: Into the Whispering Wilds
Location: Southern Gate of Astral City – Late Noon
The buzz of Astral City faded behind them as Anay, Kael, and Liora made their way through the inner district, winding past cobbled lanes and spirit crystal fountains. Merchants shouted final calls. Temple bells rang in the distance. Children chased after spirit-kites.
But now, it was time to move beyond the city's protection.
Ahead stood the southern boundary gate—massive, reinforced with both steel and spiritual sigils. Two guards in elegant armor stood tall, spears glowing faintly with warding light. Behind them, the world shifted. The road narrowed, leading into wild unknowns wrapped in mist.
Kael raised a hand casually as they approached.
"Afternoon, gentlemen."
The guard on the right blinked, then straightened.
"Elder Kael! Elder Liora! It's an honor."
The other guard saluted Anay as well, eyes quickly scanning the crest stitched into his travel cloak.
"Astral Academy clearance?"
Liora nodded, handing over a simple rune-inscribed token.
"Permission for a temporary journey beyond the wall. Escorting student Anay."
The guards examined the token briefly before stepping aside, letting the warded gate begin its slow rumble open.
"You sure picked a good day to leave," one guard muttered. "Storms passed last night… but the beasts are restless."
Kael smirked. "Wouldn't be a journey if it wasn't dangerous."
The gates fully parted, revealing a path of gravel and roots leading into a dense forest. The moment they stepped through, the sounds of the city were swallowed whole.
Location: Mistwood Expanse – Edge of the Unseen Forest
The forest was alive.
Not just with the rustling of wind or the chirping of birds—but with presence. Thick trees loomed, their trunks braided with glowing vines. Blue-leafed plants responded to their steps, retracting slightly before returning to their natural curl. Spiritual mist hung like lace in the air, shifting slowly.
Anay glanced around with quiet awe.
"This… doesn't feel like any normal forest."
"It's not," Liora replied softly. "These woods were once part of the Divine Frontier—back when the portals first split our world. Some of the energy never left."
Kael added, walking ahead and slicing through a stubborn vine with his blade,
"That means plenty of things that shouldn't exist still do in here. Eyes up, ears open."
Despite the warnings, the environment was stunning.
Firefly-like spirit wisps floated between trees. Small, cat-sized deer with translucent fur darted past silently. Streams flowed with glimmering water, occasionally pulsing with faint bioluminescence.
Every few steps, Anay felt a different aura brushing against his senses. A shift in temperature. A brief hum of thunder. A strange echo of laughter in the leaves.
"What kind of beasts live here?" he asked, adjusting the strap of his bag.
"Spiritalas," Liora said. "Phantom Hounds. Sometimes Sky Manticores. It depends on how far we go in."
"And how far are we going?" he asked, half-joking.
Kael grinned without looking back.
"Till we find something that wants to kill you."
Anay stopped. "Great. That's comforting."
Mid-Journey – Forest Ridge Trail
By afternoon, the trail narrowed further. The forest grew denser, moss climbing higher on the trees. They moved silently, only the occasional bird call or snapping twig breaking the stillness.
As they crossed a ridge overlooking a glade, Anay noticed something strange—a circle of fallen stones, almost like old ruins. Strange markings, half-faded, glowed faintly.
Kael paused. "Ancient Guardian markers. Left behind by watchers before our generation. This was a safe point… once."
"Once?" Anay asked.
"That was before spirit decay set in. Now, no place is ever really safe outside the cities."
Liora touched the stones gently, then turned to Anay.
"We'll set up camp here tonight. Test how your senses fare in the wild."
Anay nodded, trying to hide both excitement and nerves.
"Got it."
To be continued…
Part 2:From start
Volume 2: Guardians of the Boundless
Chapter 2: Into the Whispering Wilds
Location: Southern Gate of Astral City – Late Noon
The buzz of Astral City faded behind them as Anay, Kael, and Liora made their way through the inner district, winding past cobbled lanes and spirit crystal fountains. Merchants shouted final calls. Temple bells rang in the distance. Children chased after spirit-kites.
But now, it was time to move beyond the city's protection.
Ahead stood the southern boundary gate—massive, reinforced with both steel and spiritual sigils. Two guards in elegant armor stood tall, spears glowing faintly with warding light. Behind them, the world shifted. The road narrowed, leading into wild unknowns wrapped in mist.
