The forest was alive with whispers, the wind carrying secrets between the trees as though the shadows themselves were conspiring. The trio darted through the dense foliage, their breaths uneven and their footsteps frantic. Kaelan led the way, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of danger. Eryndor followed closely, his tall frame steady despite the chaos, while Ziraiah struggled to keep up, her thoughts consumed by the weight of Valerius’s absence.
Kaelan’s voice broke through the silence. “Keep moving. We can’t stop yet.”
“But Val—” Ziraiah began, her voice trembling.
“Isn’t here,” Kaelan interrupted, his tone sharp but not unkind. “We’ll find him, but not if we get caught.”
Eryndor glanced back, his green eyes narrowing. “Ziraiah, focus. If we lose ourselves to panic, we’ll lose more than just Valerius.”
Ziraiah bit her lip, nodding as she pushed herself to keep pace. The cold night air stung her skin, but the fear in her heart burned hotter.
---
A Deal in the Darkened Facility
Prior to Valerius’s capture. In a room suffocatingly dim, lit only by the faint blue glow of runes carved into the steel walls. Shadows stretched unnaturally, pooling into corners where the light dared not reach. At the center of the room, a man paced frantically, his lab coat stained with soot and sweat. His hands trembled as he clutched a stack of scattered documents, the edges crumpled from his panicked grip.
“They took my research,” the man muttered, his voice hoarse with fury and fear. “Years of work—gone! We can’t let them escape with it!”
In the far corner, a figure leaned against the wall, his form shrouded in darkness as though the shadows themselves clung to him. His eyes—faintly glowing like embers—watched the scientist’s outburst with an unsettling calm. He didn’t move, didn’t blink.
“Really?” The figure’s voice was smooth, low, and dripping with mockery. “And what, scientist, is your next course of action?”
The man stopped pacing, turning sharply to face the shadowy figure. His expression twisted with frustration. “We have to capture them! If they escape, everything I’ve worked for—everything—will be for nothing!”
The shadow figure’s head tilted, the motion slow and deliberate. “Then go after them.”
The scientist froze. His throat bobbed nervously, the words sticking in his mouth. “I—I can’t,” he admitted, his voice cracking. “I’m a scientist, not a fighter. That’s why you’re here.”
Silence followed, thick and oppressive, as the shadow pushed away from the wall. The way he moved was unnatural, almost fluid, as though he weren’t bound by the same rules of physics as other men. He approached slowly, each step echoing against the metal floor like a death knell.
“You want my help?” the shadow figure said softly, his voice an icy whisper that seemed to fill the room. “Fine. I’ll get you one.”
The man blinked, his brows furrowing in confusion. “One?” he repeated. “No—you don’t understand. There are three of them—two boys and a girl. You have to get them all!”
The air in the room changed. The shadows along the walls rippled and grew darker, pressing in as though alive. The figure stopped just inches from the scientist, his presence towering and suffocating. His glowing eyes locked onto the man’s with such intensity that the scientist stumbled back, his knees buckling beneath him.
“I said,” the shadow figure hissed, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl, “you’ll have one.”
The words carried a weight that crushed the man’s protests before they could leave his lips. He collapsed to his knees, his documents spilling from his hands like dead leaves. His head bowed instinctively, the primal urge to submit overriding all reason.
“O-Okay,” the man stammered, his voice trembling. “One… just one.”
The shadowy figure loomed over him for a moment longer, as though deciding whether to erase him from existence altogether. Then, without another word, he turned and strode toward the exit. Darkness trailed after him like a living shroud, swallowing his form as he stepped through the doorway.
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The scientist remained on the cold floor, his breath ragged and uneven, his heart pounding in his chest. The silence returned, but the cold weight of the shadow’s promise lingered, heavy and unshakable.
---
A Predator’s Hunt
Prior to Valerius’s capture, high above, perched on the branch of a towering tree, a figure cloaked in shadow watched the fleeing group. His piercing eyes gleamed in the moonlight, their gaze locked onto the siblings and Kaelan.
“Interesting,” the man murmured, his voice smooth and laced with amusement. “Such fragile little creatures, running so desperately.”
He extended a gloved hand, and a ripple of energy pulsed from his fingertips, invisible to the untrained eye. The air seemed to hum as the force surged toward the trio below.
Valerius, lagging slightly behind, felt an overwhelming pull seize his body. His stride faltered, his breath catching in his throat as an unseen force yanked him backward with incredible speed.
“What the—?!” Valerius’s shout was cut off as he was dragged through the air, his siblings and Kaelan too focused on their escape to notice his absence.
