Whispers from the Darkness

The night wind whispered through the trees, carrying faint murmurs that were barely audible. Anya walked behind Kaelan, her steps hesitant, her mind tangled with unanswered questions.

Since they had left the ruins of the temple on Mount Sambo, Kaelan had been different. He was quieter, more cautious in his every move, as if hiding something. Anya could feel it—not just a hunch, but a subtle pressure in the air, something unseen yet undeniably real.

Her eyes fixed on the object Kaelan held tightly—a shimmering crystal orb he had taken from the temple. Something inside her whispered, urging her to touch it. But she held back.

"What exactly is that thing?" she finally asked.

Kaelan didn't answer immediately. He kept walking, pushing aside the thick leaves covering the narrow path. After a moment, he finally glanced at her.

"Something we must protect," he replied shortly.

Anya narrowed her eyes. "Kaelan, you know I won't accept an answer like that. I have the right to know what's going on."

Kaelan stopped walking. He sighed and looked at Anya with eyes filled with burden.

"There is something inside you… waiting to awaken," he finally said.

Anya frowned. "What do you mean?"

Kaelan gripped the crystal orb even tighter. "This thing… holds the answer to who you really are. But if you touch it before the time is right, something else will awaken too."

Anya felt her heartbeat quicken. "Something else?"

Kaelan didn't answer, but the look in his eyes said everything.

Darkness.

A shiver ran down Anya's spine. She wanted to ask more, but a strange sound from within the forest stopped her.

Crack.

The snap of a branch.

Both of them tensed. Anya reached for the small dagger at her waist, while Kaelan scanned their surroundings warily.

"Someone is watching us," Anya whispered.

Kaelan nodded. "I know."

A shadow moved swiftly among the trees. Something—or someone—was lurking in the darkness.

Anya clenched her teeth. "I'm sick of this game."

Quickly, she muttered a small incantation, channeling energy from within her. The air around her trembled, and suddenly, from her palm, a blue glow flickered like a flame.

"Come out, or I'll burn this forest down," she said firmly.

For a moment, silence.

Then…

A quiet laugh echoed from the shadows.

Not a human laugh, but something else—something cold and eerie, as if coming from multiple directions at once.

Then, the figure emerged.

A hooded man with eyes as dark as the abyss. His lips curled into a crooked smile as he stepped out of the shadows.

"Impressive courage," he said in a low voice. "But you won't scare me with that little light, Anya."

Anya felt the hairs on her neck stand up. "Who are you?"

The man dipped his head slightly, as if offering a bow. "My name is Raeshka. I am not here to fight you… but to wake you up."

Anya stiffened.

"Speak clearly," Kaelan said, his voice filled with anger.

Raeshka turned to him with a smirk. "Ah, Kaelan… always the loyal guardian, aren't you?"

Kaelan clenched his fists. "I won't let you near her."

Raeshka chuckled. "Oh, but you can't stop fate, Kaelan. Anya is destined to awaken. You know that."

Anya looked at Kaelan, confused. "What does he mean? Do you know something I don't?"

Kaelan didn't answer, but the muscle in his jaw tightened.

Raeshka smiled. "Oh, so he hasn't told you yet? How tragic. A girl who doesn't even know who she really is."

Anya felt anger boil inside her. She glared at Kaelan. "What are you hiding from me, Kaelan?"

Kaelan looked at her, and for the first time, he seemed… afraid.

"Anya…" he said softly.

Raeshka took a step forward, and in an instant, he vanished—only to reappear right behind Anya.

Anya gasped, but before she could react, Raeshka pressed his fingertip against her forehead.

"Awaken," he whispered.

The world spun.

Anya gasped. Her body felt like it was being thrown into a bottomless abyss.

A light flared.

Another world unfolded before her—a place she somehow recognized, even though she had never set foot there before.

Towering mountains with gleaming peaks, floating cities in the sky, and in the center of it all was a figure that looked exactly like her—but with golden, glowing eyes and black wings spreading from her back.

Anya felt her head throb. Memories that weren't hers flooded her mind.

Nasha.

She saw herself—or rather, her past self—standing before an army, leading them into battle against a dark entity consuming the world.

She saw herself ignite blue flames in her hands, annihilating her enemies with a single gesture.

She saw Quantum—a being that sought to destroy the balance of the universe—planting a seed of darkness within her.

She saw herself change, slowly losing control.

Then, she saw Kaelan.

Kaelan from the past, standing before her with sorrowful eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said.

Then, he raised his sword.

And everything turned to darkness.

Anya gasped, snapping back to reality.

She stumbled, her breath ragged.

Raeshka smiled in satisfaction. "Now you know."

Anya looked at him, her eyes wide. Then she turned to Kaelan, who looked just as shattered as she felt.

"What I just saw… was it real?" she whispered.

Kaelan didn't answer.

Anya felt her body tremble. "Kaelan… you killed me."

Kaelan finally lifted his face, and in his eyes, something was broken.

"I had no choice."

Anya took a step back, disbelief washing over her. Everything around her felt like an illusion cracking apart.

"Kaelan…" her voice barely audible.

Raeshka chuckled softly. "Now you see who has been standing beside you all this time, Anya."

Anya stared at Kaelan, her eyes filled with confusion and hurt.

Kaelan tried to step toward her, but Anya moved further away.

Kaelan swallowed hard. "Anya, I—"

"No!" Anya's voice trembled. "I can't… I can't trust you right now!"

Kaelan fell silent, his face pale.

Raeshka smiled in satisfaction. "Good. It's only a matter of time before you realize who you truly are, Anya."

Then, with a single step back, he vanished into the shadows.

Leaving Anya and Kaelan standing in silence, with an abyss now stretching between them.