Old Bai

Adam felt himself drifting through the darness but something felt unusual.

It wasn't the peaceful float of sleep or the numbing calm of death—it was something darker. He hovered in a bleak, starless space, surrounded by fragmented debris, pulsing shadows, and thick clouds of dark matter.

He tried to move, but his limbs, if he had any, wouldn't respond. His body remained frozen, suspended in the void.

This wasn't the same comforting darkness that welcomed him after every death. That darkness was silent, almost nurturing, like a cocoon between endings and beginnings. But this… this was different. There was malice here. It felt cold, chaotic, and ancient. It devoured everything it touched, radiating nothing but despair. Leaving nothing but distruction behind.

In the far distance, Adam could see a faint light flickering.

At first, it was no more than a pinprick—too small to offer hope. But gradually, it grew brighter and warmer. It was coming from a figure… humanoid, but too far to distinguish features. Adam couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman, but their presence alone shifted the atmosphere.

Then, a voice echoed through the empty space—ancient, commanding, like the first sound in this dead universe.

Let there be light.

The voice reverberated through the void, and the moment the words were spoken, the figure exploded with radiant, pure light. It spread outward like a wave, washing through the blackness and vaporizing the malevolent dark matter. Wherever it passed, warmth bloomed, and color returned.

For the first time since arriving in this world, Adam felt safe. The light brushed against him like a memory of peace. And for a fleeting moment, he thought he might disappear too—vanish into this radiance. But instead, the light wrapped around him, holding him still.

---

Adam slowly opened his eyes.

What a weird dream. He thought before looking around. By now he got used to the cycle.

But instead of towering trees and a familiar morning sky, his vision was filled by a low wooden ceiling. The air smelled of pine and burnt herbs.

His body ached, every muscle sore, and his head pulsed with a dull, persistent pain. He reached up to touch his forehead and found a bandage wrapped tightly around it.

Confused, he slowly sat up. "Where… am I?"

He remembered falling in the river, his struggle with the whe wolf, the pain, and Then, darkness. But not the usual kind—the death he knew was replaced by something else this time. Something darker and far more eerie.

He looked down at his arms and flexed his fingers. Everything felt… off. As if he grew stronger. His muscles were tighter. His senses sharper. The sound of distant wind against wooden walls was clearer than it should be.

Then he remembered—the darkness didn't seep out of his body this time. It came from the wolf instead. That strange black mist leaked from its body before it was absorbed into his. That must be why he hadn't died. Somehow, that encounter changed him.

Was it possible my ability wasn't just about rebirth? Could I absorb something from what he killed? The idea sent a chill down his spine. Gaining strength through death… it felt wrong. Predatory. But it was too early to jump to conclusions.

He forced himself to think rationally. "First, I need to figure out where I am. Then the rest, let's take it step by step"

He glanced around. The room was simple—wooden walls, a fur blanket, a handmade chair, and a rough-hewn table in the corner. Humble, but not unpleasant. Warmth radiated from a stone hearth just outside the doorway. He stood slowly, testing his strength, and shuffled toward the door.

The house was small, built from thick logs. The main room held a wooden table and a few chairs. Animal hides covered the floor, and simple cooking tools hung by a firepit. There were two other doors—probably leading to more rooms—and a compact kitchen by the far wall.

As he scanned the space, trying to piece things together, the front door creaked open.

Adam's body tensed. He still didn't if whoever brought him here was a friend or a foe.

An old man stepped inside, carrying a basket of fruits and herbs. He looked to be in his late fifties or early sixties. His beard was short and gray, his eyes sharp but kind. When he saw Adam standing, his expression softened into a smile.

"Ah, you're awake," he said, voice calm and reassuring. "I was beginning to worry you wouldn't make it."

Adam didn't reply immediately. He took a cautious step back. "Who are you?" he asked. "Where am I? Did… you bring me here?"

The old man chuckled gently and set the basket on the table. "Yes, yes. I'll explain everything. But not on an empty stomach. Come take a seat. You must be starving."

As if on cue, Adam's stomach growled loudly. Embarrassed, he looked away. He realized he hadn't eaten anything since he arrived in this world.

"Don't worry about that," the man said, laughing. "You've been asleep for two full days. A little hunger is expected."

Still wary but no longer afraid, Adam sat at the table. The man quickly laid out bread, dried meat, cheese, and a few pieces of fruit.

"Go on, eat."

Adam hesitated, then took a bite of bread. It was rough, coarse, but it felt like the best thing he'd eaten in ages. After a few minutes of quiet chewing, he finally spoke again.

"Thank you… for saving me. But I need to know where I am."

The old man nodded, sipping a warm drink from a wooden mug.

"You're in the western forests of Kael'thar," he said. "Near the foothills of the forbidden Harthian Mountains. A remote region, rarely visited. You were found by a little girls when she went with her parents to bring water. You were found unconscious by the riverbank. Looked like you had a nasty fall. I'm Bai Shan by the way, the head of this small village, you can all me old Bai."

Adam absorbed the information carefully. "And you just… helped me? Why?"

The man raised an eyebrow. "Do we need a reason to help someone in need?" He paused. "You're not the first lost soul I've found in these woods. But you are the first to survive such a fall. That alone is a miracle."

Adam stared down at the table. "Maybe not a miracle," he whispered. "Maybe a curse."

The old man didn't respond immediately. Instead, he stood and stirred the small pot above the fire.

"For you to call surviving a curse instead of a miracle, you must've seen things, haven't you?" he said finally. "Not just pain… but something darker.

Adam looked up sharply.

The man smiled sadly. "I've seen that look before. In the mirror, many years ago. Life doesn't always go as a person might hope for, and we just to accept that."

A long silence passed between them.

The man finally said. "I was once a warrior. But I've long since laid down my sword. Now I tend to herbs, hunt for food, and occasionally patch up broken people. You'd be surprised how many of those I meet on their way towards the forbidden Harthian mountains"

Adam nodded slowly. "I'm… Adam."

"Well, Adam," Arin said, "you're safe here. For as long as you need."

Adam studied old Bais face, looking for signs of deceit—but found none. Only quiet understanding.

Later, after the meal, Adam stood outside the house for the first time. The forest was dense, but beautiful. Birds sang in the canopy above. A clear stream gurgled nearby. The wind carried the scent of pine and wildflowers. In the distance he could a few houses similar to this one with smoke rising from their chimneys".

He felt… alive.

For the first time in a while, he didn't feel hunted, cursed, or lost. And yet, deep inside, the unease remained.

Because he knew this peace wouldn't last.

Because he knew he was changing.

Under the insistance of old Bai, Adam had no choice but to spend the whole day in bed in fear of his injuries becoming worse.

That night, as he lay in the humble bed, he touched his chest and focused. He could feel it now—the darkness coiled deep within him like a serpent, dormant but alive. Not just rebirth. Not just resurrection.

He could feel himself going through an evolution. Whether this evolution was good or bad, only time will tell.