The forest felt alive. Not in the peaceful, birds-chirping way I remembered from nature documentaries, but in the “something’s watching you” sense that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Every creak of a branch, every rustle of leaves, made me jump.

Kael walked a few steps ahead of me, one hand gripping his side where my dagger had found its mark earlier. I felt a little bad about that—only a little. His shoulders were tense, his steps deliberate, like someone who knew the forest could turn against him at any moment.

“You know,” I said, keeping my voice low, “if you’re going to lead the way, it’d be great if you actually talked to me about where we’re going.”

“Somewhere safe,” he replied without turning around.

“Sure, because that’s so specific.”

He stopped suddenly, turning to face me. His face was pale, his breathing uneven, but his eyes burned with the same sharp focus they’d had on the battlefield.

“You saved my life back there,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean I trust you.”

“Trust me?” I laughed, throwing up my hands. “I don’t even trust me. I’m making this up as I go.”

Kael’s gaze didn’t waver. “If we’re going to survive this, we’ll need more than luck.”

“Yeah, no kidding,” I muttered. “What’s the plan, then?”

He leaned against a tree, his hand still pressed to his side. “There’s a resistance camp a few miles from here. We can regroup there, rest, and figure out what to do next.”

“Resistance?” I raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess—this is the part where you tell me about your noble crusade to overthrow the evil empire.”

His lips twitched, almost like he wanted to smile but didn’t quite remember how. “Something like that.”

We moved cautiously through the forest, Kael leading the way while I kept an eye on the shadows. My Shadow Step ability had bought us time back on the battlefield, but the cooldown was long, and I wasn’t eager to burn it unless I absolutely had to.

The air grew cooler as the trees thickened, their gnarled branches intertwining to block out the fading sunlight. The faint hum of insects filled the silence, punctuated by the occasional snap of a twig underfoot.

Kael slowed, raising a hand to signal me to stop. He crouched, scanning the forest ahead with the precision of someone who had done this a hundred times before.

“What is it?” I whispered, crouching beside him.

“Listen.”

I strained my ears, trying to pick out what he’d heard. At first, there was nothing but the usual forest sounds. Then I caught it—a faint, rhythmic tapping, like metal striking wood.

“Friend or foe?” I asked.

Kael’s expression darkened. “We’ll find out.”

We crept forward, staying low and sticking to the shadows. The tapping grew louder as we approached, accompanied by faint voices. Soon, we came to the edge of a small clearing.

Three figures stood around a makeshift cage made of thick wooden beams lashed together with rope. Inside the cage, a young woman sat with her arms crossed, glaring at her captors with a look that could have melted steel.

The captors, on the other hand, didn’t seem particularly concerned. They were rough-looking men, their armor mismatched and poorly maintained. Bandits, if I had to guess.

“What do we do?” I whispered to Kael.

“Wait,” he replied.

“Wait?” I repeated, incredulous. “They’re about to—”

One of the bandits reached into the cage, grabbing the woman by the arm. She responded by slamming her forehead into his face with a crunch that echoed through the clearing.

The man staggered back, clutching his nose as blood streamed between his fingers. “You little—!”

“She seems to be doing fine,” Kael said, his voice dry.

I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Waiting it is.”

The other two bandits stepped forward, clearly less amused than Kael. One raised a sword, pointing it at the woman. “You’ve got a lot of fight in you for someone in a cage.”

She smirked, tilting her head. “And you’ve got a lot of bravado for someone who can’t even clean his own sword.”

The man’s face twisted with anger. “I’ll show you—”

Before he could finish, an arrow whizzed through the clearing, embedding itself in the tree next to his head.

“Okay,” I whispered. “That wasn’t her.”

Kael frowned. “No. That wasn’t her.”

A second arrow followed the first, this one striking the bandit with the bloody nose in the shoulder. He cried out, dropping his weapon and stumbling back.

“Who’s out there?!” one of the remaining bandits shouted, his voice tinged with panic.

