The morning mist had yet to lift when Luma and Kael stepped into the forest that stretched like veins into an unfamiliar world. The rustling leaves and the crunch of dry roots greeted every step they took. Above, no birds sang. Nature itself seemed to be holding its breath.
Luma walked slowly, relying on her hearing and heightened senses since her "awakening." Though blind, she could feel the shifting texture of the air with every step they took deeper into the forest. Here, the wind was heavier, and sunlight struggled to penetrate the canopy, which clung to ancient secrets like a shroud.
Kael led the way, only glancing back occasionally to ensure the girl wasn't left behind. His expression remained serious, as though hiding more than just directions.
"This place… why does it feel like it's reminding me of something?" Luma asked, her fingers brushing the warm trunk of a tree that pulsed with life.
"You might be starting to remember. Or maybe this place remembers you," Kael replied, his tone layered with meaning Luma couldn't yet understand.
With each step into the primeval forest, the creeping roots seemed to stir, like sleeping creatures. Tiny flowers glowed in the shadows, radiating a bluish-green light. Luma paused and placed her hand gently on a petal that pulsed like a heartbeat.
"It's… breathing," she whispered.
"That's lumira. It only grows where ancient magic isn't fully dead," Kael explained, eyes scanning the area, his hand never straying far from his sword.
Suddenly, the air shifted. A subtle change—sharp and undeniable. The wind that had once whispered now spun in circles. From the shadows, formless creatures emerged—like smoke, but with glowing red eyes and sharp, grinning mouths. They swirled around Luma, dancing menacingly.
"Don't move!" Kael barked, drawing his sword.
But before he could strike, Luma's body trembled. A faint symbol of light appeared on her wrist. The creatures hesitated… then slowly retreated.
Kael spun toward her, shocked. "What did you just do?"
Luma looked confused. "I… I don't know. It just happened."
Kael stared at her for a long moment. The forest fell silent again. Their journey resumed—but now, more cautiously. Both carried questions they didn't yet dare ask.
By dusk, they reached an open area encircled by colossal tree roots. Before them lay the ruins of an ancient city—crumbling stone pillars, shattered temple roofs, and stairs leading underground, swallowed by darkness.
"Welcome to the Old City. Once, this was where the guardians of magic were trained," Kael said quietly.
Luma stood still. The ground beneath her feet felt... familiar. Every inch of it seemed to whisper her name. She stepped slowly toward an altar that remained intact among the ruins. The symbol etched on its surface matched the one from her dream—a setting sun, crossed by shadow and sword.
She touched it. A burst of light exploded.
Not a blinding light, but a wave—one that surged through every cell in her body. The air vibrated. From within the altar, a figure emerged—not human, not spirit—but a shadow that formed the face of an old woman, eyes glowing white, speaking in an ancient tongue that, somehow, Luma understood.
> "My heir… you have finally returned. But time is not on our side. One of the light will fall… before the shadow disappears."
Luma trembled. She understood, but couldn't speak. The figure faded, and the light dimmed.
Kael stared at her, tense. "Did you understand what she said?"
Luma nodded slowly. "Some of it… but not everything. I think I've been here before, Kael."
Kael turned his gaze back to the forest. His voice was soft, but heavy.
"You're not just a magic heir. You might be… the key to something that was meant to stay hidden."
And the sky darkened, as if the world itself had sensed that the ancient balance was beginning to shift.
To Be Continued...