keep infection at bay if used right.

With an effort that felt monumental, I stumbled toward the nearest tree. My eyes searched the roots, scanning desperately until I saw it: a small, dense patch of Ironbind Moss clinging to the base of a tree. My hands were trembling as I reached out to gather it, each breath shallow and careful. Pulling the moss free took longer than it should have; every tug seemed to pull on my own energy, leaving me more lightheaded.

Finally, with a handful of the moss, I dropped down by the tree and started grinding it into a paste. I worked slowly, pressing it between my palms, using the rough bark of the tree to break down its tough fibers. My fingers were clumsy, but I forced them to keep moving, pressing and rolling until the moss was no longer coarse but softened and slightly damp from its own moisture.

With the paste ready, I winced as I peeled away the bloodied fabric from my side, the movement causing my wound to flare with fresh pain. I took a deep breath, bracing myself, then pressed the moss directly into the wound. The sting was immediate and sharp, like a line of fire, but as I held it there, the coolness of the moss began to spread, numbing the worst of the pain and calming the raw edges of the injury.

I leaned back against the tree, my head resting against the bark, and breathed deeply, letting the fresh forest air fill my lungs. The Ironbind Moss worked slowly, its faint numbing effect easing the throbbing pain that had been gnawing at me since I’d woken. My mana reserves were almost depleted, my body exhausted, but I was alive. And for now, that would have to be enough.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

I slumped under the massive roots of an old tree, my mind drifting in and out of a haze as pain radiated from the wounds covered with Ironbind Moss. The itching was relentless, a reminder of the deep gashes left by the bear’s claws, and my body was wracked with a dull ache that seemed to reach down to my bones.

My stomach growled fiercely, a gnawing emptiness that felt like it was eating away at me from the inside. How long had I been drifting down that river? My mouth was dry, and every muscle in my body felt weak and unsteady, as if I’d been drained of whatever energy had kept me going.

Time slipped away as I lay there, fading in and out of sleep. The sun dipped below the trees faster than I’d realized, casting the forest into deep shadows, and soon night crept over the clearing. A quiet, unsettling stillness settled over everything. The noises of the forest had quieted, leaving only the faint rustling of leaves and my own shallow breathing.

I forced myself to stand, leaning heavily against my sword as my legs shook beneath me. My vision blurred momentarily as I took a few steps, each movement sending jolts of pain up my side. The emptiness in my stomach was consuming, a reminder of how weakened I’d become. I needed food, something to fuel my body, to stave off the creeping exhaustion threatening to pull me under again.

I stumbled through the darkened underbrush, hands brushing along the rough bark of trees for balance. After what felt like an eternity, I spotted a small bush dotted with berries, their dark skins catching the faint glimmer of moonlight filtering through the trees. Without hesitation, I fell to my knees and began eating, ignoring the bitter taste as I shoved handfuls into my mouth, the juice staining my fingers and dripping down my chin.

The taste was sharp and sour, but it filled the gnawing void in my stomach, giving me a momentary relief from the hunger. Once I had eaten my fill, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, feeling slightly steadier.

The night was thick around me, shadows stretching long and deep across the forest floor. With what little strength I had left, I made my way back to a tree with broad roots that formed a sort of hollow. The ground was soft with fallen leaves, and my body sank into the makeshift bed as if it were the most comfortable place in the world.

My head felt heavy, my eyelids drooping. I leaned back against the tree trunk, feeling the rough bark pressing into my back. The sounds of night grew distant as my mind drifted, exhaustion finally overtaking me.

I jolted awake to a light sting on my neck, reflexively slapping at the spot. My eyes opened, and for a moment, I thought I was still trapped in a dream. My brother stood before me, just as I remembered him. His long black hair was tied neatly behind him, his face calm but alert, and his blue eyes watched me with that familiar, gentle concern.

“Hello, little brother,” he greeted me, his voice as steady and warm as ever. The weight of his words settled over me, grounding me, and I just stared, unable to believe what I was seeing.

“Eldric…” I whispered, my throat tightening. The world seemed to pause, and I felt like I could barely breathe. He looked so real—solid, warm. His presence was unmistakable.

“What?” he chuckled, a faint smile spreading across his face. “Are you surprised to see me?”