The answer came in the form of a blur of motion as a figure darted out of the shadows, moving faster than I thought humanly possible. The figure—a wiry young man with a bow strapped across his back—tackled the bandit, knocking him to the ground.

Kael and I exchanged a look. “Still waiting?” I asked.

“Not anymore,” he said, drawing his sword.

The last bandit was too busy trying to fend off the newcomer to notice us charging into the clearing. Kael’s sword came down in a swift arc, striking the man’s weapon hand and sending his blade clattering to the ground.

I wasn’t much help—my stolen dagger felt like a toy in comparison to Kael’s skill—but I managed to kick one of the bandits’ fallen swords away before anyone else could grab it.

The fight was over in seconds. The bandits lay sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain but still breathing.

Kael turned to the cage, where the woman was now watching us with narrowed eyes. “Are you alright?” he asked.

“Do I look alright?” she snapped. “Get me out of here.”

The young man with the bow stepped forward, pulling a knife from his belt. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Took you long enough, Farron.”

Farron grinned, slicing through the ropes that held the cage together. “What can I say? I like making an entrance.”

As the woman stepped out of the cage, I finally got a good look at her. She was about my age, with short-cropped hair and a scar running across her left cheek. Her clothes were practical but worn, and she moved with the confidence of someone who didn’t take crap from anyone.

“Thanks for the assist,” she said, brushing dirt off her sleeves. Then she turned to Kael. “And who are you supposed to be?”

“Kael,” he said simply.

Her gaze shifted to me. “And you?”

“Ash,” I said. “Resident Chosen One, apparently.”

She blinked, then laughed—a sharp, humorless sound. “A Chosen One. Fantastic. Just what we need.”

“You know, I’m getting really tired of that reaction,” I muttered.

Kael stepped between us, his tone calm but firm. “We’re all on the same side here. If you’ve got a camp nearby, we need shelter. The Light Eternal knows we’re out here.”

The woman folded her arms, her eyes narrowing. “And why should I trust you?”

“Because we just saved you,” I said, crossing my own arms.

She considered that for a moment, then sighed. “Fine. But if you try anything, Chosen One, I’ll put you back in that cage myself.”

“Noted,” I said.

She turned, motioning for us to follow. “Come on. The camp’s not far. Name’s Jessa, by the way. Try to keep up.”

Farron fell into step beside me as we walked, his bow slung casually over one shoulder. “So, Chosen One, huh?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Don’t ask me how it works. I’m still figuring it out.”

“Sounds like a lot of pressure,” he said, his tone light.

“You have no idea,” I muttered.

As we made our way through the forest, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated.

Allies were good. Allies were necessary.

But trust? That was going to take some time.

The path to the resistance camp wound deeper into the forest, each step feeling heavier than the last. Jessa led the way, her movements precise and confident despite the growing darkness. Kael stayed close, his gaze darting to every shadow like he expected another ambush. Farron, on the other hand, walked beside me, completely at ease as though the woods were his personal backyard.

“So, Ash,” Farron said, his tone conversational. “You’re new to this whole Chosen One gig, huh?”

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“Is it that obvious?” I replied, sidestepping a particularly gnarled root.

He grinned. “Let’s just say you’ve got the vibe of someone who didn’t read the fine print.”

“That’s because there wasn’t any fine print,” I said. “One minute I’m minding my own business, the next I’m getting yelled at by glowing fire angels and dodging death beams.”

“Ah, yes,” Farron said, nodding sagely. “The classic Chosen One experience.”

Jessa glanced back over her shoulder, her expression skeptical. “If you’re really the Chosen One, why don’t you act like it?”

“Because I didn’t ask to be chosen,” I shot back. “And honestly? I’m starting to think your prophecy is full of crap.”

Kael cleared his throat, stepping between us. “Enough. We’re not here to debate prophecies. Let’s focus on getting to the camp alive.”

Jessa rolled her eyes but didn’t argue.

