Chapter 7: The Shadows’ Warning

The walk back to the village was long and quiet, the weight of the encounter lingering between Cedric and me. My body ached with exhaustion, but my mind buzzed with questions. Who was that robed figure? What was the Shadow Order planning? And why did they seem so interested in me? 

Cedric finally broke the silence as we approached the village gates. "That magic you used back there… Soulfire, was it? You've never done anything like that before." 

I nodded, my fingers still tingling from the remnants of the flames. "I didn't even know I could. It just… happened. Like my body knew what to do before I did." 

He glanced at me, his brows furrowed in thought. "It's not normal. Most people train for years to even control basic spells, let alone something that powerful. You're not telling me everything, are you?" 

I hesitated, my mind racing for an explanation. How could I explain the system, the quests, and the strange powers without sounding insane? Instead, I chose my words carefully. "It's complicated. I don't fully understand it myself." 

Cedric didn't press further, but I could tell he wasn't satisfied with my answer. 

The village was quieter than usual when we entered. People whispered in hushed tones, their eyes darting nervously toward the forest. News of the Shadow Order's presence must have spread quickly. As we made our way to the inn, an older man approached us, his face lined with worry. 

"You went into the forest, didn't you?" he asked, his voice trembling. 

Cedric nodded. "We had to. There's something dangerous out there—more than just the usual wildlife." 

The man's expression darkened. "The forest has been cursed for generations. They say it's a place where shadows come alive, where people disappear without a trace. You're lucky to have made it back." 

I exchanged a glance with Cedric, but neither of us responded. We didn't have the energy to explain what had happened, and even if we did, who would believe us? 

Inside the inn, the warmth of the fire was a welcome relief from the chill of the forest. Cedric collapsed onto a chair, while I made my way to the counter to speak with the innkeeper. 

"Any messages for us?" I asked. 

The innkeeper shook her head, but her gaze lingered on me, her expression uneasy. "You should leave the village soon," she said in a low voice. "There's been talk of strangers asking questions. People with dark cloaks and sharp eyes." 

The Shadow Order. My chest tightened at the thought. If they were already sending people to the village, it meant they weren't done with me. 

I thanked her and returned to Cedric, my mind racing. "We can't stay here long," I said. 

He looked up at me, exhaustion etched on his face. "I figured as much. But where do we go? The Order's reach seems to stretch farther than we thought." 

I didn't have an answer. The system had been silent since we left the forest, and without its guidance, I felt adrift. All I could do was follow the faint trail of clues and hope it led us somewhere safe—or at least, somewhere with answers. 

As night fell, I sat by the window, staring out at the darkened streets. Cedric was asleep in the corner, his snores a steady rhythm that broke the silence. I envied his ability to rest so easily, even after everything we'd faced. 

A faint rustling sound drew my attention. I peered into the shadows outside, my heart pounding as I scanned the street. At first, I saw nothing, but then a figure emerged from the darkness, cloaked in black, their movements deliberate and slow. 

My pulse quickened as the figure stopped in the middle of the street, their head turning toward the inn. Even though I couldn't see their face, I felt their gaze lock onto me, heavy and unnerving. 

I reached for my sword, my grip tightening as I waited for them to make a move. But they didn't. Instead, they raised a hand, pointing directly at me before retreating into the shadows. 

A system notification blinked into view: 

> **[Quest Update]** 

> **New Objective**: Follow the shadows to uncover the truth. 

> **Hint**: Trust no one. 

I stood, my body tense as I replayed the message in my mind. Trust no one. The words felt like a warning, but also an invitation. 

"Cedric," I whispered, shaking him awake. 

He groaned, rubbing his eyes. "What now?" 

"We're being watched," I said. "And I think they want us to follow." 

Cedric frowned, sitting up. "You're sure about this?" 

"No," I admitted, "but I don't think we have a choice." 

The night air was cold as we stepped outside, the village eerily silent. The figure was gone, but faint footprints marked the dirt road, leading away from the inn and toward the outskirts of the village. 

As we followed the trail, a sense of dread settled over me. The system's warning echoed in my mind, but so did the memory of the robed figure's parting words: *We are everywhere, waiting, watching.* 

The shadows seemed to close in around us as we left the village behind, the faint trail of footprints leading us deeper into the unknown. 

