selfdoubt

The ritual ground had finally been completed. The air was thick with an unknown but undeniably powerful energy, a force that seemed to hum beneath the surface of the earth. The leader and the other members of our group expressed their gratitude, their voices a mixture of relief and respect. But time was running out. We couldn't linger here any longer.

As we stepped outside the protective shield, the world around us immediately changed. It felt like stepping from one reality into another. The forest ahead loomed, its dark trees casting eerie shadows over the path, their branches twisted like skeletal fingers reaching for us. The air grew dense, suffocating, and the temperature seemed to drop with every step.

Akriya and Ryoshi were still visibly injured. They pushed themselves, but I could see the strain in their movements, the way their breaths came heavier with every step. They were determined, no doubt, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this mission might be pushing them past their limits.

"Don't push yourself too hard," I murmured to Akriya, trying to keep my voice steady, though I couldn't mask my concern.

She glanced at me, a small smile flickering for a second before the weight of the situation settled in again. "I'll be fine," she replied, her voice rough but unwavering.

Our group moved in silence, with Eran leading us from the front, his pace steady and sure. It was as if he already knew what was to come. We were trailing behind, barely able to keep up, but it was clear that Eran's experience and instincts guided him in ways none of us could fathom.

Lucior followed closely behind, his presence like a silent shadow. I could feel the protective energy radiating from him, though he spoke little. For some reason, the deeper we ventured into the forest, the more I felt like we were walking into a nightmare—one that was only just beginning to unfold. I was beginning to feel… scared.

The silence was broken by the crunch of leaves beneath our feet. The dark trees around us seemed to close in, their twisted branches creating an almost suffocating canopy overhead. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. Every sound, every shift in the atmosphere made me feel more exposed, more vulnerable.

Suddenly, Eran raised his hand, signaling for us to stop. We froze in place. I looked around, trying to sense what was happening, but there was only a strange, unsettling stillness.

Eran's expression darkened as his eyes scanned the surrounding forest. Without a word, he made a hand signal for us to hide. Panic surged through me—what had he sensed? What danger was lurking just beyond the reach of our vision?

We quickly scrambled to conceal ourselves, blending into the underbrush as best as we could. I held my breath, listening. The air was thick with tension, and a strange, almost intoxicating fragrance began to fill the space. It was floral, but darker, heavier. My eyelids fluttered, and my body felt sluggish.

"Something's wrong," I whispered under my breath, the growing sense of dread creeping into my mind.

Then, I heard it—the unmistakable sound of Eran's voice, sharp and filled with panic. "Run toward the moon, quickly!" His voice cut through the haze of sleepiness that threatened to take over me.

Without thinking, I followed the direction of his voice, my feet moving of their own accord. We ran, faster than I had ever run before, until the others caught up. Ryoshi's breath was shallow, her face pale, but she didn't falter.

"What's going on?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion and concern.

"I thought it was a demon at first," Eran said, his voice tight, "but something's not right. Stay alert."

Before we could make sense of his words, the earth beneath us trembled. A sudden, deafening explosion shattered the silence, and I spun around to see the flowers we had passed earlier starting to explode in bursts of fiery color. The shockwave hit us with brutal force, throwing me off balance.

"We need to move!" Eran shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

I didn't need to be told twice. We ran, the explosions growing louder and more frequent with every step. The forest around us was coming alive with danger, and the once-beautiful flowers were now deadly traps, designed to kill.

The panic that had been growing inside me reached a breaking point. I was running, but my mind felt numb. My thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind, and for the first time in my life, I felt utterly powerless.

"Why am I even here?" I thought, my body moving on autopilot. "I can't sense the danger. I'm completely useless. Akriya, Ryoshi—they're all so much stronger than me. I'm just a burden, a liability."

Then, as if my inner turmoil had manifested itself outwardly, I heard a voice calling my name.

"Vitrit! Run faster, what are you doing?" It was Akriya's voice, sharp and filled with urgency.

I blinked, snapping out of my spiral of self-doubt. But before I could answer, the explosion behind us intensified, sending another shockwave through the forest. The ground shook, and I could feel the energy in the air crackling with a dangerous intensity.

Without thinking, I shouted, my voice raw with frustration, "ENOUGH!"

The words ripped from me, and everything seemed to freeze for a moment. The others stopped, their eyes on me, and I could see the surprise and concern in their faces.

Eran stepped forward, his expression hardening. "What's going on, Vitrit? Keep your voice down."

But I couldn't stop myself. "You told me demons were our only enemies, but now humans are attacking us too! What am I supposed to do? I can't even sense the danger around us. I'm useless. I've done nothing but drag you all down. I'm just a troublemaker."

The words spilled out in a rush, the dam of my frustration breaking. I felt so small, so insignificant, compared to everyone else. The silence that followed was deafening. I could feel the weight of their gazes on me, and I couldn't tell whether they were angry or just… confused.

Eran's face darkened. "Stop," he said, his voice firm but not unkind. "Do you even realize what you're saying? This is not the time for doubt. Not here. Not now."

I felt a lump form in my throat, but I couldn't take the words back. It was too late.

Eran's eyes softened, but only for a moment. "Everyone here has a role to play," he said, his voice low but steady. "No one is more important than the other. Not even me. I think you've forgotten what we've been taught. Everyone has their place in this mission. If you think you're a burden, just look at Ryoshi. If you don't help her, she might not make it."

I could feel the weight of his words, and though they stung, they were what I needed to hear. I stood there, silent, as Eran's gaze lingered on me for a moment before he looked away, his face a mask of concentration.

"We've all been through this before," he continued, his voice calmer now. "This situation is breaking our confidence, but we need to be patient. We'll make it through this together."

The others remained silent, their eyes never leaving me, but I could see the understanding in their expressions. They knew. We all knew. This mission was far from over, and I had to push past my doubts, or it would be the end of us all.

Eran was right. I had to stop doubting myself. We all had a part to play in this, and if we were going to survive, we needed each other.