The camp appeared suddenly, tucked into a hollow surrounded by thick trees. It was small but well-organized, with tents arranged in neat rows and a central fire pit casting warm light across the clearing. A few people moved about, their faces wary as they glanced at us.

“This is it?” I asked, looking around.

Jessa shot me a withering glare. “What were you expecting? A fortress?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “Something... bigger?”

“Size doesn’t matter,” she said, striding toward the largest tent. “This place is off the grid. That’s what keeps us alive.”

Farron leaned closer, his voice low. “Don’t mind her. She’s always like that.”

“I noticed,” I muttered.

Inside the tent, a man sat at a makeshift desk, studying a map by the light of a lantern. He looked up as we entered, his eyes narrowing. He was older, his weathered face marked by scars and years of hard living.

“Jessa,” he said, his voice rough but measured. “You’re late.”

“Ran into some complications,” she replied, jerking her thumb toward me. “This is the Chosen One.”

The man’s eyes flicked to me, his expression unreadable. “Is that so?”

“Don’t look at me,” I said, raising my hands. “I didn’t sign up for this.”

He snorted, leaning back in his chair. “Sounds about right. Name’s Orin. I run this camp.”

“Run?” I asked. “You mean you’re in charge?”

“I prefer to think of myself as the guy who keeps things from falling apart,” he said.

Kael stepped forward, his tone serious. “We were ambushed. The Light Eternal appeared on the battlefield.”

Orin’s expression darkened. “The Light Eternal? Here?”

“Chasing us,” I said. “And it’s not exactly subtle.”

“Wonderful,” Orin muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. “That’s all we need—another damned Chosen dragging divine wrath down on our heads.”

“I didn’t ask to be dragged into this!” I snapped. “If you’ve got a problem with the Light Eternal, maybe take it up with them instead of yelling at me.”

Orin’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he turned to Jessa. “Get him situated. Farron, make sure the perimeter’s secure. We’ll talk more in the morning.”

Jessa led me to a smaller tent near the edge of the camp. It was simple—just a cot, a blanket, and a lantern.

“This is yours for now,” she said, crossing her arms. “Don’t get too comfortable.”

“Thanks for the warm welcome,” I said dryly.

She didn’t respond, just gave me one last measuring look before walking away.

I dropped onto the cot with a sigh, staring up at the canvas ceiling. The adrenaline from earlier was wearing off, leaving me with nothing but exhaustion and a dozen unanswered questions.

Kael appeared in the entrance, his silhouette framed by the lantern’s glow. “Rest while you can,” he said. “Tomorrow will bring more questions—and likely more danger.”

“Can’t wait,” I muttered.

He nodded, stepping away to leave me alone with my thoughts.

Sleep didn’t come easily. The events of the day replayed in my mind, over and over again. The battle. The Light Eternal. Kael’s warnings.

And then there was the prophecy.

Was I really supposed to be some kind of savior? Or was I just another pawn in someone else’s game?

I didn’t have answers, but one thing was certain: if I wanted to survive, I couldn’t do it alone.

I woke to the sound of voices outside the tent. The camp was already bustling, the smell of cooking fires mingling with the crisp morning air.

As I stepped out, Farron waved me over to the central fire pit. “Morning, Chosen One,” he said cheerfully. “Ready for your next big heroic adventure?”

“Not even a little,” I replied, grabbing a piece of bread from the makeshift table.

Jessa was nearby, sharpening a knife. She glanced up, her eyes flicking to me briefly before returning to her work. Kael was talking quietly with Orin, their expressions grim.

“Anything I should know about?” I asked, approaching them.

Orin sighed. “We’ve got scouts reporting increased activity from Ecclesion’s forces. Whatever you did to piss off the Light Eternal, it’s got their soldiers on high alert.”

“Great,” I said. “That’s just great.”

Kael looked at me, his expression serious. “We need to figure out our next move. If Ecclesion’s hunting you, this camp isn’t safe anymore.”