The figure caught Valerius effortlessly, his grip firm yet strangely gentle. He tilted his head, studying the boy with a curious smile. “You’ll do.”
Valerius struggled against the invisible force binding him, his emerald eyes blazing with fury. “Let me go, you bastard!”
The man chuckled, his voice a blend of mockery and genuine amusement. “Such fire. I like that.”
With a flick of his wrist, the man encased Valerius in a shimmering field of energy. The boy’s struggles ceased as the light around him dimmed, and the man disappeared into the shadows, leaving no trace of their encounter.
---
Shadows in the Safe House
Kaelan led Eryndor and Ziraiah to a hidden structure deep within the forest. The safe house was a modest cabin, its rune-inscribed walls glowing faintly in the moonlight. The air around it felt heavy, a clear sign of protective enchantments.
Inside, Ziraiah collapsed onto a chair, her hands trembling as she buried her face in them. “We lost him,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Eryndor remained standing, his posture tense. “We don’t know that. Valerius isn’t weak.”
Ziraiah looked up, her eyes filled with tears. “But he’s alone. And we just left him—”
Kaelan slammed a hand on the table, his voice cutting through her anguish. “Enough. You think I wanted to leave him behind? We were outnumbered, and if we’d turned back, we’d all be captured—or worse.”
Ziraiah flinched at his tone but didn’t argue. Eryndor placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. “Ziraiah, Kaelan is right. Grief serves no purpose now. We must act.”
Kaelan exhaled, his frustration giving way to resolve. He unrolled a map on the table, pointing to a marked area. “We’ll regroup here at dawn. But first, we need to understand what we’re dealing with.”
He produced the stolen documents, spreading them across the table. “Let’s see what secrets the Velphraxis are hiding.”
---
The Earther Experiment
The siblings and Kaelan pored over the documents, their expressions darkening with each page. One report, weathered with age, bore the title “The Earther Experiment: A Report on 300 Years of Study.”
Ziraiah’s hands shook as she read aloud. “Subjects retrieved from other worlds… tested for adaptability… compliance failure rate: 90%.”
Kaelan leaned over her shoulder, his green eyes scanning the text. “This isn’t new. Three centuries ago, a group of Earthers arrived in Yilheim. Most of them didn’t survive. The ones who did… were changed.”
“Changed how?” Eryndor asked, his voice steady despite the weight of the revelation.
Kaelan pointed to another page. “Enhanced. Used as weapons, tools… experiments.”
Ziraiah’s eyes filled with anger. “They’re treating people like… like things.”
Eryndor’s jaw tightened, his green eyes blazing with quiet fury. “This isn’t just about us. If the Velphraxis succeed, they’ll do this to every human they find.”
Kaelan nodded grimly. “And they won’t stop there.”
---
Valerius’s Prison
Far from the safe house, Valerius awoke in a dimly lit chamber. The air was thick, each breath feeling like a struggle. The walls glowed faintly with suppressive runes, and his body felt heavy, as though weighted by an unseen force.
“Where… am I?” he muttered, his voice hoarse.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the chamber. A man stepped into view, his form shrouded in shadow. His piercing eyes locked onto Valerius, a predatory grin spreading across his face.
“You’re awake,” the man said, his tone casual. “Good. I was beginning to think you might be too fragile for this.”
Valerius glared at him, his eyes defiant. “Who the hell are you?”
The man chuckled, his amusement evident. “Names are irrelevant. What matters is potential. And you, boy, have plenty of it.”
Valerius struggled against the energy field binding him, his teeth gritted. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but you’ve made a mistake.”
The man’s grin widened. “Oh, I don’t think so. You’ll make an excellent subject.”
---
A Shadow Approaches
Back at the safe house, Kaelan stood watch, his green eyes scanning the darkness. The forest was unnervingly quiet, the usual hum of life replaced by an oppressive stillness.
Then, he saw it—a figure emerging from the shadows, its silhouette blending seamlessly with the night. Kaelan’s hand moved to his weapon, the runes along the blade flaring to life.
“Who are you?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
The figure tilted its head, a faint smile playing on its lips. “You’ve taken something that doesn’t belong to you.”
Kaelan’s grip tightened on his weapon. “If you want it, come and take it.”
The figure’s smile widened, revealing sharp teeth. “Oh, I intend to.”
---
To Be Continued
The tension in the air was palpable as the forest prepared to erupt into chaos. With Valerius trapped in the clutches of an unknown enemy and the safe house compromised, the siblings’ journey was about to take a darker turn. The question lingered: could they survive the shadows that sought to consume them?