⚠️ Author's Note: English is not my first language, so your feedback means a lot to me. If you notice anything that feels off in the writing, please let me know — your comments will help me improve and make the story even better for everyone. Thank you for reading and supporting!
The forest closed in behind Ereon like a veil of shadows, swallowing his presence amid the silence of the night. The tall trees blocked parts of the moonlight, casting distorted shapes on the damp ground, as if ancient creatures were watching him from all sides.
Ereon advanced until he found an open space between the trees, where the trunks curved around like columns of an ancient temple. In the center, the moon poured its silver light, forming a perfect circle that seemed deliberately drawn on the leaf-covered ground.
He stopped at the very edge between light and darkness. The shadows of the trees stretched around him, twisting like silent serpents. With each breath, the moonlight highlighted his silhouette, while behind him the darkness seemed denser, almost alive.
Ereon raised his hand slowly. The shadows reacted immediately, sliding toward him as if recognizing the call. Black tendrils extended across the ground, outlining the circle of light but never crossing it — as if the moon itself repelled his power.
The shadows vibrated in response to Ereon's call, but then a whisper cut through the forest's silence, gliding between the branches as if coming from all directions.
"So… did you miss me?"
Ereon kept his gaze fixed on the circle of moonlight, not responding.
"Aren't you going to thank me?" the voice insisted, dripping like poison. "After all, I'm the one who saved your life."
He inhaled deeply before replying, cold and indifferent:
"I was trapped for a year. When I awoke, nothing remained but emptiness. I didn't remember what brought me there… and even now, part of my memories are still hazy."
A muffled laugh echoed among the trees.
"Always so serious… talking to Gaia's pup was more fun. But that's not why I came. I know well that, even limited, you remember. I've only come to give a warning: once you enter the county, I will no longer be able to manifest. So, don't forget — the world of shadows is more frightening than you think."
The shadows trembled as if laughing along with the voice.
"Right now, it is your vengeance that keeps you standing… don't get confused. Just because I didn't take your body doesn't mean the shadows won't. The moment you falter… that will be your sentence."
Ereon maintained an impassive expression, but a shiver ran down his spine. The voice, sensing the crack, whispered again with irony:
"Ignoring me again, Ereon? So cold with me… and I only want your good."
Silence lingered until the voice changed tone, darker now:
"Ah… before I forget: be careful with Gaia's pup. He may be more dangerous than he seems."
The darkness dissipated suddenly, as if it had never been there.
Ereon kept his expression unchanged, though he felt the shiver of those words still echoing in his mind. He turned to the darkness and raised his hand. The shadows began to twist, forming dozens of crows that took flight, black as the night.
He tilted his head slightly and, in a firm, almost hypnotic whisper, commanded:
"Fly."
The wings opened in unison. The crows glided through the air, quickly spreading across the forest, covering every clearing, every shadow, searching for any sign of danger. As they approached the county, they traced the walls, flying along the perimeter without ever crossing the magical barrier, keeping a safe distance.
Outside the walls, the waiting people looked up in astonishment. Nervous murmurs spread as the crows appeared out of nowhere, moving in a coordinated, frightening manner.
On the walls, the guards raised their spears and shields, frowning. They watched the crows patrol, unable to approach the walls, while the birds swept through the forest and circled the perimeter in a calculated manner. There was something unnervingly organized about their flight, as if every movement was part of a hidden intelligence.
For Ereon, each crow shared its vision. The forest and the county perimeter became a living map of shadows and details that no one else could see. He could detect movements, strange magical signals, or any suspicious presence, while the others merely observed, unaware of what was truly happening.
The night clock indicated roughly 10 PM, and the forest was immersed in silence, except for the whisper of the wind through the branches. Ereon maintained control over the projected crows, spreading them through the forest and around the county's perimeter, keeping them close enough to sense any suspicious movement.
Among the trees, he identified a suspicious group, acting cautiously, clearly attempting to approach the county unnoticed. His piercing eyes followed every gesture, every shadow, every rustle. Ereon was about to dissolve his soul projection when something unexpected happened.
An authoritative voice erupted from the darkness, firm and commanding, echoing from the county walls:
"Who are you? Do you have the courage to spy on my territory? — Disappear!"
The crows, as if obeying an invisible force emanating from the walls, twisted and quickly withdrew, their wings flapping chaotically before vanishing entirely from the forest, as if they had never existed.
Ereon, surprised, mentally retracted his projection, feeling the impact of a powerful, undeniable presence — something capable of nullifying his control over the shadows. A dark, vengeful smile formed on his face, curving his lips in a way that seemed to promise pain and retaliation.
The surrounding shadows trembled slightly, as if recognizing the cold pleasure of that smile. Moonlight reflected in Ereon's eyes, intensifying the sharp gleam of his gaze, giving the forest an even more oppressive air.