I frowned. “So, what do we do? Run?”

Orin shook his head. “We find allies. People who are willing to stand up to the Light and fight back.”

“And where do we find these allies?”

Kael’s gaze hardened. “Wherever we can.”

As the camp prepared for the journey ahead, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were only going to get more complicated.

The Light Eternal wasn’t going to stop. Ecclesion wasn’t going to stop. And now, it seemed, I was part of something much bigger than I’d realized.

For better or worse, I had a role to play.

But I wasn’t going to play it alone.

The camp was alive with activity as preparations for departure began. Tents were broken down, supplies packed, and weapons sharpened. It felt like everyone knew exactly what they were doing—except for me.

I leaned against a tree, watching as Kael and Orin huddled over another map. Farron was helping reinforce a wagon with salvaged metal sheets, cracking jokes that no one seemed to appreciate but me. Jessa moved through the chaos like a storm, barking orders and making sure nothing was left behind.

And then there was me, the so-called Chosen One, standing on the sidelines like a kid picked last for dodgeball.

Farron appeared beside me, tossing a bundle of arrows into the wagon. “You look lost.”

“Because I am,” I said. “Everyone here seems to know what they’re doing. I’m just trying not to trip over myself.”

He chuckled, leaning against the wagon. “Don’t take it personally. None of us started out like this. We just… adapted.”

“Adapted to what?”

“To being expendable,” he said, his grin fading. “This fight isn’t exactly forgiving.”

“That’s comforting,” I muttered.

Farron tilted his head, studying me. “You don’t really buy into all this Chosen One stuff, do you?”

“Not for a second,” I said. “But everyone else does, and that’s the problem.”

“Fair enough,” he said, nodding toward Kael and Orin. “If you want to stop feeling useless, you might want to see what they’re planning. You’re the reason we’re leaving, after all.”

“Yeah, thanks for the reminder,” I said, pushing off the tree and heading toward the makeshift command post.

Kael looked up as I approached, his expression a mix of weariness and determination. Orin, on the other hand, barely acknowledged me, his focus fixed on the map.

“Am I interrupting?” I asked.

Kael gestured for me to join them. “Not at all. In fact, we could use your input.”

“Seriously?” I raised an eyebrow. “Because I feel like my input has been ‘don’t die’ and ‘run faster.’”

Orin snorted, but it wasn’t exactly a laugh. “That’s a good start. But if we’re going to survive what’s coming, we’ll need more than that.”

Kael pointed to the map. “There are other groups like this one. Resistance cells scattered across Kaedralis. If we can reach them, we might stand a chance against Ecclesion.”

“And let me guess,” I said. “You want me to help convince them.”

Kael nodded. “You’re the Chosen One. Whether you believe it or not, people will listen to you.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Why do I feel like this is just going to paint an even bigger target on my back?”

“Because it will,” Orin said bluntly. “But that’s the price of leadership.”

“Great. Love that for me,” I muttered.

The plan was simple on paper: head south to a trading outpost where we could resupply and gather information about other resistance groups. From there, we’d make contact with anyone willing to join the fight.

Simple, of course, didn’t mean easy.

“We’ll need to avoid the main roads,” Kael said. “Ecclesion will be watching them.”

“And the forest isn’t exactly safe,” Orin added. “Bandits, beasts, and worse. If we’re lucky, we’ll only run into the first two.”

“Define ‘worse,’” I said, dreading the answer.

“You’ll know it when you see it,” Orin replied.

“Fantastic,” I said. “This just keeps getting better.”

We set out at noon, the camp reduced to a few smoldering fire pits and empty clearings. The group was smaller than I’d expected—just Kael, Jessa, Farron, Orin, and a handful of others I hadn’t spoken to yet.

Jessa took the lead, her hand never straying far from the hilt of her dagger. Kael and Orin followed, keeping their eyes on the path ahead. Farron stayed close to me, his bow slung across his back and a quiver of arrows at his hip.

