Chapter 3 – The Forest of Echoes
(Arc 1: The Awakening of Lumora)
The forest was silent—so silent that Arin could hear his own heartbeat echoing in his ears.Every step he took made the dry leaves crunch beneath his boots, and that sound echoed far deeper than it should have.
A bluish mist floated between the ancient trees. Their twisted trunks seemed alive, as if they had been watching the world for centuries, hiding secrets in their roots.Strange golden veins of light ran through the soil, pulsing faintly like the ground itself was breathing.
"This… this isn't a dream," Arin whispered.The golden mark on his hand was still glowing softly, warm against his skin.
Every time the wind blew, faint whispers drifted through the trees—words he couldn't understand, but somehow felt directed at him.
"Is anyone there?" he called out."Answer me!"
Only the wind replied—And then, a low growl rolled through the mist.
Arin froze. His chest tightened as his instincts screamed danger.He turned slowly… but nothing. Just shadows and fog.
Then—A sudden rustle to his right.He spun around. "Who's there?"
A dark silhouette emerged between the trees.It had the shape of a man, but its body was made of smoke and shadow.Two crimson eyes glowed from the darkness, and wherever it stepped, the ground beneath it burned black.
"Oh… hell no," Arin muttered, backing away.
The thing advanced slowly, each step releasing waves of cold air that chilled his bones.
"S-stay back!" Arin shouted, his voice trembling."I don't want to hurt you!"
No response.Only another horrible growl, like the cry of something long dead.Then, in a blur of motion, the creature lunged.
Arin fell backward, hitting the ground hard. Dirt filled his palms as he tried to crawl away.The shadow loomed closer—until suddenly—
The mark on his hand flared bright gold!For a heartbeat, the world froze.
The air shimmered around him, and a familiar voice echoed in his head—
"Do not fear… the power is within."
Arin's right hand rose on its own.Light surged from his palm—a blinding wave that crashed into the Shadow Beast!The creature howled as it was thrown backward, dissolving into smoke and fading into the trees.
Arin stood there, panting, eyes wide in disbelief.His hand still glowed faintly before the light began to fade.
"What… did I just do?" he whispered.
The forest was quiet again.Only the sound of his breath and the gentle crackle of fading energy remained.
He dropped to his knees, clutching his head.
"If this is a game," he muttered, "I'm not laughing anymore.""Lumora… what the hell are you?"
Above him, the twin moons had risen—one red, one blue—casting eerie light through the fog.And deep within the darkness, a pair of red eyes glimmered once more…This time, not alone.
🌑 End of Chapter
The forest had awakened.And Lumora had begun to reveal its first secrets.