Kael raised a hand casually as they approached.
"Afternoon, gentlemen."
The guard on the right blinked, then straightened.
"Elder Kael! Elder Liora! It's an honor."
The other guard saluted Anay as well, eyes quickly scanning the crest stitched into his travel cloak.
"Astral Academy clearance?"
Liora nodded, handing over a simple rune-inscribed token.
"Permission for a temporary journey beyond the wall. Escorting student Anay."
The guards examined the token briefly before stepping aside, letting the warded gate begin its slow rumble open.
"You sure picked a good day to leave," one guard muttered. "Storms passed last night… but the beasts are restless."
Kael smirked. "Wouldn't be a journey if it wasn't dangerous."
The gates fully parted, revealing a path of gravel and roots leading into a dense forest. The moment they stepped through, the sounds of the city were swallowed whole.
Location: Mistwood Expanse – Edge of the Unseen Forest
The forest was alive.
Not just with the rustling of wind or the chirping of birds—but with presence. Thick trees loomed, their trunks braided with glowing vines. Blue-leafed plants responded to their steps, retracting slightly before returning to their natural curl. Spiritual mist hung like lace in the air, shifting slowly.
Anay glanced around with quiet awe.
"This… doesn't feel like any normal forest."
"It's not," Liora replied softly. "These woods were once part of the Divine Frontier—back when the portals first split our world. Some of the energy never left."
Kael added, walking ahead and slicing through a stubborn vine with his blade,
"That means plenty of things that shouldn't exist still do in here. Eyes up, ears open."
Despite the warnings, the environment was stunning.
Firefly-like spirit wisps floated between trees. Small, cat-sized deer with translucent fur darted past silently. Streams flowed with glimmering water, occasionally pulsing with faint bioluminescence.
Every few steps, Anay felt a different aura brushing against his senses. A shift in temperature. A brief hum of thunder. A strange echo of laughter in the leaves.
"What kind of beasts live here?" he asked, adjusting the strap of his bag.
"Spiritalas," Liora said. "Phantom Hounds. Sometimes Sky Manticores. It depends on how far we go in."
"And how far are we going?" he asked, half-joking.
Kael grinned without looking back.
"Till we find something that wants to kill you."
Anay stopped.
"Great. That's comforting."
Mid-Journey – Forest Ridge Trail
By afternoon, the trail narrowed further. The forest grew denser, moss climbing higher on the trees. They moved silently, only the occasional bird call or snapping twig breaking the stillness.
As they crossed a ridge overlooking a glade, Anay noticed something strange—a circle of fallen stones, almost like old ruins. Strange markings, half-faded, glowed faintly.
Kael paused.
"Ancient Guardian markers. Left behind by watchers before our generation. This was a safe point… once."
"Once?" Anay asked.
"That was before spirit decay set in. Now, no place is ever really safe outside the cities."
Liora touched the stones gently, then turned to Anay.
"We'll set up camp here tonight. Test how your senses fare in the wild."
Anay nodded, trying to hide both excitement and nerves.
"Got it."
They gathered materials quickly. Kael constructed a makeshift perimeter using wind-imbued stones, while Liora used vines to set up camouflage drapes between trees. Anay did his part, gathering drywood, placing traps, and helping reinforce the tent base with sigil stones provided by the elders.
When the fire was lit, it cast flickering patterns on their faces, dancing across the ruins.
Kael handed Anay a warmed canteen.
"Tell me something. You ever been this far into the wild before?"
Anay shook his head.
"I've been in beast zones during trials… but not this. This feels older. Like everything's watching."
Liora nodded.
"It is. This forest doesn't like loud power. Here, you train the quiet parts of yourself."
Kael chuckled, prodding the fire.
"Don't go all monk on him now. We'll be sharpening blades tomorrow."
Anay smiled. Despite the unease, it felt right. The quiet, the danger, the unknown—this was what he'd been craving.
He looked up at the stars peeking through the canopy.
"What's the goal? Why this trip?"
Kael looked at him, eyes reflecting the fire.
"To show you the world doesn't wait for strength. You chase it. Or you fall behind."
The fire cracked, and silence followed.
From the shadows someone was watching