Days passed after the incident, but the fear didn't fade. It sat with me, heavy and constant, like I was being watched even in my sleep. I couldn't shake the feeling. I knew what it meant.
I had to leave.
I'd already spent too long here.
The sea was quiet—too quiet. Not a wave broke the surface, not a breeze stirred the air. Just silence, thick and unnatural. It made my skin crawl.
That's when I saw it.
Mist hovered over the water, slowly creeping toward the shore. At first, I thought it was nothing—just leftover fear messing with my head. But the way it moved… it felt wrong.
The mist touched the beach.
And the grass died. Instantly. Like it was being dissolved. No decay, no slow rot—just gone.
"Damn it…"
I turned and ran straight into the trees.
Branches whipped past me. I didn't look back. I already knew—it was following me. The mist shifted, taking form. Something monstrous began to emerge from it. I could feel it in my bones—a spawn.
I ducked low, trying not to make noise, trying not to draw anything else to me. But it was already too late. The thing behind me wasn't just following.
It was hunting.
I heard it getting closer, fast. I stopped and let my shadow rise, wrapping around my body as I whispered the Hide enchantment. My control was shaky—I wasn't awakened yet so i could bearly control it in my state, not fully—but it was the only option I had.
The spawn stepped out of the mist.
Its body was see-through in places, like shattered glass barely held together. And its claws… they looked like they could tear through stone. I froze, holding my breath.
Then it turned and looked straight at me.
My legs moved on instinct.
I took off, crashing through leaves and undergrowth. Behind me, I heard a rush of movement—and then pain exploded through my side.
It hit me.
I flew through the air and hit the ground hard. My armor took the blow, but it didn't stop the pain. My ribs screamed as I rolled across the forest floor.
When I looked up, it was already coming for me again.
This time, I was ready.
I let my arms shift into shadow, the transformation just barely holding. The spawn lunged, but I dodged, drawing the Lamenting Edge in one fluid motion.
I swung.
The blade bit into it—and something happened.
A thin crack appeared along the blade, almost invisible—but it was there.
Before I could think, another strike sent me flying again. My back slammed into a thick tree trunk. Pain shot up my spine. My head spun.
I coughed, blood staining my lips.
And just like that, the spawn stopped.
Its body melted into mist, fading into the trees like it had never been there.
And I was left alone. Broken, bruised, barely breathing.