“So, Chosen One,” he said as we walked. “Got any special powers you haven’t told us about?”

“Other than being really good at running away?” I said. “Not really.”

“What about that shadow thing you did back in the forest?”

I hesitated. “That’s… new. I don’t even know how it works. It just happens.”

Farron grinned. “Well, let’s hope it happens again when we need it.”

The journey was uneventful at first, the forest stretching on in every direction like an endless maze. The air was cool, the ground soft underfoot, and for a brief moment, I almost forgot how completely screwed I was.

Then we found the caravan.

It was parked in a clearing just off the trail, the wagons overturned and splintered. Supplies were scattered across the ground, along with something far more concerning—blood.

Jessa held up a hand, signaling for everyone to stop. She crouched low, her eyes scanning the wreckage.

“Bandits?” I whispered.

“Maybe,” she said. “But this doesn’t feel right.”

Kael stepped forward, his sword drawn. “Spread out. Check for survivors.”

The group fanned out, moving cautiously through the clearing. I stayed close to Farron, my dagger clutched tightly in my hand.

“You always this jumpy?” Farron asked, his voice low.

“Only when I think I’m about to die,” I replied.

He smirked. “Relax. Bandits usually scatter once they’ve taken what they want.”

“Usually?”

Before he could answer, there was a low growl from the trees.

The first creature lunged out of the shadows, its form a sickening mix of fur and bone, like a wolf that had been put together by someone who’d only ever read about them in books. Its eyes glowed an unnatural red, and its teeth were far too large for its mouth.

Jessa reacted instantly, slashing at the creature with her dagger. It yelped and recoiled, but more of them emerged from the underbrush, their growls echoing through the clearing.

“Form up!” Kael shouted, his sword flashing as he struck one of the beasts.

I froze, my heart pounding. The creatures were everywhere, their glowing eyes fixed on us like we were the main course.

“Chosen One!” Farron yelled, snapping me out of it. “Do the thing!”

“What thing?!” I shouted back, dodging as one of the creatures lunged at me.

“The shadow thing!”

“I don’t know how!”

Another creature lunged, and I stumbled backward, barely managing to swipe at it with my dagger. The blade connected, but it was like trying to cut through steel.

“Any time now, Ash!” Farron shouted, loosing an arrow that struck one of the creatures in the eye.

I clenched my teeth, focusing on the shadows pooling under the wreckage. My heart raced as I willed myself to merge with them, the way I had before.

Nothing happened.

“Come on,” I muttered. “Work, damn it.”

One of the creatures charged, its teeth bared. I threw up my arms, bracing for the impact—

And then the world shifted.

The shadows swallowed me whole, the air growing cold and thick. When I reappeared, I was behind the creature, my dagger glowing faintly with the same dark energy I’d felt before.

Without thinking, I drove the blade into the creature’s side. It let out a piercing screech, collapsing in a heap.

“Nice!” Farron called, grinning as he took down another beast with an arrow.

Jessa and Kael were holding their own, their movements precise and deadly. Orin barked orders, keeping the group coordinated as the creatures fell one by one.

By the time the last beast collapsed, the clearing was silent again, save for the sound of heavy breathing.

“Everyone okay?” Kael asked, wiping blood from his sword.

“Define ‘okay,’” I said, still clutching my dagger like a lifeline.

Jessa gave me a look, somewhere between approval and annoyance. “Not bad, Chosen One. Maybe you’re not completely useless after all.”

“Thanks,” I muttered. “I think.”

Kael surveyed the wreckage, his expression grim. “If these things are this close to the outpost, we’re running out of time.”

“What were they?” I asked, glancing at the twisted bodies.

“Shadespawn,” Orin said. “Creatures of the darkness. And where there are Shadespawn, there’s something worse nearby.”

I swallowed hard. “Worse? Like what?”

Orin’s expression darkened. “Pray we don’t find out.”

As we regrouped and continued south, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The world was getting more dangerous with every step we took, and the line between allies and enemies was growing thinner.