The forest stretched ahead, its thick canopy blocking out most of the moonlight. It felt like we were stepping into another world, one where silence reigned and shadows seemed to move just out of sight. Cedric walked beside me, his face pale and his sword gripped tightly. 

"I don't like this," he said, breaking the heavy silence. 

"Neither do I," I admitted, scanning the area for any signs of movement. The system had pointed us in this direction, but it offered no guarantee of safety. 

Cedric let out a nervous laugh. "Great. We're two terrified idiots chasing after shadows. What could go wrong?" 

I glanced at him. "You don't have to come with me, you know." 

He stopped walking, his expression turning serious. "And let you die out here alone? Not a chance. You saved my life, Alden. I'm not abandoning you now." 

His words caught me off guard. It wasn't often someone put their life on the line for me. 

"Thanks," I said quietly, not knowing what else to say. 

We continued in silence, the forest growing darker with each step. The path was uneven, roots and rocks threatening to trip us up. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. 

It wasn't long before that feeling turned into certainty. 

"Stop," I whispered, holding out a hand. 

Cedric froze, his eyes darting around. "What is it?" 

"I'm not sure," I said, keeping my voice low. "But something's here." 

A faint growl echoed through the trees, sending a chill down my spine. It was low and guttural, like nothing I'd ever heard before. My grip on my sword tightened. 

"Do you see anything?" Cedric asked, his voice trembling. 

"No," I replied. "But I can feel it." 

As if in response, the growl grew louder, and a shadow detached itself from the trees. It moved unnaturally, its form shifting and blurring as it approached. When it stepped into the faint moonlight, I felt my stomach drop. 

The creature was unlike anything I'd ever seen. Its body was skeletal, its flesh rotted and hanging in strips. Glowing red eyes stared at us with an intelligence that made my blood run cold. 

Cedric took a shaky step back. "What the hell is that?" 

"I don't know," I said, swallowing hard. "But it doesn't look friendly." 

The creature lunged, moving faster than I could react. I barely managed to dodge as its claws sliced through the air where I'd been standing. Cedric swung his sword, but the blade passed through the creature as if it were made of smoke. 

"It's not solid!" he shouted, panic creeping into his voice. 

I racked my brain, trying to think of a way to fight something that wasn't physical. Then I remembered the Soulfire. If it could burn shadows, maybe it could harm this thing too. 

"Keep it busy!" I yelled, focusing on summoning the flames. 

Cedric's eyes widened, but he didn't hesitate. He darted around the creature, swinging his sword and yelling to keep its attention. The creature snarled, snapping at him with its skeletal jaws. 

The warmth of the Soulfire began to build in my chest, and I channeled it into my hand. Blue flames flickered to life, casting an eerie glow over the forest. The creature hesitated, its red eyes narrowing as it saw the fire. 

I didn't give it a chance to react. With a shout, I charged forward, slashing at the creature with my flaming sword. The blade connected, and the Soulfire erupted in a burst of light. The creature let out a piercing scream as its body dissolved into smoke, the flames consuming it completely. 

A notification flashed before my eyes: 

> **[Enemy Defeated]** 

> **Wraith Hound (Level 15) slain.** 

> **Experience Gained: 200.** 

> **Skill Upgrade Unlocked: Soulfire (Level 2).** 

I dropped to one knee, the adrenaline leaving me weak. Cedric stumbled over, his face pale. 

"What... what was that thing?" he asked, his voice shaking. 

"I don't know," I said, wiping sweat from my brow. "But it's dead now." 

"For how long?" he muttered, looking around nervously. 

The system chimed again, pulling my attention away from the lingering fear. 

> **[Quest Update]** 

> **Objective Completed: Investigate the Shadows.** 

> **Reward:** +1 Magic Affinity, Hidden Skill Unlock: *Spectral Vision*. 

I barely had time to process the reward before another notification appeared. 

> **[New Quest]** 

> **Objective:** Uncover the source of the darkness in the forest. 

> **Difficulty:** High. 

> **Reward:** Unknown. 

I stared at the message, a sinking feeling settling in my stomach. This was far from over.

**End of Chapter**