(Ringsheer Island, gulf of Eblistan Oct 1442.)

In the middle of the forest, our voices clashed like thunder. Deniz stood on the sidelines, his gaze shifting between us like a pendulum as if hoping to bridge the chasm between our opposing viewpoints and temper the fires of our disagreement.

"Listen to me," I said, "I know, our initial objective was to locate trapped prey, but this situation has evolved you see. Reports of missing people have surfaced as you know, and we can't ignore that."

Cairo, his form delicate like porcelain, Interjected"But straying into the forest, risking exposure, it's reckless. How does this connect to our objective? We just had to check out the traps in the forest?"

Gently, I placed a hand on his shoulder, meeting his gaze with a resolute look. "I understand your, Cairo. However, I have an ability that might shed light on this mystery. Remember the tales of djinns that the townfolk talk about? Beings from another realm, possibly connected to our current situation."

Cairo's brow furrowed, "How do you plan to approach this?"

A blaze ignited in my gaze, "I haven't hashed out the specifics yet, but I've honed certain skills—"

Cairo's voice cut across mine "Again with this? You can't just expect the world to bend to your every whim. You may dream of being a hero, but in reality, you're just a boy. I'm leaving, and you too, Deniz."

Deniz, seemingly caught off guard, pointed to himself in a bemused manner as if questioning whether he was included in the command.

Cairo's retorted sharply, "Are you coming along or not?" Deniz's response faltered amidst his hesitation, and his words stumbled. "I—"

"You know, you're free to chart your own course. I have no interest in getting sunburned, also I'll inform you everything to Jerich because my throat is sore now but you won't just give in."

With a huff, Cairo turned on his heel and strode away. I cheekily stuck out my tongue at his retreating form before shifting my attention to Deniz.

"Well, that was an unexpected turn," Deniz mused his expression a mix of amusement and bewilderment.

"It seems we have our work cut out for us," I replied,

"Hey, what's the plan?" Deniz inquired, his curiosity evident.

"Alright, before we get into that, there's something I want to show you," I replied.

I dropped to one knee, feeling the ground beneath me. My muscles tensed as I prepared myself. Raising my right arm, I pointed it straight ahead, using my left hand to steady it. Inhaling deeply, I focused on my breath. As I exhaled, I channeled my energy, suppressing and compressing it.

And then it happened. An invisible force began to materialize, coalescing into a weapon in my outstretched hand. The air around us seemed to shimmer slightly as the energy took form and the tall tree in front of us quivered as if a gust of wind had struck it. Startled birds took flight, their wings creating a rush of sound.

Turning to Deniz, I asked with a hint of pride, "So, how was that?"

Deniz's gaze locked onto me, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and disbelief. "Hold on a second. You're telling me you pulled that off?"

I nodded, a hint of pride creeping into my expression. "Yeah, that's the Battalion Lance—my own signature move."

Deniz's skepticism persisted, his brow furrowing in contemplation. "I don't want to rain on your parade, but doesn't it seem a bit... well, slow?"

I blinked in surprise, caught off guard by his perspective. "Slow? What do you mean?"

He leaned in "I mean, think about it. You have to position yourself, gather energy, compress it, release it... and even then, I'm not convinced the impact is all that impressive."

My eyes narrowed, intrigued by his viewpoint. "You're saying you could achieve the same effect with a punch?"

Deniz leaned back, an impish grin tugging at his lips. "Possibly. I'm not saying your move isn't cool, but efficiency matters. In a real fight, seconds count."

I scratched my head, a mixture of amusement and curiosity in my expression. "Well, there's more to it than meets the eye. Sending out those energy projectiles, especially for someone like me with only half psychic abilities, takes skill and practice."

Deniz's grin widened, his skepticism replaced with understanding. "Fair point. But I'll remain cautiously impressed."

I chuckled, appreciating his candidness. "Deal."

"Alright, Aries, I'm with you. Lead the way," Deniz said

The forest lay draped in an eerie silence, the air heavy with an unsettling stillness. I and Deniz moved cautiously, our expressions serious as we navigated the winding path that led us deeper into the heart of the woods.

"So, Aries, you really think it's a good idea to be here?" Deniz's voice was a low murmur, his gaze shifting warily between the gnarled trees that seemed to reach out like skeletal fingers.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

I scanned my surroundings "We need answers, Deniz. Those disappearances can't be ignored. If there's any truth to the rumors, we have to find out."

The wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it an unsettling chill that sent shivers down our spines. A rustling in the underbrush made us both tense.

A startled rabbit darted across the path, disappearing into the shadows. Deniz let out a tense breath, "Even the smallest creatures are on edge in this place."

Deniz's gaze remained watchful

"You're right. It's as if the forest itself holds its breath, waiting for something." I said, feeling anxious because my sense was telling me something.

As we walked, the path seemed to narrow, the trees pressing in around us like silent sentinels. A distant howl echoed through the woods.

"We can't let fear dictate our actions, Deniz. I'll see if anything happens."

we continued onward, each step taking us deeper into the shadowy heart of the forest. The rustling leaves seemed to whisper secrets or maybe just my imagination

"This place gives me the creeps," Deniz admitted, his voice hushed as if not wanting to disturb the unnatural quiet.

I nodded, my jaw clenched as I pushed aside my own unease. "We can't turn back now. We owe it to those who've vanished to uncover the truth."

