Chapter 5:Traces in the Dark

The forest felt different after the ambush.

Tolan walked in silence, his companions scanning every shadow. Nova rested in the satchel, but its sensors stayed active, sweeping for any further threats. It had already flagged multiple strange patterns.

Every bird cry, every rustling leaf, every mana fluctuation was being logged.

Tolan finally broke the quiet. "We're being followed."

Nova confirmed silently. Heat signatures flickered at the edge of detection range, always just far enough to remain hidden.

"These aren't simple bandits," Tolan muttered. "Someone knows what you are."

Nova processed the statement carefully. Several possibilities emerged.

Later, when camp was set up near a small clearing, Tolan sat by the fire, gaze fixed on Nova. His voice was low enough not to wake the others.

"You're not ordinary. That much is obvious." He leaned closer, the firelight casting flickering shadows across his face. "What are you really, Nova?"

Nova vibrated softly. It considered giving Tolan more information. Trust was a calculated risk, but necessary.

It projected a basic sequence of lights, recreating a star chart. Lines connected unfamiliar constellations, representing its origin—far beyond this world.

Tolan's eyes widened, recognition dawning. "Not from here…"

He smiled faintly, shaking his head. "No wonder the magic reacts strangely around you."

Suddenly, the trees rustled. Nova's sensors spiked.

No animals. No natural wind.

Tolan stood immediately, staff raised. Before either of them could move, a dark shape appeared at the edge of the clearing. A figure cloaked in black, their face hidden.

But the most striking thing wasn't the figure's appearance.

It was the structured pulse of mana radiating from them, sharp and precise—too perfect, too controlled.

Nova recognized it instantly.

It matched the anomaly detected back in the forest during the night.

The figure spoke, voice smooth but cold. "You've picked up something you don't understand."

Tolan gripped his staff tighter. "If you're after Nova, you'll have to go through me."

The figure tilted their head, almost amused. "That artifact does not belong in this world. Hand it over, and I'll spare your lives."

Nova calculated swiftly. Combat probability remained low.

But something else stood out—the figure's mana pattern wasn't natural. It felt artificial, mechanical, like Nova itself.

A question formed. Was this figure like Nova? Or something created to capture it?

Before Nova could analyze further, the figure raised a hand. Mana surged, forming a blade of dark light.

Tolan moved to defend, but Nova reacted first.

It pulsed a defensive wave, disrupting the blade's formation. The figure staggered slightly, clearly surprised.

"You've adapted faster than expected," the figure murmured.

Without warning, they vanished into the trees, leaving nothing but a fading mana trace behind.

Tolan exhaled sharply, lowering his staff.

Nova logged everything.

Whoever that was, they weren't done yet.

[New Threat Identified: Unknown Entity with Structured Mana Signature.]

[Objective Updated: Investigate Entity Origin. Prepare Defense.]

Tolan glanced down at Nova, determination burning in his eyes.

"Looks like we've got a bigger journey ahead."