Chapter 4: A Test in the Wilds

Reed's father stood at the center of a dimly lit chamber, his crimson hair casting a faint glow in the firelight. Before him knelt Dark Shadow, his form barely distinguishable from the surrounding darkness. The father's voice was calm but commanding.

"Tonight, you will take Reed and leave him deep within the Whispering Forest. Let him awaken in the heart of its dangers. Do not intervene, no matter what you witness. He must learn." His golden eyes gleamed with an eerie intensity.

Dark Shadow bowed his head. "As you command, my lord."

The father turned away, gazing at a large map stretched across the stone wall. His brother, a tall man with matching red hair but colder eyes, stepped forward, arms crossed. "Is it wise to throw him into that forest so soon? He is strong, but the dangers there are far beyond anything he has faced."

A smirk crept onto the father's face. "He is my son. If he cannot survive the forest, he has no right to stand at the top of this world."

The brother sighed but did not argue. Instead, he shifted the topic. "The Golden Tribes still hold their ground in the southern territories. They've become too bold." His fingers traced across the map, lingering over a scarred region. "We have made progress in wiping them out, but their numbers keep growing."

"Then we will finish them once and for all," the father said. "The Blood Legion will see to that."

"And the unknown lands?" The brother's voice was lower now, almost wary. "We still have no full map of the outer regions. Some of our scouts never return. And those who do… are not the same."

The father's expression darkened. "The world is far more dangerous than we imagined. But before we expand, we must strengthen our own forces. That is why Reed must grow stronger."

His brother nodded, though unease flickered in his eyes. "Then let us hope he survives."

That night, as Reed slept soundly in his chamber, Dark Shadow materialized beside his bed. With practiced silence, he lifted the boy and vanished into the night.

By the time Reed's eyes fluttered open, the familiar walls of his home were gone. Instead, towering trees surrounded him, their whispering leaves carrying eerie voices through the darkness. The test had begun.