Chapter 10: Secrets of the Forgotten World

Aiden's paws felt heavier than ever as he left the ruined cabin behind. The eerie laughter from the forest still echoed in his mind, a whisper of something unseen. Something patient.

Kael shook his fur aggressively. "I hate spirits. I hate haunted cabins. I hate whatever just happened back there."

Solara walked ahead, her golden feathers glowing dimly in the darkness. "That was no ordinary spirit. It was a remnant—an echo of something greater. And we have awakened its attention."

Aiden exhaled. "Great. More things trying to kill us."

"Not just kill," Solara corrected, "consume. Corrupt."

Aiden fell silent. His new power had stirred inside him during the fight, but he barely understood it. The way the shadows had moved with him, the way his claws had cut through the spirit like they were meant for it. It wasn't just raw strength. It was knowledge—something deeper, older.

"Solara," he finally asked, "what exactly is this world?"

The phoenix turned her glowing gaze to him. "You wish to know the truth?"

Aiden nodded. "I need to. If I don't understand this place, I won't survive it."

Kael muttered, "Finally, he's making sense."

Solara spread her wings, and the air around them grew warm. "Then listen well, young wolf."

The History of the World

"This world is called Orvendir," Solara began. "It was not always as you see it now. Long ago, it was a land of harmony, where magic flowed freely and balanced all living things. But magic, like fire, is both a gift and a curse. Those who sought power above all else disturbed that balance, and so the world was divided."

Aiden's ears perked up. "Divided how?"

"Orvendir has three layers. The Surface, where mortals and beasts roam. The Veil, where the spirits, gods, and forgotten beings reside. And the Abyss, where nightmares fester and corruption is born."

Kael snorted. "We've definitely met some of those guys already."

Solara nodded. "Indeed. The corruption you see—the Shadeborn, the lingering spirits, the twisted forests—these are remnants of an ancient war. One that never truly ended."

Aiden felt a chill crawl up his spine. "A war?"

"The War of the Two Moons."

Aiden's thoughts flashed back to his own power—the way his claws had glowed, the way the spirits had hesitated when they saw him.

"Does this have something to do with my magic?"

Solara studied him carefully. "Yes. The Two Moons represent two forces: The White Moon, Lunaris, bearer of clarity and order. And the Red Moon, Noctiris, harbinger of chaos and hunger. They were once in harmony… until Noctiris was cursed."

Kael's tail twitched. "Cursed?"

"The gods of old feared its power. They sought to control it but failed. In their desperation, they sealed Noctiris within the Abyss, breaking its connection to the world. But something went wrong. The curse did not bind it fully. Instead, it twisted Noctiris, filling it with an insatiable hunger. The corruption you see now? The spirits that thirst for flesh? The cursed forests? These are its whispers, reaching out from the Abyss."

Aiden shuddered. "And I… I awakened something related to this?"

Solara's eyes burned with intensity. "You have the blessing of the White Moon… but the whispers of the Red."

Aiden felt his heart pound. His power wasn't just some rare magic—it was connected to the very force that had corrupted this world.

Kael huffed. "Great. Just great. Our pup here is tied to the thing that almost destroyed the world. No wonder spirits are trying to eat him."

Aiden shot him a glare. "Not helping."

Solara continued, her voice firm. "The Lunarborn—those with the Moonshadow power—were once warriors of balance. But they vanished long ago. Some say they were wiped out. Others say they became something else."

Aiden clenched his jaw. "And now I'm one of them."

"Yes. And if the world notices your existence, so too will those who seek to end what remains of the balance."

Kael sighed. "So, in short, we're all in deep trouble."

The Weight of Knowledge

Aiden stared at the sky through the thick canopy. He had always been a scientist—a man of logic. But this world didn't follow the rules he had known. It was built on something different. Something ancient, magical, and deadly.

And now, he was part of it.

"Then I need to learn," he said firmly. "I can't just hope to survive—I need to understand how to fight, how to use my power, how to break the curse that's infecting this world."

Solara's feathers shimmered. "A wise choice. But beware, young wolf. Knowledge is its own burden. The more you learn, the more the world will test you."

Aiden exhaled, feeling the weight of her words. "I don't have a choice, do I?"

"No. The moment you awakened, your path was set in motion."

Kael rolled his eyes. "Fate, curses, war—I miss the days when all I had to worry about was hunting for food."

Aiden gave a small chuckle despite the tension. "You're free to leave, you know."

Kael snorted. "Please. You'd be dead in two days without me."

Aiden smiled faintly. "Maybe. But I won't be weak forever."

Solara regarded him with a knowing look. "Then let us begin. There is a place where you may find your first real trial—a ruin hidden deep within the Hollow Woods. If you truly wish to learn, that is where you must go."

Aiden took a deep breath. This was it. The path to understanding his place in this world.

And maybe, just maybe… the first step toward something greater.