I could only nod, struggling to form words. I reached out, touching his arm, and felt the firm strength beneath his skin. He felt real, more real than anything else around me.

Eldric’s gaze softened. “You’ve been busy, haven’t you?” He looked me over, his expression turning serious as he took in the mess of makeshift bandages and the blood still seeping through. With a sigh, he knelt beside me, rolling up his sleeves with that calm, purposeful expression I’d seen countless times before.

“You’re hurt worse than I thought,” he said, his voice low as he reached into a small pouch at his side, pulling out a needle and thread. “You were reckless.” He shook his head, a hint of amusement glimmering in his eyes. “But I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. You’ve always had a knack for getting yourself in over your head.”

I felt a dry laugh escape me, my throat tight and raw. “Didn’t exactly plan on fighting a mana beast. Or getting tossed around by it.” My words came out weaker than I intended, but Eldric didn’t seem fazed.

“You wouldn’t be my little brother if you didn’t find some trouble to dive headfirst into,” he replied, his tone gentle yet teasing. He began stitching the wound on my side with practiced ease, his touch as careful and steady as ever. The needle pricked my skin, sending jolts of pain through me.

“What happened to you?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “Everyone thinks you’re… I thought you were dead.”

Eldric paused, his hands stilling briefly as he considered my question. He looked up, his gaze thoughtful, as if he were weighing his answer. “MaybeI am,” he said quietly. “Or maybe become something else. People expect you to be someone… and sometimes, to find your path, you have to let that go.”

He continued stitching, the thread pulling at my skin, each movement precise. “You don’t have to live in anyone’s shadow, Kael,” he added, his voice softer now, almost as if he were speaking more to himself. “Not mine, not anyone’s. Your strength isn’t just in what people expect of you. It’s in who you choose to be.”

I let his words sink in, the steady rhythm of his stitching calming me. The wound throbbed with each pass of the needle, but his presence, solid and sure, made it bearable. His hand felt real. He was real.

When he finished the stitches, he tied off the thread, his fingers brushing against my skin. “There,” he said, a faint smile returning to his face. “You’re patched up… for now, anyway.”

I took a shaky breath, watching him closely. He looked back at me, his expression calm but unwavering. He reached out, resting a hand on my shoulder. His grip was firm, his touch solid and real. “There’s more to this forest than what you see, Kael,” he murmured, his gaze growing distant, almost as if he were looking beyond the trees, beyond the world I knew. “You’ve got a long path ahead… but you’ll make it. I know you will.”

I felt a flicker of determination rise within me, tempered by the exhaustion and pain still weighing me down. “And you?” I asked quietly, my voice barely more than a whisper. “Will you… stay?”

Eldric’s gaze softened, a sad smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I’m afraid not, little brother,” he replied gently. “But I’ll be watching. I’ll always be watching.” He stood, extending a hand, gesturing for me to follow. “Come with me. There’s something you need to see.”

With his help, I managed to rise, leaning heavily on him as I steadied myself. The world spun briefly, but his grip kept me grounded, his presence a solid anchor in the chaos.

He led me deeper into the forest, the trees looming tall and dark around us. Shadows seemed to stretch and twist, their shapes unfamiliar, but I focused on Eldric’s steady figure moving ahead, his steps light and sure. The sounds of the forest faded into a distant hum, and a strange, almost otherworldly silence settled around us.

As we walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The forest seemed different—warped, somehow. The trees bent at odd angles, their branches intertwining above us in a twisted canopy that blocked out the moonlight. But with Eldric by my side, I felt safe. Every step I took felt like I was pushing through a thick fog, yet his presence kept me moving forward.

Eventually, he stopped, turning to face me. His eyes held a strange, unreadable emotion—a mixture of pride and sorrow. “Kael,” he said, his voice low. “Remember, strength isn’t just about power. It’s about knowing when to push forward… and when to let go.”

I felt a shiver run through me, his words settling deep within me, echoing in the silence of the forest. And then, just as quickly as he’d appeared, Eldric began to fade, his form growing hazy, slipping away like mist in the morning light.

“Wait, Eldric!” I called out, reaching for him, but my hand passed through empty air. I stumbled forward, my vision blurring, the world spinning as the realization washed over me.

He was gone. And I was alone again, surrounded by the dark, twisted trees and the quiet, heavy presence of the forest.