The days after the battle passed in a haze for Mihai. He wandered through the village, his mind drifting in and out of focus. Thoughts slipped through his fingers like water, and when he tried to remember faces or moments from his childhood, only fragments surfaced—sensations of sunlight on his skin, laughter that felt like a half-forgotten melody, and the faint feeling of warmth that eluded him whenever he reached for it.
The villagers moved around him in silence, preparing for the mourning rituals. Mihai watched as families gathered, eyes cast down, their voices hushed with the weight of loss. When he tried to speak with some of them, words came out wrong, jumbled and confused. Conversations twisted in his mind, and he found himself stumbling through sentences, his thoughts tangled.
Frustration gnawed at him, and he felt an unfamiliar anger bubbling beneath the surface. Small things—the sound of distant laughter, the flicker of firelight, even the gentle words of condolence from passing villagers—seemed to scrape at his patience, his emotions raw and frayed.
He stood by the edge of the village, his gaze distant as he watched the families preparing for the ritual. The villagers had gathered wood and kindling, carefully building small pyres for each of the fallen. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and burning herbs, a tradition meant to guide the spirits and release their hold on this world. Burial, Conall had told him, could bind the dead to the earth, and with darkness still lingering in the woods, they couldn’t risk the possibility of their loved ones returning as restless spirits.
Mihai’s heart clenched as he watched the flames flicker, casting shadows over the somber faces of the villagers. He tried to keep his focus, but images from the battle surged back unbidden—the faces of those who had fallen, the helplessness he had felt as he fought against a force that seemed beyond them.
Beside him, Cian stood quietly, his face pale and expression grave. The younger man’s gaze was fixed on the flames, a silent tribute to the friends and neighbors they had lost. Mihai sensed Cian’s grief, a raw ache that mirrored his own, though he struggled to find the words to express it.
After a long silence, Cian spoke, his voice barely a whisper. “I… I can’t stop thinking about how we should have done more.”
Mihai’s jaw clenched, a bitter anger flaring within him. “I know. I can’t remember all of it, but… every time I try, it feels like… like it slips away.” His words trailed off, frustration twisting in his chest. “We trained, we prepared… but it wasn’t enough. Not for them.”
Cian placed a hand on Mihai’s shoulder, his grip firm. “It’s not our fault, Mihai. We did everything we could.” He paused, his gaze steady. “But I know that doesn’t make it any easier.”
Mihai swallowed, nodding, though his emotions churned beneath the surface. He didn’t want to feel helpless, and yet every moment felt like a reminder of his own limitations.
Raven approached, his eyes filled with a quiet understanding as he pressed his head against Mihai’s side. Mihai reached down, his hand resting on Raven’s fur, finding a small measure of comfort in the wolf’s steady presence.
As the flames died down, Conall approached them, his expression heavy with the weight of loss. He placed a hand on Mihai’s shoulder, his gaze filled with a solemn respect. “You fought well, Mihai. I’ve seen many warriors fall to darkness, but you… you brought light back to this village.”
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Mihai nodded, though the words felt hollow. He wanted to say something, to thank Conall or explain the confusion that clouded his thoughts, but the words twisted in his mind, slipping away before he could grasp them.
Conall’s voice softened, his tone thoughtful. “I know it doesn’t feel like it now, but in time, the grief will lessen. And when it does, remember that this fight wasn’t just for this village.” He looked out toward the distant forest, his gaze far away. “We’re not the only ones suffering. The darkness is spreading, Mihai. Travelers speak of shadows creeping over the land, of villages plagued by creatures like those we faced here.”
Mihai’s heart tightened as he listened, the weight of Conall’s words settling over him. “There are others… like us?”
Conall nodded, his face grim. “I’ve heard tales from passing traders, whispers of darkness polluting the world. People say it lingers near the woodlands, where the elven lands begin.” He paused, his gaze flicking to Mihai. “Some even claim to have seen Grimee among the trees.”
The moment Conall mentioned the woodlands, Mihai felt a sharp flare of warmth from his shoulder. The mark Yahweh had placed on him burned briefly, a reminder of the divine purpose that had drawn him here. He knew, in that instant, where he needed to go.
Cian, standing beside him, seemed to sense the change, his eyes meeting Mihai’s with a quiet determination. “You’re going, aren’t you?” he asked, his tone steady.
Mihai hesitated, the memory of the battle still raw in his mind. But the pull of the mark was undeniable, a beacon guiding him forward. “Yes,” he replied softly. “The darkness isn’t just here. If others are suffering as we have…”
Cian straightened, his expression firm. “Then I’m coming with you.” His voice held a quiet conviction, a resolve that mirrored Mihai’s own. “We’ve already lost so much. I don’t want other villages to suffer like we did. If there’s any chance we can make a difference…”
Mihai looked at him, a faint gratitude stirring within him. Despite the confusion that clouded his thoughts, he felt a deep sense of connection to Cian—a bond forged not only in friendship but in shared purpose.
Conall watched them, his face a mixture of sadness and pride. “The path ahead won’t be easy. The darkness grows stronger the deeper you go. But if anyone can face it…” He placed a hand on Mihai’s shoulder, a quiet respect in his gaze. “It’s you.”
They stood in silence, the weight of their mission settling over them like a shadow. The flames from the pyres had died down, leaving only faint wisps of smoke that curled into the sky, a quiet tribute to those who had fallen.
The villagers gathered around them, offering solemn farewells, their faces marked with a mixture of sorrow and hope. Mihai felt the weight of their expectations, but he also felt the faint warmth of Yahweh’s blessing, a reminder that he was not alone.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden light over the village, Mihai and Cian prepared for their journey. Raven stayed close, his watchful gaze a steady reassurance. The grief lingered, but beneath it was a sense of purpose—a quiet determination to face whatever lay ahead.
The First Steps
As they left the village, Mihai cast one last glance over his shoulder, taking in the faces of those he had fought for. He felt a pang of regret, but also a resolve that burned within him, driving him forward.
Cian walked beside him, his steps steady, his expression unreadable. They traveled in silence, each lost in thought, the path winding through the familiar trees of the forest before branching out into uncharted territory.
After a while, Cian broke the silence, his tone hesitant. “Do you remember… your childhood?”
Mihai frowned, struggling to find the words. “I… remember pieces. Fragments. Feelings, mostly.” He paused, frustration flickering in his gaze. “It’s like trying to hold onto smoke.”
Cian nodded, a faint understanding in his eyes. “Maybe, in time, it’ll come back.”
Mihai managed a small smile, though it was laced with sadness. “Maybe. But until then… I’ll keep going.”
They walked on, the forest stretching before them like an endless shadow. The darkness still lingered, an ever-present threat, but with each step, Mihai felt a renewed strength. The memories he had lost, the faces he could no longer recall—they were part of his past. But his purpose, his fight, was here, guiding him forward.
As they journeyed deeper into the unknown, Mihai felt the quiet pulse of Yahweh’s mark, a reminder of the divine purpose that had brought him to this world. He didn’t know what lay ahead, but with Cian by his side and Raven close, he felt ready to face whatever shadows awaited.
The village was behind them, but the mission was far from over.
They had only just begun.