A faint sensation tingled at the edge of my senses, like a warning. My steps faltered, and I raised a hand to signal Deniz to stop. The atmosphere grew thick with an unexplainable presence, and a strange mist began to weave through the trees, curling around the trunks like ethereal tendrils.

"Wait," Deniz's voice cut through the silence, his eyes wide

I held up a hand, my fingers barely visible through the haze. "Let's stay put and observe what's happening."

The mist swirled and twisted as if guided by an unseen hand. It flowed with otherworldly grace, creeping closer to us. Deniz and I exchanged glances, both of us wary of the phenomenon.

"What do you think it is?" Deniz's voice was hushed, as if afraid to disturb the eerie ambiance.

My gaze remained fixed on the misty "I'm not sure, but something about this doesn't feel right. We should consider retreating."

As we began to step backward, the mist seemed to sense our movement, and its pace quickened. It expanded and billowed, engulfing our surroundings at an alarming speed. The forest, once familiar, transformed into a distorted and disorienting realm. Trees, shadows, and the path itself blurred and merged into an indistinct haze.

"What's happening?" Deniz's voice trembled with\

My heart raced as I struggled to regain my bearings, but the mist's embrace was suffocating. "I don't know, but we need to get out of here—now!"

With every step backward, the mist advanced, as if it were a living entity with intent. Panic began to creep into my chest as my senses grew numb as if some unseen force was draining the energy from the air itself.

"We're getting surrounded!" Deniz's voice wavered as he struggled to keep pace.

The forest became a twisted labyrinth, the mist closing in from all sides, its tendrils brushing against our skin like an icy touch.

"Keep moving!" I urged,

But the mist was unyielding, a relentless force that seemed to defy the laws of nature. As we stumbled forward, disoriented and trapped in this surreal nightmare, the truth became clear: we were entangled in a mystery far beyond our understanding, and escaping its grasp might prove to be our greatest challenge yet.

The mist's relentless grip continued to tighten, constricting like an invisible vice around me. With each step forward, my legs grew heavier, as if they were shackled by an unseen force. My breathing turned labored, the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on my chest.

Beside me, Deniz's face was etched with concern, his brow furrowing as he observed my struggle. "Aries, you alright?" he said

My reply was a strained gasp, my throat tight as I fought to maintain my composure. Every inhale felt like a battle against an oppressive pressure, and my psychic energy seemed to drain away like water slipping through clenched fingers.

Dread knotted in my stomach as I felt my legs falter beneath me. My knees hit the ground with a thud, and a violent cough wracked my body, bringing forth a spatter of blood. Deniz's alarmed expression mirrored my own fear, and I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.

Deniz's voice carried concern, his hand hovering near my shoulder. "Aries, this is... this is bad."

I struggled to lift my head, my vision swimming as the mist seemed to weave around my consciousness. My psychic abilities were being drained from me, leaving me weak and vulnerable.

"I don't understand," I managed to choke out, my voice hoarse. "Why... why is this happening?"

Deniz's features contorted in a mixture of sympathy and frustration. "I... I don't know. But we can't give up."

Deniz's words resonated in my mind, breaking through the haze of exhaustion. He was right. Sitting idle wouldn't help us. Whoever or whatever wielded such power needed to be confronted. The thought of a force capable of manipulating the very fabric of our surroundings sent a shiver down my spine. Could it truly be the work of the djinn, as the rumors suggest?

As I thought of these possibilities, the smothering grip of the mist began to loosen its hold. The ethereal tendrils that had woven through the forest air receded like tendrils of smoke, dissipating into nothingness. The oppressive weight on my chest gradually lifted, and I drew in a lungful of air, feeling the clarity return to my senses.

With each passing moment, the smoke surrounding us thinned, revealing glimpses of our surroundings. To my astonishment, we found ourselves standing in the midst of an open expanse within the heart of the forest. The very existence of this space was a surprise—I had no prior knowledge of its presence.

My fingers brushed the rough bark of a nearby tree as I slowly regained my footing, aided by Deniz's presence. The ordeal had left me fatigued, drained in a way I had never experienced before.

"How are you feeling?"

I turned to him, exhaustion in my gaze. "Better, though still a bit drained."

As if in response to our collective struggle, the mist continued to dissipate, revealing the unfamiliar surroundings we found ourselves in. It was as if the forest was revealing its secrets, piece by piece.

"Did you notice this place before?" Deniz's question mirrored my own thoughts.

Shaking my head, I scanned the clearing. "No, I've never seen this part of the forest before. It's strange, almost as if this space was hidden from us."

"Hidden power?" I mused aloud, my mind trying to find an explanation. But I quickly dismissed the idea of another psychic presence. I must've detected him using perucolysis. Maybe it's an illusion but by whom?

Before I could dwell on it further, Deniz's voice broke through, grounding us in the reality of our situation.

"Still, this place is dangerous!"

"Right! This shit is real; we need to focus on getting out of here!" As the words left my mouth, a distant scream echoed through the air, like someone was falling from a great height. But the sound grew louder, closer, and more frantic as if the person was hurtling toward us.

And then, a figure plummeted from the sky, crashing through the canopy of trees. Branches snapped and leaves rustled as the person's descent came to a sudden, violent halt.

We exchangedwide-eyed glances. What had just happened? Who was this person? And why hadthey fallen from the sky like a fallen star?