Into the Whispering Woods

The path north twisted like a serpent through the Whispering Woods, a forest that lived up to its name. With each step Elias and Dane took, the trees seemed to lean inward, branches arching like crooked spines, their leaves rustling secrets in the stillness.

Moonlight filtered through the canopy in narrow shafts, illuminating patches of the moss-covered trail. Crickets dared not sing. No owls called. Only the soft crunch of boots against the dirt and the occasional snap of a twig broke the silence.

It had been hours since they left Aetherwood behind, and already the village felt like a dream distant, fragile, and fading.

"You sure this is the way?" Dane asked, adjusting the strap on his pack. His voice was low, careful not to disturb the eerie calm.

Elias nodded, though uncertainty prickled at the edge of his mind. "The Elder said the Obsidian Spire lies beyond the Hollow Pass. This is the only road that leads there."

"You call this a road?" Dane muttered. "Feels more like walking straight into a haunted forest."

"Maybe it is," Elias replied, stopping at a fork in the trail.

There were two paths ahead, one that curved gently downward into a misty glade, and another that rose steeply along a rocky ridge. The pendant Elder Mere had given him now tucked into his shirt began to warm faintly, a soft glow pulsing against his chest.

He closed his eyes, letting the feeling guide him. His heartbeat synced with the pendant, and for a moment, he felt the world breathe around him. The stars above, though hidden behind the trees, felt closer somehow like they were watching.

"The right path," he murmured.

Dane looked skeptical. "How do you know?"

"I just do."

They turned and followed the ridge, climbing higher with every step. The woods grew darker, thicker, and colder. A creeping fog rolled in from the valley below, curling around the trees like ghostly fingers.

By the time they reached the plateau, the moon had vanished behind a veil of clouds, and even the pendant's glow felt dimmer.

That's when they heard it.

Crack.

Both of them froze.

A branch snapped just ahead too heavy, too deliberate to be an animal.

Dane reached for the short hunting blade at his hip. "Tell me that was a squirrel."

"I don't think squirrels breathe like that," Elias said quietly.

From the shadows, something moved.

Eyes. Low to the ground. Glowing blue and unblinking.

It stepped into the moonlight tall, emaciated, with skin like stretched leather and limbs too long for its frame. Its face was featureless, save for a mouth that split from cheek to cheek, revealing rows of jagged, crystalline teeth.

"A Veilspawn," Elias whispered.

"How do you…?"

"I don't know how I know. I just do."

The creature sniffed the air, then snapped its head toward them. It let out a sound that was halfway between a growl and a hiss, and began to move. Fast.

"Run!" Elias shouted.

They turned and bolted down the path, branches whipping at their faces. Behind them, the Veilspawn charged, its limbs pounding the earth like a four-legged beast.

Elias could feel the pendant against his chest, pulsing faster now. Urgently.

"Left!" he shouted, trusting the pull in his chest.

They dove off the path and into the underbrush. Dane crashed through a bramble bush, gritting his teeth as thorns tore at his arms, but he kept moving.

They burst into a wide clearing surrounded by tall stones, their surfaces etched with ancient markings. As soon as Elias crossed the circle's threshold, the air changed.

Still. Silent. Heavy.

The Veilspawn skidded to a halt at the edge of the clearing, its limbs twitching. It hissed, but did not enter.

It couldn't.

Elias stumbled, gasping for breath, and fell to one knee. Dane landed beside him, panting.

"What the hell was that thing?" Dane asked, voice hoarse.

"A creature from beyond the Veil," Elias said. "They… they hunt the Starborn."

Dane blinked. "You sure you don't remember more than you're letting on?"

Elias stared at the Veilspawn, which paced just beyond the stone circle. "Maybe I do."

The creature let out a final hiss and turned, disappearing into the woods as swiftly as it had come.

Only then did Elias realize the circle of stones wasn't just protection—it was ancient. Each pillar hummed faintly, the runes glowing the same pale blue as his mark.

"This place," Elias said, standing slowly, "it's a sanctuary. Left behind by… someone. Starwalkers, maybe."

Dane walked to one of the stones and ran his fingers over the markings. "Feels alive."

"It is," a voice said behind them.

Both boys spun.

A man stood at the far edge of the circle. Tall, broad-shouldered, cloaked in dark leather lined with silver. His eyes were violet, bright, intense and his hair was a streak of black and ash.

Elias felt the mark on his chest react instantly, burning cold.

The man stepped forward. "You are Elias. The one the stars have awakened."

Dane moved in front of Elias, weapon raised. "Who are you?"

The man smiled faintly. "My name is Kael. I am the one you were told to find."

Elias's eyes widened. "You're… the Starwalker?"

Kael nodded once. "And you have much to learn."