Chapter 7 – Shadows in the Canopy

Jin's fingers traced the glowing symbol on the slain beast's hide. The whisper that had echoed in his mind still lingered in his thoughts. Blood remembers. Power forgotten… will rise again. The words felt like an ancient truth pressing against the edges of his consciousness, just out of reach. What did it mean? He wanted to understand, to grasp the weight of the message, but each time he tried, it slipped further away, like water through his fingers.

His heart pounded in his chest, but not from fear. There was a fire building deep within, a gnawing hunger for something he couldn't name. The power… his power.

Why now? Why me?

He pushed the questions aside, knowing they would only distract him. The Dark Forest had never cared for questions. It demanded action, and if Jin wanted to survive, he would give it nothing less.

With a grunt, he stood, his muscles sore but resilient. The beast's carcass lay before him, and it was time to put it to use. He began stripping the creature's fur, cutting its meat into manageable pieces. Each movement was automatic, yet there was something about this kill that felt different.

The symbol had faded when he touched it. Gone, as if it had never existed. His breath caught in his throat. Had he imagined it? The idea seemed ridiculous. He had seen it. He had felt its presence.

No. He couldn't doubt himself—not now. His instincts had guided him through this forest for years, and they had always been right.

Suddenly, the forest around him grew unnaturally still. Jin froze. His hand tightened around the bone knife. The silence was too heavy. No rustling of leaves. No distant growls. Nothing.

His senses flared, a wave of adrenaline flooding his bloodstream. Something's wrong. Something is here.

Then, he saw them.

Two glowing yellow eyes, like twin lanterns, staring at him from the shadows of the trees.

Jin's pulse quickened, but he didn't move. Stay calm. His grip tightened on the hilt of his blade. His breath came slow and measured. I can't make a sound. I can't show fear. Not yet.

The eyes blinked once, slowly, then vanished, only to reappear in another spot, closer this time. Closer.

Jin's heart pounded against his ribs. What the hell is this? He had fought creatures in this forest before, but none had ever moved with such… purpose. This wasn't just an animal—it was something intelligent.

His body tensed, but his mind stayed sharp. Focus. Adapt. Survive. He repeated the mantra over and over, like a chant, as the eyes moved again.

And then, it spoke.

"You are not supposed to be here."

Jin's breath hitched. The voice was not like anything he had heard before. It was layered, as if many voices were speaking in unison. Not in his mind, but out here—from the darkness itself.

Not possible.

He stared into the dark, trying to make sense of the words. Was it speaking to me? The idea of another being, especially one with the power to reach into his mind, sent a chill down his spine.

He didn't show it.

"Who are you?" Jin demanded, his voice cutting through the silence. His hands shook, but his grip on the blade remained firm.

The presence was quiet for a moment, and Jin wondered if it would answer. It's not going to answer. Then, with a sudden movement, it shifted in the trees again, no longer visible but still there, watching.

"You don't belong." The voice echoed again, distant yet close.

The words seemed to slither under his skin, crawling like cold fingers along his spine. Jin's mind raced. What did it mean? Who was this thing? And why was it here?

He tightened his jaw, refusing to show any sign of weakness. His instincts screamed at him to run, but he didn't. He didn't need to. He wasn't afraid of this presence—not yet.

"Who are you?" He repeated, louder this time.

No response.

The eyes blinked one final time, and then, like a shadow vanishing at dawn, the presence was gone.

The silence returned, but now, it felt different. The forest was alive again, but it had changed. As if it was no longer just the same place he had known for years. It had become aware.

Jin lowered his blade, still staring into the shadows. His heart pounded in his chest, but beneath the adrenaline, a different kind of fear gripped him. Was this connected to me? Was it connected to... what I am?

He glanced down at his hands, his fingers still trembling. No. He wouldn't let it control him. He wasn't going to fear this place.

But the truth was, he didn't know if he was ready for whatever was coming.

And yet, deep down, something inside him stirred. A power. A memory. A pull toward the unknown.

I have to know.

With the whispers still lingering in the back of his mind, Jin set about finishing his work, his thoughts scattered, but with the knowledge that, whether he liked it or not, his journey into the unknown had just begun.