"So you decided to show up, Count…" he murmured, his voice loaded with challenge and irony.
He gripped his katana firmly, though the blade trembled slightly in response to the tension of the moment. Ereon closed his eyes briefly, feeling the energy around the sword, and whispered, almost like an incantation:
"Calm yourself, Totsuka no Tsurugi…"
The blade stopped trembling, obeying the silent command of its master, while Ereon's dark smile remained, projecting an aura of threat that seemed to echo through the forest's very shadows.
Near the walls' gates, Kael watched carefully, noticing every movement in the forest. The silence carried tension, as if the very air were on alert.
Telvaris, frowning, asked:
"Did something happen, Kael?"
He smiled, cold and calculating:
"Seems Ereon found our entry… we should go."
Ereon moved silently through the shadows, each step calculated, moonlight glinting on his katana. He spotted a narrow, secret passage, hidden among trees and rocks, leading directly into the county — a route few knew.
Nearby, a group of smugglers was conversing:
"So, the county is really going to war," one said nervously.
"It's only been a year since the Count started a massacre…" another replied, with restrained anger.
"Don't even mention it…" a third interrupted, grimly. "I heard even the orphanage, where innocent children lived, was destroyed. And who would have imagined the Count would bring an imperial archduke?"
"That's why I hate nobles," murmured another. "They don't care about villages; even if it's part of their territory, they see everything outside the walls as trash."
Yes… my father told me that long ago, the people chose their leaders… and even if there was violence, everyone was punished equally. He also said there was something… cha…
A sudden snap of a broken branch interrupted the conversation. Everyone turned alert as a Count's guard emerged from the trees, scanning the forest carefully.
Ereon remained motionless in the shadows, his piercing gaze listening to every word, analyzing the path, waiting for the right moment to advance.
The guard frowned, looking at the smugglers:
"Is everything here? I hope so."
The smugglers responded with disdain, avoiding the guard's gaze.
"Yes, as requested."
The guard, in a threatening tone, continued:
"If anything about the Count, troop reorganizations, or arms purchases is heard anywhere… your families will lose their heads before you do."
Then he threw a bag of gold coins at their feet:
"Here are 30 gold coins. Now, disappear."
The smugglers quickly retreated, vanishing into the forest shadows. The guard remained vigilant until the group joined Ereon.
Brianna looked around, concerned:
"Kael… I don't see him anywhere. Are you sure he didn't get lost?"
Karna smiled, ironic:
"Ah, ah… that's something you say to a blind man."
Kael pointed upward, and they saw Ereon standing among the trees. He descended silently and said:
"The guard dismissed the smugglers."
Brianna inhaled deeply, determined:
"Then I guess it's my turn… cover your faces."
Brianna emerged from the shadows of the trees, approaching the guard with a provocative smile:
"Good evening… I hope you don't get too distracted by my presence."
The guard, slightly surprised by Brianna's beauty and confidence, inhaled deeply, regaining his firm posture:
"We can't take too long." He gestured the way. "But… yes, I admit, your presence is… striking."
Telvaris, observing from a distance, crossed his arms and muttered, serious and measured:
"Make sure nothing goes wrong."
Ereon, Kael, and Karna followed silently behind her. They weren't smugglers, but would need to follow the secret path leading to the county, avoiding any direct surveillance.
The group advanced carefully, each step calculated, staying in the shadows as they followed the guard's guidance. The secret passage leading to the county was underground, camouflaged by a small rise among trees and rocks. A stone staircase hidden behind a fallen root descended into a narrow, damp, cold tunnel, lit only by the faint moonlight filtering through holes above.
As they descended, the sound of dripping water echoed off the stone walls, reinforcing the tunnel's absolute silence. The guard led the group, each step measured, sensing the energy around the tunnel, alert to any sign of magic or traps.
At the end of the underground corridor, the tunnel opened into a hidden warehouse inside the county, used for storing war provisions. Stacks of crates and sacks, carefully organized, indicated a recent delivery. Some smugglers — or perhaps the Count's mercenaries — had just unloaded barrels and sacks, leaving traces the group needed to follow discreetly.
The guard guided the group through the inner corridor, taking advantage of the shadows and avoiding any confrontation. They silently carried some sacks, blending in with the operation without raising suspicion. The warehouse smelled of aged wood, metal, and gunpowder, a reminder that the Count's strategic power was amassed there.
The guard then approached Brianna and handed her a map, his hands firm, his gaze serious.
"Follow this to the inn," he said firmly. "Early tomorrow, before anything else, you must register at the Mercenaries' Guild. If any of you are caught without formal registration… don't think you'll escape alive."
He paused, ensuring everyone understood the gravity of the situation:
"This is where we part. This area is empty, so you can go."
Brianna nodded, carefully storing the map, while Ereon, Kael, Telvaris, and Karna prepared to follow the indicated route, aware that every step inside the county would require absolute caution.